Gameday in 5
A look to the week ahead — and a recap of the week that was (Sept. 19-25) — for London’s teams and athletes.
(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).
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The Majors are back-to-back IBL champions! With the best-of-seven series tied 2-2, London took a 3-2 series lead last Tuesday with an 8-3 win over Toronto at home. Fernando Fernandez got the start for the Majors and allowed just one run over 5 innings in picking up a no-decision. From there, Daniel Gore came on in relief, pitching 2 1/3 innings, and then Braeden Ferrington closed things out. The Maple Leafs took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 6th, but the Majors offense took over from there, scoring seven runs in the bottom half. London scored most of its runs with small ball. Jakob Newton reached base four times, going 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, a double and two RBIs. Robert Mullen, Chris McQueen and Phil Whelan also drove in runs.
With a chance to secure back-to-back IBL championships last Thursday, the Majors found themselves down 7-3 to start the 9th inning on the road at Christie Pits. Improbably, London scored 5 runs in the top of the 9th. After a Mullen single, Byron Reichstein smacked a 2-run homer to make it 7-5. Starling Joseph singled and Austin Wilkie walked, and then the Majors benefited from wild pitches from Toronto’s closer, Franklin Hernandez. Two more runs came in that way, tying the score.
With Gibson Krzeminski (walk) on third and Newton (single) on first, Taylor Wright lifted a ball to left centre for a sacrifice fly and the go-ahead run. Fernandez, pitching on just one day of rest, closed things out in the bottom of the ninth, inducing a ground ball for a double play and ending things with a strikeout to clinch the Majors their second straight league championship.
The Knights finished up their preseason last week by splitting their two games against the Erie Otters. London opened things with a 3-2 shootout win at home Friday. Denver Barkey scored the ice breaker for the Knights in that second, notching a short-handed goal in the first period. The Knights held a 1-0 to start the third, but the Otters tied the game nine seconds into the period. London regained the lead 33 seconds later, with newcomer Ryan Del Monte scoring his first of the preseason, but Erie tied the game again to force overtime, which eventually resulted in a shootout. Knights goalie Brett Brochu stopped both shots he faced, while Del Monte and Barkey scored on their shot attempts to secure a London win.
Saturday’s game also ended in a shootout, but this time with Erie winning 7-6. The Knights were up 3-1 after the first period thanks to power-play goals by Del Monte and Oliver Bonk — and an even-strength goal by Michael Levin. The Knights continued to pour it on in the 2nd, scoring three times in just over three minutes. Sam Dickinson and Ruslan Gazizov scored on the powerplay and Easton Cowan added a short-handed goal. With the Knights ahead 6-2 to start the 3rd period, the team allowed four unanswered goals to force an extra frame and another shootout. The shootout lasted 7 rounds with Abakar Kazbekov scoring the Knights’ only goal.
Up next:
The Knights open their regular season this week, starting with a home contest against Owen Sound Friday night at Budweiser Gardens.
Fri. Sept. 30 (7:00pm vs. Owen Sound)
The Nationals split their two games last week, winning on Friday and losing on Sunday. The Nats started the week with a win, beating the Niagara Falls Canucks, 4-0. London scored three goals in the first period. Rylan Bowlers scored the ice breaker and Dylan Dundas and Jacob Julien added to the lead. After a quiet second period, Lucas Chard extended the team’s lead in the third with a power-play goal. Goaltender Aiden Berry secured the win for the Nationals, stopping all 30 shots he faced.
The Nationals’ luck ran out in their second game of the week, as they lost 5-4 to the Kitchener-Waterloo Siskins. The Nats started out strong again, taking a 3-0 lead in the first for the second game in a row, with Talan Palmer scoring twice and Michael Fischer scoring the third goal. Kitchener-Waterloo came back in the second period, scoring three goals of their own while shutting out the Nationals. KW scored first in the third period to take a 4-3 lead before Lucas Chard scored a power-play goal in the final minute of play to force overtime. After a scoreless OT, KW scored on both of their shootout attempts while London only scored once.
Up next:
Wed. Sept. 28 (7:00pm vs. Chatham Maroons)
Fri. Sept. 30 (7:30pm @ St. Thomas Stars)
The Mustangs improved to 4-0 last week with a convincing 66-3 win over the Waterloo Warriors in last Saturday’s homecoming game at Western Alumni Stadium. Quarterback Evan Hillock (who was only needed for the first half), completed 14 of 18 pass attempts for 234 yards and 2 touchdowns. Keon Edwards 114 rushing yards while Edouard Wanadi had 109 (on 11 carries apiece). Savaughn Magnaye-Jones (77 yards) and Griffin Campbell (74 yards) hauled in four catches each to lead the receiver corps.
The Mustangs scored on their first possession of the game and never looked back. They jumped out to a 23-0 lead after one quarter, thanks to rushing touchdowns from Edwards and Wanadi and a 30-yard TD pass from Hillock to Magnaye-Jones. By halftime, it was 43-0, with Edwards notching another TD and Justin Nickson catching a 19-yard touchdown pass from Hillock. It was smooth sailing from there, with backup QB Jackson White and running back Keanu Yazbeck accounting for two more scores on the ground in the second half.
Up next:
Sat. October 1 (1:00pm @ McMaster Marauders)
The Beefeaters improved to 5-2 on the season with a 31-6 home win over the Ottawa Sooners on Saturday. London led 16-6 at the half and then shut out the Sooners in the second half while putting up another 15 points of their own. The Beefeaters totaled 253 yards on the ground — and another 141 in the air — en route to the win. Lead back LJ Dyer (95 yards on 18 carries) had one of three rushing touchdowns on the day for London, with the others going to Keegan Cardona and quarterback Ethan Chambers (90 yards on 7 attempts). A.J. Williamson made three of his five field goal attempts. On defense, Jordan Maki recovered a fumble, Pawel Szymanski recorded an interception, and Dylan Clarke led the team with three solo sacks.
Up next:
The 5-2 Beefeaters, second place in the OFC standings, will take on Hamilton (3-4) this Saturday at home at Citywide Field in London.
Sat. Oct. 1 (5:00pm vs. Hamilton Hurricanes)
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?