Gameday in 5
A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (March 21-27) — for London’s teams and athletes.
Owen Boon, last year’s strikeout leader, has re-signed with the London Majors for the 2022 season. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
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The Knights picked up 5 of a possible 6 points last week, winning twice and losing once in overtime. In perhaps one of their strongest games of the season, London beat the Owen Sound Attack 7-3 on Friday. Down 1-0 in the first period, the Knights scored three unanswered goals. Cody Morgan got the team on the board first, with Antonio Stranges and Luke Evangelista following his lead. The second period was all London, with Tye McSorley scoring twice and the Attack having no answer. McSorley completed the hat trick in the third period, and Ruslan Gazizov added on to make it a 7-1 game. The Attack managed two late goals but the damage had already been done.
Saturday’s game was a lot closer for the Knights, and they came out on the wrong end of a 4-3 decision in overtime to the Kitchener Rangers. Down 1-0 to start the second, the Knights tied the score just five seconds in, thanks to Gerard Keane’s 10th goal of the year. Liam Gilmartin added on to put the Knights ahead, but the Rangers tied things up late in the period. After the Rangers took the lead for a second time in the third, the Knights forced overtime when Sean McGurn scored his 20th of the season. But the Rangers won the overtime battle, scoring three and a half minutes into the extra frame.
The Knights wrapped up the weekend with a convincing 4-0 win over the Guelph Storm Sunday night. After a scoreless first, London put up three goals in the second. Cody Morgan scored the icebreaker just over a minute in, and then Evangelista added to the lead with his milestone 50th goal of the season. Brody Crane added the third of the period, and Morgan scored his second of the game, for good measure, in the third to put things away with his 23rd of the season.
Up next:
The Knights (37-18-3-1, 2nd in Western Conference) will look to keep their momentum going this week as they play a home-and-home against the 3rd-place Flint Firebirds and wrap up the week on the road against the Barrie Colts.
Wed. March 30 (7:00pm @ Flint Firebirds)
Fri. April 1 (7:30 pm vs. Flint Firebirds)
Sat. April 2 (7:30pm @ Barrie Colts)
The Lightning continued their undefeated streak last week and improved to 11-0 on the season, tying a franchise and league record for wins to start a season. The week got off to good start, with the Lightning beating the Sudbury Five, 108-105, on the road Thursday in what was the closest contest London has played since the team’s season opener. The Lightning took the lead for the final time with just over a minute left in the final quarter. Cameron Forte led the way with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Chris Jones had 21 points and 7 assists. Amir Williams had a strong showing off the bench with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Sunday’s game was another close call for the Lightning, as they let a large lead disappear before holding on to beat the Windsor Express at home, 110-103. After a close first quarter, the Lightning seemingly ran away with it in the second, outscoring the Express 38-17. But Windsor crept back into the contest, outscoring the Lightning by 16 in the half and pulling to within two with 1:27 left. A big Jaylon Tate layup and a later tip-in by Williams sealed the deal for London. Forte again led the scoring for the Lightning, tallying 25 points to go with 10 rebounds. Williams had 21/11, while Tate put up 22 points with 9 assists.
Up next:
The Lightning (11-0) will look to keep their impressive win streak alive this week as they play a trio of contests — including their first trip to the U.S. on Thursday to play the TBL’s Albany Patroons. They’ll also play another new opponent, Flint United, on Sunday, with a contest against the KW Titans in between.
Thurs. March 31 (7:00pm @ Albany Patroons)
Sat. April 2 (7:00pm @ KW Titans)
Sun. April 3 (2:00pm vs. Flint United)
The Nationals won both of their games last week to improve to 31-10-2-1, good for second place in the Western Conference. They started the week strong by beating the Komoka Kings, 2-0. After two scoreless periods, Riley Wood opened the scoring for the Nats 59 seconds into the third. Owen Flores shut out the Kings, while Noah Arsenault added an empty netter in the final minute to secure the win.
London picked up another two points on Friday with a 2-0 win over the St. Marys Lincolns. Lucas Chard opened the scoring in the first with a power-play goal (assists to Owen McGowan and Jacob Julien). With the Nats ahead 1-0 in the second, Jacob Bunker added to the lead with his 2nd of the year, assisted by Wood and Thomas Munro.
Up next:
The Nationals have a busy 4-game week on the schedule to close out their regular season. That includes two meetings with the Komoka Kings, a matchup against the first-place Leamington Flyers, and a meeting with the fourth-place LaSalle Vipers to close out the season.
Wed. March 30 (7:00pm vs. Komoka Kings)
Fri. April 1 (7:00pm vs. Leamington Flyers)
Sat. April 2 (7:15pm @ Komoka Kings)
Sun. April 3 (2:30pm @ LaSalle Vipers)
The London Majors have made several recent signings in preparation for the 2022 season. One of the biggest? The re-signing of ace right-hander Owen Boon, who, along with Pedro De Los Santos (also re-signed for 2022), made up the IBL’s best 1-2 pitching punch last season. Boon, a six-year Majors veteran, had a 2.33 ERA and led the league in strikeouts (66) and wins (8) during the 2021 regular season. He then helped London win its first IBL title in 46 years, starting the deciding Game 5 at Labatt Park.
Meanwhile, other recent Majors signings include outfielders Andrew Lawrence and Phil Whelan. Lawrence, who played with the Great Lake Canadians program in Dorchester, brings athleticism to the team (he also played for the London Beefeaters football team last year). Whelan, a Calgary, AB native, played at the University of Calgary and Vancouver Island University, as well with the Yorkton Cardinals of the WCBL.
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 …