Lidstrom Junior

He is a legend in their minds. 

Olli Maatta is missed by the London Knights

19 year-old Olli Maatta is still a presence in the London Knights dressing room. 

  Bo Horvat recalls Maatta getting a speeding ticket the first day that he drove his new car.  He shrugged it off and rolled with the good-natured ribbing. 

 Chris Tierney remembers ordering the same sub sandwich at the same location at the same time before each playoff game. He says Olli loved his routines.  

 Trainer Doug Stacey remembers Maatta as one of the hardest working players he's ever seen.  He suggested Maatta  avoid taking punishing hits but Olli refused.  "He wanted to show everybody he wouldn't back down," remembers Stacey.   "He acted like a professional from the day he walked in here."  

Maatta (L) Jarred Tinordi and Scott Harrington (R) formed a big three under Rob Ramage

  Josh Anderson remembers Maatta scoring a huge shorthanded goal in Kitchener that led the Knights to a comeback from a two goal deficit against the Rangers in a playoff game.  

Maatta (2) scores SH playoff goal vs. Kitchener 

  "He was a warrior for our hockey club," Knights GM Mark Hunter told Mike Stubbs of Newstalk 1290 CJBK.  "Look at what he did.  He played his way past 7 one-way contracts." (to make the Pittsburgh Penguins).

Flying first class to Memorial Cup in Shawinigan

In two years, with Olli Maatta often leading the team in minutes played, the London Knights were 8-0 in playoff series.  During those 32 playoff wins, Maatta often made a big play near the end of the game that turned the result in favour of the Knights.  He was plus 25 in his first season with London. He followed that with 23 points in 19 playoff games.  

The 2nd trip to the Memorial Cup was highlighted by Maatta's performance against the Plymouth Whalers.  The huge Whaler forwards pounded him at every turn.  Maatta would not be intimidated.  He kept moving the puck out of harms way and battling the likes of Tom Wilson in front of the net.  

Mark Hunter eyes a future without Maatta 

His last seconds as a Knight were spent in front of the Portland Winterhawks net frantically trying to get the tying goal in a 2-1 loss.  He was named the Knights player of the game.  He seemed destined to captain the team to another Memorial Cup.  The fact that he is not in the London lineup has required a psychological adjustment for his former teammates.  An adjustment that's not yet complete.  On the ice he was Lidstrom-dependable.   He also had an easy smile.  No one ever took Olli Maatta for granted.  Universally liked by coaches, teammates and fans, Maatta's loss will take some time to overcome.

Justin Sefton and Doug Stacey help Maatta off the ice vs. Plyoouth

Maatta and Nikita Zadorov celebrate OHL championship