Tough weekend test for inconsistent Knights

Knight Watch: London gets Saginaw and the Soo this weekend; Team looking to clamp down on defense; Julien continues surge, Sim returns to lineup; Three headed to World Juniors camp. Columnist Jake Jeffrey has the latest Knights news and notes …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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The London Knights got back into the win column Tuesday with a 4-1 victory over Sarnia on Teddy Bear Toss Night.

Jared Woolley scored the goal that sparked the plethora of plush toys onto the ice. It was just his fifth game with the Knights this season, and the goal was his first in the OHL. Talk about a great time to notch your first.

Jacob Julien had a goal and an assist Tuesday. The Winnipeg Jets prospect has been red hot over the last few weeks, as he now has seven goals and 20 points over his last 10 games.

The Knights’ powerplay was solid yet again. They scored two more goals on the man-advantage Tuesday night, giving them six powerplay goals in their last three games — and 23 over their last 12. 

Although Sarnia has struggled this season, it was an encouraging win nonetheless for the Knights. And it was equally encouraging to limit the Sting to just one goal. London had surrendered 24 goals in the four games leading up to Tuesday’s tilt.

On the year, the Knights have allowed 93 goals against this season (3.4 per game). That puts them around the middle of the pack in the OHL, but London will want to tighten up those numbers as the season progresses.

The absence of overage blueliner Ethan MacKinnon has impacted London’s defensive play. He’s been out of the lineup dealing with an injury since Oct. 12.

The Knights got a boost this week as Landon Sim made his season debut. He hasn’t played since the OHL Championship in May. It was also the first time he faced off against his younger brother, Lane, who is in his rookie season with the Sting. Sim almost scored his first of the season Tuesday, but a quick stick from Sting defenceman Nathan Omeri kept the puck out as it was about to cross the goal line.

London had a pair of losses last weekend, including a 5-1 decision at home to Mississauga, and a 7-5 loss in Saginaw. The Knights were outshot in both of those games, including a 33-18 deficit against the Spirit where they were outshot 27-10 over the final two periods.

They’ll face that same Spirit squad Friday night looking for some redemption. London has dropped both games in Saginaw this season, but it will be the Spirit’s first visit to Budweiser Gardens. London then travels to Sault Ste. Marie Sunday to face the West Division-leading Greyhounds.

Three London Knights have been invited to Hockey Canada’s selection camp for the World Juniors. Denver Barkey, Oliver Bonk and Easton Cowan will be heading to camp in Oakville Dec. 10-13.

All three will likely play Friday night, but will then miss Sunday’s contest in the Soo.

This year’s World Junior Championship tournament is being held in Gothenburg, Sweden. It will start Boxing Day and wrap up in the new year, with the gold medal game taking place Jan. 5

Denver Barkey will join teammates Easton Cowan and Oliver Bonk, a pair of first-round NHL draft picks last spring, at Team Canada’s selection camp (Dec. 10-13) for the World Junior Championships. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (Dec. 8, 7:00pm) vs. Saginaw Spirit (16-8-0-1, 2nd in West Division)

London is winless against the Spirit this season, dropping a pair of games — 7-5 and 6-4 — in Saginaw. Friday will mark the first time the two teams play in London this year. Both teams have Memorial Cup aspirations, so this should be a good matchup. It could be another strong game for both teams’ power play units. London went a perfect 3-for-3 against Saginaw last weekend, while the Spirit went 2-for-3 with the man advantage. On the year, Saginaw has the most efficient powerplay in the OHL at 35%. Zayne Parekh is the reigning OHL Defenseman of the Month. The draft-eligible blueliner has 36 points and 10 goals in 25 games. Strathroy’s Hunter Haight has six goals and 14 points over his last 10 games.

Sunday (Dec. 10, 2:07pm) @ Soo Greyhounds (18-8-2-0, 1st in West Division)

The Greyhounds had a great start to the season, and they’ve held steady since, leading the OHL’s West Division. Captain Bryce McConnell-Barker, a player local to London, has stepped up his play after a slow start. Defenseman Arttu Karki is one of the OHL’s top offensive defencemen. He has 16 goals, 11 of which have come on the powerplay. London lost in a shootout last time they visited the Soo back in early October. The Greyhounds have the second most points in the OHL, behind only Kitchener. Their 120 goals also rank second in the OHL.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Dorchester’s Marcus Vandenburg, who backstopped the Niagara IceDogs to back-to-back victories, making a combined 77 saves against Kitchener and Peterborough, is on the move. The reigning OHL Goaltender of the Week was traded Friday to the Sudbury Wolves for a pair of third round draft picks.

Parkhill’s Dylan Richter potted his first OHL goal for the North Bay Battalion. 

Strathroy’s Hunter Haight has six goals and 14 points over his last 10 games with the Saginaw Spirit.

Ilderton’s Owen Van Steensel scored his second hat trick of the season for the North Bay Battalion, giving him 15 goals on the campaign.

Brodie McConnell-Barker picked up his first assist of the season, helping set up his older brother Bryce McConnell-Barker’s 10th goal of the season. It was the 150th career OHL point for the elder McConnell-Barker brother.

Guelph Storm forward Jett Luchanko has five goals and eight points in his last five games.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

11,924 - It was a record setting Teddy Bear toss, with 11,924 collected.

31 - London’s 31 powerplay goals are most in the OHL.

198 - It had been 198 days since Landon Sim had played in an OHL game. He returned to the Knights’ lineup Tuesday night against Sarnia.

13 - Kasper Halttunen had an assist Tuesday to extend his point streak to 13 games. He also got into his first OHL fight in that game.

KNIGHTS PROSPECT PIPELINE

It was a big week for Jared Woolley, whose first OHL goal was also the Teddy Bear Toss goal. He has six goals and 21 points in 17 games with the GOJHL’s St. Thomas Stars this season.

AROUND THE OHL

The Peterborough Petes acquired forward Ryder McIntyre from the Oshawa Generals for a 6th round pick in 2027. McIntyre was originally with the Sarnia Sting but joined the Petes last season via trade.

The Teddy Bear Toss didn’t go as planned for the Sarnia Sting. Kitchener goaltender Tristan Malboeuf made a goal line save on Andrew LeBlanc early in the second period. The goal light went on, though, and LeBlanc started the celebration. That was all the prompting fans needed as they tossed 4,128 bears onto the ice. Upon review, the puck did not cross the goal line. But the teddy bears rained down anyway.