Knights riding momentum; Goalie add on the way

Knight Watch: London riding mini 3-game win streak; Barkey named captain; Dickinson leads comeback kids over Barrie; Knights acquire goalie Austin Elliott; Home cooking vs. Saginaw, Erie this weekend …

Denver Barkey has been named Knights team captain for the 2024-25 season. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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Three straight wins have the London Knights back in business.

A third period comeback against a strong Barrie team, followed by a dominant win over a divisional foe in Guelph, brought the Knights (4-3-0-0) above .500 for the first time this season.

Sam Dickinson was instrumental in Friday’s comeback win, capping off a hat-trick performance with two powerplay goals just 14 seconds apart to tie the game — before Evan Van Gorp potted the winner.

Dickinson says there was a belief among his teammates they were still in the game despite falling behind 4-2 after giving up a shorthanded goal late in the second period — and then another early in the third.

“Since I’ve been here, we’ve shown our ability to come back in games when we’re down in the third period like that,” the star defenseman said. “I don't think any guy in that room was really worried about coming back. We know we have the firepower to get the goals and come back, we just have to trust ourselves.”

It was the first hat trick by a Knights defender since Logan Mailloux scored three against Erie in January 2023.

“It was pretty cool, but the most important thing was getting that win,” Dickinson said following the contest. “It likely helped us mount that comeback, which made it more special to get a hat trick like that.”

After going without a captain last season, the Knights have announced their leadership group for this year, and Denver Barkey has been named captain. Jacob Julien, Easton Cowan, Oliver Bonk and Landon Sim will be alternates.

It looks like the Knights have solidified their overage situation, at least for now, as they parted ways with a pair of players after acquiring goaltender Austin Elliott Wednesday. On the same day, Knights defenseman Alec Leonard and goaltender Owen Willmore were let go.

Elliott, a Strathmore, AB native, was claimed on CHL waivers by the Barrie Colts earlier this month. He spent the last two seasons with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, putting up impressive numbers. Last season, Elliott went 29-8-2-1 with a 2.39 goals-against average (3rd in WHL) and a .904 save percentage.

Along with Elliott, Jacob Julien and Landon Sim now make up London’s three overagers.

Ryder Boulton will miss one more game as he serves a two-game suspension stemming from an incident in Friday’s game against Barrie. He’s eligible to return against Erie Sunday.

Sam Dickinson earned a hat trick in London's 5-4 comeback win over Barrie last weekend. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (Oct. 18, 7:00pm) vs. Saginaw Spirit (4-2-1-0, 2nd in West Division)

The one that got away. Although some of the names may have changed, there are enough returning players from last year’s Knights squad who still have that Memorial Cup loss in the back of their mind. Saginaw may not be the juggernaut they were last year, but the Spirit are still a formidable foe with some top-end NHL prospects. Calgary Flames first rounder Zayne Parekh is off to a slow start by his standards, with six points in five games, but he finished last season with 96 points, leading all CHL defensemen. Michael Misa will be an early pick in this spring’s NHL draft. He has 11 goals in seven games already. Londoner Will Bishop has two goals and five points for the Spirit.

Sunday (Oct. 20, 2:00pm) vs. Erie Otters (3-2-0-1, 4th in Midwest Division))

This will be the Otters’ second trip to London already this season, and they’re looking for another successful one following a 5-3 win earlier this month. Overagers Sam Alfano and Pano Fimis both have 10 points through six games. Malcolm Spence, who could be a top 10 pick in the upcoming NHL draft, has six assists through six games. The Otters have been very good with the man advantage, scoring six powerplay goals and operating at a 26.7% efficiency in the early going.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

- Matthew Koprowski recorded his first OHL win. The Komoka product made 27 saves to backstop Owen Sound to a 7-2 win over Peterborough.

- Ryan Roobroeck has points in four straight games for the Niagara IceDogs, tallying five goals and seven points over that stretch.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

39 - Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has extended his regular season point streak, which dates back to Nov. 24 of last year. His 39-game streak is the second longest in the CHL since 2000.

53 - Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey has been named the 53rd captain of the London Knights. Landon Sim, Jacob Julien, Easton Cowan and Oliver Bonk were named alternates.

8 - Evan Van Gorp and William Nicholl lead the Knights in scoring with eight points apiece.

1 - PJ Fagan II is the latest London Knight to pot his first OHL goal, scoring on a point shot in Saturday’s win over the Guelph Storm.

4 - San Jose Sharks draft pick Sam Dickinson is tied for the OHL lead in powerplay goals with four.

AROUND THE OHL

- City councillors in Brantford have endorsed a proposal for a new sports entertainment centre. The $140 million proposal will go to council for final approval later this month. The Brantford Civic Centre, where the Bulldogs currently play, was built in 1967.

- Four OHL teams were listed in the CHL Top Ten Rankings this week: Brampton (2nd), London (6th), Niagara (8th), and Windsor (9th).