Knights get key contributions from young players ahead of OHL finals
The London Knights are back in familiar territory.
For the second straight year they will play for the J. Ross Robertson Cup in the Ontario Hockey League final. However, this time instead of facing the league’s top goalie, Michael Simpson will be in their net.
“He so clutch, he makes the big saves when we need him, so it’s good to have him on our side,” said Oliver Bonk, a Knights defenceman.
The Knights now know their opponent will be the Oshawa Generals who won the Bobby Orr trophy as Eastern Conference champions, defeating the North Bay Battalion in game seven Monday.
The Knights and Generals split the regular season with London winning 4-3 in overtime in Oshawa, and the Generals winning at Budweiser Gardens 6-4 on Feb. 28, 2024.
The Knights players gathered at the billet home of Simpson to watch the game.
“We watched it to see the kind of game, see who [we] are going to play,” said Max McCue, Knights forward. “We’re excited for the opportunity, and we’re excited for the challenge.”
It will be a challenge, however.
Between injuries and major suspensions, the Knights have been depleted.
The London Knights practice at the Western Fair District in London, Ont. on May 7, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)“Some of our younger guys, Will Nicholl really stepped up during this last series,” said Rob Simpson, Knights associate general manager.
He continued, “Sam O’Reilly played a huge role and even Henry Brzustewicz moving from D [defence] up to forward to give us more depth played really well. You need younger guys to be able to step up and play a bigger role like Easton Cowan and [Denver] Barkey did last year. We’re getting that from some of our younger players with suspension and injuries.”
The Knights earned the right to host the first two games of the series, and a potential game seven by finishing with the best record in the regular season.
Those taking the ice know the dream of hoisting the trophy is within reach.
"Every kid’s dream in the OHL is to win the Ontario Hockey League,” said McCue. “It’s even more for us because we were two games short last year. We'll be putting our best foot forward and hopefully it goes our way.”
Barkey has picked the brain of Simpson who lifted the cup as a member of the Petes last season in front of many of these Knights who are now his teammates.
"He said it's [a] once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Barkey. “It’s that feeling after you win, to celebrate it with teammates and coaches, and everyone you have been with. It’s something you work toward as a team, so we’re looking forward to it.”
Twelve wins down, four more to go.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.