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? 

Knights vs. Plymouth in Pictures

London coach Dale Hunter shakes hands with Plymouth forward Tom Wilson

Love this shot.  Minutes after Knights coach Dale Hunter was doing everything he could to stop Whalers forward Tom Wilson  -- and Wilson was doing everything in his power to beat Hunter's Knights, the two shake hands.  The picture is hockey's embodiment of tough competition but respect for the opponent.  That respect ensures that you are prepared knowing that the minute you let up, the other team will take advantage.  The stuff of great drama and sport. 

Seth is back.

Knights forward Seth Griffin lets out a scream after  a crucial empty net goal in game four in Plymouth (a 6-4 win for London).  Griffith's return to form with goals in games three and four sparked the Knights offense in the two games in Plymouth.  Griffith's return to form has returned the Knights power play to form, a crucial part of their win over the Whalers.  

Seth Griffith slides power play goal home late in first period of game four

Mr. Cool, Knights goalie Anthony Stolarz

Anthony Stolarz had certainly showed why the Flyers made him a second round draft pick before the conference championship even started.  Against the Whalers, though Stolarz faced an NHL-style challenge.  He face traffic from future NHL-sized forwards.  The Whalers made sure Stolarz had few easy saves in any of the five games.  Stolarz rarely retaliated and rarely lost his concentration.  

Stolarz saw the number 10 on the back of Tom Wilson's sweater a lot in the serires 

Anthony Stolarz has a 2.26 GAA and .935 save percentage in the playoffs

Alex Broadhurst (out of frame) scored in game four.

 This goal by Alex Broadhurst in game four (above) seemed to shake up Whalers goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.  While he played well in game five, he was never quite the same.  There is little doubt he'll be an all-star in the future.  Nedeljkovic lost only 2 games in the regular season after taking over the number one job.

Knights defenseman Ollie Maatta checked out by teammate Justin Sefton

Knights defenseman Ollie Maatta was a constant target of the Whalers huge forwards during the series.  The Knights  Finnish defenseman handled the punishment and stayed aggressive moving the puck.  "He's a horse," said Knights GM Mark Hunter.  "The only question is if he plays 12 or 14 years in the National Hockey League." 

Max Domi after scoring the series winner.

 The Ontario Hockey League has certainly come a long way.  When Max Domi's father played for Peterborough back in the day, national TV coverage for a conference final was only a dream for the league.  To say nothing of arena's with jumbo screens. 

Teammates and fans celebrate a goal with Max Domi in game 5 at Budweiser Gardens

The Ontario Hockey League wanted teams winning conference trophies to pose for pictures. 

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