Meet the 2021-22 London Knights – London

On a heat night in early March 2020, the London Knights left Budweiser Gardens after beating the Oshawa Generals 3-1.

Knights gamers figured they’d per week of follow forward of them to organize for his or her subsequent common season recreation.

That recreation was imagined to occur 5 nights later in opposition to the Flint Firebirds.

The wait ended up being a bit longer than that. It has been 574 days since that early spring night, however that rely is lastly over.

The London Knights are about to play their subsequent common season recreation.

9 gamers on the Knights roster on March 8, 2020 are nonetheless with the staff and they’re going to now type the veteran core who will lead two thrilling lessons of rookies heading into the 2021-22 season.

The Goalies

The Brett Brochu rookie story will at all times be with out its remaining couple of chapters. London had six video games remaining on their schedule however Brochu had already set the Ontario Hockey League document for many wins by a 16 or 17-year outdated rookie goalie with 32.

The extra the 19-year outdated goalie from Tilbury, Ont., performed, the extra profitable he grew to become. Brochu performed 22 of his final 23 begins in 2019-20. He was named to the OHL’s All-Rookie staff and represented the Knights on the OHL’s All-scholastic staff. He’s coming off a 12 months with the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and a rookie camp look in Pittsburgh.

The Knights have 19-year outdated Matt Onuska to again up Brochu to start with. Onuska appeared in two common season video games for the Knights in 2019-20 and spent the remainder of his time with the St. Thomas Stars.

Onuska led the Waterloo Siskinds to a Sutherland Cup championship as a 16-year outdated in 2019.

Defencemen

London has three returning defencemen in Gerard Keane, Bryce Montgomery and Ben Roger. Mixed, they have153 OHL video games of expertise to depend on.

Keane leads the way in which with 84 of these by way of two seasons. He attended coaching camp with the Columbus Blue Jackets and brings his grit and skill to maneuver the puck, plus that style of professional hockey, again to London. Roger was chosen within the 2nd spherical of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and can convey a gentle presence to the blue line.

Montgomery was chosen within the sixth spherical of the NHL Draft and can get a giant alternative to make use of his dimension and skating means everywhere in the ice. That trio is joined by Isaiah George, an incredible skater who’s adept at making performs, two-way Ethan MacKinnon who’s from London, Ont., hard-hitting Connor Federkow and all-around performer Jackson Edward who can lead the push at one finish and break it up on the different.

Forwards

This group is a mix of youthful pleasure and veteran savvy which will likely be led by NHL Draft picks Luke Evangelista and Tonio Stranges and newly-acquired overager Cody Morgan.

Evangelista was a lock for most-improved participant within the OHL in 2019-20, Stranges is an electrical offensive power and Morgan will play the function of huge brother and hope to proceed the offensive success that he confirmed in Flint, Mich., two seasons in the past.

The Knights even have returning forwards Sean McGurn, Max McCue and Stuart Rolofs. All three had been within the technique of studying as rookies in 2019-20 and can now be relied on for giant minutes. McCue is now a talented fifth-round decide of the San Jose Sharks, whereas Rolofs brings dimension, pace and an correct shot. He attended rookie camp with the Minnesota Wild. McGurn has excellent imaginative and prescient on the ice and had six factors in 4 pre-season video games.

Nineteen-year outdated Jacob Chantler performed in a single recreation for London in 2019-20 earlier than struggling a shoulder harm. He will likely be a key on the Knights penalty kill.

Eighteen-year outdated Liam Gilmartin is coming into his first 12 months within the OHL out of the U.S. Nationwide Staff Growth Program. He’s an influence ahead who was chosen by the San Jose Sharks in July.

The opposite eight forwards on the London roster are pure rookies, chosen in both the 2020 or 2021 OHL Precedence Choice.

2021 first-round decide Denver Barkey led London in pre-season scoring with three objectives and 4 assists in six video games. Barkey tries to play the sport within the fashion of Mitch Marner with quickness, imaginative and prescient and ability. Colton Smith confirmed off his shot all through the exhibition schedule, ending second on the Knights in pictures on objective. He additionally tied for second in pre-season scoring with three objectives and three assists. Brody Crane can play the sport any method you need and can add ability and physicality each time he’s on the ice.

Landon Sim iced the London in pictures on objective in exhibition and put up three factors in 4 video games. He is aware of the place the online is and might rating when he will get there.

Abakar Kazbekov is one other expert ahead with a lethal shot. He was the primary general decide within the Below-18 OHL Precedence Choice.

Ben Bujold was the Knights’ first-round decide in 2020 and has a superb hokey IQ. He ended the exhibition schedule nursing an harm after taking a knee to his thigh from Londoner Liam Van Loon of the Hamilton Bulldogs.

The Knights start the season with three video games in 4 days beginning Friday evening at house to Owen Sound. London will likely be in Owen Sound on Saturday at 7:30 after which head for Windsor on Thanksgiving Monday for a recreation in opposition to the Spitfires.

All video games will be heard on 980 CFPL, at www.980cfpl.ca and on the Radioplayer Canada app.