Fleming Player of the Year; Strong first-half finish for Knights

Gameday in 5: A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (Dec. 11-17) — for London’s teams and athletes.

(Photo: Daniela Porcelli - Canada Soccer).

* * *

London Knights

The Knights were perfect last week, winning all three of their games. Opening the week on the road Thursday, London beat the Windsor Spitfires, 6-2. Playing without their top scorers, who were away at World Junior camps, Ruslan Gazizov stepped up and recorded assists on each of the Knights’ first four goals, including markers from Jacob Julien and Landon Sim to open things up.

After Windsor tied the game with a pair of goals 26 seconds apart, Sim notched his second of the game (which would stand as the game winner). Sam O’Reilly, Henry Brzustewicz and Max McCue also scored for London.

The Knights then continued their strong offensive performance on Friday with an 8-2 win over the Owen Sound Attack. Down 1-0 to start the second period, the Knights came to life with five straight goals, including a pair from Max McCue and singles from Ruslan Gazizov, Jacob Julien and Sam Dickinson. Julien added two more insurance goals in the third to record a hat trick, while Jared Woolley notched his second of the season in the final minute of the contest.

After two convincing wins, Sunday’s Knights game was a lot closer — but they still came away with a win, beating the Sudbury Wolves 4-3 in overtime on home ice.

On the anniversary of the tragic passing of Abakar Kazbekov, it was his close friend, Ruslan Gazizov, who saved the game with a late goal to force overtime — and then scored the winner with some extra frame heroics.

Max McCue got the scoring started Sunday, notching the ice breaker just 38 seconds into the contest. That 1-0 lead would stand until just past the 15-minute mark of the second period, when Sudbury tied things up. It was the third period that held most of the action. The Wolves took the lead two minutes in, but London didn’t waste any time, punching back with William Nicholl’s tying marker a minute later.

After Sudbury took the lead back, Gazizov tied the game with just over a minute and half left to force overtime. And the Russian’s heroics were not done there, as he produced the game-winning goal at the 4:50 mark of overtime to win the game for the Knights.

Up next:

The Knights are now off for the holiday break (they’ll have 11 days between games). Their 41 points are tied for third in the Western Conference with the Saginaw Spirit. After the break, London will open with a three-game weekend …

Thurs. Dec. 28 (7:05pm @ Sarnia Sting)
Fri. Dec. 29 (7:00pm vs. Sarnia Sting)
Sun. Dec. 31 (4:00pm vs. Flint Firebirds)

Women’s Soccer — Jessie Fleming Canada Soccer Player of the Year

For the third straight year, Londons Jessie Fleming was named Canada’s top female player. Fleming was recognized Friday with the honour — as voted by Canadian coaches and media.

The London, ON native, who has now won the award three consecutive years, helped Canada clinch a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics with a 2-1 win over Jamaica Sept. 26 in front of a sold-out crowd (29,212) at BMO Field in Toronto. She wore the captain’s armband in that win, which earned the Canadians the chance to defend their historic Olympic gold medal from the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Besides her play for Canada, where she also appeared in a third World Cup last summer, Fleming made 32 appearances (1,588 minutes) and scored two goals from January to November with her club team, Chelsea FC.

She won the 2022-23 FA Super League and the 2023 FA Cup, and reached the Semifinals in the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League.

London Lightning

The Lightning re-signed Mike Nuga, an athletic and energetic guard, for the upcoming season — the team’s first in the new Basketball Super League (BSL).

“Fans can expect a big jump from Mike this year — in his consistency and his play,” Lightning coach Doug Plumb said of Nuga, who was a rookie last season. “He spent the summer working on his game and training and playing with the Nigerian national team. He’s been very impressive in his first couple days at camp.”

One of three players to appear in all 39 games for the Lightning last season (he made 16 starts), Nuga averaged 11.8 points and 5.2 rebounds in 26.9 minutes. At times, he took over games with his energy and athleticism.

In London’s wild Game 5 win over Windsor to capture a second straight NBLC championship, Nuga tallied 23 points on 8-for-13 shooting, including 5-for-9 from three-point range.

The Lightning open the BSL season Dec. 28 in Sudbury. Their home opener is Jan. 2, 2024 against the KW Titans.

Women’s Hockey — Team Canada

Three former London Devilettes players suited up for Canada’s senior national women’s hockey team last week for a pair of games in the 2023-24 Rivalry Series against the United States — first, on Thursday in Kitchener, and then on Saturday in Sarnia.

Ella Shelton, who’s been a mainstay on the senior team since the 2021 World Championships, scored on Saturday. Down 2-1 in the third period in Sarnia, Shelton found the back of the net to tie the score and force overtime. The Canadians went on to win the game, 3-2, after a victorious shootout.

On Thursday, a 3-2 loss to the U.S., Londoner Julia Gosling notched her first point with the senior national team. She’s enjoying a very strong final season at St. Lawrence University. Her 29 points in 17 games are fourth best in the ECAC conference.

“It's always such an honour playing for Canada. It’s a special group, and I’m happy to be part of it,” said the 22-year-old Gosling.

Nicole Gosling, meanwhile, made her senior team debut Thursday. A cousin of Julia’s, the 21-year-old defender is also enjoying a strong senior collegiate season with Clarkson University. Nicole and Julia played together back in 2019 at the U18 World Championships.

“It’s a dream come true to make the national team roster. It’s always been my dream to play at this level — and with these women,” the younger Gosling said. “I’m just looking forward to contribute in any way that I can.”