Cowan and Chadwick were among the 42 players (four goaltenders, 13 defensemen, 25 forwards) invited to the event, which runs from July 28 to August 3.
A pair of Toronto Maple Leafs prospects are heading to the WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario and south of the border to Plymouth, Michigan to attend Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Showcase from July 28 to August 3.
Easton Cowan, the Leafs’ first-round pick (28th overall), and Noah Chadwick, the club’s sixth-round pick (185th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, were among the 42 players invited to the event.
Of the 42 players, there are four goaltenders, 13 defensemen, and 25 forwards – 38 of whom have been selected in the NHL Draft. Cowan is one of the 17 first-round picks on the roster, and Chadwick, impressively, is the lowest-drafted defenseman and one of two blueliners selected outside of the top 90.
Canada’s ‘Program of Excellence camps,’ which also includes under-18 and under-17 rosters in addition to the National Junior Team, provides an opportunity for 163 players to gain experience and showcase their talents throughout the summer months as part of the preparation for upcoming international competitions. The competitions include the 2024 U17 World Challenge, the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship in Ottawa.
Cowan is coming off his best season to date, winning the OHL’s Red Tilson Trophy for the Most Outstanding Player, the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL Playoff MVP, an OHL championship (the J. Ross Robertson Cup), and a Memorial Cup Final berth. The ‘Cowboy’ also set a career-high 96 points in 54 regular season games, surpassing his previous 53-point total in 2022-23, while going on a 36-game point streak (42 games if you include the postseason) that stretched from November 25, 2023, to March 24, 2024 – the longest point streak since Bill Bowler in 1994-95.
After taking major steps in his development in 2023-24, Cowan has his ambitions set on making the Leafs’ roster this season, saying on the final day of development camp, "I want to make the team. That's always been my goal. I want to play in the NHL one day, and I'm feeling very confident, so I've just got to come into camp, be a very reliable player, someone the coach can trust. I've just got to learn game management a bit better, and I think I'll be good."
Due to his 19-year-old status, Cowan is ineligible to play in the AHL for the Marlies this season, and his options are limited to the Leafs or the OHL’s London Knights. The opportunity within Hockey Canada will give the Mount Brydges, Ontario, native ample chances to get more reps and be prepared for training camp.
As for Chadwick, he has continued to develop nicely. After scoring 20 points (5G, 15A) in 67 games in the 2022-23 season, he took his game to another level in the 2023-24 campaign. Playing in the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, he set new career highs in goals (12), assists (44), and points (56) – taking a nice step offensively.
The six-foot-four, 201-pound left-handed shot defenseman was beginning to show plenty of promise. With that, the Leafs signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract in December of 2023. At 19 years old, Chadwick joins Ben Danford, Cade Webber, Mikko Kokkonen, and Topi Niemela among the notable defensive prospects in the Leafs’ system.
For Leafs fans, seeing prospects like Cowan and Chadwick at the showcase is a promising sign for the future of the team. The duo will be key players to watch when the event rolls around, granting a chance to work on their individual progress while providing a glimpse into the talent that could be ahead in the coming years.
