'We believe we’re the strongest team': Knights prepare for long playoff run
Budweiser Gardens is about to be rockin’.
"It's the best time of the year,” said Rick Steadman, Knights assistant coach. “We’ve got the fans coming in and they're going to be loud. It's just an exciting time.”
The Knights slumped down the stretch — which cost them first place in the Western Conference — but with wins Saturday and Sunday they finished second overall.
They now believe the pendulum has swung as they head into their first round playoff series with the seventh-seeded Owen Sound Attack.
“Those two last wins were huge for us,” said Landon Sim, who had 14 goals in 56 games this year for London. “The morale has changed after those wins. We kind of had a rough stretch here last couple of weeks, but that win on Sunday against Kitchener felt awesome.”
“Momentum going into playoffs is huge, and I think we've definitely built some over the past few games,” added Sam Dickinson, a Knights rookie defenceman. “We've played well as a team, we've done the little things right, and we just got to continue to do that into the playoffs.”
In addition, they will carry a bit of swagger too.
“We believe we’re the best team in the league,” said Dickinson. “From the guys up front, to the ‘d’ [defence] and in the net, we believe we're the strongest team.”
In Owen Sound, the Attack are taking on the role of underdog, even though they split the season series with the Knights 3-3.
They were decimated by injuries all season, but are getting healthy at the right time.
“I think with our team we’ve lost probably about 230 or more man games to injury,” said Greg Walters, Attack head coach. “We're slowly getting back here and hoping that we could have a full lineup for the first time in a long time. There's no better place to the play than ‘The Bud’ on Friday night.”
London bowed out in round one last season to Kitchener, which was a huge disappointment to not only the fans, but the entire organization.
“Losing game seven last year was one of the toughest experiences we have ever been through,” said Sim. “We don't want to go through something like that again. So, we have a lot of guys that were in that situation last year. We just kind of want to get some revenge and not let that happen again.”
The Knights host game one Friday and game two on Sunday before the series shifts back to Owen Sound next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.