Knights enter weekend on win streak

Knight Watch: Winners of four in a row, London looks to extend streak against two American foes — Flint and Erie; The scoring is picking up — including on the power play. Columnist Jake Jeffrey has the latest Knights news and notes …

Two goals from Oliver Bonk helped the Knights win their fourth in a row Wednesday, 5-2 over Guelph. They’ll look to extend that streak this weekend. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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The London Knights continued their hot hand this week with a second straight win over the Guelph Storm — and fourth win overall — Wednesday night.

Both victories over the Storm started in a similar fashion, with Denver Barkey finishing off a 2-on-1 to open the scoring. The reigning OHL Player of the Week had another strong game Wednesday with a pair of goals. He leads the team in scoring with 28 points in 19 games heading into action this weekend.

That Wednesday night affair was a good one to watch for fans of the Philadelphia Flyers, as Oliver Bonk also scored a pair, both goals coming from quick one-timers from the slot on the powerplay.

The Knights have been experimenting with Bonk in the bumper role on the powerplay, patrolling the middle of the ice in the offensive zone. All three of his goals this season have come in that fashion. 

Both Bonk and Barkey are draft picks of the Flyers.

London’s offense has seen a jump over the last stretch, scoring 24 goals in their last four games — 10 of which have come with the man advantage. Prior to that stretch, the Knights had just seven powerplay goals through their first 15 games.

Kasper Halttunen is second in the OHL with eight powerplay goals, most of which have come via one-timers from his off wing.

“It's something that I work on. The pass isn’t always going to be perfect, so you have to be able to shoot the puck with your off foot,” the San Jose Sharks prospect said. “I've been working on that, and it’s paying off.”

Barkey and Easton Cowan are creeping into the OHL scoring race. Barkey is currently fourth with 28 points, while Cowan is fifth with 27. In their last eight games, Barkey has 13 points while Cowan has 18.

The pair have also combined for five shorthanded goals, something that has caught the eye of one of the team’s top scorers.

“It’s just unreal how they’re able to score like that,” said Halttunen joking that he’s thankful he doesn’t have to face them while he’s on the powerplay.

Denver Barkey, who scored twice Wednesday, leads the Knights with 28 points through 19 games, good for fourth in the OHL entering action Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

Michael Simpson recorded his first shutout of the season last Saturday night, delivering a strong bounceback effort after the veteran netminder had been pulled in last Thursday’s win over Windsor.

“When things don’t go well one game, I seem to bounce back pretty well the next game. The guys made it easy on me. I can’t thank them enough for blocking big shots and easing me into the game,” Simpson said.

After facing just three first-period shots in Saturday’s win, he only had to turn aside 11 shots through 40 minutes before a busier third period.

“It was a complete team effort,” the goalie said. “I don’t think that shutout happens without the rest of the guys.”

Following Friday’s home game, the Knights will play their next four games on the road, returning to Budweiser Gardens December 1 for a contest against Mississauga.

Taking a look at the weekly rankings, four straight wins have the Knights gaining some ground on both the CHL and OHL lists. They moved up to 7th on the CHL Top Ten Rankings this week, with the Kitchener Rangers (8th) being the only other OHL team on the list. London moved up to the fifth spot in the OHL Power Rankings, meanwhile, behind Kitchener, Ottawa, Mississauga and Sudbury.

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (Nov. 17, 7:00pm) vs. Flint Firebirds (8-8-1-1, 3rd in West Division)

Flint has a strong overage player presence. Cacharie Giroux and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Braeden Kressler lead the team with 20 points. Gavin Hayes has scored the game winner in three of Flint’s last four victories. Keep an eye out for the local Matthews. Ilderton’s Matthew Jenken has three assists this season, and Matthew Wang has scored twice so far in his rookie campaign.

Saturday (Nov. 18, 7:00pm) @ Erie Otters (8-7-3-0, 4th in Midwest Division)

The Otters had won four straight before losing an overtime game to Flint last weekend. Erie also had a win over London earlier this season. Anaheim Ducks prospect Carey Terrance scored two of his 13 goals against the Knights, and he has 23 points in 18 games. Martin Misiak has nine goals and 18 points. Goaltender Ben Gaudreau has won four of his last five starts. London blew a third period lead against the Otters in their only meeting this season, a 5-3 victory for Erie.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Ilderton’s Owen Van Steensel had a career-high four points (one goal, three assists) in North Bay’s win over the Soo Greyhounds last week.

Soo Greyhounds captain Bryce McConnell-Barker is riding an eight-game point streak. The New York Rangers prospect has three goals and 10 points over that stretch.

Matthew Wang scored his second of the season for the Flint Firebirds.

Aylmer’s Cameron Reid won a gold medal with Canada White at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. Reid has a goal and five points with the Kitchener Rangers this season. He was the 10th overall pick in the most recent OHL draft.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

5 - Denver Barkey and Easton Cowan have combined for five shorthanded goals this season, a big reason why the Knights lead the OHL with seven shorthanded markers.

24 - London has scored 24 goals during their current four-game winning streak. 

6 - Barkey has opened the scoring on six occasions this season (most in the league), including the last two games for the Knights.

20 - Sam Dickinson is tied for the OHL lead with a plus-20 rating.

3 - Jackson Edward has three goals in his last four games. He leads all Knights defensemen with five goals this season.

KNIGHTS PROSPECT PIPELINE

Will Moore took home a silver medal for the Americans at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The Knights’ first-round pick in 2023 had five goals and 12 points in the tournament and is playing this season with the U.S. National Development Program.

Brendan Gerber continues his hot start to his rookie season with the GOJHL’s Elmira Sugar Kings. He has five goals and 10 points during his current six-game point streak. Gerber was a 6th round pick of the Knights and has signed with London.

AROUND THE OHL

The Kitchener Rangers traded defenseman and Ottawa Senators prospect Tomas Hamara to the Brantford Bulldogs. Kitchener received a third-round pick in 2024, and a fourth-round pick in 2027.

The Kingston Frontenacs traded forward Duncan Schneider to the Sarnia Sting for a seventh-round pick in 2027.