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Global News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Global News
London Knights hand out team awards to end 2024-2025 season
On a stage that included the Hamilton Spectator Trophy, the J. Ross Robertson Cup and the Memorial Cup, the London Knights gave out their 2024-25 individual awards on June 4 at Canada Life Place. London won the three major team awards as regular season champions, Ontario Hockey League champions and Memorial Cup champions. Here is a list of the 2024-25 winners: Peter Guertin Longshot Award: Austin Elliott Vaughn Custom Sports Most Improved Player: Jared Woolley Coulter's Pharmacy 3 Star Award: Denver Barkey Fan Favourite: Henry Brzustewicz Abakar Kazbekov Hardest Working Player: Sam O'Reilly & Oliver Bonk Story continues below advertisement Intensity Award: Easton Cowan & Landon Sim Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Player's Player: Jesse Nurmi & Blake Montgomery Scholastic Player of the Year: Austin Elliott Don Brankley Community Service Award: Denver Barkey Rookie of the Year: Alexsei Medvedev Sportsmanship and Ability Award: Jacob Julien Best Defensive Forward: Denver Barkey & Sam O'Reilly Source for Sports Best Defencemen: Sam Dickinson Heart Trophy: Oliver Bonk Richard Hunter Memorial Award for Leading Scorer: Sam Dickinson Playoff Performer: Kasper Halttunen & Easton Cowan MVP: Sam Dickinson The Knights also honoured potential graduates as they spent one last evening as a team before players begin to head in different directions. For draft eligible players like defenceman Henry Brzustewicz and goaltender Aleksei Medvedev that next stop will be the NHL Draft Combine from June 2-7 in Buffalo, N.Y. Overagers Jacob Julien, Auston Elliott and Landon Sim have ow officially graduated. Story continues below advertisement Julien has signed with the Winnipeg Jets, Sim has signed with the Toronto Marlboros and Elliott is set to go to UMass-Lowell next year in the NCAA. One of the biggest question marks for London heading into next season will be what the San Jose Sharks decide to do with Sam Dickinson. The Knights Most Valuable Player will be 19 years old and while he will still have junior eligibility, there could be an opportunity for him to stay with the Sharks in the National Hockey League. Next up for the OHL will be the release of the 2025-26 schedule and an announcement regarding possible changes to the 2026 OHL Priority Selection.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Knights Take Care Of Business At Memorial Cup
Two words followed the London Knights throughout the 2024-25 season: unfinished business. At first, those two words were whispered behind closed doors in conversations about how the Knights had come up short when they were the favourites to win the 2024 Memorial Cup. Advertisement "We went through the whole process last year and came up short with 20 seconds to go in a hockey game," said Flyers prospect Denver Barkey after the game. "We remembered that all summer and talked about it all year - that's been our motivator," Slowly, the drumbeat grew. First, it was announced that most of the team would return to London for the 2024-25 season. Next, the Knights dominated the OHL, losing only 13 games during the regular season to finish at the top of the OHL. London stomped their way through the playoffs not losing a single game until the OHL Playoff Finals. After dropping game one of the finals, London won four straight games to take down Oshawa and book their tickets to Rimouski for the 2025 Memorial Cup. Steelheads Sign 2025 First-Round Pick Steelheads Sign 2025 First-Round Pick Yesterday, the Brampton Steelheads announced the signing of 2025 OHL Priority Selection first-round pick Keaton Ardagh to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Advertisement At that point, the question was asked point blank. Is there unfinished business for this group? A resounding yes was the response. This season would not be complete without a Memorial Cup victory. On Sunday night, the London Knights took care of business, defeating the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 to secure the Memorial Cup for the third time in franchise history. Make no mistake, this was a special group of players, the majority of whom came together two seasons ago. They won back-to-back OHL titles and set OHL and franchise records. To cap that off with a Memorial Cup victory must be perfection for a team that seems so close. "This is my family, these guys are my brothers," said San Jose Sharks prospect Sam Dickinson. "It feels like it's the perfect ending for this core ... it's how it should have gone out." Advertisement This time around, the Knights had to walk the hard road to the Memorial Cup Final after they lost their first encounter with the Tigers 3-1. Medicine Hat went down early in that game before scoring three unanswered goals to seal their place in the final. Knights Heading To Memorial Cup Semi-Finals Following Loss To Medicine Hat Knights Heading To Memorial Cup Semi-Finals Following Loss To Medicine Hat The London Knights missed out on the opportunity to go straight to the Memorial Cup Finals due to a 3-1 loss at the hands of the Medicine Hat Tigers on Tuesday night. London made it through the semi-final in dominant fashion beating Moncton 5-2 while outshooting their opponent 37-23. Advertisement In the rematch against Medicine Hat, it was once again the Knights who struck first. Winnipeg Jets prospect Jacob Julien scored halfway through the first to give London the early lead. The score would remain 1-0 heading into the second. As they did so often in the OHL Playoffs, the Knights took over in the second period, opening up a four-goal lead within the opening 12 minutes of the period thanks to a goal from Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan and a pair scored by Barkey. Former Colt To Take Up Head Coaching Reins In Barrie Former Colt To Take Up Head Coaching Reins In Barrie Earlier today, the Barrie Colts announced that Assistant Coach Dylan Smoskowitz will take over as Head Coach effective immediately. He replaces Marty Williamson, who will stay on with the club as Vice President and GM of Hockey Operations moving forward. Advertisement The Tigers pushed back in the third with star forward Gavin McKenna scoring a goal early in the period to give the team hope. With minutes to go McKenna put another puck into the net before the goal was called back upon review. The Knights fought the Tigers off for the rest of the period leading to the final score of 4-1. The win gave Head Coach Dale Hunter his third Memorial Cup trophy, tying him for the most ever won by single coach. Early in the tournament he took the title of most wins in Memorial Cup history. This London team will go down in the history books as one of the best rosters ever iced by an OHL team. Their accomplishments are impressive, and many of these players will make their way into the NHL in the very near future. While this team will never play together again, their names will sit next to each other on the Memorial Cup.


