Knight Watch: Wiped out weekend = busier home stretch

The Knights, who had all three of their games this weekend postponed (due to COVID-19 protocols), could play more than 30 games the next two months. That and more from columnist Jake Jeffrey.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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The London Knights’ busy weekend opened right up after the OHL postponed all three of their Michigan-based games, adding to the pile of games that the team — and many other squads in the Ontario Hockey League — will need to play at a later date.

When the OHL announced Friday that COVID-19 protocols were affecting the Knights, all three road games, which were set to place in Saginaw (Friday and Saturday) and Flint (Sunday) were postponed.

That makes it eight games now that London will need to make up by season's end — and they're already scheduled to play 27 games between now and April.

The delay means that Camaryn Baber will have to wait a little longer for his Saginaw homecoming. The former Spirit captain was set to return from his two game suspension in time to face his former team this weekend. He was originally supposed to face his former teammates Jan. 13 and 14, but both of those games were also postponed due to COVID restrictions.

The Knights have yet to play Saginaw this season, and they’ve played the Firebirds twice (during a trip across the border back in November).

The league also made minor changes to London’s home games the next two Friday nights — against Windsor on Feb. 4 and the Soo on Feb. 18. Both of those games will now start at 7pm at Budweiser Gardens.

Knights forward Easton Cowan. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Playing in his sixth game with the Knights this season, Easton Cowan (from Mount Brydges) scored his first OHL goal in London’s loss to Guelph last Sunday.

Ilderton’s Owen Van Steensel (North Bay Battalion) had two goals and two assists during a recent three-game stretch (Jan. 23-27).

As the OHL Priority Selection nears, Central Scouting highlighted London Jr. Knights standout forward Jett Luchanko as one of the top prospects.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

It was just another weekend at the office for captain Luke Evangelista, who had three goals and four assists in three games last Friday thru Sunday.

Despite being held off the scoresheet last Sunday, Sean McGurn had a six-point weekend with three goals and three assists.

With three goals and five assists, Logan Mailloux has points in all six games he’s played since returning from suspension.

The Knights have allowed a league-low 86 goals against this season.

FOLLOWING FORMER KNIGHTS

Seth Griffith (2009-13) is riding a nine-game point streak for the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors, tallying an impressive six goals and 13 assists over that stretch. On the season, he’s leading the team with 37 points in 27 games (tied for 7th-most in the league).

Chris DeSousa (2009-10), who spent parts of two seasons in London and is now playing in Wolfsburg, is currently 10th in scoring in the top German league (DEL) with 22 goals and 40 points.