Gameday in 5
A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (Apr. 25-May 1) — for London’s teams and athletes.
Antonio Stranges has a team-high 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in London’s playoff series against Kitchener heading into Game 6 action Tuesday. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
* * *
The Knights split their two games with the Kitchener Rangers last week, but came away with a big win Sunday to take a 3-2 series lead heading into the new week.
London dropped its first contest last week, losing 3-2 in Kitchener in Game 4 on Tuesday. The Rangers took a 1-0 lead early in the first period, but the Knights tied the game in the second on a Max McCue goal. With the game still tied 1-1, the Rangers scored two third-period goals in less than 3 minutes and opened a 3-1 lead. Cody Morgan scored on the powerplay to bring the Knights within a goal, but the Rangers held on for the win to tie the series at two games apiece.
The Knights bounced back on Sunday at home, beating the Rangers 5-3 for the crucial Game 5 win to put Kitchener on the brink of elimination heading into Tuesday’s Game 6. Max McCue got the Knights off to a strong start in the first period, scoring two goals in a four-minute span. After the Rangers came within a goal, Antonio Stranges scored his 4th of the series to restore the two-goal lead. The Rangers scored twice in the second, but Sean McGurn scored the eventual game-winner in between. With a one-goal lead to start the third, the Knights shut the Rangers down, and McCue completed a hat-trick with an empty net goal late in the game to ice things.
Up next:
Game 6 happens Tuesday in Kitchener. If Kitchener wins, the teams will play Game 7 the following night in London. A close series thus far, London holds an 18-14 goal differential through the first five games.
OHL Playoffs - First Round (London, No. 2, vs. Kitchener, No. 7) (Knights lead series 3-2)
Game 1: Kitchener 3 @ London 2
Game 2: London 5 vs. Kitchener 2
Game 3: London 4 @ Kitchener 3
Game 4: Kitchener 3 vs. London 2
Game 5: London 5 vs. Kitchener 3
Game 6: Tues. May 3 (7:00pm @ Kitchener)
Game 7: Wed. May 4 (7:00pm vs. Kitchener)
The Lightning won their only game last week, beating the Windsor Express 113-99 on Sunday in Windsor. It didn’t come easy. Though the Lightning held a 33-29 lead after one quarter of play, they went down by six at the half and trailed by 11 early in the fourth quarter. Then they flipped the script. A dominant 29-2 run reversed London’s fortunes and catapulted them to the comeback win. They held the Express to just eight points in the final quarter while tallying 31 of their own.
Terry Thomas had a strong all-around game, finishing with a team-high 33 points and 15 rebounds. He was 4-for-9 from three-point range. Cameron Forte and newcomer Jordan Burns (his first game with the Lightning) both scored 17 points off the bench. Mareik Isom (16/5 and 3 steals) and Marcus Ottey (14/5 and 3 steals) also had strong games.
Up next:
The Lightning (17-4) are back in action Monday for the second game of their home-and-home series against Windsor, this time at home at Budweiser Gardens. They’ll get another look at their first-round playoff opponent, as these two teams are already locked in to face each other in the an NBLC semi-final series beginning mid-May.
Mon. May 2 (7:00pm @ Windsor Express)
The Nationals’ playoff run ended Wednesday night, as the Chatham Maroons won Game 5 of their Western Conference semi-final series, 6-5 in overtime, to claim the series four games to one.
Entering the week down 2-1 in the series, the Nationals were pushed to the brink after losing 4-3 in Game 4 on the road. London had a strong first period, scoring three times and holding the Maroons to a single goal. Jaden French got the team on the board just after the 4-minute mark. After the Maroons tied the game at 1, Nicholas Beaupre and Rylan Bowers put the Nats ahead 3-1. Following a scoreless second period, the Maroons simply overpowered the Nationals in the third, scoring three times en route to the Game 4 win.
With their season on the line in Game 5 back in London, the Nationals fought hard, even coming back from a 5-2 deficit in the third period. But they ultimately lost the contest — and the series — after falling 6-5 in overtime. Down 4-0 early in the second period, the Nationals fought valiantly, first answering back at the 6-minute mark with a Jeff Burridge power play goal. Jacob Julien then scored to cut Chatham’s lead in half. But it was the third period that was most impressive. Down 5-2 to start the frame, Lucas Chard and Daniel Torrealba scored to bring the London within one, and then Deacon Holmes tied things up to eventually send the game into overtime. Unfortunately for the Nats, they couldn’t finish the comeback, as the Maroons scored the series-winner just past the 7-minute mark in overtime to end the Nationals’ season.
The GOJHL’s Western Conference awards were handed out Friday, and a pair of Nationals were honoured. Owen McGowan was named Top Defenceman for the year. In 46 games, he was the top scoring defender in London, putting up 42 points (10 goals, 32 assists). Meanwhile, besides winning the league scoring title in 2021-22, Jeff Burridge was named Conference MVP after a stellar final junior hockey season. Burridge, the captain, had nine game-winning goals this year. His final regular season tally: 81 points (31 goals, 50 assists) in 45 games.
Playoffs - Conference Semi-Final (London, No. 2, vs. Chatham, No. 3)
Game 1: London 8 vs. Chatham 2
Game 2: Chatham 6 vs. London 1
Game 3: Chatham 5 @ London 2
Game 4: Chatham 4 vs. London 3
Game 5: Chatham 6 @ London 5 (OT)
(Chatham wins series 4-1)
With a 5-0 win by the women, and a 2-2 draw by the men, FC London went undefeated in their home opener matches on Saturday at Tricar Field.
After an impressive 8-1 in their season opener, London FC’s Women’s team shut out Darby FC Saturday to improve to 2-0-0 early in the year. After a scoreless first half, the team came out firing in the second. Nat Abbate got things started with a goal in the 51st minute — and then added another three minutes later. Then it was Taneil Gay’s turn. She scored twice in a five-minute span to extend FC London’s lead to 4-0. Julia Benati netted a fifth London goal in the 73rd minute. Keepers Jadyn Steinhauer and Breanne Carreiro played one half each to combine for the clean sheet.
On the men’s side, FC London regrouped from a 2-0 loss in Week 1 and earned a 2-2 draw Saturday against St. Catharines Roma. All four goals were scored in the first half. FC London’s Engjell Qamili scored the first, in the 4th minute of the match. St. Catharines answered with two goals of their own to take a one-goal lead. But Qamili scored his second of the match in the 41st minute to tie the game. A scoreless second half ended things in a 2-2 draw.
Up next:
Men: Entering the week with a 0-1-1 record, they’ll look to get their first win of the season on Friday when they face North Mississauga SC (1-1-0) on the road.
Fri. May 6 (8:30pm @ North Mississauga SC)
Women: After improving their record to 2-0-0 on the season, the team will look to remain undefeated when they face the Woodbridge Strikers (0-0-2) on Saturday at Tricar Field.
Sat. May 7 (7:00pm vs. Woodbridge Strikers)
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 …