Gameday in 5

A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (Sept. 7-12) — for London’s teams and athletes.

The London Knights opened their preseason schedule with a pair of games against Sarnia last weekend. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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London Majors

The Majors clinched a spot in the IBL Finals (for the second straight year) by beating the Hamilton Cardinals three games to one in their best-of-five semi-final series. London got the week started on Tuesday by taking a 2-0 series with an 8-2 win at Labatt Park. Owen Boon pitched seven strong innings, allowing just one unearned run. The Majors scored all eight of their runs without the benefit of a home run. Starling Joseph drove in the first with a double in the second inning. Taylor Wright was an offensive standout for the Majors, driving in four runs to bring his playoff total to 12.

The Majors nearly completed the sweep on Wednesday but suffered a tough 3-2 come-from-behind loss in Hamilton. London got another excellent pitching performance, with Pedro Los Santos going 6 2/3 innings. He held the Cardinals off the scoreboard until a three-run homer by Luis Jean with two out in the seventh. That was the decisive blow, giving Hamilton a 3-2 lead that they held until the end. Cleveland Brownlee drove in the Majors’ first run on a ground out, while Wright doubled the lead with a solo home run.

After a day off Thursday, the Majors put the Cardinals away on their own turf. London’s offense came to play, scoring 10 runs in total in a 10-4 series-clinching win. Jose Arias had another strong outing, allowing two earned runs over seven innings with 11 strikeouts. Cleveland Brownlee got the Majors off to a fast start with a two-run homer in the first. Jakob Newton added to the lead in the third, and the Majors scored four more runs in the 6th and put it away in the 8th. Braeden Ferrington closed things out, pitching a scoreless eighth and ninth for London, sealing their spot in the IBL Finals against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who won their series against the Welland Jackfish.

Up next:

The Majors have made it back to the IBL Finals and will look to defend their title from a year ago. It’s a rematch against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who finished fourth in the regular season standings but defeated a strong Welland team to earn a spot in the final. The best-of-seven series gets underway Tuesday night at Labatt Park.

2022 IBL Finals (London Majors vs. Toronto Maple Leafs) (best-of-seven series)

Game 1: Tues. Sept. 13 (7:35pm vs. Toronto Maple Leafs)
Game 2: Thurs. Sept. 15 (7:30pm @ Toronto Maple Leafs)
Game 3: Fri. Sept. 16 (7:35 pm vs. Toronto Maple Leafs)
Game 4: Sun. Sept. 18 (7:30pm @ Toronto Maple Leafs)
Game 5: Tues. Sept. 20 (7:35pm vs. Toronto Maple Leafs) – If necessary
Game 6: Thurs. Sept. 22 (7:30pm @ Toronto Maple Leafs) – If necessary
Game 7: Fri. Sept. 23 (7:30pm vs. Toronto Maple Leafs) – If necessary

Western Mustangs

The Mustangs football team continued its strong start to the 2022 season Saturday with a 35-11 win over the Queen's Gaels — in front nearly 9,000 fans for a special ‘Saturday Night Lights’ contest. Western opened the scoring with quarterback Evan Hillock’s 54-yard touchdown pass to Justin Nickson in the end zone. After a 37-yard run by Keon Edwards, Hillock scored the Mustangs’ second touchdown of the game on a run of his own. Western led 21-7 at the half and then got touchdowns from Savaughn Magnaye-Jones and Edouard Wanadi in the second half.

Up next:

The Mustangs (3-0) get a bye week this week and will return to action two Saturdays from now when they host the University of Waterloo at Western Alumni Stadium.

Sat. Sept. 24 (1:00pm vs. Waterloo Warriors)

London Knights

The Knights won each of their first two preseason games last weekend — both over the Sarnia Sting. London started the preseason with a strong showing Friday night at Budweiser Gardens, beating the Sting 3-1. Knights goaltender Brett Brochu stopped 19 shots in the contest. Landon Sim scored the icebreaker for the Knights just past the 8-minute mark in the second period. Bryce Montgomery scored the game-winner in the third, beating goaltender Nicholas Surzycia with a wrist shot. Easton Cowan added an empty net goal late in the third to close the game.

The second game against Sarnia was much closer, with London beating the Sting 4-3 in a shootout. The Knights found themselves down 1-0 in the first, but a powerplay goal by Ruslan Gazizov tied the game. The Sting retook the lead late in the first, scoring in the final minute. The Knights tied the game again in the second thanks to a Kaeden Johnston goal. London took the lead again in the third, but Sarnia tied things again shortly after to force a shootout. Rookie goaltender Zach Bowen stopped all three shots he faced, while Gazizov scored the shootout winner.

Up next:

The Knights will take a break from game action and return next week with their final two contests (a home-and-home against Erie) before the regular season (which kicks off Sept. 30).

Fri. Sept. 23 (7:00pm vs. Erie Otters)
Sat. Sept. 24 (4:00pm @ Erie Otters)

London Nationals

The Nationals won the first game of their preseason last Wednesday, beating the LaSalle Vipers 5-2. Jacob Julien opened the scoring just past the 5-minute mark in the first, assisted by Riley Wood and Bradyn Santavy. London continued to pour it on in the second, scoring twice and continuing to shut out the Vipers. The Nationals grew their lead to 4-0 in the third before the Vipers answered back with two powerplay goals. The Vipers pulled their goalie late in the game, but Santavy scored an empty net goal in the final minute to put the game out of reach. Wood had a strong performance, logging a goal and three assists (Santavy had a goal and two assists).

Up next:

Fri. Sept. 16 (7:30pm @ St. Marys Lincolns)