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New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Memorial Cup Final takeaways: London Knights defeat Medicine Hat Tigers, win third CHL crown
It was largely the same group. Denver Barkey, Easton Cowan, Sam O'Reilly, Jacob Julien, Sam Dickinson, Oliver Bonk, Landon Sim, William Nicholl, Henry Brzustewicz and Jared Woolley were all back and a year older. After starting the season in the AHL, they even got Kasper Halttunen back from the San Jose Sharks — a gift. Advertisement That's not supposed to happen. Typically, teams that go to a Memorial Cup enter a rebuild the following year. Not these London Knights, though. And on Sunday night in Rimouski, they won the game — the last game — they couldn't win a year ago. A year ago, in Saginaw, the Knights looked unbeatable until they weren't — stunned by the host Spirit in the 2024 final. This year, they got beat once before the final, humbling them and setting up a potential rematch with the Medicine Hat Tigers, which ended up being the case. Five days before the final, the Tigers had topped them 3-1 on third-period goals from overager Mathew Ward and a final-seconds empty-netter from Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie. They were the first team to hold the Knights to one goal or less since Oct. 18, more than 80 games prior. Entering this year's Memorial Cup, these Knights had gone 16-1 in the playoffs, one better than the 16-2 run of last year's team. On Tuesday, in their first matchup of the tournament, the Knights outshot the Tigers 36-29. But Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin stood tall, making 35 saves. On Sunday, the Tigers actually came out stronger, outshooting the Knights 10-5 through the first half of the first period. But this time Knights overage goalie Austin Elliott, who was 51-3 coming into the Memorial Cup final after landing in London following a release by the Saskatoon Blades, stood tall. His play gave his Knights an opportunity to push back. And they did, dominating the second half of the opening frame and eventually opening the scoring. Brzustewicz, a 2025 draft eligible, sprung Julien, a Winnipeg Jets prospect in his final game of junior hockey, for a break. JACOB JULIEN OPENS THE SCORING FOR LONDON IN THE MEMORIAL CUP FINAL! 💥#CHL — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 1, 2025 Early in the second period, Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-rounder, extended the lead to 2-0, going to the net to finish a backdoor pass from O'Reilly, an Edmonton Oilers first-rounder. Easton Cowan taps in the cross-crease feed from Sam O'Reilly 🚨🚨 2-0 London! #MemorialCup — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2025 Just 1:40 later, 2-0 became 3-0 when Barkey, the Knights' captain and a Flyers prospect, got in all alone and beat Meneghin. Denver Barkey buries on the breakaway! 🔥 London takes a commanding 3-0 lead! #MemorialCup — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2025 After Barkey scored again to make it 4-0, it was all but over. DENVER BARKEY DOUBLES DOWN! 🔥🔥 Two goals for the captain as London keeps rolling at the #MemorialCup — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2025 By the time 2026 draft sensation Gavin McKenna got the Tigers on the board early in the third period, the hill was too steep to climb. Gavin McKenna gives the Medicine Hat Tigers some life. 👀#MemorialCup — TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2025 McKenna thought he'd scored a second goal with 5:21 left which would have made it interesting, but the goal was called back for a missed high stick and with it the door was slammed shut. The win gave the Knights their third Memorial Cup title in their seventh appearance in the tournament, improving their record in the final to 3-2. Advertisement When you start to tally up the sum of Sam Dickinson's post-draft season, the 2024 No. 11 pick for the Sharks put together one for the history books. He added another three assists to his weighty totals in the final, too, finishing the year with a combined regular season, playoff and Memorial Cup stat line as follows: 38 goals, 90 assists, and 128 points in 77 games. Say what you will about plus-minus and stacking pluses playing on a team as strong as the Knights: he finished the year plus-92, the best on the team, in the OHL, and in the CHL. Because of his June 7 birthday, he played the entire year as an 18-year-old, too. It was a remarkable year for Dickinson, who played 30-plus minutes in the Knights' final 12 games of the year and broke 35 in about half of them. He was a force at both ends with his size, skating and broadened skill set, and he did it while cutting down on the brain cramps that led to hockey IQ questions for some scouts in his draft year. He's one of the NHL's best prospects and will be in the NHL-or-OHL camp next year because of his age. Expect him to start the year in the NHL, because there's not a lot left for him to prove at the junior level. We very rarely see 19-year-old D stick but the Sharks will have a decision to make with him. He's one of the signed NHL prospects who could have benefited from a move to the NCAA next year but now doesn't have that option because of his contract. Dickinson becoming a first-pairing defenseman for the Sharks down the line really changes the calculation for their ceiling as a team. Remember: He's still eligible to play for Team Canada at next year's World Juniors, too. There have been more greats in the history of the Knights than maybe any other organization in junior hockey. Banners hang for Kane, Perry, Nash, Shanahan, Ramage, Cicirelli, Sittler, Bolland and Marsh in the rafters at London's Canada Life Place. I think you have to ask now whether Cowan's name should join them. He leaves London in their pantheon. Advertisement OHL Most Outstanding Player. OHL Playoffs MVP. Two-time OHL champion. And now a Memorial Cup champion and Memorial Cup MVP. His goal in the final on Sunday gave him 15 points in nine games at the Memorial Cup over the last two tournaments, tying him with Mitch Marner as London's all-time leading scorer at the Memorial Cup. He thought he'd scored a second one midway through the second period before it was called back for goaltender interference, too. Unlike Dickinson, Cowan is eligible to play in the AHL next year. Like Dickinson, though, I'd expect him to start the year in the NHL. Cowan wears his heart on his sleeve, plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, gets after it, and plays a direct style the Leafs covet. After all the 'DNA' talk in Toronto this week, he'll be a part of their fabric