Portland 2 London 1 - What a Year

 The Knights on the ice after a 2-1 loss to Portland in the Memorial Cup semi-final

Pained but proud, the London Knights lost the Memorial Cup semi-final 2-1 to the Portland Winterhawks in Saskatoon.

World junior defensemen Tyler Wotherspoon and Scott Harringston

The Knights left their hearts in Saskatoon, giving everything they had against a very good Portland team.  Ty Rattie's third period goal proved to be the winner, his fifth of the Memorial Cup.

There was very little to choose between two skilled, fast teams and the hockey was entertaining.  The game finished with the Knights pressing for the tying goal.

In the end, the key game for the Knights might have been the Saskatoon Blades beating the Halifax Mooseheads for their only win of the tournament.  Had that not happened, the Knights would not have had to play a tie breaker Thursday night.  Although the Knights had good energy throughout the semi-final game against Portland, perhaps the extra energy would have helped.  

Max Domi scored the London goal to put them up 1-0.   The Winterhawks tied the game less than two minutes later on a goal by Tyler Wotherspoon setting the stage for Rattie's winner.

The Knights played well enough to win, but Portland goes on to play Halifax in what should be a great Memorial Cup final.

Thanks to Saskatoon for being a great host.

The Knights try for the tying goal in the dying seconds against Portland. 

Country star Paul Brandt did a great job on both anthems

Knights Win 6-1 over Saskatoon

The handshake after a tie breaker win

Sparky Anderson used to have a sign in his office when he managed the Detroit Tigers.  

It said: "Every 24 hours, the world turns over on someone who thought they were on top.."

Jake Petterson vs. Sakatoon Blades

The reverse is also true.   The London Knights left the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon relieved, happy and energized after their 6-1 win over the host Blades.  When Seth Griffith scored a power play goal just after the midway point of the game, the Knights relaxed.  They dominated the rest of the game and proved to be too fast and skilled for the Blades.  It was a long way from how the Knights felt after a 9-2 loss to the Halifax Mooseheads in their final round robin game.  The Knights would be forgiven for having a crisis of confidence.

The world turned over for London goalie Jake Patterson as well.  He was in the net for the first five Halifax goals and his confidence appeared shaken.

But the world continues to spin and the new day brought new hope. Patterson was tapped on the shoulder by coach Dale Hunter.  He made several key saves while the Knights built their confidence and nursed a 1-0 lead on a Bo Horvat penalty shot goal.

It was one of the strangest exits to a Memorial Cup in my memory.  7,585 watched the hometown Blades in their elimination game but few were around at the final buzzer.  A tepid ovation sent them on their way after a "year on the edge.." (Sportsnet documentary), a four game sweep in round one vs. Medicine Hat and a 51 day wait for the Memorial Cup.

Game Three - Halifax 9 London 2

Knights captain Scott Harrington meets Mr. Hockey in Saskatoon

Well, that was a turn of events.  

The London Knights lost to the Halifax Mooseheads 9-2 at the MasterCard Memorial Cup.  The Knights record fell to 1-2.   The Knights trailed 5-0 after one period and never threatened the powerful Moosehead, who lost just six regular season games and one playoff game this year.

The Knights looked fine to start the game when they had a couple of chances on a power play in the first five minutes of the game.   Halifax goalie Zach Fucale was put to work early and made a couple of decent saves. 

Alexis Normand redeeming performance of Canadian national anthem

When Halifax got a power play a couple of minutes later, they cashed in.  Stefan Fournier scored at 7:43 as he found some room in the slot and beat starting goalie Jake Patterson. 

The Knights seemed to sag after that and Halifax pounced.  Playing their second game in two nights, the Knights couldn't muster sustained pressure against the Mooseheads.  London perhaps is feeling the effects of two tough OHL playoff rounds vs. Plymouth and Barrie.  

The Knights scored two goals after Halifax had a 7-0 lead.  Seth Griffith and Matt Rupert scored  1:18 apart.  The Knights used the rest of the game to get some experience to some of their younger players and Kyle Platzer and Remi Elie acquitted themselves very well. 

