Mustangs win Yates Cup; Knights sweep weekend

Gameday in 5: A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (Nov. 5-12) — for London’s teams and athletes.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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London Knights

The Knights enjoyed a perfect week, winning each of their three games — in three days — to move within a point of the Kitchener Rangers for first in the Western Conference.

London started the week on the road, beating the Windsor Spitfires 10-7 in a high-scoring affair on Thursday. Sam O’Reilly scored the ice breaker, and Ryder Boulton doubled the lead. The Spitfires responded with three goals in a six-minute span to take a 3-2 lead into the intermission. The second period held much of the action, as the teams combined for eight goals (London notching five of them).

Ruslan Gazizov tied the game early in the period, but Windsor responded with three to retake the lead. The Knights roared back, though, scoring four unanswered goals of their own to take a 7-6 lead into the third period (William Nicholl, Kasper Halttunen, Oliver Bonk and Gazizov again).

After a fifth straight (Kaeden Johnston) in the third, the Spitfires brought themselves back within a goal on a power play marker. But an insurance goal by Jackson Edward closed that door, and an empty netter late by Max McCue shut it tight.

Facing the Owen Sound Attack on Friday, London earned a comeback 5-4 win in overtime. For the second game in a row, the Knights opened the scoring, 1:26 into the contest, thanks to Kasper Halttunen. The Attack scored the lone goal of the second period to tie the game 1-1 heading into the final frame.

And then the scoring opened up. London took the lead at the 5:09 mark with Jackson Edward scoring his fourth of the season (assists to Max McCue and Henry Brzustewicz). The attack tied the game shortly after, and then added a power play goal to take a 3-2 lead. Just seven seconds later, though, London tied it on an Easton Cowan goal. After trading goals to close out the period, overtime was required — and that’s where Denver Barkey won the game for the Knights.

After two close games, the Knights beat the Guelph Storm 4-0 on Saturday night to complete a three-games-in-three-nights sweep. Barkey got the offense going in the first period, scoring a shorthanded goal. The second period was all Kasper Halttunen, who scored his 13th and 14th goals of the season. Jacob Julien added a shorthanded goal in the final minute of play to punctuate the win. Goaltender Michael Simpson logged his first shutout of the season, stopping all 28 shots he faced.

Up next:

It’ll be another three-game week for the Knights, but this time it’ll start Wednesday and then continue with a pair of weekend games against American opponents — including Friday at home vs. Flint.

Wed. Nov. 15 (6:30pm @ Guelph Storm)
Fri. Nov. 17 (7:00pm vs. Flint Firebirds)
Sat. Nov. 18 (7:00pm @ Erie Otters)

Western Mustangs Football

The Mustangs are 2023 Yates Cup champions. They beat the Laurier Golden Hawks, 29-14, on Saturday at Western Alumni Stadium to claim their third straight Ontario title — and earn a trip to a national semi-final game next weekend.

The Mustangs struck first Saturday with kicker Brian Garrity knocking home the first of his six field goals (he was named the game’s MVP) in the contest. Picking up a safety, Western then held a 5-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Golden Hawks found a rhythm in the second quarter and scored a pair of touchdowns to take a 14-5 lead. With less than a minute left in the first half, Garrity made it 14-8 heading into halftime.

After being sacked on a play in the second quarter, Western quarterback Evan Hillock walked off the field in pain and did not return for the remainder of the half. However … rejuvenated after the break, Hillock came out for the second half and played the rest of the game. And Western took control in the third quarter. Garrity kicked another two field goals to tie the game. And then the big blow came when Hillock found Seth Robertson for a 51-yard touchdown pass to give the Mustangs their first lead (21-14) since the first quarter.

And then they closed out the game strong, shutting down the Laurier offense and putting up some insurance points to earn the win. Garrity was named MVP, winning the Dalt White Trophy after going 6-for-6 on his field goal attempts.

Up next:

The Mustangs will now travel to Quebec next weekend for the Uteck Bowl, a national semi-final game, where they’ll take on the Montreal Carabins at Stade CEPSUM in Montreal — with a trip to the Vanier Cup on the line.

Sat. Nov. 18 (12:00pm @ Montreal Carabins) (Uteck Bowl)

Western Mustangs — Cross Country

The Western Mustangs’ women’s cross country team earned team silver Sunday at the 2023 U Sports championships, held in London at Thames Valley Golf Course. The second-place finish caps off a fantastic season, during which the women were also crowned Ontario champs for the first time in 25 years.

Erika Jordan led the way Sunday, placing third in the women’s field in the 8km event. She posted a time of 29:24.7. Also scoring for the Mustangs were Olivia Roussel (9th), Chloe Coutts (18th), Sandra Guga (20th), and Sophie Coutts (25th). Heidi Ohrling placed 32nd.

On the men’s side, Western finished eighth overall. They were led by Marcel Scheele, who placed 20th in the 8km event (25:26.6). Other Mustang men scoring points were Ben Fox (29th), Tom Boers (65th), Owen Parkes (69th), and Mark Royce (72nd).