Knight Watch: London hits resume button on season

After 18 days off, the Knights return to the ice Friday (and Sunday), albeit in empty arenas, looking to get back to their early season winning ways. Columnist Jake Jeffrey has the latest.

Kirill Steklov, a Russian import player who suited up for the Knights in 2019-20, is back with the team after playing the last year in his home country. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

It has been a streaky season so far for the London Knights, starting out with a bang, but sputtering a bit into the holiday break.

The Knights rattled off nine straight wins to start the season, giving them an early lead on top of the Western Conference. It’s a lead they would hold on to until the final game before the holiday break — a loss to Guelph (for the fourth time this season) which helped the Storm surpass them in the standings.

Guelph has really had London’s number so far in 2021-22, as four of the Knights’ nine losses have come against their divisional foe. The Storm was also the first road team to win at Budweiser Gardens this season.

London has had plenty of positives in the first half, including captain Luke Evangelista, who has been playing on another level, with 21 goals and 41 points in 22 games. In net, Brett Brochu, who represented Canada at the World Juniors before the tournament was cut short due to COVID-19, has been one of the league’s busiest, and most effective goalies.

The Knights recently added forward Camryn Baber (8-8--16), who was the captain of the Saginaw Spirit. In another recent trade, London sent goalie Matt Onuska to Windsor (in exchange for draft picks).

London will have some reinforcements on the blue line as they begin their post-break play, as Kirill Steklov and Logan Mailloux are set to make their season debuts this weekend. Steklov, who suited up for the Knights in 2019-20, had been playing in Russia, and was in Alberta at the World Juniors representing the country.

Mailloux, who has sat out the first 26 games, was serving an indefinite suspension for an incident in Sweden in November 2020, in which he shared an intimate photo of a female without her consent, an act the OHL said violated the league’s expectation for appropriate conduct by a player.

Postponements have delayed London’s return from the holiday break, but they are finally back on the ice this weekend (after 19 days) — albeit with some changes.

The Knights will host Flint Friday, but game time has been moved up to 7pm. Saturday’s game in Flint has been postponed, and London’s game in Kitchener has been moved from 6pm to 4pm. Most notably, no fans will be in attendance at games (for at least the next three weeks) due to current government restrictions surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s to come on the ice …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (Jan. 7, 7:00pm) vs. Flint Firebirds (15-10-0-2)

The Firebirds came out on top in the only matchup between the two teams this season, a win that snapped London’s nine game winning streak to start the year. New York Rangers prospect Brennan Othmann (22-19--41) is one to keep an eye out for.

Saturday (Jan. 8) @ Flint Firebirds — postponed

Sunday (Jan. 9, 4:00pm) @ Kitchener Rangers (13-12-1-0)

London has had Kitchener’s number this season, outscoring the Rangers 16-5 in a trio of victories. Sean McGurn and Luke Evangelista have both enjoyed individual success, with McGurn racking up three goals and seven assists against Kitchener, and the captain posting three goals and eight assists. Earlier this week, Kitchener traded big blueliner Arber Xhekaj to Hamilaton for draft picks, as well as overage forward Navrin Mutter.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

North Bay Battalion rookie forward Owen Van Steensel (Ilderton) was named the Central Division’s Academic Player of the Month for December.

Mutter (Lucan) is expected to make his Rangers debut this weekend after being traded from Hamilton to Kitchener.

George Diaco (11-24--35) is enjoying a strong season in Hamilton, currently second on the team in points.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

Brett Brochu is among the OHL’s best, and his stats prove it. He is fourth in saves (626), third in goals against average (2.48), second in save percentage (.921) and first in wins (16).

Colton Smith is tied for the rookie lead with 12 goals.

Other than Evangelista, Sean McGurn (6-22--28) and Antonio Stranges (6-17--23) are the other two Knights averaging more than a point per game.