The Knights will play the loser of Saskatoon vs. Portland in a tie-breaker game on Thursday.  Not much more the Knights can say except they can't be worse.

Halifax scored first goal vs. Knights.  Stefan Fournier sneaks into the slot on the PP

Knights had some chances on an early power play but were stopped by Zach Fucale

Pre-Game - vs. Halifax

Knights working media row in Saskatoon prior to game vs. Halifax

 The London Knights appeared relaxed as they prepared for game three of the MasterCard Memorial Cup in Saskatoon.
  The Knights will have to tighten up defensively against the high-flying Mooseheads.  The 'Herd have promised a better performance after a loss to the host Saskatoon Blades.

  Much of the talk today was about Max Domi's electric move on a set up of Bo Horvat's goal against Portland.  
  "In 8 years of covering this tournament, it's the best goal I've seen," said Sam Cosentino of Sportsnet.
Doug MacLean on Hockey Central (Sportsnet) predicts Domi will be chosen between 7 and 12 in next months National Hockey League draft.  "An NHL scout just texted me," MacLean said on-air. "He said he's got him 9 on his list."
 

Knights fans in Saskatoon

Game Two - Portland 6 London 3

Portland G Mac Carruth bounced back after a 7-4 loss to Halifax

For the second straight year, all four teams are 1-1 at the MasterCard Memorial Cup.   Prior to last year, that had never happened since the advent of the four team format in 1983.   

Taylor Leier of Portland was 1g, 2a and first star for the Winterhawks

Make that two in a row in Saskatoon.  The London Knights lost 6-3 to the Portland Winterhawks.   

When Alex Broadhurst scored early in the 3rd period to tie the game 3-3, the Knights appeared to be in good shape.  

London had crawled back from a 3 goal deficit and seemed to have the momentum.   But that was the last goal London would score on Portland goalie Mac Carruth, who bounced back from a 7-4 loss to Halifax.  Carruth stopped several point blank chances and showed the confidence in his game that helped Portland to the WHL title. 

The game winning goal was scored halfway through the 3rd period on the power play.  Ryan Rupert was called for closing his hand on the puck.  The Knights did a good job killing the penalty until Derrick Pouliot scored.  Pouliot moved in from the point to score after a point shot from the other side went off the end boards.  
Pouliot is a first round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins (8th overall, 2012).  The Penguins had three defense prospects in the game and all had good games.   Ollie Maatta was also a 1st round pick in 2012, while Scott Harrington a 2nd round pick in 2011.  

Bo Horvat scores for the Knights off a beautiful set up by Max Domi

Sportsnet postgame interview with Derrick Pouliot 

Day Five - Games Just Don't Happen

There is artistry in the anticipation.  The London Knights will walk into a pristine dressing room for game two of the MasterCard Memorial Cup.

Knights dressing room in Saskatoon

The sweaters are perfectly clean.  Each piece of equipment has a place.

The team of Dean Patterson, Bob Martin and Chris Maton work long hours to transport some of the luxury the Knights enjoy at Budweiser Gardens to Saskatoon's Credit Union Centre.

It takes a lot of work.  With four teams using the same facility dressing rooms are not like at home. The Blades upgraded dressing room facilities recently, but visiting teams don't start with the same benefits.

"I had to prepare for this," Maton told CJBK's Mike Stubbs.  "But the team really couldn't. They didn't want to jinx anything."

Listen for the entire interview on NewsTalk 1290 tonight between 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

The large London Knights logo (which no one can step on) is on a carpet in the middle of the floor.  Each player has a mat in front of his dressing area.  The skates are sharpened to order by Maton who also calls the slight  athletic odor the 'sweet smell of success..."  

The Knights take on the Portland Winterhawks tonight.  London can really take control of their own fate with a victory.  With a second loss, Portland would face Saskatoon on Wednesday only one loss away from going home.  Should the Knights lose they would have to beat an angry Halifax team tomorrow to avoid a tie breaker.

