No surprise here. London Knights have signed 2009 birth year forward Kane Barch from the United States National Team Development Program via the Kitchener Rangers.
Once a Knight is enough
Barch was a first round pick by Kitchener at the 2025 Ontario Hockey League priority selections draft. His rights were acquired by the Knights from the eventual OHL and Memorial Cup champion Rangers in a monster 2026 trade deadline deal that sent star forward Sam O’Reilly and defenseman Jared Wooley to Kitchener.
Opting to sign with London instead of returning to the USNTDP for another season, the American born Barch said: “Honestly, who wouldn’t want to play here? I mean, this is probably the best junior spot ever to play for.”
Barch is committed to play for the University of Michigan effective the ’28-29 season. But he told the London Free Press that “London’ is always first. Like I am here in London to win. Michigan’s after that, but London’s always first.”
Kane Barch poses in his new London Knights jersey with, from left, associate general manager Rob Simpson, general manager Mark Hunter and head coach Dale Hunter during a recent signing ceremony at Canada Life Place in London. Photo by Geoff Robins/The London Free Press.
