Knight Watch: Who will step up?

The Knights will have Luke Evangelista and Brett Brochu against Erie and Sarnia, but who will step up when they depart for Canada’s World Junior camp? Jake Jeffrey says we may get a glimpse this weekend.

Colton Smith, second on the team in scoring (11 G in 20 GP), could be a player who steps up when Knights captain Luke Evangelista heads to Canada’s World Junior camp. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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It’s a return to home ice for the London Knights this week after taking three of four games on the road, which helped them maintain top spot in the OHL.

That lone loss was to Guelph, who has had London’s number so far this season, winning both of their matchups.

Luke Evangelista and goalie Brett Brochu should be available this weekend, against Erie and Sarnia, before the pair head to Calgary for Hockey Canada’s World Junior Selection Camp Dec. 9-13.

Their absence will be an opportunity for others to step up, and boy will the team need it. Brochu has carried the vast majority of the workload in net this season, and Evangelista leads the league with 20 goals entering action Thursday (Dec. 2), almost twice as many as London's next highest goal scorer (Colton Smith, 11). The captain’s 20 goals, in fact, account for more than a quarter (25.3%) of the team’s total goals so far this season (79).

Both players have a real good shot of making Team Canada, and thus could be away from the Knights until early in the new year. But we’ll cross that bridge if/when it comes …

Sean McGurn, who has nine points over his last five games, is one player who will be relied upon offensively in Evangelista’s absence. The team will also be turning to players like Antonio Stranges, Cody Morgan, and Max McCue to pick up some of the the slack. First-year forwards Smith and Ruslan Gazizov will also get more opportunities to produce.

This week, the London Knights added a second overager to the roster by acquiring Tye McSorley from the Oshawa Generals. He’ll be wearing number 12 when he makes his Knights debut this weekend.

Taking a look at other news around the league, the Sudbury Wolves have suspended all team activities after 12 players tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, Sudbury’s three games scheduled for this weekend have been postponed, and the league says additional games will be subject to review.

Wrapping up on a more positive note, ‘Coach Cal’ was one of the best things on twitter this week, as video of his pregame speech to the Peterborough Petes went viral.

The “We won't let those 67’s get a win in our barn” line was a personal favourite of mine. A little icing on the cake? The 67’s would not get a win in their barn, as the Petes skated away with a 3-2 win.

Cody Morgan, a point-per-game scorer so far this season, was joined this week by a second overager on the team when the Knights acquired Tye McSorley from the Oshawa Generals. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (Dec. 3, 7:30pm) vs. Erie Otters (5-13-1-0) (Erie plays in Windsor Thursday)

Antonio Stranges and Brody Crane have four goals this season, and both scored twice in London's only game against the Otters, a 7-4 win in Erie. Although Erie has looked better since their coaching change, the distance is growing towards them and the rest of the pack in the Western Conference.

Saturday (Dec. 4, 4:00pm) vs. Sarnia Sting (8-8-3-0)

The Teddy Bear Toss returns Saturday when the Knights host the Sting for a matinee matchup (4:00pm). The teams have split the season series so far, with each team winning a pair, and the Sting have been a tough opponent in all four games. Brett Brochu (.918) and Benjamin Gaudreau (.916) are one-two in save percentage in the league entering action Thursday, while Sarnia's other netminder, Anson Thornton, has already recorded a win over London this year.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Blenheim’s Brady Stonehouse has three goals in his last four games for the Ottawa 67’s.

Aidan Prueter has points in each of his last four games, helping the Mississauga Steelheads sit second in the Central Division. 

Boston Bruins prospect Brett Harrison now has 11 goals for the Oshawa Generals (and points in 11 of his last 13 games).

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

London has won five of their six games that were tied through regulation, with two overtime wins and three shootout victories.

With eight goals and 14 points over his last five games, Luke Evangelista is definitely making a case to be included in Canada’s World Junior plans.

All three London Knights players competing at the Capital City Challenge came away with medals. Denver Barkey (0-5--5) and Oliver Bonk (1-4--5) won gold as members of Canada Black, while Easton Cowan (2-2--4) earned silver playing for Canada Red.