Stranges’ flash just part of overall makeup
Antonio Stranges, a Dallas Stars prospect, is enjoying his best junior season yet. He’s doing so with highlight reel goals — but more importantly, solid two-way play as one of London’s leaders.
(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
Antonio Stranges beat his man to the puck deep in Owen Sound territory, earned a breakaway attempt and lifted a nifty backhand into the top left shelf to put the Knights ahead 3-2.
It was the latest in a string of highlight reel goals for the Knights forward, but the goal that Sunday (Feb. 6), the day after his 20th birthday, was a big one. A momentum-shifting goal, to be sure. It gave the Knights, who had trailed 2-1 earlier in the period, the boost they needed to overcome tired legs and win their third game in three days.
Stranges, who was named first star of the game, finished with three points in the eventual win – giving him six points in two days. Most importantly, it gave the Knights, who’d had 11 days off between games (due to COVID-19-related postponements), a weekend sweep and a firmer grasp on first place in the OHL’s Midwest Division with just over half their regular season games played.
The Sunday afternoon goal was the 11th of the year for Stranges. And, once again, it was a pretty one. But don’t be fooled by the flash. The Dallas Stars prospect says it’s not his aim to score highlight reel goals.
“I think it just happens that some of them are. It’s nice, but it’s honestly not something I try to do. I kind of grew up with a flashy skillset, but I don’t try to make highlight reel goals.”
Rather, they’re just the result of his overall game.
“I think you get rewarded when you play the right way,” said Stranges, who debuted with the Knights in 2018-19. “When I enter a game with the right mindset of moving my feet, using my linemates, playing defensively … the points just end up being a treat for you.”
The points have been piling up for Stranges, who has recorded 14 of them in his last eight games heading into Wednesday’s road game in Saginaw. The left-winger is one of three Knights players currently averaging more than a point per game (37 points in 29 games). He’s already just three points off a career high, with nearly half a season to go.
After missing Knights training camp (he spent time at NHL camp with the Stars), Stranges missed the first five games of London’s season with a dislocated shoulder. He got off to a bit of a slow start, relatively speaking, tallying three assists in his first five games. But he’s basically been firing on all cylinders since then.
A nine-game point streak in November got things started (4 goals, 12 assists for 16 points). He enjoyed a two-goal game against Kitchener before the holiday break, and then repeated the feat in a Jan. 9 game – adding a pair of assists for a season-best four-point night.
“I thought I played a good team game (in Kitchener). I came out, used my linemates, and got rewarded with four points that game,” said Stranges, whose 1.28 points per game were second best on the Knights after 35 games. “It’s a nice feeling, because moving into the next game you feel confident.”
In the seven games since, he’s had four multi-point games, including back-to-back three-point contests in his last two games. One of those came on his 20th birthday Saturday evening. He rewarded himself with a goal and two assists in a 6-3 win over, you guessed it, Kitchener – though this time in London at Budweiser Gardens.
(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
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Statistically, Stranges is on pace to have his best junior season by far. But while the points are nice, he’s not focused on the numbers. He’s looking to continue developing as he chases his NHL dreams – and he’s looking to win a championship while in a Knights uniform before his junior days come to an end.
On the first point, he’s in regular communication with the Stars’ player development team, getting pointers on what he’s doing well and insight into areas he needs to work on.
“They’re a great organization. They keep in close contact with the players, and obviously they talk to the coaching staff here,” Stranges said. “It’s kind of like one big team that works together for me between Dallas and London here.”
It takes a village, after all, and Stranges believes he’s been in the perfect place to grow and evolve his game at the junior level.
“What really sticks out to me in London is the dedicated coaching staff and how hard they work on developing their players,” he said. “It’s unbelievable. And, you know, I haven’t played with one guy here that I haven’t gotten along with. I can definitely call London a second home to me and my family. It’s a special place, for sure, and I wouldn’t trade my time here for anything.”
Stranges was just 16 when he first moved to London. The original plan was to finish high school a year early and go the college hockey route. Those plans changed in his junior draft year – when he was taken in the second round (21st overall) by the Knights. He finished his schooling online and enjoyed a solid rookie season, tallying 34 points in 66 games.
He took a step forward in year two, scoring 19 goals and adding 21 assists for 40 points in 61 games in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the remainder of the season. That summer, he was drafted by the Stars in the fourth round (123rd overall).
His lone playoff experience in the OHL is the Knights’ 2019 run which saw them blow a three-game lead against the Guelph Storm in round two and lose 4-3 in the best-of-seven series. It left a bitter taste in his mouth, and he’s looking to help write a different story for the Knights in 2022. Interestingly, it’s been the Storm that has again had London’s number this season, winning five of six contests thus far.
“Every time we play Guelph it’s definitely a personal game,” Stranges said.
Things may, then, get very personal come playoff time. The Knights are first in the division, but the Storm still hold down the number two spot, despite a recent five-game losing streak. Regardless, there are plenty of other teams London will have to go through if they want to make a deep playoff run. Stranges wants to see the team go on a regular season run first.
“One of our goals is to go on another streak. We started the year 9-0, and I think that’s something we want to get back to is a good winning streak,” he said. “And then a big playoff push, for sure. I know that everyone in the room thinks we have a great group that can definitely make a push.”
Just how far?
“I think we’re capable of going to Saint John, to the Memorial Cup,” he said. “I think we have a group that can do it. We have a lot of young guys, but I think they’re willing to learn, and they work hard. I think between some of us older guys and the young kids we have a great group that can make it all the way. That’s the big goal.”
Knight Watch: London opens busy weekend on impressive 12-game win streak; Return of Halttunen gives Knights depth — and healthy competition; It’s Owen Sound, Saginaw and Ottawa this weekend …