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CBC
16-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
London Knights are back-to-back OHL champions
The London Knights are back-to-back Ontario Hockey League champions. Kasper Halttunen scored twice as London topped the Oshawa Generals 5-2 in Game 5 of the championship series Thursday, helping the Knights capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup and book their ticket to the Memorial Cup. "I believe we're gonna take it all the way," London Knights Fan Club founder Sav Neth said, after watching the final at Canada Life Place. Nath was there with his son and said the fans brought the most epic energy he had ever seen in the arena. He has been at every championship game the Knights have won on the road, but said he was grateful to have the opportunity to see them win at home. "We've dreamt of this since day one, and to do it in back-to-back years is a surreal feeling. It's even better to do it on home ice," said Knights captain Denver Barkey, who returned to the lineup from injury in Game 5. "It's a great way to cap off what we've built here in London, and there's one more thing to go win now." Sam O'Reilly and Easton Cowan both scored a goal and an assist while Landon Sim scored for London. Sam Dickinson and Jacob Julien added two assists apiece. Knights goaltender Austin Elliott saved 32 of 34 shots. Andrew Gibson and Beckett Sennecke replied for Oshawa Generals goaltender Jacob Oster, who saved 20 of 24 shots. "We're a close-knit family here," said Knights head coach Dale Hunter, who won his fifth J. Ross Robertson Cup to tie him for the most all-time with Leighton "Hap" Emms. "The kids enjoy playing, and it's easy to coach when they enjoy it. It's been a real fun couple years here with these kids." Halttunen was named OHL playoff MVP after producing 15 goals -- including nine in the championship series -- and six assists in 17 games. The 19-year-old Finn became the first import player in league history to earn the honour. The Knights claimed their sixth OHL title after also winning in 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012 and 2005. London joins Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League finalists Moncton and Rimouski - this year's host - in the Memorial Cup. The Western Hockey League champion still needs to be determined, with Medicine Hat leading Spokane 3-1 in the final. The Knights lost 4-3 to the Saginaw Spirit in last year's Memorial Cup final. Aside from the action in the championship game, Neth said the highlight was seeing Denver Barkey named OHL Humanitarian of the Year. Barkey's charity work helped London-area children with learning and social disabilities register for hockey while providing donated equipment.
CBC
09-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
London Knights kick off OHL championships Thursday night
Social Sharing London Knights fans brought the enthusiasm, and the green and yellow, to Dundas Place on Thursday ahead of Game 1 of the Ontario Hockey League championship series against the Oshawa Generals. The Knights are looking to win their sixth J. Ross Robertson Cup, and their second in a row against the Generals, after sweeping them 4-0 in last year's OHL final. The Knights lost Thursday's game 4-2 but they'll get a chance to even the series on Saturday. Before filing into Canada Life Place for the game, fans gathered outside in the late afternoon sun for some food and drink, and live music courtesy of the London-based band Texas King. "Very, very positive. It's been an easy go for them, and I think it's going to continue right to the Memorial Cup," said Dick Hoos, who sat at a picnic table with his wife and several others. Hoos is better known to Knights fans as " Sombrero Guy." For more than 20 years, he and wife Sharon ("Sombrero Lady") have tossed the hat onto the ice whenever a Knight gets a hat trick. "The way they've been playing the game, it's so upbeat and so fast. They seem to be faster than their competition." It's the third year in a row the Knights have played in the OHL final. Last year, the team managed to advance to the Memorial Cup and the championship game, but were shut out 4-3 by Saginaw. The Knights have won two Memorial Cups, their first in 2005, and their most recent in 2016. "It's gonna be a very big challenge, but with the experience they had last year, I think they have a really good shot," at the cup, said fan Pearen Wilbee, who donned a Knights jersey signed by the 2005 championship team. "With the loss last year, it's just gonna build motivation for these players even more. They're gonna do whatever it takes." Wilbee said his eye was on Easton Cowan, the Toronto Maple Leafs prospect and last year's OHL Playoff MVP and Red Tilson Trophy recipient. For Londoner Laura Brown, Cowan isn't just a Knights player, he's also a neighbour. "He's on the next road over," she said. Before the game, Brown was optimistic, but believed Oshawa's team was better this year than last. "However, I think the fact that we have so many NHL selections ... we have the better team. But you never know. I mean, we had Barkey get hurt." Team captain Denver Barkey has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury during Game 1 of the Western Conference final on April 25 against Kitchener. He wasn't in the lineup for Thursday's game, but earlier in the day, was named the recipient of the Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy as OHL Humanitarian of the Year. "It's gonna go six or seven," games, said Joe Babin of the series. "My prediction." "Oshawa's going to be a good opponent, because they're very strong on the back end. Good goalie as well. (Jacob) Oster's a good goalie." Sav Neth heads a London Knights fan club page on Facebook with more than 5,000 members. To get people in the mood, he brought along a fan box to Thursday's game with green lightsabers, glow sticks, and other items to energize the crowd. "Everybody's excited for this opportunity," he said of fan club members. "Three times doesn't come up often. We're excited, we're ready to go, we're ready to cheer."
