Knight Watch: London looking to end on high note

With Friday’s game postponed (COVID positives for Owen Sound), the Knights have their sights set solely on beating the pesky Guelph Storm Saturday before heading into the holiday break.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

Well, just like that, the OHL’s holiday break is nearly upon us, and the London Knights will have some much needed reinforcements as they wrap up the unofficial first half of their season.

Luke Evangelista has been returned from Hockey Canada (a surprise cut from the Junior Team), while both Bryce Montgomery and Landon Sim are eligible to return following two-game suspensions. 

With their roster crunch, last weekend the Knights had to get creative against Windsor and Guelph, playing with a shortened bench and even having forwards Liam Gilmartin and Brody Crane playing some defense.

London ended up getting outscored 8-1 in a pair of losses.

Brett Brochu will be away from the team until the new year, as he’ll be competing for Canada at the World Juniors over the holidays. That means the net will be shared by Matt Onuska and Owen Flores for the next handful of games.

There is also some uncertainty across the OHL as the league wraps up the unofficial first half, with Owen Sound, Kingston, Erie and Flint all postponing team activities after positive COVID cases among players and staff.

Owen Sound was scheduled to play in London Friday night, but that game has been postponed.

That means just one game left for the Knights before the break — against a team they’ve yet to beat this season. London has dropped three of their last four games, and now the Guelph Storm are just one point back of London for first place is in the Western Conference.

That should make Saturday’s matchup in Guelph (2:00pm), which is the final game for both teams before the holiday break, all the more interesting …

Knights captain Luke Evangelista will be back in London’s lineup Saturday in a big game against Guelph after he was a surprise cut from Team Canada’s World Junior Team. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (Dec. 17) vs. Owen Sound Attack — postponed due to COVID protocols (Owen Sound)

Saturday (Dec. 18, 2:00pm) @ Guelph Storm (16-8-1-1)

As mentioned, Guelph has the chance to leapfrog London for first place in the Western Conference with a win Saturday. Last Saturday’s 4-0 shutout win over the Knights was the Storm’s third win over London in as many tries this year. Although the green and gold were without their leading scorer and captain, Luke Evangelista, that day, he’ll be back in the lineup this time around. Meanwhile, Guelph’s leading goal scorer, Sasha Pastujov, will miss the contest, as he’s away with Team USA preparing for the World Juniors.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Michael Simpson of the Peterborough Petes has stopped 70 of 74 shots over his last three games.

The Mississauga Steelheads have a pair of locals in their lineup, and both Aiden Prueter and Zander Veccia are coming off a strong weekend. Pruter scored twice in the Steelheads’ win over Ottawa, while Veccia has two goals and four points over his last three games.

Brett Harrison scored twice and added a pair of assists in Oshawa’s win over Peterborough Sunday, which gives the Boston Bruins prospect 15 goals in 21 games for the Generals this season.

Dylan Roobroeck scored his first OHL goal Thursday night. The left-winger also has five assists in his first 20 games for the Niagara IceDogs this season.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

Matt Onuska stopped 61 of the 65 shots he faced last weekend (losing to Windsor, and coming into the game in relief against Sarnia on Saturday).

London will need more shots on net this weekend, as they averaged just 8.2 shots per period last weekend, and only reached double digit shots in one of the six periods they played.