Oshawa Generals coach says 'we’ve earned' trip to OHL Championship Series against London Knights
The Oshawa Generals believe they belong in the Ontario Hockey League Championship.
“We just didn't get here by surprise, we've earned it,” said Derek Laxdal, head coach of the Generals. “From December on, we are right there with the London Knights for the best overall record.”
The Generals finished the regular season on a 12-game win streak, and are 12-5 thus far in the OHL playoffs.
They face the Knights in a matchup featuring the number one seed in the Western Conference [London] versus the Generals who finished number one in the Eastern Conference.
For Generals overage captain Stuart Rolofs, he’ll be facing some familiar foes. He played 46 games for the Knights in his rookie and sophomore seasons before being traded to the Generals for a pair of draft picks in 2021.
Knights forward Max McCue was drafted in the second round by the Knights in 2019, one round after Rolofs.
“That was a long time ago,” joked McCue.
He continued, “I remember going to school with him. The first couple of years in London is tough, and you go through a lot of adversity and we kind of dealt with that together. Stu is a great person on and off the ice, works extremely hard, and it’s no surprise he’s the captain of a team that’s going for it in the championship series. All the best to him, but we are looking to take him down this time.”
Stuart Rolofs of the Oshawa Generals is seen on May 6, 2024. (Source: OHL Images)
That will certainly be a challenge.
The Generals have three of the top five scorers in the OHL playoffs, and goaltender Jacob Oster has a 2.29 goals against average in the postseason.
The two teams split the regular season series, but in both of those games the Knights trailed 3-0.
They can’t afford a start like that during this series.
“We have to come out ready to play,” said Rob Simpson, Knights associate general manager. "They have star power, good goaltending and solid defence. If you don't put structured game against them, they can put passes together, and make plays off the rush and put it in the back of the net.”
The entire series is broadcast on TSN, giving both teams a national audience for what should be a great matchup.
“It’s great for the Ontario Hockey League that we are on this stage,” said Dale Hunter, Knights head coach. “It’s going to be exciting and people across the country can watch.”
2024 OHL Championship Series Schedule
- Game 1^ – Thursday, May 9 – Oshawa at London – 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (on TSN3)
- Game 2^ – Saturday, May 11 – Oshawa at London – 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (on TSN3)
- Game 3^ – Monday, May 13 – London at Oshawa – 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
- Game 4^ – Wednesday, May 15 – London at Oshawa – 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
- Game 5*^ – Friday, May 17 – Oshawa at London – 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
- Game 6*^ – Sunday, May 19 – London at Oshawa – Time To Be Confirmed
- Game 7*^ – Monday, May 20 – Oshawa at London – Time To Be Confirmed
* = if necessary
^ = TSN national broadcast
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton dead following prison attack
Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
DND moving 1,000 employees out of Ottawa office building due to safety concerns
The Department of National Defence is moving approximately 1,000 employees out of an office building in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood, citing safety concerns for its employees.
Baby dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to woman who was in police custody
A newborn is dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to a woman in police custody.
Jennifer Lopez cancels summer tour: 'I am completely heartsick and devastated'
Jennifer Lopez has cancelled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.
2 children among 5 people hospitalized after head-on crash on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa's west end
Two young children and three adults were seriously injured in a major collision on Highway 417 between Palladium Drive and Carp Road in Ottawa's west end Friday afternoon.
Fast food chain value deals ramp up in the United States: What does it mean for Canada?
After years of price increases and a decline in customers, fast food chains in the United States are competing with each other and offering value deals in hopes of bringing more foot traffic into their establishments.
This Calgary home has a giant tree in the middle, and it's for sale
There's a luxury 'tree home' for sale in Calgary.
Marian Robinson, mother of Michelle Obama, dies at 86
Marian Shields Robinson, the mother of Michelle Obama who moved with the first family to the White House when son-in-law Barack Obama was elected president, has died. She was 86.