Knights and Generals battle for OHL title

The OHL Finals features London and Oshawa. It’s the West champion versus the East winner — with a trip to the Memorial Cup on the line. What’s in store? Our hockey columnist, Jake Jeffrey, breaks it down …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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And then there were two.

The London Knights and Oshawa Generals will face off for OHL supremacy, beginning Thursday night (May 9) — the first time these two storied franchises have ever met in the playoffs.

The Knights are returning to the championship series for the second straight season, while Oshawa’s last appearance came in 2015 when they went on to win the Memorial Cup.

“Both teams are here for a reason,” Knights head coach Dale Hunter said during a virtual media conference this week. 

“They’re a very skilled team. We’ll have to play strong team defense because of their ability to score.”

Led up front by Colorado Avalanche first rounder Callum Ritchie, draft-eligible Beckett Sennecke and former London Junior Knight Dylan Roobroeck, the Generals have three players in the top five in postseason scoring.

Oshawa is coming off a big Game 7 win over North Bay after the Battalion won three straight to come back from a 3-0 series deficit. They are the first team to win Game 7 after surrendering a 3-0 series lead since the 2008 Kitchener Rangers, who did so against Belleville in the OHL Finals.

The Knights return to the final after coming a couple games short of an OHL championship last year. Forward Max McCue says they’re hoping to rely on that experience and push for a different result this time around. 

“We have a lot of guys back that were on that team, and Mike (Simpson) in net who ended up winning,” he said. “We’re definitely leaning on that for experience, so hopefully we can come out and be on the other side of it this time.”

As the playoff MVP last season with Peterborough, Michael Simpson has been as advertised for the Knights this season. The goaltender has a .911 save percentage and has made some big saves when the Knights have needed him most. 

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

It’s a similar situation in Oshawa, though, as they also rely on strong netminding to give them an edge in close games. Jacob Oster was the OHL Goaltender of the Year, in fact, and he’s continued that strong play into the playoffs with a pair of shutouts and a .923 save percentage.

Generals captain Stuart Rolofs is no stranger to Budweiser Gardens. He was originally drafted by London and played parts of two seasons with the club before being traded to Oshawa. As an overager, he’s looking forward to the chance at finishing his junior career on top.

“It’s every player’s dream to play for a championship, and to get that chance in my final year is awesome,” Rolofs said. “London is a great team and we’re going to have to be at our best to beat them. I think we have a good shot.” 

Oshawa has won an OHL-best 13 J. Ross Robertson Cups, with their most recent victory coming in 2015 when they topped the Connor McDavid-led Erie Otters. London won their fourth OHL championship the next season in 2016.

Both the Knights and Generals ended up winning the Memorial Cup those years, but only one will get that shot this season.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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OHL Playoffs: OHL Final — London Knights vs. Oshawa Generals

Game 1: London 8 vs. Oshawa 1
Game 2: London 9 vs. Oshawa 1
Game 3: London 7 @ Oshawa 6 (OT2)
Game 4: Wed. May 15 (7:00pm @ Oshawa)
Game 5: Fri. May 17 (7:00pm @ London) (If necessary)*
Game 6: Sun. May 19 (TBD @ Oshawa) (If necessary)*
Game 7: Mon. May 20 (TBD @ London) (If necessary)*

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Londoner Dylan Roobroeck scored twice to help Oshawa clinch a Game 7 win over North Bay. The New York Rangers draft pick has 10 goals and 21 points in the playoffs.

London Junior Knights grad and Peterborough Petes prospect Raiden Doxtator is representing Ontario at the 2024 National Aboriginal Hockey Championship in Grande Prairie, Alberta. 

Owen Van Steensel’s breakout season has come to an end for the North Bay Battalion. The Ilderton native had seven goals and 20 points in the playoffs, following up a 41-goal, 86-point regular season.

SERIES STORYLINES

- Now the captain of the Oshawa Generals, Stuart Rolofs will face off against the team that drafted him in the first round back in 2019.

- Oshawa and London were the two hottest teams heading into the postseason, as the Knights won their final seven games and the Generals wrapped up the regular season with a dozen straight wins.

- This series features quite the goaltending duel, as the reigning OHL Goaltender of the Year Jacob Oster faces the reigning Playoff MVP in Michael Simpson.

- Knights will start the series shorthanded, as both Kaleb Lawrence and Landon Sim have four games remaining on their suspensions. Both will be eligible to return for Game 5.