Lightning battling for title; Knights bow out; Majors in full swing

Gameday in 5: A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (May 16-22) — for London’s teams and athletes.

The London Lightning split the first two games of their best-of-five NBLC Finals series against the Windsor Express. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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London Knights

The Knights’ highly successful 2023 season came to an end Sunday, as the Peterborough Petes bested them on their home ice, 2-1, in Game 6 of the OHL Final to win the series and advance to the Memorial Cup.

Trailing 2-1 in the series, London went down three games to one last Wednesday when the Petes won their second straight at home, a 5-3 decision that put the Knights on the brink of elimination. The Knights got off to a quick start in that contest, scoring less than two minutes into the game with Easton Cowan giving them an early lead. But Peterborough rattled off three second-period goals to take a 3-1 advantage into the third period. After another Petes goal, London fought back to pull within one — thanks to powerplay goals by Sam Dickinson and Denver Barkey. But despite a flurry of chances, as the Knights continued to pull their goalie in favour on an extra attacker, they were unable to even things up.

With their backs against the wall Friday, the Knights bounced back at home in Game 5, beating Peterborough by a 4-1 margin. And they did so with Owen Willmore in net. The third-string goalie, who spent the season with Stratford in the GOJHL, had played seven minutes in Game 4 after replacing Zach Bowen. Down 1-0 in the first, London’s Easton Cowan tied the game late in the period on a goal assisted by Jackson Edward. With the teams tied 1-1 to start the second, Ryan Humphrey scored the eventual game-winner for the Knights at the 4:31 mark of the frame. Denver Barkey added an insurance goal, while Logan Mailloux potted an empty netter to seal the deal. Willmore stopped 32 of 33 shots to help London win and keep their OHL championship hopes alive.

Unfortunately for the Knights, despite outplaying the Petes for much of Game 6 back in Peterborough Sunday, they were unable to extend the series to a Game 7. A tight-checking affair ended in a 2-1 win for the Petes, who clinched a spot in the Memorial Cup, which will get underway this Friday.

Peterborough goaltender Michael Simpson, who hails from London, stymied the Knights for much of the contest. But the Knights, down 1-0, finally solved the netminder in the third period when Max McCue tied the contest at the 7:59 mark. The tie was fairly short-lived, though, as the Petes went back ahead 11:10 into the period. That goal, by Tucker Robertson, turned out to be the game-winner, as the Knights were unable to score a tying marker despite controlling the play for the remainder of the contest. Simpson and Peterborough’s defensive corps managed to hang on for the win.

OHL Playoffs (Championship Final) - London Knights (No. 2 in West) vs. Peterborough Petes (No. 4 in East) (Peterborough wins 4-2)
Game 1: London 3 vs. Peterborough 0
Game 2: London 3 vs. Peterborough 5
Game 3: London 5 @ Peterborough 6 (OT)
Game 4: London 3 @ Peterborough 5
Game 5: London 4 vs. Peterborough 1
Game 6: London 1 @ Peterborough 2

London Lightning

The London Lightning split the first two games of the 2023 National Basketball League of Canada (NBLC) Finals last week against the Windsor Express, losing the first and winning the second to take a 1-1 tied series into the final week of action.

London came up short in Game 1 Thursday, dropping a close 105-104 contest that came down to the final possession of the game. The Lightning trailed 22-16 after the first quarter, but a big second, in which they scored 35 points, gave them a 51-47 lead heading into halftime. It was a tight contest from there, with lead changes aplenty in the second half. Tied 102-102 late, Windsor’s Nick Garth hit a big three-pointer to put the Express ahead. Two possessions later, a fouled Mike Nuga brought London to within a point with 17 seconds remaining in the contest. Then, after forcing a turnover, the Lightning had an inbound play with eights seconds left for a chance to go ahead. But London mishandled the ball and produced a turnover of their own, which cost them the opportunity.

Jeremiah Mordi had a strong game in a losing effort, racking up 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Terry Thomas had 19 points and 5 rebounds, while Nuga scored 17 on the night. Diego Kapelan (four 3-pointers, 14 points) and Mareik Isom (10 points) also scored in double figures for London.

