Leafs Prospect Ben Danford Obliterates London Knights Forward With Devastating Open Ice Hit

Many were surprised when the Leafs selected Danford 31st overall this past entry draft, but he has quickly made Leaf fans notice him this season in the OHL.

Despite missing Leafs' training camp and the start of the season with a concussion, the Oshawa Generals Captain has remained a steadying force on the back end for the Generals and has really ramped up the physicality this season.

Earlier in the season, Danford made highlight reels with a pair of huge hits in one weekend. Last night against his future Leafs teammate Easton Cowan and the London Knights, Danford made his presence felt once again.

With just over four minutes to go in the second period, Danford recreated the iconic Scott Stevens-Eric Lindros hit that began the downfall of Lindros' career.

Danford caught Blake Montgomery cutting across the Generals' blueline with the puck and hit him with a thunderous shoulder to the chest.

There was nothing dirty about the hit, and Montgomery saw it coming. It was a good old fashioned hockey hit where somehow both players got up immediately and continued like nothing happened.

Coming off of a 33-point season, the 18-year-old has just 9 points in 25 games for the Generals so far, but has been a rock defensively.

His defensive style of play and physicality are why the Leafs drafted him in the first round and the early returns seem to be promising.