..and the men who make it happen L to R - Bob Martin, Dean Patterson and Chris Maton

Max Domi sitting in front of an image of himself painted onto the steps at Credit Union Centre

New Tournament - Day Four

Matej Stransky scores on a breakaway against Halifax Mooseheads

Wow.

The Saskatoon Blades injected some excitement into the Memorial Cup with a 5-2 in front of 8,700 loud fans at the Credit Union Centre in Saskatoon.

Blades fans celebrate

The Blades played with the desperation of a team fighting for survival.  They played with physical discipline and took advantage of a sluggish performance by the Mooseheads.  The win by the Blades almost guarantees a tie breaker on Thursday evening.  The Knights are the only team without a loss in the tournament and can really help their fate with a win vs. Portland.

The Winterhawks will be angry with their opening game loss to Halifax on Saturday.  It will be a tough assignment for London but they at least now control their fate. They have also had two days to watch opponents.

The result, while surprising, highlights the unpredictability of a tournament format.  70% of home teams getting to the final game since the format was introduced in 1983.

'Clappers' on the ice after empty net goal by the Saskatoon Blades

Andrey Makarov and the Blades defense stop Nathan McKinnon

Former Dallas coach Glen Gulutzan helping the Blades

Blades fans exciting with win over Halifas.  Saskatoon now 1-1.

Day Three - Nate's Night

Nathan McKinnon goes around Seth Jones to score vs. Portland

Nathan McKinnon is a very special hockey player.  That was the big message from day three.  Who is he?  Is he a right handed shooting Matt Duchene?  Is he Steven Stamkos?  

As with all special players, he is the first coming of Nathan McKinnon, of Cole Harbour Nova Scotia.

Seth Jones, currently ranked #1 by NHL Central Scouting

McKinnon put on a performance reserved for special talents at the MasterCard Memorial Cup on Saturday.  He scored three goals and added one assist to help the Halifax Mooseheads beat the Portland Winterhawks 7-4 in game one for both teams.

One of his goals featured a speedy move around the number one ranked prospect Seth Jones.  Can he pass Jones on the Colorado Avalanche draft list?  McKinnon said after the game, he doesn't think so.
Jones scored a beautiful goal as well.  The Hawks didn't have there best game but few will fault Jones who remains an elite prospect.
But... How good does Jones have to be, to pass on Nathan McKinnon?   That's a tough call for the Avalanche.
Jones will be very good.  All-star good.  But I think McKinnon has the potential to be a big point producer in the NHL - and a great leader as well.  McKinnons' ability to produce offense in the NHL because of quick feet and an explosive first 3 steps.  In the close quarters of NHL play quick AND fast aren't the same thing.  McKinnon is one of those rare players to be both.  He is also ultra competitive and shows good defensive awareness.
 

Nathan McKinnon

Jonathan Drouin had an excellent world Jr. tournament

Zach Fucale - G- Halifax, the number one ranked goalie for NHL draft.

Day Two - Knights Win

The Rupert family camping out in the Credit Union Centre parking lot in Saskatoon

The London Knights won their opener at the MasterCard Memorial Cup, 3-2 over the Saskatoon Blades.

Max Domi image painted into the stairs at the CUC

A few streaks remain intact.  London coach Dale Hunter is now 5-0 as a head coach in Memorial Cup games.  The Blades are 0-5 in post season games this year.

The Blades expressed some of the frustration of answering questions about having to sit for 51 days waiting for the Memorial Cup to begin (they were beaten in four straight by Medicine Hat in round one).  Collin Valcourt glared threateningly at Josh Anderson at the opening faceoff and took a small whack at Andersons' shin pads.

The Blades started quickly with the first goal less than 8 minutes into the game.  The crowd of 10,203 came to life for a few minutes.  It is apparent, though, Blades fans have a testy relationship with their team after two straight first round sweeps in the Western Hockey League playoffs.

