Knights ready for preseason puck drop

A successful training camp has the London Knights prepped for their first preseason games of the year, this Saturday and Sunday vs. Sarnia. Which new faces will impress? Hockey columnist Jake Jeffrey has the latest …

Kasper Halttunen, a Finnish native, is expected to play a key role for the Knights in 2023-24. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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Junior hockey is back.

With the OHL regular season just around the corner, there’s been no shortage of competition at London Knights training camp this year, as the defending Western Conference champs lost only a handful of players from last year’s squad — a team that made it all the way to the OHL Final before falling to the Peterborough Petes.

There are some big skates to fill, however, and perhaps the biggest is in net where a familiar face has moved on. As London pursues its fifth straight Midwest Division title in 2023-24, it’ll do so without Brett Brochu, whose junior career stands among the all-time Knights’ netminders. An OHL graduate, Brochu has begun his pro career with the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets.

It will likely be Zach Bowen’s crease to start the season, although Owen Willmore was great when called upon during the OHL Final against Peterborough. Alexey Medvedev, one of the top 2007-born goaltenders, will also compete for a spot. In fact, if Medvedev has a good showing in preseason, he could very well win the backup spot as a 16-year-old. If not, he’ll likely end up with a nearby GOJHL team to gain some additional seasoning at the junior level.

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Up front, co-captains (and overagers) Sean McGurn and George Diaco have both moved on. McGurn is playing with the University of New Brunswick, and Diaco is with Tranas AIF in Sweden. Defenceman Logan Mailloux was a question mark to begin the season, as his NHL eligibility was in question. But he’s been given the go-ahead by commissioner Gary Bettman and will start the season in the Montreal Canadiens’ organization.

Who will step in and fill key roles? Among fresh faces, look no further than San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen, who is expected to be an impact player right away. The Finnish forward was a second round pick by the Sharks in the most recent NHL draft. He has a combination of size and strength that will pose a challenge for other teams to keep in check.

William Nicholl (Manotick, ON) and Sam O’Reilly (Toronto, ON) are hoping to follow a similar trajectory as Easton Cowan and Oliver Bonk did before them. Both enjoyed outstanding seasons in the GOJHL last year, and both are hoping to make a smooth transition to the OHL as 17-year-olds. That’s the path Cowan and Bonk took, and both were selected in this year’s NHL Draft.

Knights goaltender Zach Bowen at training camp Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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During training camp, the Knights acquired highly touted prospect Henry Brzustewicz from the Ottawa 67’s (in exchange for a trio of future draft picks). He was one of the top defensemen eligible in last year’s OHL priority selection and was selected 22nd overall by the 67’s. The Michigan native is the younger brother of Kitchener Rangers defenseman Hunter Brzustewicz, which will add yet another layer to the classic midwest division rivalry.

This week, the Knights signed three more prospects to OHL agreements, including a pair of free agent forwards. Ryder Boulton and Evan Van Gorp both impressed at camp and earned an opportunity with the club. Boulton is the son of former NHLer Eric Boulton and played with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres’ U16 program last season.

Van Gorp, who hails from nearby Watford, spent last season with the Elgin-Middlesex Canucks’ U18 squad. The speedy forward scored the overtime winner in the annual green and gold game during training camp. The Knights also inked defenseman Jared Woolley, a sixth round pick in the 2022 OHL draft. He spent last season with the Quinte Red Devils’ U18 program.

As it stands now, the Knights have three overage players on their roster: Ethan MacKinnon, Ryan Humphrey and Max McCue. London traded overage candidate Connor Federkow to Niagara earlier this week, along with prospect Mike Levin.

Locals getting their chance

There were also several locals who signed with OHL teams and will be competing for roster spots over the next few weeks. Brennan Faulker and Liam Ladds have signed with the Peterborough Petes, while Aylmer’s Cameron Reid signed in Kitchener and Parkhill’s Dylan Richter will get a shot with the North Bay Battalion after a solid rookie season with the GOJHL’s Strathroy Rockets.

Matthew Wang should get a good long look in Flint, and defenseman Liam Spencer will try and crack the Mississauga Steelheads’ blueline. Casey Bridgewater signed with the Sarnia Sting.

London Junior Knights alums Ryan Roobroeck (Niagara), Aiden Young (Saginaw), and Ethan Weir (Kingston) are all expected to get good opportunities with their respective clubs after being selected in the most recent OHL draft.

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The Knights open their preseason schedule Saturday afternoon (4pm) at Budweiser Gardens against the Sarnia Sting. The two teams will play again the following afternoon in Sarnia. The Knights will then take on the Erie Otters for back-to-back ‘home’ games Sept. 21 & 22. The first will be played in St. Thomas at the Joe Thornton Community Centre, while the latter will be back at Bud Gardens.

And when does the puck drop for real? The Knights’ regular season home opener will happen Friday, Sept. 29 against the Niagara IceDogs.