Lightning win home opener; Nine straight for Knights; Devilettes back in action
Gameday in 5: A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (Jan. 1-7) — for London’s teams and athletes.
The London Devilettes are back in action in the new year. (Photo: Bruce Laing).
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The Knights got the new year off to a strong start, winning their first three games of 2024 — to extend their win streak to an impressive nine contests. In doing so, they’ve moved into a tie for second in the Western Conference heading into a new week.
Facing the Erie Otters Wednesday night, London came out on top 5-1. Starting the year off with a bang, Evan Van Gorp scored his first of the season just 10 seconds into the game. From there, Landon Sim doubled the lead with a shorthanded goal — and then added an insurance marker 3:57 into the second period. Erie’s lone goal came midway through the third, but a late goal by Ruslan Gazizov restored London’s three-goal lead. Gazizov added a second goal in the third to shut the door on the Otters.
The Knights followed up Wednesday’s win with another convincing victory Friday, 6-2, over the Barrie Colts 6-2. The game was all London until the third period, as the Knights scored each of the first six goals in the contest. 6 straight before Barrie responded. After a scoreless first, Sam O’Reilly, Jared Wooley and Oliver Bonk opened up a 3-0 lead for London heading into the second intermission. Adding goals in the third were Easton Cowan, Sam Dickinson and Evan Van Gorp. Knights goaltender Michael Simpson claimed his 20th win of the season.
Facing Mississauga on the road Saturday, the Knights won their ninth straight, 5-3 over the Steelheads. Sam O’Reilly opened the scoring at the 5:52 mark with his 12th of the season. The Steelheads tied the game before the first period ended, but London outscored their counterparts 3-2 in the second to take a 4-3 lead into the intermission. Scoring for the Knights were Jacob Julien, Easton Cowan and Sam Dickinson. London iced the game with an insurance goal by Denver Barkey in the third period. Owen Willmore earned the win in net.
Up next:
The Knights have another three-game week ahead, starting Wednesday night in Sarnia. A big matchup follows Friday against Saginaw at home, and then they’ll play a matinee vs. Owen Sound Sunday.
Wed. Jan. 10 (7:05pm @ Sarnia Sting)
Fri. Jan. 12 (7:00pm vs. Saginaw Spirit)
Sat. Jan. 14 (2:00pm vs. Owen Sound Attack)
Looking to bounce back from their season-opening loss in Sudbury, the London Lightning split their two games last week — a home and home against the KW Titans.
On Tuesday, London dropped to 0-2 on the year with a 100-94 road loss at The Aud. After a close first quarter, KW took control in the second and led 53-47 at halftime. Both teams shot poorly, but the Lightning couldn’t get anything going behind the arc, producing a dismal 17.9% (7-for-39) from three-point range. Mike Nuga was one of few bright spots for London, and he led the team offensively with 27 points. In his Lightning debut, Billy White had 18 points in 29 minutes. Jeremiah Mordi didn’t shoot the ball well (4-for-15), but he finished with 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds.
On Saturday, on home court for the first time, the Lightning picked up their first win in the Basketball Super League (BSL), 104-96 at Budweiser Gardens. Tied at 45 to start the second half, London pulled away in the third, outscoring the KW Titans 37-18 in the quarter. They gave back a chunk of those points in the fourth, but managed to hold on for the win. Jermaine Haley Jr. had his best game of the early season, tallying 21 points, 3 assists and 4 rebounds. Mike Nuga and Jeremiah Mordi scored 17 points apiece, while Ben Mockford, after a tough start to the year, knocked down three 3-pointers and finished with 12 points.
Up next:
The Lightning have three games this week. They’ll host the Montreal Toundra for the first time on Thursday, hit the road Friday for Sudbury, and then make the trip to Montreal Sunday.
Thurs. Jan. 11 (7:00pm vs. Montreal Toundra)
Fri. Jan. 12 (7:00pm @ Sudbury Five)
Sun. Jan. 14 (2:00pm @ Montreal Toundra)
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London Devilettes
The London Devilettes Juniors have returned to the ice in the new year, and they hit their home ice for first time in 2024 on Saturday, facing the toughest of tasks — a matchup against the first-place (and nearly undefeated) Etobicoke Dolphins (20-1-0).
Though they lost, the Devilettes certainly put a fight — and right out of the gate. Mya Farr opened the scoring with a powerplay goal to give London an early lead. Then, after a pair of Etobicoke goals, Alexia Hill tied things up midway through the second period.
The Dolphins managed two more goals to come away with a 4-2 win, but the Devilettes frustrated them throughout the contest. Both Zoe Wilson and Lerissa Stevenson had a pair of assists for London.
On the season, the Devilettes are just 7-15-1 in league play (OWHL U22 Elite), but there is plenty of action left.
Wilson leads the team in scoring with 14 points, while Stevenson has 13. Ali Altiman, who has tallied 11 points, has a team-leading eight goals on the year. Kyla Rumford has five goals.
London is now headed for a lengthy stretch of road games before playing their next home contest Feb. 2 against the Barrie Sharks.
Natalie Thirsk, a para athlete, has become a Canadian record holder in three short years. Her cerebral palsy doesn’t define her, but she’s a passionate advocate for persons with disabilities. Will she one day compete at the Paralympics?