Back at Budweiser Gardens on Saturday, the Lightning bounced back — and in a big way — with a convincing 124-107 win to tie the series at one game apiece. After taking a 6-4 lead early in the game, the Lightning never trailed for the remainder of the contest, playing a strong all-around game. Jermaine Haley Jr. was a major key to the win, as he tallied 28 points, 5 assists and 6 rebounds. Mareik Isom had 20 points and 4 rebounds, while a pair of London players, Mordi (16 pts, 12 rebs, 7 asts) and Kur Jongkuch (16 pts, 11 rebs) notched double-doubles. Marcus Ottey had 15 points and 8 assists. 

Up next:

The Lightning hit the road for Games 3 and 4 in Windsor Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. If a Game 5 is necessary, it will be back in London on Friday at Budweiser Gardens (7pm).

NBLC Playoffs (Finals) - London Lightning (1) vs. Windsor Express (3) (Series tied 1-1)

Game 1: London 104 vs. Windsor 105
Game 2: London 124 vs. Windsor 107
Game 3: Tues. May 23 (7:00pm @ Windsor Express)
Game 4: Thurs. May 25 (7:00pm @ Windsor Express) (if necessary)
Game 5: Fri. May 26 (7:00pm vs. Windsor Express) (if necessary)

London Majors

The Majors fell to 3-0 in the early going of their 2023 Intercounty Baseball league season after a pair of weekend losses. The first was the team’s home opener, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, on Saturday, which the Leafs won 9-3 at Labatt Park. Majors starter Abdiel Velasquez, a new import arm this year, struggled with command, walking six while giving up four runs in 3 2/3 innings. A pair of relievers, newcomer Skylar Janisse and veteran Braeden Ferrington, also struggled, allowing a combined five runs in 3 2/3 innings in the loss. London scored its runs in the sixth inning (an Eduardo de Oleo two-run homer) and the eighth (a Kayne McGee RBI single). Byron Reichstein went 3-for-4 in a losing effort.

On Sunday, the Majors experienced their second comeback loss of the season — this time at the hands of the Hamilton Cardinals. Ahead 3-1, the Majors allowed a run in the eighth inning and then a pair in the ninth as the Cardinals walked off the win at home. This time, the winning runs came off import arm Edisson Gonzalez, who walked two and gave up three hits after relieving Owen Boon in the eighth. Boon had his second stellar start of the year, striking out 14 in 7 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits. London’s offense was led by de Oleo, who went 3-for-3 with a walk, a run, and an RBI. McGee and Starling Joseph also had RBIs, while Cleveland Brownlee produced a pair of hits.

Up next:

The Majors will play their first (of many) three-game weekends coming up, with the first two on the road and this Sunday’s game back in London against Brantford.

Fri. May 26 (8:00pm @ Brantford Red Sox)
Sat. May 27 (2:05pm @ Barrie Baycats)
Sun. May 28 (1:05pm vs. Brantford Red Sox)

FC London

For the second straight week, FC London’s Men’s team earned a draw in their weekend match — this time against Hamilton United on the road. London scored the first goal of the game, as Carson Wood put the team on the board in the 36th minute. London, in fact, led for most of the game, but a late Hamilton goal ensured the game ended in a 1-1 tie.

The Women’s team had the week off. With their game last week against Electric City FC abandoned at halftime and the most recent week off, the team remains 1-1-1, having played three fewer matches than some teams. Still no official word from the league on the previous week’s abandoned match. League1 Ontario has said ‘a formal statement will be forthcoming after the league office has received reports from the match officials, the teams and the league's onsite staff.’

Up next:

The women will make up for lost time this week with a pair of matches, starting Wednesday. The men will begin a three-game home stretch on Saturday (which will be a men’s and women’s doubleheader at Tricar Field).

Men:
Sat. May 27 (8:00pm vs. Unionville Milliken S.C.)

Women:
Wed. May 24 (8:00pm @ Darby FC)
Sat. May 27 (4:00pm vs. St Catharines Roma)