Washington Post
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
London Knights beat Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 for 3rd Memorial Cup title
RIMOUSKI, Quebec — Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey scored twice in the second period and the London Knights beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 on Saturday night for their third Memorial Cup title. Jacob Julien and Easton Cowan also scored and Austin Elliott made 31 saves to help the Ontario Hockey League champion Knights win the junior hockey championship a year after losing in the final to host Saginaw. 'This is something I'll never forget,' said Barkey, London's captain. 'We worked all year toward this, and this is the tightest team I've ever played on. To be able to do it with these guys. It's so surreal. Going to remember this for life.' After a 3-1 loss to Western Hockey League champion Medicine Hat on Tuesday night in round-robin play, London beat Moncton 5-2 on Friday night in the semifinal game to set up the rematch with the Tigers. London also won the Memorial Cup in 2005 and 2016. The Knights are owned by former NHL players Dale and Mark Hunter and Basil McRae, with Dale Hunter serving as president and coach and Mark Hunter as general manager. Dale Hunter won his third title to match former Kamloops and Vancouver coach Don Hay's record. 'It's an empty feeling when you go home with nothing,' Dale Hunter said. 'When you come to this tournament, you had a good year, but when you don't win the last game, it's not successful.' Medicine Hat star Gavin McKenna spoiled Elliott's shutout bid early in the third period, and Harrison Meneghin stopped 20 shots for the Tigers. They won the Memorial Cup in 1987 and 1988. 'They cared, they tried,' Tigers coach Willie Desjardins said. 'Coming in, we only have one problem, that's London's a really good hockey team. It wasn't that we didn't want it, wasn't that we didn't try. They're just a good team.' Julien opened the scoring midway through the first period. Cowan, a first-round pick by Toronto, and Barkey scored in a 1:40 span early in the second and Barkey made it 4-0 on a power play with 7:52 left in the period. ___ AP sports:


CTV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Knights capture third Memorial Cup title with dominant 4-1 win over Tigers
London Knights' Easton Cowan (7) scores on Medicine Hat Tigers goaltender Harrison Meneghin (35) while Oasiz Wiesblatt (7) defends during second period Memorial Cup final hockey action, in Rimouski, Que., on Sunday, June 1, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov RIMOUSKI — The London Knights are Memorial Cup champions for a third time. Denver Barkey scored twice, Sam Dickinson had three assists and Austin Elliott made 31 saves in a dominant 4-1 victory over the Medicine Hat Tigers in the championship game Sunday. Jacob Julien and Easton Cowan also scored for London, which also won in 2005 and 2016. Cowan, with seven points, became the first player since 1972 to lead the tournament in scoring for consecutive years. Barkey also had seven this year. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect also tied Mitch Marner for the most Memorial Cup points in franchise history with 15 in nine games. The back-to-back Ontario Hockey League champions redeemed last year's heartbreaking 4-3 loss to the Saginaw Spirit in the final. The Spirit scored with 22 seconds remaining to win the trophy on home ice. Gavin McKenna — the projected top choice in next year's NHL draft — replied for Medicine Hat, which defeated the Knights 3-1 in round robin play to qualify directly for the final and earn four days off. Harrison Meneghin stopped 20 shots for the Western Hockey League champions at Colisée Financière Sun Life. A WHL team hasn't won the Memorial Cup since the Edmonton Oil Kings in 2014. The Knights defeated the Moncton Wildcats, who the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League, 5-2 in Friday's semifinal. The Rimouski Oceanic also played in the tournament as hosts, but lost all three games. London poured it on with three goals in the second period Sunday to take a commanding lead. After Elliott turned away a flurry of shots — including a tricky deflection from Cayden Lindstrom — Cowan buried his third of the tournament to make it 2-0 at 3:13. Cowan left the puck for Sam O'Reilly in the corner before circling the zone and finding an opening in front. Barkey added to the lead 1:40 later, capitalizing on a breakaway after Dickinson forced Tigers captain Oasiz Wiesblatt into a turnover at the blue line. Cowan appeared to make it 4-0 with his second of the night, but the officials ruled no-goal after O'Reilly interfered with Meneghin on a drive to the net. Barkey then scored his second of the night with a wrist shot from the left circle off the post and in past a screened Meneghin at 12:08. The Tigers peppered Elliott with shots on an ensuing power play. Bryce Pickford nearly scored but shot wide with the Knights netminder sprawling in the crease. McKenna finally broke Elliott's shutout bid by cutting into the slot and converting a wrist shot glove side 2:43 into