Knight Watch: Will he or won’t he?

The Knights’ playoff hopes likely rest on whether or not their star goalie, Brett Brochu, will be able to return from injury. In the meantime, London is looking for wins this weekend to enter playoffs on a high note. Columnist Jake Jeffrey has the latest.

The Knights are 6-6-3-2 without Brett Brochu in net (since March 9), allowing 4.5 goals per game over that span. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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With the final weekend of the OHL regular season upon us, it seems the London Knights really don’t have a lot to play for — at least on paper.

We know they will finish first in the Midwest Division and second in the Western Conference. And we know they will play Kitchener in the first round of the playoffs. But how they enter the postseason will count for a lot. Will they go in on a high or a low?

Wednesday night offered a playoff preview of sorts when the Knights hosted Kitchener and skated away with a 4-3 win in a closely-contested game at Budweiser Gardens. That put an end to London’s six-game losing streak. Kitchener had also beaten London four straight times prior to Wednesday’s game.

Ben Bujold returned to the lineup this week, but London is still without several regulars, most notably, of course, star goalie Brett Brochu, who hasn’t played since March 8. London is 6-6-3-2 without Brochu in net, averaging 4.5 goals against over that span.

Brochu has been back on the ice but has yet to participate in a full practice. There is no rush to get him back into the crease this weekend, but it is looking more and more likely that he could be back in time for playoffs. And if we’re being honest, the Knights’ playoff hopes could very well depend on it.

Before Wednesday’s game, the Knights welcomed five new members to the Don Brankley Hall of Fame, including Darryl Edestrand, Pat Riggin, Dave Simpson, Tom Kostoploulos, Danny Syvret, and Bill Long.

In OHL news, the Ontario Hockey Federation has granted Exceptional Player Status to Michael Misa of the Mississauga Senators, who will now be eligible for the 2022 OHL Priority Selection later this month.

Cody Morgan has enjoyed a career year with the Knights during his overage season, tallying 29 goals and 41 assists for 70 points in 66 games. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Saturday (April 16, 7:05pm) vs. Saginaw Spirit (23-42-1-0)

The Spirit will be honouring their overage players before puck drop in this one, and the team says that will also include Knights forward Camaryn Baber, who spent his entire OHL career in Saginaw and was the team’s captain before being traded to London this winter. The Knights are 3-1 against the Spirit this season, although that lone loss was in their most recent meeting. All four matchups have been high-scoring games, with London outscoring Saginaw 22-19. It’s fair to expect more of the same this weekend.

Sunday (April 17, 4:00pm) vs. Sarnia Sting (26-35-4-1)

The final game of the season for both teams doesn’t have any playoff implications for London, but it could very well decide Sarnia’s playoff fate. Sarnia has six wins over London this season (Guelph, with seven, is the only team with more). The last time the Sting won a season series against London was in 2017-18, when they won four of the six meetings that year. Ty Voit has seven goals and 17 points in the 9-game season series thus far, while Max Namestnikov has five goals and 13 points.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Michael Simpson has won his last three starts, giving him 19 victories on the season. He’s a big reason why the Peterborough Petes have recently locked up a playoff spot.

Soo Greyhounds rookie forward Bryce McConnell-Barker is riding a five-game point streak with two goals and five assists over that stretch.

Owen Sound Attack defenceman Sam Sedley is coming off a three-assist game. The St. Marys product has four points in his last two games.

The London Junior Knights open the U16 Alliance Championship Thursday night against Brantford. 

Since Woolley’s Warriors was established in 2019, by Owen Sound captain Mark Woolley, the charity has donated more than $65,000 to Diabetes Canada.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

Cody Morgan has six goals in his last four games and is just one shy of the 30-goal mark heading into the final weekend. If he reaches that mark, it would double his previous season high of 15 goals. His next goal would also be his 70th in the OHL.

Another interesting milestone for Morgan (and forward Sean McGurn): If they suit up for both games this weekend, they’ll be the only Knights to play in all 68 games this season. 

Antonio Stranges has two goals and five assists during his current four-game point streak.