Whalers Gain Split

The Plymouth Whalers celebrate double overtime win in game two of Western Conference Final

Few expected anything different in the playoff series between the London Knights and the Plymouth Whalers.  Every inch of ice comes with some pain.  The double overtime win by the Whalers in game two at Budweiser Gardens gives home ice advantage to Plymouth.  A power play goal by Rickard Rakell at 10:16 of the 2nd overtime ended a tough afternoon for all players.

Alex Nedeljkovic made 58 saves in game two

Tom Wilson gave the 9,016 fans at Budweiser Gardens a good look at an NHL top-six forward in the making.  He scored the first three Whaler goals including the tying goal with just 21 seconds left in regulation time.  The 6' 4" Wilson has improved his speed, mobility and puck handling since being taken in the 1st round of the NHL draft by the Washington Capitals (16th overall) last year.

What might be surprising about the Knights and Whalers is who is stopping the pucks.  At the start of the regular season few would have imagined the Whalers would be relying on Parma, Ohio native Alex Nedeljkovic in goal.  Nedeljkovic forced his way into a starting role with a 19-2-1 record, a 2.28 GAA and a .923 save percentage.  His numbers are even better in the playoffs.

Anthony Stolarz save percentage in the playoffs is .944

Anthony Stolarz of the London Knights was a 2nd round draft pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012. Few Knights fans had even heard of him at the start of the year.  His numbers are eye-popping in the playoffs (.944 save percentage) and he is playing like he relishes the challenge of backstopping a contending team.

Referee Sean Reid gets the word that Remi Elie scored the game one winner. 

Knights-Rangers Game 3 and 4

The Kitchener Auditorium before game four.

The London Knights are one win away from the Western Conference Final.   The Knights bounced back in game four with a 4-3 win in overtime vs. the Rangers after they lost 6-2 on Monday.

Chris Tierney watches Matt Rupert shot beat John Gibson

 I could watch these two teams play every night of the year.  The intensity of this rivalry is the best the Ontario Hockey League has to offer.  The full arenas, passionate fans and consistent quality of rosters are unmatched.  Both teams mean so much to their communities.

The Rangers won game 3 when there veteran talent took over.  The power play exploded for four goals and John Gibson was his usual rock in goal.

In game four, the Knights showed the mental toughness that has become the franchise trademark.  The Knights turned around a 3-1 first period deficit, eventually winning 4-3 in overtime.

Both games were highly entertaining, fast paced and full of tension.  There were the usual charges about bad calls, bad bounces and nasty behaviour.  I hope so.  There's a lot at stake and if there wasn't some wounded souls either playing or watching, it wouldn't be worth playing.  It's tough to win any playoff series in the Ontario Hockey League (ask the fans in Kingston).  Thanks are due to the Knights and Rangers regardless of the series outcome for putting on this kind of show.

Max Domi shot deflected wide by Ryan Murphy

OHL Priority Selection Interview

Mark Hunter news conference following 5th round of OHL priority selection on Saturday April 6, 2013.

Markhunt

Game Two - Knights vs. Rangers

Anthony Stolarz made 34 saves and stood tall for the Knights 

A scoreless game can be exciting when it features the goaltending provided by London's Anthony Stolarz and Kitchener's John Gibson on  Sunday afternoon.  

John Gibson stops Alex Broadhurst on a breakaway

Not only did the two second-round NHL draft choices make saves, they swallowed pucks.  The puck hit their pads with an audible 'thump'.   Despite being very tall, both darted through creases to make saves that frustrated shooters.   

Stolarz was the first start of the game with 34 saves. Gibson was second star with 29 saves.  They were easy selections.  

Anthony Stolarz 

Max Domi's goal with less than five minutes to play broke a scoreless tie.  Bo Horvat's determined individual effort with 1:33 to play made the final 2-0.  

Domi's goal was the product of a great play by Chris Tierney who was knocked down but while on the ice, swiped a pass to Domi in the right faceoff circle.  Domi evaded a check and slid one through goalie Gibson for the eventual game winner. 

The Rangers battled hard and could have easily tied the series, if not for the work of Stolarz. 

The Knights played without defenseman Nikita Zadorov (upper body) and Brett Welychka (upper body).  Game two is Monday night. 

Budweiser Gardens crew change form hockey to basketball

DRAFT DAY 2013

London Knights draft room 2013. Lindsay Hofford (standing to the left) is the Knights Director of Scouting

One London Knights scout, Craig Warwick, said he saw 354 midget games this season.
"I know the exact number because I had to write a report on each one," laughed the man they call Candyman.
OHL draft day belongs to the scouts of the 20 Ontario Hockey League teams.  The league's foot soldiers. They travel thousands of miles to get as many viewings as possible of the talent available.
  Lindsay Hofford, the Knights director of scouting figures the team got 'three players we had rated in the first round'.  The Knights selected centre Mitch Marner in round one (19th overall).  Marner was excited to be a Knight and said "even the animals were huddled around the computer. Our dog was getting excited right along with us," said Marner by telephone.  Marner had 86 points in 56 games for the Don Mills Flyers this season.  He has been heavily recruited by U.S. colleges including Michigan.
The Knights then picked a player many feel was one of the best players in the draft in Zach Werenski from Detroit Little Caesars, a 6 foot 2 inch defenseman who has committed the next two years to the U.S. Development program.  Werenski immediately tweeted he is "honored to be able to play for my country and be drafted by the London Knights".   The Knights also took American born Matthew Tkachuk, a winger and defenseman Christian Evers.  Tkachuk is the son of former NHL'er Keith Tkachuk and has made a verbal committment to Notre Dame.  Evers has said yes to the Unversity of North Dakota.
In between the Knights stayed domestic with defenseman Mitchell Kreis, from Halton and Toronto Marlboros assistant captain Joshua Defarias.  Defarias was rated early in the 2nd round on the Knights list.   Listen here to Lindsay Hofford on the Knights draft picks.

Knights vs. Rangers - Game One

Anthony Stolarz enjoys the challenge of the playoffs

Anthony Stolarz had to wait one period to feel like part of the London Knights 4-1 win over the Kitchener Rangers in game one of the Western Conference semi-final.   But when the game finally came to him, he was ready.  Stolarz played solid in the 2nd and early 3rd periods with the Knights nursing a 2-1 lead over the Rangers.  His 29 saves was good enough for first star status in a game that featured goaltending from two 2nd round NHL draft picks.

Chris Tierney in front of Gibson 

Kitchener's John Gibson was named second star.  Gibson stopped 16 shots in the first period alone as the Knights dominated play in period one.

The veteran Rangers gathered themselves and left Budweiser Gardens feeling they accomplished what they came to do.
"We know we can play with these guys," Rangers defenseman Ryan Murphy told CTV London after the game.

Sign of the night, Steve Spott ruined this Knights fans Christmas

The Knights got a dominant performance from defenseman Ollie Maatta.  He assisted on the key goal of the game when his wrist shot from the point was deflected by Chris Tierney early in the 3rd period.  The goal gave the Knights a 3-1 lead.

Also continuing their fine play was the fourth line of Remi Elie, Kyle Platzer and Paxton Leroux.  The rookies combined for the goal (Platzer) that tied the game 1-1.   Seth Griffith looked much more comfortable in this game carrying the puck and making plays.  Griffith's shot on the power play late in the first period resulted in a rebound that Tyler Ferry put behind John Gibson.  The Knights made Gibson work hard in the first period. Not only did they take 18 shots, but constantly forced Gibson to track the puck from side to side and use his legs to go up and down.

Ollie Maatta was dominant for the Knights

Seth Griffith looked much more comfortable carrying the puck