the third period for his third goal in four games. The star winger was at it again with 5:21 remaining, beating Elliott with a slick shot into the top left corner. The goal, however, was called off following a review due to Ryder Ritchie's high stick earlier in the play. Medicine Hat pulled the goalie for an extra attacker with 3:50 left and held the puck in London's zone for much of the remaining time. The Knights held off the pressure before pouring out of the bench in celebration. The Tigers came out with energy in the first period, piling up nine shots in the first five minutes. Jonas Woo's shot snuck under Elliott's arm but hit the side of the net. London weathered the storm and responded with pressure of their own. Dickinson missed a chance in front after a give-and-go with Barkey. Julien broke through with the opener 11:21 into the first period when Henry Brzustewicz found him up the middle. The Knights forward beat Meneghin to the backhand for his second of the tournament. Ethan Neutens nearly got Medicine Hat on the board with 42 seconds remaining in the period, but ripped his shot from the right circle off the crossbar. London and Medicine Hat dominated their respective leagues en route to the Memorial Cup. The Knights — a team loaded with 12 NHL draft picks — went 55-11-2 in the regular season and lost only once in the playoffs. The Tigers, meanwhile, lost twice in the post-season after a 47-17-4 campaign. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025. Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press


Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
London Knights redeem themselves with Memorial Cup crown
London Knights' Denver Barkey (right) celebrates with Easton Cowan after scoring during second period Memorial Cup final action against the Medicine Hat Tigers, in Rimouski, Que., on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Photo by Christopher Katsarov / THE CANADIAN PRESS They finally wrote their storybook ending. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The London Knights converted last year's Memorial Cup heartbreak into the ultimate comeback tale by scoring the game's first four goals in a 4-1 victory over Medicine Hat to claim the Canadian Hockey League's biggest prize before 4,512 on Sunday at Sun Life Financial Coliseum. They shrugged off an early push from the well-rested and previously unbeaten Tigers, then held them off during a furious finish. You need your best players to rise to the occasion and, after a dud a year ago at Saginaw, got that and more here in Rimouski. The OHL champs won their record-tying third Cup title in their fifth trip to the final in the past 20 years. Dale Hunter equalled Don Hay as the only two coaches with three CHL crowns. The Knights were ready for anything. They didn't let any missed call or lapse in momentum bother them. They were the best team in junior hockey this year and proved it when it mattered most. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'It's a tough tournament,' said London defenceman Sam Dickinson, who earned three assists in the final. 'It's one game. You never know what can happen going into it. I think of last year and how the game went from the flat start to the comeback to 22 seconds left. You can't have any idea of what's going to happen out there.' The Tigers' best player, Gavin McKenna, got the Western champs on the board in the third period. But a second goal by the wunderkind was called back because of a missed high stick with 5:30 left in regulation. It was a break for the Knights and they shut it down from there. Hunter reunited Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey and it turned into a master stroke. Barkey scored twice in the decisive second period and Cowan had another and was named tournament MVP as London built the four-goal lead. Cowan should have had two, as well, in the middle frame but one was snuffed out on a goalie interference call against linemate Sam O'Reilly. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The foundation of the Knights' three-year run of success started with the drafting of Barkey, Cowan and Oliver Bonk in 2021. Once they added Dickinson to the mix the following season, they were on their way. And Sunday, they finished the job. AROUND THE RINK London goaltender Austin Elliott's final won-loss record? He was 55-3 in his last junior season. We won't see that again for a long time, if ever … Cowan entered the final one point shy of his childhood idol Mitch Marner's franchise record 15 points in Cup play and matched it in the second period … Londoner Jacob Julien, the Jets prospect, played his best hockey of the season at this tournament, opening the scoring on a nifty deke … Earlier in the day, Medicine Hat star defenceman Tanner Molendyk described London as the best team he had faced all year. 'They have a lot of skill but when a team works hard and has skill, it's one of the hardest things to beat,' the Nashville Predators first-rounder said. He felt it and the rest of the hockey world saw it up close this week. rpyette@ Editorial Cartoons World Sports Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays