Knights rolling in OHL Final; Lightning Finals-bound; Majors win opener

Gameday in 5: A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (May 8-13) — for London’s teams and athletes.

Following a big comeback win Monday (May 13), the Knights are one win away from an OHL championship. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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London Knights

The London Knights are one win away from beating the Oshawa Generals and claiming the OHL Championship title after a big comeback win Monday night on the road — putting them up 3-0 in the best-of-seven series.

London got the matchup started with a lopsided 8-1 win Thursday night at Budweiser Gardens. Oliver Bonk set the tone for the Knights, scoring a power play goal 8:50 into the game. Jared Wooley scored what turned out to be the game winner just over eight minutes later to put London ahead 2-0 heading into the second period. The Knights’ offense then scored three times in the middle frame — including a goal by Bonk just 28 seconds into the period. The other two goals were scored by Denver Barkey and Easton Cowan, who finished with five points on the night. London scored another three goals in the third period (two for Ruslan Gazizov and one for Jacob Julien). Goaltender Michael Simpson picked up the win for London, stopping 24 of 25 shots along the way.

On Saturday, the Knights did even one better, blowing out the Generals 9-1 in Game 2 to take a commanding lead in the series. London scored in bunches, often in quick succession. Ruslan Gazizov got things started at the 9:27 mark of the first period, with Kasper Halttunen scoring just over two minutes later. Easton Cowan extended the lead just over 17 minutes into the game. Evan Van Gorp then scored his first of the playoffs 20 seconds later. London scored another five goals in the second period, and then Jacob Julien added the team’s ninth goal in the third with a power play marker. Halttunen, who was named the game’s first star, had three goals, while Denver Barkey had a four-point night.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

On Monday, the Knights, at one point down 6-2 in the game, won a thrilling contest in double overtime to make it three wins in a row against the Generals. Sam Dickinson and Kasper Halttunen scored goals for London in the first two periods, but they trailed 6-2 heading into the final period. Oliver Bonk got the comeback started with a powerplay goal a minute and four seconds in. From there, Halttunen went to work and scored twice in less than three minutes to bring the Knights within a goal. With time winding down, Sam O’Reilly scored the tying goal with less than three minutes left to force overtime. Stuck in a deadlock after the first overtime period, London scored two minutes into the second extra frame. Henry Brzustewicz was the hero, scoring the game winner on a tip from an Isaiah George shot to win the game.

Up next:

Ahead 3-0 in the OHL Finals series, the Knights are one win away from claiming the title. They’ll have four chances to do so, beginning Wednesday in Oshawa. If a Game 5 is necessary, it’ll be back in London on Friday.

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) *

London Lightning

The London Lightning are heading to the inaugural Basketball Super League Finals after beating the Sudbury Five 3-1 in a best-of-five semi-final series. Ahead 2-1 in the series, the Lightning traveled to Sudbury on Friday and prevailed, 114-111, in a wild finish that nearly saw the Five extend the series to a Game 5.

London came out strong in the first quarter and built up an 11-point lead, 34-23, after the opening frame. But Sudbury then dominated the second quarter, as the Lightning lost their shooting touch, scoring just 12 points in the period. That sent the teams to their respective locker rooms with a 47-46 contest in favour of the home team. London found its game again in the third quarter and took a 79-65 lead into the final frame. But the Five refused to cave. In fact, they turned an 18-point London lead (with 6:09 left) into a real contest at the end. Sudbury managed to pull to within two points after a pair of JD Miller free throws with 30 seconds remaining.

Fortunately for London, the Five missed a shot with four seconds on the clock, and the Lightning played won the foul game in the closing seconds. Nick Garth’s two free throws sealed the deal. By the end, London was very shorthanded, as each of Chris Jones, Jermaine Haley Jr. and Freddie McSwain had fouled out of the game, while Jeremiah Mordi had been ejected after two technical fouls. Jones led the Lightning with 35 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists in a winning effort, while Antoine Mason had 24 points and White had a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double.

Up next: 

The Lightning will now take on the KW Titans in the BSL FInals, beginning Friday on the road. The Titans hold home-court advantage in the best-of-five series after finishing first in the regular season.

Game 1: Fri. May 17 (7:00pm @ KW Titans)
Game 2: Sun. May 19 (2:00pm @ KW Titans)

London Majors

The Majors kicked off their 2024 season Sunday in Toronto, and they got in the win column right away. Playing on Mother’s Day at Christie Pits, London beat the Maple Leafs 7-5 to get their season started on the right foot.

Victor Payano, in his Majors debut, tossed 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks. The left-hander struck out five. Starling Joseph opened the scoring in the contest following a Kaiden Cardoso fielder's choice in the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Drew Lawrence was hit by a pitch to make it 2-0. The Majors added a third run in the fifth before Toronto answered back with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

The Majors took a 5-3 lead in the top of the sixth, but Toronto again responded with two in the eighth to tie the score again. In the ninth, the Majors’ Tommy Reyes-Cruz doubled home the eventual game-winning run. He later scored on an error and London staved off a Toronto rally to hold on for the win. Jose Arias, who worked 1 1/3 innings, was credited with the win. Lawrence and Cleveland Brownlee each had a pair of hits, while Gibson Krzeminski reached base three times.

Up next:

The Majors will play their home opener Friday at Labatt Park against the defending champion Welland Jackfish and then hit the road for a pair of games.

Fri. May 17 (7:35pm vs. Welland Jackfish)
Sun. May 19 (2:00pm @ Brantford Red Sox)
Tues. May 21 (7:35pm @ Chatham-Kent Barnstormers)

FC London

The Men's team dropped their first of the season, 3-0, to Unionville Milliken SC on Sunday in their only game action of the week. Unionville scored once in the first half and twice in the second. The Loss was London’s first of the season in the League1 Championship division, with the team sitting in third place with a 2-1-0 record.

Up next:

Sat. May 18 (8:45pm vs. St. Catharines Roma) (doubleheader at Tricar Field)

The Women's team, meanwhile, were also handed their first loss of the season this week with a 3-1 loss to NDC-Ontario on Friday. With NDC up 1-0 in the first half, Alli Rowe tied the game for London in the 42nd minute. That was all the offense London could muster, however, while NDC scored twice in the second half to take the win. The loss gives the FC London women’s team a 2-1-0 record and has them sitting in 4th place overall. 

Up next: 

Sat. May 18th (5:00pm vs Guelph United) (doubleheader at Tricar Field)