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Two Toronto Maple Leafs prospects have been named by Team Canada to their preliminary roster for the 2024 IIHF World Junior in Gothenburg, Sweden later this month. 2022 top pick Fraser Minten and 2023 first-rounder Easton Cowan were selected as part of a 30-man roster that will be cut down to 25 players later this month.
Minten seemed to be destined to fill a depth role after attending Canada’s off-season workouts the last two summers, playing in the Memorial Cup last June, and making the Leafs out of training camp this fall. After playing four NHL games before being sent back to the WHL last month, the 19-year-old center has scored 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in 11 games with Kamloops and Saskatoon.
Fraser Minten had one sniff of professional hockey and turned into a menace. 😅
(Miguel Marques is fine - he returned to the game and later scored Lethbridge’s only goal, being named first star.) pic.twitter.com/5P2E6JO2nV
2023 top pick Easton Cowan’s selection has to be considered a bit of a surprise, but the 18-year-old has been a scoring machine since being sent back to junior by the Leafs in October.
Cowan has been on an impressive upward trajectory since the second half of last season with the London Knights. He averaged over a point per game during the OHL Playoffs, which opened the eyes of Toronto scouts to the point that they selected him 28th overall at the draft in Nashville.
The feisty forward continued showing progress at the Traverse City Prospect Tournament and at Leafs training camp, playing so well as to earn a few preseason games before heading back to junior. Since being sent back to the Knights, he is second in club scoring with 34 points (10 goals, 24 assists) in 21 games and could be in the mix as a depth forward.
Easton Cowan was key in two shorthanded goals tonight in the London Knights' 8-1 win against the Kingston Frontenacs. Buried the first one himself and set up his running mate Denver Barkey for the second.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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