Gameday in 5

A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (May 2-8) — for London’s teams and athletes.

The London Majors, defending IBL champions, open their season Sunday in Toronto in an early rematch of the 2021 final. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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London Knights

After a hard-fought series, the Knights were eliminated from the 2022 OHL playoffs last Wednesday after a heartbreaking 4-3 loss in overtime to the Kitchener Rangers in Game 7 of their best-of-seven first-round playoff series.

With a chance to close out the series on Tuesday in Kitchener, the Knights lost 5-2 at the Aud. Following a scoreless first period, the Rangers scored four unanswered goals in the second. The Knights finally broke through in the third with a Denver Barkey goal, less than three minutes into the period. Luke Evangelista scored six minutes later to bring the Knights to within two goals, but that’s the closest they’d get, and a fifth Rangers goal put things out of reach.

Wednesday’s Game 7 was an instant classic. The visiting Rangers took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission, but the Knights scored twice in less than three minutes to take a 2-1 lead. Camaryn Baber got the Knights on the board first, with Gerard Keane then putting them ahead. That lead was short-lived, however, as the Rangers tied the game a minute later. With things knotted at two, Antonio Stranges, London’s leading playoff scorer, put the team ahead three minutes into the third period. But the momentum was short-lived, again, as Kitchener quickly tied the game.

Neither team managed to score for the remainder of the period, although the Knights dominated the final four minutes of the frame, firing countless shots on Pavel Cajan while keeping the puck in the Rangers’ end seemingly the entire time. And London continued that strong play into overtime, with several scoring chances. But it was the Rangers — and Mike Petizian, specifically — who came away with the winner, 11 and a half minutes into OT. It won the series for Kitchener and prematurely ended the London Knights’ season.

Recap: OHL Playoffs - First Round (London, No. 2, vs. Kitchener, No. 7) (Kitchener wins series 4-3)
Game 1: Kitchener 3 @ London 2
Game 2: London 5 vs. Kitchener 2
Game 3: London 4 @ Kitchener 3
Game 4: Kitchener 3 vs. London 2
Game 5: London 5 vs. Kitchener 3
Game 6: Kitchener 5 vs. London 2
Game 7: Kitchener 4 @ London 3 (OT)

London Lightning

The Lightning extended their current win streak to three games last week with a 105-96 win over the Windsor Express in the back end of a home-and-home series. For the second day in a row, the Lightning were required to come back from a fourth-quarter deficit. The Express, who led 47-45 at halftime, led by as much as nine in the final quarter before a Cameron Forte layup tied things at 87-87 with just under seven minutes left.

A Mareik Isom three-pointer with 4:10 left that put the Lightning ahead 95-92 was the key turning point for London, who went on to control much of the play for the remainder of the contest. Forte and Isom were the big scorers on the day, tallying 28 and 27 points, respectively. Forte’s 11 rebounds gave him a double-double, while Terry Thomas (who earned Canadian Player of the Week for the second straight week) produced a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double of his own. How good was Isom’s shooting? He hit eight of his nine shots overall (six of seven from three).

Up next:

The Lightning (18-4) are back in action Monday in Sudbury for the penultimate game of their regular season. They’ll wrap up against the same Sudbury Five on Thursday back home at Budweiser Gardens before getting two days of rest and then beginning their first-round playoff series against the Windsor Express Sunday.

Monday May 9 (7:00pm @ Sudbury Five)
Thurs. May 12 (7:00pm vs. Sudbury Five)

Playoffs (London Lightning, No. 1 seed vs. Windsor Express, No. 4 seed) (best-of-five series)
Game 1: Sun. May 15 (2:00pm vs. Windsor)
Game 2: Tues. May 17 (7:00pm vs. Windsor)
Game 3: Fri. May 20 (7:30pm @ Windsor)
Game 4: Sun. May 22 (2:00pm @ Windsor) (if necessary)
Game 5: Tues. May 24 (7:00pm vs. Windsor) (if necessary)

FC London

Women’s team:

The women made it three wins in a row to start the 2022 season Saturday night with a 2-0 win over the visiting Woodbridge Strikers at Tricar Field. After a scoreless first half, Jen Milligan delivered the match’s first goal in the 63rd minute to give FC London the lead. Seven minutes later, Sadie Waite doubled that lead, with a dazzling goal of her own. Jadyn Steinhauer played all 90 minutes in net to record the clean sheet.

Up next:

The FC London women (3-0-0) will look to extend their season-opening win streak to four games on Saturday when take on Hamilton United (1-1-0) on the road. Through their first three games, FC London has scored 15 times and allowed just one goal against in the early going.

Sat. May 14 (7:00 pm @ Hamilton United)

Men’s team:

FC London’s men’s team suffered their second loss of the season on Friday, dropping a close 1-0 decision to North Mississauga on the road. After 40 minutes of scoreless soccer, North Mississauga’s Tristan Watson scored the game’s only goal. Fourteen players saw action for FC London in their third game of the regular season.

Up next:

The men (0-2-1) will try for their first win of the year this Saturday at home when they take on Sigma FC (0-2-1) at Tricar Field.

Sat. May 14 (7:00pm vs. Sigma FC)

London Majors

It’s time to play ball again, as the London Majors will open their 2022 season Sunday on the road in Toronto — an early rematch against the team they beat last fall for their first Intercounty Baseball League title in 46 years.

The Majors have signed several new impact players for 2022, including third baseman Taylor Wright, catcher Robert Mullen and outfielders Starling Joseph and Drew Lawrence, as well as pitchers Jose Arias, Fernando Fernandez and Bo Lewington, among others.

They’ll join returnees Cleveland Brownlee (DH), ace pitchers Owen Boon and Pedro De Los Santos, reliever Braeden Ferrington, infielders Chris McQueen and Keith Kandel, and outfielder Austin Wilkie. The Majors will play a busy 42-game regular season schedule (21 home games, 21 on the road).

Up next:

Sun. May 15 (2:00pm @ Toronto Maple Leafs)