Knights fall to Shawinigan

Knights console goalie Michael Houser 

The London Knights had started to bounce back shortly after their devastating 2-1 overtime loss to the Shawinigan Cataractes in the Memorial Cup final game.

Michael Houser was able to smile.  Same with the Ruperts at the team gathering after the game.

The game might have had a 'one that got away' feeling, but there was more admiration for Shawinigan than anything else.  The Cats won while playing their fourth game in five days.  They certainly earned the  Knights respect.

The 96th game was certainly one of the best.  The Knights were a whisker away from getting the game winning goal on several occasions.

2011-12 season ends in Shawinigan

The Memorial Cup winners. 

Knights missed chances early while outshooting Shawinigan 13-4 in the first period

London had several chances in the third to tie

Shawinigan's Anton Zlobin scores with 2:09 to go in overtime. 

Lafleur and Cournyer stand for anthem 

2005 Memorial Cup champs welcome Knights

The London Knights have arrived at the Centre Bionest in Shawinigan.   Knights fans lined the bus route into the arena to show their support. 


The group included former Knights Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks) and former Knights captain Danny Syvret (St.Louis Blues) Rob Schremp (Modo) and Kelly Thompson (London Nationals).  All played for the 2005 Memorial Cup champions.  They chartered a plane to be here today.


The game is likely to start closer to 7:30 p.m. after pre-game ceremonies. 

Knights getting off bus for Memorial Cup game

Ollie Maatta and Max Domi

Rob Schremp talks with Dick Hunter

Corey Perry welcomes Knights 

Corey Perry and Danny Syvret (white shirt)  

Merci - Shawinigan and Trois Rivieres

Shawinigan is a perfect place to host the Memorial Cup.

The arena has a perfect junior hockey feel.  Shawinigan is about 50,000 and Trois Rivieres is approximately 131,000.  The Memorial Cup can't get lost in the area, but has enough interest to get 700 volunteers to help organize.

The downtown of Trois Rivieres is especially impressive.  Restaurants, bars and cafes stretch for several city blocks starting at the St. Lawrence River.   Seats extend onto sidewalks and even on a Sunday afternoon it has a busy feel.  People of all ages take advantage of every chance to get outside in nice weather.

Merci Shawinigan.  Merci Trois Rivieres.

The Last Practice

The Knights seemed relaxed at their last practice before the Memorial Cup final vs. Shawinigan.  The team worked out in the usual game day gear of sweats, helmets, gloves.

By the count of Knights assistant general manager Misha Donskov, it was the 121st and final practice of the year.  Today's Memorial Cup final will be the 96th game.  That's a lot of hockey.

Tommy Hughes at the Knights pre-game skate

Knights defenceman Tommy Hughes skated today and looks ready to play tonight.  Hughes is on the key second pairing with Ollie Maatta on the Knights blueline.  He has certainly given the Knights solid minutes this season. The chemistry he has developed with Ollie Maatta has been one of the keys to the Knights stellar goals against numbers in the playoffs.

The team had lunch at 1:00 p.m. at the Trois Riviere Delta - which has been a great host.  This is a beautiful region of the country and well worth a visit.  If you like fishing, hiking, camping and being outdoors - It's wonderful.  The downtown area of Trois Riviere would be a great model for any city.  Many restaurants have tables on the sidewalk and it's a place for all ages.

Playing the host team doesn't always bring bad luck.  Since the format began in 1983, the host team has been in 19 Memorial Cup finals with an 8-10 record.

Austin Watson and Scott Harrington 

Bo Horvat 

Dylan Hunter and Bob Martin 

Ollie Maatta

Matt Rupert at pre-game skate

Colin Martin (L) and father Bob

Houser Wins CHL Goalie of the Year

THE DAY BEFORE - Saturday May 26th

London Knights Michael Houser - CHL goalie of the year. 

The CHL awards took centre stage today in Shawinigan.   London Knights Michael Houser won the CHL goalie of the year.

Michael Houser - Memorial Cup vs. Edmonton

Houser just missed a grand slam of individual awards.  He was first team all star goalie in the OHL.  He was the goalie of the year in the OHL, Red Tilson trophy winner as Most Valuable Player in the OHL and now the CHL goaltender of the year.  The only other trophy he could have won was the CHL player of the year which went to Brandon Shinnimin of the Tri Cities Americans.  

Michael Houser vs. Niagara in OHL finals.  

Houser could return as an overage but it certainly wouldn't be to prove anything else.  His career regular season record stands at 93-28-7.  He posted a save percentage of .900 or better every year, including .925 this season.  He got better in each round of the 2012 playoffs.   As the Knights needed him more, he was there to deliver.

Houser came to the Knights as a free agent.  He was not drafted by an OHL team and has never been drafted by an NHL team.  He must be the most decorated junior player in recent memory to never have been drafted - at any level.

Houser is a native of Wexford, Pennsylvania.  He played minor hockey in Detroit while living with an uncle.  He played in the USHL for a struggling team in Des Moines, Iowa.  That's where Mark Hunter saw him and signed him as a free agent.  Hunter was always impressed with Houser's competitive nature.

