Busy stretch begins for rested Knights

Knight Watch: After playing just one game in 12 days, London will play 12 contests over a 23-day span beginning Friday vs. Brantford. Columnist Jake Jeffrey has all the latest Knights news — plus notes from around the OHL …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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The London Knights took care of business in their only game last week, an overtime victory over the Ottawa 67’s on Friday, Oct. 27. Now, they get set for a much busier schedule ahead.

That includes a pair of home games this weekend, one of which comes against a division rival — Kitchener — who is currently leading the Western Conference. London will host Brantford Friday, travel to Owen Sound Saturday, and then return home Sunday evening to play the Rangers.

The Knights should be well rested heading into a suddenly busy weekend, as they’ve played just one game over the last 12 days. That is about to change. London is slated for 12 games over 23 days beginning Friday.

After getting held off the scoresheet against Erie and Saginaw the previous weekend, Easton Cowan made his presence felt against Ottawa last Friday, picking up a pair of assists and scoring the overtime winner. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect now has five goals and 12 points through seven games. None of those points have come with the man advantage (in fact, he has two goals and an assist while shorthanded).

That win over Ottawa was coach Dale Hunter’s 908th OHL victory, which puts him in second on the all-time list. The victory was also goaltender Michael Simpson’s 50th career regular season win.

With three games in three days this weekend, look for Owen Willmore to get his fourth start of the season. He’s stopped 81 of 89 shots over his three starts thus far.

Despite winning their only game last weekend, the Knights dropped in the CHL Top Ten Rankings, as they now sit in 6th. They did gain some ground in the OHL Power Rankings, though, moving into the 3rd spot behind Mississauga and North Bay.

Overage defenseman Ethan MacKinnon has been out of London’s lineup since Oct. 12, missing the last six games for the Knights.

Juan Copeland’s brief stint with the Knights has ended. He was acquired from the Niagara IceDogs prior to the start of the season, but he played in just four games before being released. He’s now with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars.

The Knights celebrate their overtime victory over Ottawa on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, a win that marked coach Dale Hunter’s 908th of his career — now second all-time in OHL history. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (Nov. 3, 7:00pm) vs. Brantford Bulldogs (4-6-1-1, 5th in East Division)

The Bulldogs currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference — although they’re just two points back of the final playoff spot. London won their only meeting of the season thus far, 5-1, in Brantford. Nick Lardis has eight goals in 11 games for the Bulldogs. Florian Xhekaj has four goals and eight points in nine games, and he had a spirited fight with Sawyer Boulton when the teams last played. Former Knight Luca Testa has five goals in seven games this season.

Saturday (Nov. 4, 7:00pm) @ Owen Sound Attack (6-6-1-0, 4th in Midwest Division)

The Attack made a coaching change following a slow start to the season. On the ice, they’ve been led by overager Deni Goure and Montreal Canadiens prospect Cedrick Guindon. The Attack have a decent connection to nearby St. Marys. Sam Sedley grew up there and is third in scoring among OHL defenseman with 15 points. Goaltender Carter George, who was named the Rookie of the Month for October, spent last season with the GOJHL’s St. Marys Lincolns. Captain Colby Barlow has seven goals through 10 games and is always a threat to score.

Sunday (Nov. 5, 6:00pm) vs. Kitchener Rangers (9-4-0-0, 1st in Midwest Division)

Some people had predicted the Rangers might miss the playoffs. In other words, I don’t think anyone thought they’d be leading the Western Conference 13 games into the season (tied with Guelph entering action Thursday). Offense has been the key to the Rangers’ success, as no team has scored more goals — and they have the four highest scoring players through the first month and a half of the season. Defenseman Hunter Brzustewicz, older brother to Knights rookie Henry, leads the OHL with 25 points in 13 games. Carson Rehkopf has 14 goals in 13 games, while Matthew Sop and Adrian Misaljevic both have 20 points.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Jett Luchanko continues his hot stretch with the Guelph Storm. He has two goals and 11 points over his last six games. The former London Jr. Knight had three assists and scored the shootout winner in Guelph’s win over Brantford Wednesday. NHL Central Scouting lists Luchanko as a ‘B’ prospect ahead of the next spring’s draft.

Ilderton’s Owen Van Steensel has six goals and 10 points over his last six games with the North Bay Battalion.

Ryan Roobroeck had goals in three straight games for the Niagara IceDogs. The second overall pick in the 2023 OHL draft has four goals and seven points in a dozen games this season.

With an injury to starting goalie Domenic Divincentiis, the North Bay Battalion will turn to Londoner Charlie Robertson to handle the workload in net.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

908 - Dale Hunter is now the second winningest coach in OHL history with 908 wins and counting.

1 - Sawyer Boulton scored his first OHL goal last weekend. He now has points in his last two games.

6 - In each of Michael Simpson’s six wins this season, he’s allowed two goals or fewer.

9 - Of Easton Cowan’s 12 points so far this season, nine have come at even strength. The other three have come while shorthanded.

KNIGHTS PROSPECT PIPELINE

Newly signed forward Brendan Gerber has 11 goals and 21 points through 16 games with the GOJHL’s Elmira Sugar Kings. He was a 6th round pick of the Knights in the 2023 draft.

A pair of Knights prospects recently scored their first junior hockey goals with the GOJHL’s Strathroy Rockets. Evan Van Gorp (free agent signee) and defenseman Noah Jenken (4th round in 2023) both found the back of the net for the first time.

Reid Gammage (13th round in 2023) has five goals in his last seven games for the GOJHL’s Cambridge Redhawks.

AROUND THE OHL

Matthew Poitras will not be returning to the Guelph Storm this season. The Boston Bruins announced that the 19-year-old forward would remain with the NHL club for the foreseeable future.

The Soo Greyhounds traded defenseman Connor Toms to Windsor for the Spitfires’ 12th round pick in 2025.

The Brantford Bulldogs have extended contacts with their coaching staff. Head Coach Jay McKee, and Assistant Coaches Andreas Karlson and Andrew Campbell, have all signed three-year extensions to remain with the club.

The Kingston Frontenacs acquired Jakub Chromiak from the Sudbury Wolves for three draft picks. Jakub’s brother, Martin, played for the Fronts from 2019-2022.

OHL Top Performers of the Month:

Player: Kitchener’s Carson Rehkopf had 14 goals in 13 games last month, totaling 23 points. The Seattle Kraken prospect led the OHL with 62 shots and three game-winning goals.

Defenseman: Kitchener’s Hunter Brzustewicz leads the OHL in scoring. He had five goals and 25 points in 13 games in October. He’s a Vancouver Canucks prospect.

Goalie: Guelph’s Brayden Gillespie has been the Storm’s MVP in the early going, with seven wins last month and a .932 save percentage.

Rookie: Owen Sound’s Carter George picked up five wins in October, including his first career OHL shutout.