Skid hits 8 for Majors; FC Men earn points; Locals eye NHL Draft

Gameday in 5: A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (June 19-25) — for London’s teams and athletes.

(Photo: Martin Bazyl / League1 Ontario).

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London Majors

The Majors’ June struggles continued last week, as the team dropped all three of its games (all on the road) to make it eight losses in a row.

Things kicked off Thursday with an 11-5 loss to the Kitchener Panthers. Abdiel Velasquez got the start for London, but he lasted just an inning, allowing four runs in the opening frame while battling wildness. The Majors actually managed to tie things up with a pair of runs in the third and fifth innings, but a four-run sixth by Kitchener put an end to the comeback bid. Myles Miller and Byron Reichstein picked up RBIs, while Brad Verhoeven’s two-run homer tied things in the fifth. Cleveland Brownlee also homered, and in doing so recorded his milestone 500th RBI of his storied IBL career.

Friday’s game was a lot closer, but the Majors still came out on the losing end, 8-7, to the Hamilton Cardinals. The Majors found themselves down early once again, as Owen Boon allowed a 3 run homer in the first inning. London responded with two in the second thanks to an RBI single by Kayne McGee and an error by the Cardinals. The Majors’ Tommy Reyes-Cruz tied the game (3-3) in the top of the 7th with a sacrifice fly, but the Cardinals scored two runs in the 7th and three more in the 8th. Down four in the 9th, London made a real push. A solo homer by Myles Miller and a 2-run shot by Josh Williams brought the team within a run, but that was as close as they would come. 

After a close game Friday, the Majors lost in convincing fashion Saturday, 10-2, to the Guelph Royals. London starter Pedro De Los Santos didn’t have it, allowing three runs in the first inning and then running into bigtime trouble in the fourth. He left having given up nine runs (six earned) on six hits and five walks. The Majors’ only two runs of the game came in the fifth inning thanks to doubles by Keith Kandel and Myles Miller. Skylar Janisse was good out of the bullpen, allowing just a run with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Brad Verhoeven was 3-for-3 at the plate in the London loss.

Up next:

After three straight road contests, the Majors will return home Friday looking to put a stop to their losing streak. It’ll be three games in three days again this weekend.

Fri. June 30 (7:35pm vs. Welland Jackfish)
Sat. July 1 (6:05pm vs. Hamilton Cardinals)
Sun. July 2 (2:00pm @ Toronto Maple Leafs)

FC London

The Men’s team ended their losing streak last week, forcing a 2-2 draw with Electric City FC on Saturday at home. London got off to a rough start to the match, finding themselves down 2-0 at halftime. But they fought back. Two second-half goals by Kuhle Bekwayo earned FC London the draw.

The Women’s team, meanwhile, lost their second game in row, losing 4-2 Sunday to the Woodbridge Strikers. London found themselves down 2-0 before a late first-half goal by Penny Mulenga brought the team within a goal. Lauren Rowe tied the game at 2 with a goal in the 49th minute, but Woodbridge responded with two goals of their own in the half to earn the win.

Up next:

It’s a two-game week for the Women (3-4-3), beginning Wednesday on the road against a very tough opponent — Ontario’s National Development Centre team (9-0-1). The Men (1-6-3), meanwhile, will host Darby FC in the second match of an FC London doubleheader Saturday at Tricar Field.

Women:
Wed. June 28 (9:00pm @ NDC-Ontario)
Sun. July 2 (3:00pm vs. Unionville-Milliken SC)

Men:
Sat. July 2 (7:00pm vs. Darby FC)

London Knights

Several London Knights players are eagerly awaiting the 2023 NHL Draft, which will be held June 28 & 29 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

A handful of Knights players may go in the first few rounds, perhaps starting with defenseman Oliver Bonk, who is No. 20 among North American skaters on the NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings heading into the draft. Bonk’s teammate, Easton Cowan, was listed at No. 51 on that list, while Denver Barkey was No. 79. Both Cowan and Barkey are forwards who enjoyed strong season with the Knights in 2022-23, helping them become Western Conference champs this past season.

Jacob Julien, a local product, also has a shot at going in the draft. He’s No. 161 on the list, and his draft stock went up throughout the OHL season as he impressed once joining the Knights full time from the local London Nationals Jr. B team.

Another potential local draftee? Charlie Robertson, goaltender for the North Bay Battalion. He was ranked No. 13 among North American netminders on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings. Zach Bowen, meanwhile, the London Knights’ backup (and local product) who filled in for Brett Brochu when the latter went down with an injury in the playoffs, earned a No. 15 ranking on that list.