London, Ont. natives help Knights carry perfect record into Conference Final series with Saginaw
The London Knights went out in the offseason and acquired the goaltender they believed could lead them to a championship.
So far, so good as Michael Simpson is a perfect 8-0 in the post season.
“We’ve got to keep the pedal down as it’s only going to get harder from here,” said Simpson, a Londoner who is finishing his OHL career with his hometown team. “It’s amazing to play in front of family and friends, and the Conference Finals are always exciting.”
He’s not the only hometown hero helping the club to an undefeated run thus far.
Jacob Julien of London has recorded hat tricks in each of the past two games, and was just named OHL player of the week.
“I’ve just got to give it to my teammates, they’ve been helping me out, and I’m just doing whatever I can do to help,” said Julien, a draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets. “I’ve been playing with Ruslan Gazizov and Denver Barkey, or Easton Cowan, so I’m pretty fortunate.”
The Knights now know their Western Conference Championship series opponent, after the Saginaw Spirit defended home ice by beating the Soo Greyhounds in the seventh game Tuesday.
The Knights practice at London, Ont.'s Budweiser Gardens ahead of their series with the Saginaw Spirit on April 23, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
"They're [Saginaw] a stacked team, and they’re very deep,” said Dylan Hunter, Knights assistant coach. “They've got a lot of skill on defence and playmakers who can break the puck out. They play fast, and they match up pretty close to us.”
Simpson agrees that defeating a team hosting the Memorial Cup, who recorded 102 points in the regular season, is going to be tough.
"They made big moves at the deadline with the Memorial Cup,” said Simpson. “They are going to be a tough task as they have a lot of skill and speed.”
When the puck drops Friday, the Knights will have had eight days off between games, while the Spirit will carry some momentum with just two days off.
The Knights have had some time to relax and practice, but could show rust out of the gate.
"Sometimes it's great to not have anything to think about and get right into it,” said Hunter. “We’ve had some time to work on some systems, and give the boys a couple days to relax, but you won’t know if it’s good or bad until you get into the series.”
Knights assistant coach Dylan Hunter blows the whistle during practice at London, Ont.'s Budweiser Gardens on April 23, 2024. (Brent Lale/CTV News London)
London will have the first two games, as well as a potential game seven at home.
It gives them the benefits of a home town crowd, and last change to get the matchups the coaching staff wants each shift.
With two teams who lead the league in points, and evenly matched on paper, it’s a coin-flip when it comes to predictions.
“At this point they are all good teams, and they don’t really have weaknesses,” said Hunter. “It’s a game of inches, and its going to be power plays, penalty kills and there are going to be ups and downs emotionally. The good things is we have guys who have been in this situation before.”
It should be a classic series, and while there is work to be done, the Knights understand with eight wins down and eight to go, they are half-way to their goal.
"We want to get to the Mem [Memorial] Cup and hopefully bring that home too,” said Julien.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
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.