Gameday in 5
A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (Dec. 5-11) — for London’s teams and athletes.
Open Trials for FC London’s men’s and women’s teams are happening the last week of December. (Photo: League1 Ontario).
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The Knights won two of their games last week — including taking down the OHL-leading Ottawa 67’s in a thrilling shootout Friday night at Budweiser Gardens.
The week didn’t start too hot, mind you, with the Knights dropping a 5-3 contest to the Oshawa Generals in a rare Tuesday home game. London did get off a good start in that one, as Easton Cowan and Brody Crane got them out to an early lead. But the Generals responded with two goals in two minutes in the second period to tied things up. Logan Mailloux put the Knights ahead 3-2 early in the third, but it was all Oshawa from there. Londoner Brett Harrison tied the game before Jordyn Ertel scored the game-winner at the 11:06 mark of the period. Harrison completed a hat-trick with an empty net goal late.
After a tough loss Tuesday, the Knights welcomed the top squad in the league, the Ottawa 67’s, and beat them on home ice in an exciting 1-0 shootout win Friday night. The game was a close contest right to the very end, with the Knights out-shooting Ottawa 31-25. After no goals were scored in the extra frame, the shootout began with the 76’s missing their first shot and George Diaco scoring for London. Neither team scored in the final two rounds, and Brett Brochu clinched the win by making his third of three stops.
The Knights then closed out their busy week with a 5-2 win over the Peterborough Petes on Saturday, also at home. Diaco got London off on the right foot, scoring the icebreaker at the 6:37 mark of the first period. The Petes tied the game three minutes later, and then the teams exchanged goals again (in a span of less than 20 seconds) before the end of the opening period (Landon Sim for the Knights). London scored the only goal of the second period (Sim’s second), and then Oliver Bonk and Easton Cowan (empty net) added insurance goals in the third.
Up next:
The London Knights (19-8-1-0), who enter a new week tops in the Midwest Division and second in the Western Conference, just one point behind Saginaw (with two games in hand), will play two more contests before the holiday break …
Fri. Dec. 16 (7:00pm vs. Owen Sound Attack)
Sat. Dec. 17 (4:00pm vs. Flint Firebirds)
The Nationals split their two games last week, defeating Komoka and losing to Strathroy. That first contest, on Wednesday at home, was an exciting, high-scoring affair against the Kings, resulting in an 8-6 win for London.
With the game tied 1-1 after the opening period, both teams showed off their offenses in the second. Lucas Chard got things going 16 seconds into the period with his 11th goal of the year. It didn’t take long for the Kings to respond, but Riley Wood then scored two straight to put the Nationals ahead 4-2 for the moment. And then? Four straight goals for Komoka, who took a 6-4 lead into the third period. London then flipped the script entirely, scoring four unanswered of their own in the final frame for the 8-6 win. After Rylan Bowers and Bradyn Santavy (short-handed) potted goals, Carson Lloyd scored the eventual game-winner on the powerplay at the 15:42 mark. Owen McGowan sealed the deal with an empty net goal.
In another tough game Saturday, the Nationals came out on the wrong end this time, losing 7-3 to the Strathroy Rockets on the road. Down 2-0 after the first period, Carson Lloyd brought the Nationals within a goal, but the Rockets responded and took a two-goal lead once again. Talan Palmer cut into the lead — and then tied things — with his 7th and 8th goals of the season to make it a 3-3 game heading into the third period. It was all Strathroy from there. Starting with Caden Faulkner’s team-leading 18th goal of the season, the Rockets scored four unanswered in the final period to claim the win.
Up next:
The Nationals (21-3-2-1), who maintained their top spot in the Western Conference entering a new week (four points ahead of both St. Marys and Leamington), will play back-to-back games this week, including a tilt against the Flyers, winners of five in a row …
Wed. Dec. 14 (7:00pm vs. St. Thomas Stars)
Thurs. Dec. 15 (7:10 pm @ Leamington Flyers)
As the World Cup continues into its exciting final stages, there is lots happening locally with FC London, as the club gets prepared for next season’s League1 Ontario play.
Recently, Yiannis Tsalatsidis was named new head coach of the men’s team. He’s a hire from within, as he’s served as Technical Director for London TFC Academy over the last year. Prior to joining FC London, Tsalatsidis had 10 years of coaching experience at various levels (club, university, professional, International). Most recently, he’d spent two seasons with the CPL’s Cavalry FC as an opposition analyst and individual skills coach. His new role will be a challenging one. Despite continued success on the women's side (13-4-2 and a trip to the semis), FC London’s men’s squad struggled mightily last year, finishing in last place with a 2-15-4 record.
Meanwhile, open trials for both the men’s and women’s teams are upcoming. The women’s League1 premier team will hold trials at the BMO Centre in London on Dec. 27, 28 and 29. The men’s trials will be at the same location Dec. 28 & 29 (the deadline for registration for the men’s trials is Dec. 14 https://form.jotform.com/213063523504243).
There are some familiar faces, but there’s a sense of renewal in London as the Lightning embark on a new season. With a new coach and several new players, is a new era upon us? What to expect in 2024-25 …