Brett Welychka, one of the best Knights forwards in the finals vs. Barrie tied the game five minutes after the Blades opened the scoring. Welychka fought for space in front of the Blades net.  Chris Tierney's high shot was saved by Saskatoon goalie Andrey Makarov and Welychka was able to get his stick on the rebound and somehow flip a backhand high into the net from close range.
Before the end of the period, Bo Horvat turned a steal of the puck at centre ice into a 2 on 1 with Seth Griffith.  Griffith made a sweet move at the net to score on Makarov and give the Knights a 2-1 lead.

The Blades Josh Nicholls scored his second of the game to tie it 2-2 in the second period setting up another tense third period for Knights fans.  There has not been more than a three goal margin of victory for the Knights in their last 12 wins.

Knights celebrate win at Memorial Cup

With the Knights on a third period power play, Scott Harrington's shot from the point produced a rebound and Nikita Zadorov snuck in from the point to bury the rebound and give London a 3-2 win.

Andrey Makarov was solid for the Blades

Brett Welychka celebrates first period goal vs. Saskatoon

Welychka with the hit that started the play that led to first goal

Day One - MasterCard Memorial Cup

L to R - Nathan McKinnon, Seth Jones and Jonathan Drouin

All the teams practiced today at the Credit Union Centre.  They all looked fast and sharp in drills that have been well rehearsed.  The London Knights worked a lot on sending pucks into the corner to read the bounces off the boards.

The top three NHL prospects for the upcoming draft politely answered the same questions they've heard hundreds of times this year.  Actually, their attention to most of their answers was admirable.  Seth Jones of Portland, Nathan McKinnon and Jonathan Drouin of Halifax are obviously polished professionals already when it comes to handling the media.  Jones and McKinnon are friends and roommates who are represented by the same agency.

Even the hardened media had to admit, it is rare to have the top three NHL draft prospects featured in the Memorial Cup, which is usually won by teams made up of players already drafted.

Knights went through a high paced practice at Credit Union Centre

The most interesting thought of the day for me came from a somewhat surprise visitor.  Recently fired coach of the Dallas Stars, Glen Gulutzan has been recruited by the Saskatoon Blades as an advisor.  Gulutzan felt it was wise to get right back into the hockey mix.  Gulutzan played one season for the Blades (1991-92) and has long ties to hockey in the west.   He spent six seasons coaching in Las Vegas in the East Coast Hockey League before climbing to the Dallas Stars for two seasons.  He's a contemporary coach who is impressive in conversation about the game.   He had special praise for London Knights coach Dale Hunter for the coaching job he did in Washington last year.  Listen to the entire interview with Gulutzan by clicking this link.   entire interview

Glen Gulutzan

Dale Hunter

 Statue of Mr. Hockey outside Credit Union Centre.  Elbows are up, of course

Knights practice

The Six Minute Second

The 'second' the Knights became champions

The London Knights won their second straight OHL championship Monday night against the spirited Barrie Colts, 3-2.  The Knights won the series 4 games to 3.  

Playoff MVP Bo Horvat's 16th goal of the playoffs with one second left gave the Knights the win over the stubborn Colts, who played without the injured Mark Scheifele and the suspended Anthony Camara.
 
The Horvat goal review took about six minutes.  The replay had to show conclusively that the puck entered the net as referee Kendrick Nicholson waved the goal off, initially.  With time winding down, Alex Broadhurst tried a cross-ice pass to a streaking Seth Griffith.  Former Knight Andreas Athanasiou blocked the pass but the puck went to the stick of Horvat at the side of the net.  His shot from the doorstep hit the far post and trickled, on it's end, just across the goal line.  

The wait was agonizing for both teams but too much was at stake for Nicholson and the replay crew not to be sure.

Finally when Nicholson put his helmet on and pointed to centre ice Budweiser Gardens exploded into celebration.   The Colts gathered around their net for a different, but equally emotional moment.

Bo knows it's in!

Kendrick wasn't sure.

IT IS OVER

Bo with Robertson Cup

What does it take to win?