Gameday in 5

A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (Dec. 26-Jan. 1) — for London’s teams and athletes.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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London Knights

It was an emotional return to the ice for the London Knights last week, as the team played its first games since the tragic passing of teammate Abakar Kazbekov. The forward died Saturday, Dec. 17, at just 18 years of age.

In their first game back Wednesday, the Knights held a pregame moment of silence and a celebration of life for Kazbekov, who joined the team in 2021 after being selected first overall in the U18 draft. The team honoured Kazbekov with a video tribute — while the players wore a special #15 patch on their sweaters. The #15 was also been painted in-ice behind the nets at Budweiser Gardens.

Playing with heavy hearts, the Knights won Wednesday over the Erie Otters, 4-2, for their fourth win in a row. Easton Cowan got the scoring started on a powerplay goal in the first period, and George Diaco followed 1:21 later with powerplay goal of his own. The Otters notched a goal in the second, before Sean McGurn restored the two-goal lead at the 12:14 mark and Isaiah George made it 4-1 on an empty netter. The Otters managed a goal late for the 4-2 finish.

Friday’s game was a high-scoring affair, with the Knights beating the Sarnia Sting, 7-5. London got off to a strong start, scoring three times in the opening period, thanks to Mathieu Paris, Sam Dickinson and Easton Cowan. The Knights’ offence didn’t stop there, as Isaiah George and Logan Mailloux extended the home side’s lead to 5-0 in the second period before the Sting finally responded, scoring twice before Sean McGurn made it 6-2. Denver Barkey made it 7-3 in the third, and although the Sting scored twice more, it wasn’t enough.

In the second game of the home-and-home series Saturday, the Knights beat the Sting 4-1 in Sarnia. The Knights scored the icebreaker — for the third game in a row — thanks to George Diaco. With a 1-0 lead to start the second, Denver Barkey extended the Knights’ advantage with a powerplay marker at the 11":04 mark of the period. The Sting came within a goal, but Sean McGurn in the period’s final minute, and then Ruslan Gazizov put things away in the third with his 10th goal of the year.

On Monday, the Knights made a move to suggest their hot play over the last two months has, in fact, convinced them to take their best shot this season. They acquired forwards Ryan Winterton and Ryan Humphrey (2022 OHL champs) from the Hamilton Bulldogs in exchange for Luca Testa, Carson Lloyd, and the team’s 2nd Round draft pick in 2026.

Up next:

The Knights (23-8-1-0) enter Tuesday’s contest in second place in the Western Conference, just one point behind the Saginaw Spirit (with two games in hand) — a team they’ll play during a busy four-game week ahead …

Tues. Jan. 3 (7:00pm vs. Guelph Storm)
Fri. Jan. 6 (7:00pm vs. Hamilton Bulldogs)
Sat. Jan. 7 (7:05pm @ Saginaw Spirit)
Sun. Jan. 8 (2:07pm @ Soo Greyhounds)

London Lightning

The roster is taking shape for the London Lightning’s 2023 season, as player signings have been coming fast and furious in recent days. Last week, the Lightning announced their first two (re-)signings, Mareik Isom and Marcus Ottey.

On Friday, the team signed its first new player, Kam Williams, an American guard who played parts of last season with the Albany Patroons of the TBL and in Denmark’s BasketLigaen with FOG Naestved (17.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg 1.1 steals in 28 games). At Ohio State in 2013-14 and 2014-15, Williams was a teammate of big man Amir Williams, who won an NBLC title with the Lightning last year.

On New Year’s Eve, the Lighting then signed American guard Christian Nobles, who spent last season with the TBL’s Syracuse Stallions. On Monday, London landed Ryan Davis (University of Vermont alum), who was named America East Player of the Year both in 2021 and 2022. Then, on Tuesday, Canadian forward Justin Jackson joined the Lightning. He’s a former Denver Nuggets draft pick (2018) with plenty of G-League experience.

Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL)

The London Nationals weren’t in action last week, continuing their holiday break from league action, but some members of the team — and several others representing London-area teams — did participate in the GOJHL’s Future Stars and Top Prospects Games.

The games, held in Ayr at the North Dumfries Community Complex, showcased some of the best talent in the league. In the Futures Game, Team Black came away with a 3-1 win over Team White, with Ethan Facchina, of the local Strathroy Rockets, scoring the game-winner in the third period. In the Prospects game, Team Black won in convincing fashion, 6-2, over Team White. The Rockets’ Brennan Faulkner scored twice in that contest.

Players from the local GOJHL teams that earned an invite earlier in December to the Futures and Prospects Games included …

Futures Game (top 16-year-olds): Gavin McGahey-Smith and Jagan Chanderdat (Komoka Kings), Facchina and Dylan Richter (Strathroy Rockets), Harrison Franssen and William Nicholl (St. Thomas Stars), Grayden Strohack and Carter George (St. Marys Lincolns) and Talan Palmer and Sam O’Reilly — as well as the coaching staff — of the London Nationals.

Prospects Game (top 17- and 18-year-olds): Liam Reid, Charley Barnes and Faulkner (Strathroy Rockets), Jack Greenwell (Komoka Kings), Mike Levin (St. Thomas Stars), Luca Spagnolo (St. Marys Lincolns) and Dylan Dundas (London Nationals).

London Nationals

Up next:

The Nationals (24-5-2-1) enter the second half in first place in the Western Conference, four points ahead of the Leamington Flyers. Their winning percentage (.797) is tied with the Hamilton Kilty B’s for third-best in the GOJHL.

Wed. Jan. 4 (7:00pm vs. Komoka Kings)
Fri. Jan. 6 (7:30pm @ St. Marys Lincolns)