going forward. He's not a top-six-or-bust type either and it's not hard to imagine him at least starting next year on a new-look third line for the Leafs. He's going to have a bit of a learning curve in terms of his decision-making, particularly on the puck (he plays on instinct), but he has made progress there and should continue to. A little more than 11 months ago, Hunter St. Martin was drafted in the sixth round by the Florida Panthers as an overager. He hasn't looked like a sixth-rounder in a single game I've watched him play since and was the most consistent non-McKenna Medicine Hat forward for me in this Memorial Cup — and certainly their most noticeable non-McKenna forward at five-on-five in the final. He was a standout at Florida's training camp, signed his entry level contract on October 25, and has impressed ever since. St. Martin is a 6-foot-2 winger who plays in straight lines, plays to the net, and can really skate and shoot the puck in stride. Some wondered early on this year whether he was a product of playing with McKenna. But he finished the year with 48 goals across 87 regular season and playoff games and a lot of them were scored off of his own attacking sequences or interior drive. He turns 20 in 11 days and he's still got room to fill out and looks like he has a legitimate path to becoming a bottom-six forward in the NHL. Full marks to the Panthers' scouts. NCAA commitments are the topic du jour right now and there's no bigger prize than McKenna, the projected No. 1 pick in 2026. Several big CHL commitments to play in college hockey next season have already been made verbally in recent weeks. Another wave is expected to follow after the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo this week and then again after the draft in L.A. at the end of the month once players talk to their new teams. A lot of it is hung up on McKenna's decision as several of the big schools have made a pitch to his camp, and will await making other offers until he has made his choice. The CHL and WHL have also made their pitch for him to just stay one more season. They've promoted the hell out of him all year. They're even opening the 2025-26 season in his hometown of White Horse, Yukon. But after his goal in the final, he finished the year with 172 points in 77 games across the regular season, playoffs and Memorial Cup with the Tigers, and the increased challenge of college hockey, with all of its resources and its shorter schedule allowing for more time in the gym (which is an important next step in his development), should win out there. There have been rumours tying him to Michigan. On Saturday, ESPN's John Buccigross sent social media into a frenzy when he put his eyes on Michigan State. 🧐🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 #CawlidgeHawkey — (@Buccigross) May 31, 2025 After checking in with a source, I was told that was premature and there's a 'long, long, long way to go.' One thing to keep an eye on, though: I have heard that McKenna and Ritchie have interest in continuing to play together and have talked about committing to the same school (though there's no guarantee that happens, either). Ritchie's dad, former NHLer Byron, works with CAA, who represent both boys. (Photo of Denver Barkey and Easton Cowan: Christopher Katsarov / The Canadian Press via AP)
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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 and Medicine Hat were undefeated at the tournament going into their final round robin game. The winner would instantly go to the finals, while the loser would still be guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals. Advertisement The Knights looked head and shoulders above the Tigers to start the game. They moved the puck cleanly and repeatedly generated high-quality scoring chances. San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen deflected Sam Dickinson's shot home very early in the period to give London the lead. While it looked like the OHL representatives were primed to run away with the game, this would end up being their only goal of the contest. As the period went on, Medicine Hat stabilized and started pushing back against London's strong play. Ethan Neutens, who is committed to the University of Alaska-Anchorage next season, got the Tigers on the board early in the second, tying the game at one. The game stayed at a deadlock until early in the third period when Matthew Ward gave Medicine Hat the lead for the first time in the game. Minnesota Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie, who leads the tournament in points, sealed the win for Medicine Hat with an empty-net goal late in the third. While London certainly won't be happy with the outcome, there are positives to draw from the game. They kept Gavin McKenna off the scoreboard other than an assist on Ritchie's goal at the end of the game. The young star has prodigious offensive talent, and keeping him in check is no mean feat. Advertisement The Knights also outshot the Tigers in every period, finishing the game with 36 shots to 29. It's somewhat telling that the first star of the game went to Medicine Hat goaltender Harrison Meneghin rather than Neutens, who ended up recording two points in the contest. The Moncton Wildcats' victory over Rimouski means London will play Moncton in the semi-final tomorrow evening. The last game between the two ended in a 3-2 overtime win for London. While the game was close on the scoreboard, London clearly took over as the game went on. They outshot Moncton 48-29 in the game, mostly because they nearly doubled the Wildcats' shots in the second period and dominated the shot clock 16-3 in the third. However, this doesn't mean anything going into an elimination game. This puts London in a position that they really haven't been in all season. The talented young team dominated the OHL and cruised to a J. Ross Robertson Cup, losing only one game in the playoffs. It's been proven time and time again that beating London in a series was impossible this season. Advertisement In a tournament like the Memorial Cup, you don't have to beat them in a best-of-seven series. All it takes is one game. The London Knights that show up to the semi-finals will be in a do-or-die scenario that the team hasn't faced since the 2024 Memorial Cup Finals. That game ultimately didn't go their way, and you can bet that will be on the minds of the players when they take the ice tomorrow night. If the Knights beat Moncton, they will get another shot at Medicine Hat and the Memorial Cup. The game against Moncton is scheduled to take place tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m.
