Knight Watch: Second-half momentum?

The Knights are looking to build off two wins last weekend when they face Sarnia at home Sunday. Columnist Jake Jeffrey has the latest news, notes and numbers.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

The London Knights started off 2022 with a pair of convincing wins, beating Flint (6-1) and Kitchener (6-2) last weekend.

It was a welcome sign for Knights fans after the team headed into the holiday break losers of four of their last five — and in the process being overtaken by the Guelph Storm for first place in both the Midwest Division and Western Conference overall. London has taken that top spot back, though, with two quick wins.

Defencemen Kirill Steklov and Logan Mailloux made immediate impacts in their season debuts, as both finished last weekend with four points while playing big minutes on the backend.

The Knights were looking to keep the momentum going with three games this weekend, but following the latest round of OHL postponements, which included both their Thursday and Friday games against Saginaw, they will instead play just one game Sunday (against Sarnia at home). 

That postponed home-and-home series against Saginaw, which was part of an ongoing — and growing — list of games rescheduled by the OHL in recent weeks, will be made up later in the season.

London does have a makeup date for their canceled New Year's Day game in Erie. It has been changed to Saturday, Feb. 19. Like many teams dealing with postponements, that will make for a very busy schedule going forward for the Knights, who will play 13 games over 28 days in February — with six others needing to be rescheduled for some time down the road.

New Knight Camaryn Baber, acquired from Saginaw before the trade deadline, tallied his first point with London in last Sunday’s 6-2 win over the Kitchener Rangers. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Sunday (Jan. 16, 2:00pm) vs. Sarnia Sting (12-13-3-0)

The Knights have lost their last three games against the Sting this season, as Sarnia continues to be a tough matchup for London. Ty Voit has two goals and seven points in five games against the Knights this season. While two of Sarnia’s three victories have been credited to goaltender Anson Thornton, Benjamin Gaudreau has played the bulk of the time in net this season for the Sting.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Ingersoll’s Gavin Bryant had a career-high four points (one goal, three assists) in Owen Sound’s 5-0 win over Sarnia Wednesday night. Bryant has seven goals and 17 points in 22 games with the Attack this season, and NHL Central Scouting has him ranked 160th among North American Skaters for the upcoming 2022 draft.

Speaking of those rankings, a number of local prospects are on the radar for the NHL draft, including: Bryce McConnell-Barker (Soo Greyhounds-28th), Strathroy’s Brady Stonehouse (Ottawa 67’s-138th), and Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs graduate Christian Kyrou (Erie Otters-179th).

Londoner, and former OHLer, Nick Suzuki was recently named to his first NHL All-Star game — the only member of the Montreal Canadiens selected.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

The London Knights led the way among CHL teams with eight players on NHL Central Scouting’s mid-season list of players to watch for the upcoming NHL Draft. Among North American skaters: Isaiah George (42nd), Ruslan Gazizov (62nd), Jackson Edward (75th), Colton Smith (129), Brody Crane (188), Kirill Steklov (196), Landon Sim (213). Brett Brochu, meanwhile, was listed as the 16th-ranked North American goaltender.

Sean McGurn, Luke Evangelista and Antonio Stranges continued their impressive offensive output against the Kitchener Rangers last Sunday. In four meetings against Kitchener this season, McGurn has three goals and 12 points, Evangelista has three goals and 11 points, and Stranges now has five goals and 10 points. Good news for the trio: the Knights and Rangers are scheduled to play six more times.

FOLLOWING FORMER KNIGHTS

Michael Houser, who backstopped the Knights to a Memorial Cup in 2011-12 (and won the Red Tilson trophy as the OHL’s most outstanding player the same season), recently signed an entry level contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

Nazem Kadri has been enjoying a resurgence of sorts in Colorado. The former Knight is on pace for a career high in points, and could reach 30 goals for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Despite his strong play, the former Knight was one of the most glaring absences from the NHL’s All-Star teams.