Devilettes crowned champs; Knights go up 2-0
Gameday in 5: A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (March 27-Apr. 2) — for London’s teams and athletes.
(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
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The Knights have built a 2-0 series lead in their first-round playoff matchup against the Owen Sound Attack after a pair of home victories at Budweiser Gardens over the weekend.
London opened the postseason with a bang, scoring seven times for a 7-0 win over the visiting Attack on Friday night. Leading 1-0 after the first period, the Knights scored three goals in both the second and third periods, while with Brett Brochu notched a shutout in the London net. Sean McGurn led the way offensively, tallying a hat trick in the game. Max McCue scored twice and Jacob Julien and Ryan Humphrey added goals of their own.
Sunday’s game was a lot closer, but the Knights came away with a 5-4 win in overtime. With the game tied 1-1 to start the second period, Easton Cowan and Ryan Winterton both scored powerplay goals to put the Knights ahead by a pair. The Attack cut into the lead early in the third, but an Ethan McKinnon goal restored London’s two-goal lead. But that’s when it got interesting.
In the final two minutes of regulation, Owen Sound scored two quick goals to force overtime, threatening London’s attempt to go up two games in the series. Alas, after nearly 16 minutes of extra time, George Diaco played the hero for the Knights, wristing a shot past Attack goaltender Corbin Votary with 4:13 left in overtime for the game winner.
Up next:
The Knights, ahead 2-0 in the series following the weekend, will have a very busy week as they try to end Owen Sound’s season and advance to the second round of the OHL playoffs. They’ll play road games Tuesday and Thursday and then return home, if necessary Friday and Sunday.
OHL Playoffs (1st Round) - London Knights (2) vs. Owen Sound Attack (7) (best-of-7 series)
Game 1: London 7 vs. Owen Sound 0
Game 2: London 5 vs. Owen Sound 4 (OT)
Game 3: Tues. Apr. 4 (7:00pm @ Owen Sound Attack)
Game 4: Thurs. Apr. 6 (7:00pm @ Owen Sound Attack)
Game 5: Fri. Apr. 7 (7:00pm vs. Owen Sound Attack) (if necessary)
Game 6: Sun. Apr. 9 (7:00pm @ Owen Sound Attack) (if necessary)
Game 7: Tues. Apr. 11 (7:00pm vs. Owen Sound Attack) (if necessary)
The Lightning split their two games last week, winning on home court and then losing to their nemesis, the Albany Patroons, for a second year in a row at the historic Washington Avenue Armory.
Things got off to a good start for the Bolts Wednesday, as they bested the Windsor Express, 123-98, at Budweiser Gardens. With a 66-57 lead at halftime London built on its lead in the third, holding Windsor to 13 points in the quarter while scoring 34 of their own.
Jordan Burns had a monster 45 point, 11-assist double-double, making 11 three-pointers along the way. Amir Williams scored 25 points with 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while Jeremiah Mordi, in his first game back after some time in the Basketball Africa league, notched a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) with 5 assists.
After a convincing win Wednesday, the Lightning lost a close one Saturday across the border, dropping a 96-91 contest to the Albany Patroons, the team that ended London’s season-opening 11-game win streak in 2022.
The Lightning led 47-38 after the first half, but things fell apart in the third quarter, as Albany outscored London 35-18 in the frame and led by as many as 14 in the final quarter. Amir Williams had another strong game, this time in a losing effort, posting a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double (with four blocks). Marcus Ottey scored 18 off the bench with 4 rebounds.
For the second straight game, the Lightning played shorthanded, with just three players off the bench, as Mareik Isom (injury) and Terry Thomas and Jermaine Haley Jr. (illness) were inactive.
Up next:
The Lightning (17-6) get a bit of a break with seven days between games. They’re back in action Saturday at Budweiser Gardens against the KW Titans, who took a game from the Sudbury Five on Sunday. Sudbury (17-5) remains atop the NBLC standings, but just a half-game ahead of London entering a new week.
Sat. Apr. 8 (7:00pm vs. KW Titans)
London Jr. Knights
They gave it a run. The 16U AAA London Jr. Knights reached the quarterfinal round at the OHL Cup for the second straight year before being eliminated by a top-ranked team. This time it was the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, who have a very good chance at winning it all Monday night. That was the case last year, as the Mississauga Senators went on to win the Cup after beating the Jr. Knights in the quarters.
London reached the playoff round by going 3-1 in round-robin play Wednesday thru Friday. And they did so having to win out after dropping their opening game, 4-2, to the Barrie Colts on Wednesday. Facing adversity, the Jr. Knights then won 3-2 over the Southern Tier Admirals Thursday, and then won a pair of games Friday, a 4-2 decision over the Mississauga Senators, and a bigtime 5-4 overtime win over the Whitby Wildcats to earn a spot in the playoff round. Aiden Young, who had a fantastic tournament, scored the OT winner.
Parker Snelgrove scores a first period goal against the Toronto Jr. Canadiens in the OHL Cup quarterfinals Saturday, Apr. 1, 2023. (Photo: Wild Ave. Photography).
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In the quarters, London drew a tough matchup against the Toronto Jr. Canadiens, ranked third in the province in the most recent OHL Cup rankings. The Jr. Knights struck first, with Parker Snelgrove notching a first-period goal, but it was all Jr. Canadiens after that, as the Toronto squad tied things up in the second and then scored three times in the third to claim the victory. Luca Romano recorded a hat trick in the win. The Jr. Canadiens take on the Vaughan Kings in the OHL Cup final Monday night.
For the tournament, Aiden Young’s six goals tied for third most in the tournament. He led the Jr. Knights with eight points in the team’s five games. Snelgrove had six points (3G, 3A), while Zander Kechego had five points and Tyler Pais had four.
Up next, the team will embark on their ALLIANCE championship series against the Waterloo Wolves, with Game 1 set for Wednesday at the Western Fair.
London Devilettes
They won it all. On championship weekend, the London Devilettes came out on top — and they did so in exciting fashion. Playing against the Whitby Wolves in the final on Sunday afternoon, the Devilettes earned a come-from-behind victory after being down 2-0 after two periods of play.
In the third, Bridget Stevenson got London on the board (assists to Sydney Vandenberg and Taya MacDonald). Emma Pais then tied things up with a powerplay goal with 5:46 remaining. Less than a minute later, Abby Stonehouse completed the comeback and scored what turned out to be the winner, assisted by Jocelyn Amos.
The Devilettes had reached the final after a Sunday morning win over the Durham West Lightning in the semis. That one was also 3-2 — and also a nailbiter. Tied 2-2 in the third, Keira Hurry scored the winner with a powerplay marker with just over six minutes remaining in the contest. Stonehouse and Amos scored the other two goals for the Devilettes.
Even reaching the semis was a difficult test for the Devilettes — and one they passed only in overtime with a thrilling 4-3 victory in their quarterfinal matchup against the Mississauga Hurricanes Saturday night. Down 3-1 in the third period, Ava Werstine brought London to within a goal, and then Keira Hurry tied it on a goal assisted by Emma Pais. That combination also brought the winner in overtime, with 7:20 remaining in the extra frame.
In the round-robin portion of the tournament, the Devilettes opened with a 4-4 tie Friday afternoon against the Burlington Barracudas, beat the Bluewater Hawks 4-1 on Friday night, and then won 3-0 Saturday morning over the Nepeas Wildcats.
Around the Perimeter: London and KW are the final two teams standing. It’s experience vs. youth; Will Lightning match the Titans’ energy?; Will defense decide this matchup? Read our series preview …