CTV News
28-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
PLAYOFF TRACKER: London Knights to go on to semi-final after loss to Medicine Hat Tigers
The London Knights have won their second straight OHL championship. The London Knights will play in the Memorial Cup semi-final, after losing their final group stage match to the WHL champions, the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-1 on Tuesday night. Knights forward Kasper Halttunen opened the scoring in the first period with his second of the tournament. The Tigers responded in the second period with a goal by Ethan Neutens. Medicine Hat took the lead early in the third period on a goal by Mathew Ward. The Tigers sealed their win with an empty-net goal in the game's late stages. The win qualifies Medicine Hat for the Memorial Cup Final on Sunday. London will have to play in Friday's semi-final against whoever wins Wednesday night between the tournament hosts, Rimouski, and the Moncton Wildcats. Round 1 Game 1 – March 28, Attack 1, Knights 6 Game 2 – March 30, Attack 3, Knights 6 Game 3 – April 1, Knights 7, Attack 4 Game 4 – April 3, Knights 8, Attack 4 Round 2 Game 1 - April 10, Knights 6, Otters 3 Game 2 - April 12, Knights 7, Otters 2 Game 3 - April 15, Knights 4, Erie 0 Game 4 - April 17, Knights 4, Erie 3 Western Conference Championship Series Game 1 - April 25, Knights 5, Rangers 2 Game 2 - April 27, Knights 6, Rangers 2 Game 3 - April 28, Knights 3, Rangers 2 Game 4 - April 30, Knights 4, Rangers 2 OHL Finals Game 1 - May 8, Generals 4, Knights 2 Game 2 - May 10, Knights 5, Generals 2 Game 3 - May 12, Knights 7, Generals 5 Game 4 - May 13, Knights 5, Generals 2 Game 5 - May 15, Knights 5, Generals 2 Memorial Cup Game 1 - May 24, Moncton Wildcats 2, London Knights 3 Game 2 - May 25, Rimouski Oceanic 1, London Knights 3 Game 3 - May 27, London Knights v. Medicine Hat Tigers, 7 p.m. Game 4 - May 30, London Knights v. TBD
Toronto Star
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
O'Reilly scores in OT, Knights tip Wildcats 3-2 in Memorial Cup opener for both teams
RIMOUSKI - Sam O'Reilly's second goal of the game, scored at 4:23 of 3-on-3 overtime, lifted the London Knights to an exciting 3-2 victory over the Moncton Wildcats in the opening game for both teams at the 2025 Memorial Cup championship. Kasper Halttunen, with a second-period power-play goal, also scored for the Ontario Hockey League champion Knights, who outshot the Wildcats 48-29.
Hamilton Spectator
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
O'Reilly scores in OT, Knights tip Wildcats 3-2 in Memorial Cup opener for both teams
RIMOUSKI - Sam O'Reilly's second goal of the game, scored at 4:23 of 3-on-3 overtime, lifted the London Knights to an exciting 3-2 victory over the Moncton Wildcats in the opening game for both teams at the 2025 Memorial Cup championship. Kasper Halttunen, with a second-period power-play goal, also scored for the Ontario Hockey League champion Knights, who outshot the Wildcats 48-29. Etienne Morin and Dyllan Gill, on the power play, scored for the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League champion Wildcats, while Alex Mercier pitched in with two assists. Wildcats netminder Mathis Rousseau stopped 45 of 48 shots, while Austin Elliott of the Knights made 27 saves on 29 shots. The teams were tied 1-1 after the first period and 2-2 heading into the third. Both squads went 1-for-3 on the power play. ICE CHIPS The 10-day tournament opened Friday with the Western Hockey League champion Medicine Hat Tigers edging the host Rimouski Oceanic 5-4. The host Saginaw Spirit won the Memorial Cup last year with a 4-3 win over the London Knights in the championship final. UP NEXT Knights: Play the Rimouski Oceanic on Sunday. Wildcats: Play the Medicine Hat Tigers on Monday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 24, 2025.