The two finalists for the Memorial Cup met the media today.

Michael Chaput had 12 points in 11 playoff games this year in the Q

Cataractes meet the media.

The Shawinigan Cataractes will play their fourth game in five nights.  The Cataractes are a very explosive  team and feed off the energy of probably the most influential crowd in the CHL.
On the ice, Michael Chaput has been an absolute force.  He is a left shot centre with a strong work ethic and an excellent first 3 strides.  He was a 3rd round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 but traded to Columbus for Tom Sestito.  He was acquired by the Cataractes in a trade with Lewiston after being the MAINEiacs first round pick in the Q draft in 2008.  You will be seeing him in a significant role in the NHL.  A great 3rd line centre in the NHL at the least.

Shawinigan coach Eric Veilleux is in his 7th season with the Cataractes

The London Knights are anxious to play for the first time since Tuesday.  Players skated lightly today but seemed relaxed and ready to go.

Ryan Rupert wearing his Dale Hunter Quebec Nordiques shirt. 

Knights waiting after practice skate

Sea Dogs coach Gerard Gallant said Shawinigan deserved to win the semi-final 

 

KNIGHTS EYE THE CUP

MEMORIAL CUP - Semi-final.   Shawinigan Cataractes 7 Saint John Seadogs 4 

It will be the London Knights against the host Shawinigan Cataractes for the 2012 Memorial Cup.  The Cataractes beat the defending Memorial Cup champion Saint John Seadogs 6-4 in an exciting semi-final on Friday night. 

The Centre Bionest in Shawinigan has to be one of the most fun atmosphere's in junior hockey in Canada.  The Saint John Seadogs came out strong against the hometown Cataractes.  But after scoring the first goal by Zack Phillips at 4:29 of the first - the crowd seemed to lift them back into the game. 

The second period belonged to Shawinigan as they outshot Saint John 17-7.  Goals by Loik Poudrier and Michael Chaput 1:15 apart gave Shawinigan a 4-2 lead and sent the crowd into a frenzy. 

A shorthanded goal by Jonathan Huberdeau from 10 feet behind the red line stopped the Shawinigan momentum and made it 4-3 for the Cataractes going into the third period.  It was Huberdeau's second long  shorthanded goal of the tournament.  The long shot goal seemed to take some of the energy out of the Cataractes who were playing their third in three nights. 

The third period settled into a tight, physical game.  When Tomas Jurco of Saint John scored to tie the game at 4-4 it looked like the defending champs regained their composure.  

The stubborn Cataractes recovered and a deflected goal by Yannick Veilleux gave Shawinigan a 5-4 lead. Michael Chaput added an empty net goal to send the host team fans into another party level.  

NOTEBOOK - The Centre Bionest sells poutine and smoked meat sandwiches at the concession stands.  A good idea. A very good idea.  

The fans here are not shy about chanting the Atlanta Braves native song. Mascots and fans regularly dress in Native costumes. 

The "Go Cats Go.." chant during a Sportsnet timeout with 5:54 remaining was ear-splitting.  Shawinigan had just taken a 5-4 lead.  

PHOTOS 

Shawinigan captain Michael Bornival gets a scoring chance. 

Shawinigan fans chant the Atlanta Braves song

Loik Poudrier (72) scores third Shawinigan goal

Michael Chaput (62) was named the 1st star

Referee Sean Reid settles down a scrum

Brandon Gormley - 2nd star 

Smoked meat sandwich

London Knights forward Matt Rupert 

Poutine

Knights staff breaking down video of Shawinigan vs. Edmonton

SEMI-FINAL DAY - Memorial Cup 2012.  Saint John Seadogs vs. Shawinigan Cataractes.

The London Knights will have a good look at both their potential opponents prior to Sunday's Memorial Cup final.

The staff started early this morning going through video of the Shawinigan Cataractes 6-1 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings in the tie breaker.  The amount of video available and watched by CHL teams would surprise people.  There are very few things opponents do that would be a surprise.

"When I started in the early 1980's we had to drive to Windsor on Thursday nights to scout the opponent for Friday," remembers former Knights coach Don Boyd who is now working in player development for the Knights.

"We would take lots of notes and just go by memory.  We were a lot more concerned with how we played."

Matt Rupert signs an autograph outside the Centre Bionest - Shawinigan

The Knights practiced this morning and did a team video session after lunch.  The staff will be at tonight's semi-final between Saint John and Shawinigan.  They will attend live and go over video tomorrow.

The Knights also had a chance to hit the souvenir tent today.  Many were filling requests for family and friends.

Matt and Ryan Rupert also have become popular with autograph seekers.

Some of the staff will also try to follow the Molson Pace tonight at Western Fair District.  The Hunters have a horse running in the 3rd race called 'Cynthia Lou.."  She starts from the rail.

Ryan Rupert signs autograph

Max Domi 

Jared Knight