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CTV News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Moncton Wildcats eliminated from Memorial Cup
Moncton Wildcats goaltender Mathis Rousseau (60) makes a save on London Knights' Sam O'Reilly (23) during first period semifinal Memorial Cup action, in Rimouski, Que., on Friday, May 30, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov RIMOUSKI — The London Knights are going back to the Memorial Cup final and they're determined to redeem last year's devastating defeat. Blake Montgomery scored the winner 3:35 into the third period to lift the Knights past the Moncton Wildcats 5-2 in the tournament's semifinal Friday. London will take on the Medicine Hat Tigers in Sunday's battle for the top prize in Canadian major junior hockey. It's also a chance for players from last season's Knights team to redeem themselves after a 4-3 loss to the Saginaw Spirit in the 2024 final. 'We were playing for this all year to get back in that game,' said forward Landon Sim. 'It was the worst day of all of our lives last year, losing that final game. 'To finally get back — super, super happy.' Denver Barkey — with an assist — Sim and Jesse Nurmi also scored, while Austin Elliott made 21 saves for the Knights. Easton Cowan had an empty-net goal and added an assist, and Jacob Julien provided two helpers. 'I thought that was our best game of the tournament so far,' Cowan said. 'Had a really good first, kind of laid back in the second. Then our third was definitely the best period of the tournament. 'We had everyone scoring today, lots of depth and a huge win for us.' It's a fifth Memorial Cup final appearance for London, the Ontario Hockey League champions. Only the Peterborough Petes and Kitchener Rangers have more with six apiece. The Knights fell short of clinching a spot in this year's championship game earlier in the tournament with a 3-1 loss to the Tigers in their round-robin finale. London has lost consecutive games only once in its past 120 games — including playoffs and Memorial Cups — dating back to March 1, 2024. 'It comes out of the consistency that we play with,' Dickinson said. 'Losing one game, it's going to happen. But something we say a lot is good teams don't lose two in a row. We live by that.' Caleb Desnoyers, a projected top-10 pick in this June's draft, had a goal and an assist while Dyllan Gill also scored for Moncton. Mathis Rousseau stopped 32 shots. The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League champions, who also fell 3-2 in overtime to London in their tournament opener, beat the host Rimouski Oceanic 6-2 in the final-round robin game Wednesday to reach the semifinal. The Knights — a powerhouse team that boasts 12 NHL draft picks, including four first-rounders — were too much to handle. 'We know we had a tough opponent on the other side, national championship semifinal,' Gill said. 'It's heartbreaking, and I think every guy in our room is going to have a little bit of regret and what if in their head, but ultimately super proud of the group.' Montgomery gave London a 3-2 lead early in the third when Sam Dickinson beat Moncton's Etienne Morin wide and set up the Ottawa Senators prospect, who'd snuck in behind Gill to score his first of the tournament. 'Amazing play. He's one hell of a player,' Montgomery said of Dickinson. 'Once I saw him going down the wall, I knew all I do was get to the net, he would find me, and sure enough, he did. 'Right in the wheelhouse.' Nurmi converted a centring feed from Julien to double the lead with 6:49 remaining. The Wildcats jumped on a power play with 4:36 left — and eventually pulled the goalie for an extra attacker — but couldn't cut into the lead before Cowan made it 5-2 with 1:49 remaining. While several players from last year's team returned this season, Sim said Montgomery and Nurmi are new additions who've matched the group's hunger for a Memorial Cup title. 'We got a group that's been here for a while,' Sim said. 'The last dance for a lot of us.' 'Those guys that are new come in and see that, how bad we want it, and I think there's no other option but to want it as badly as we do.' The Knights swarmed the Wildcats in the first period and dominated the shot count 18-5 after 20 minutes, but London struggled to hold the lead — and stay out of the penalty box. Sim opened the scoring with a wraparound 4:07 into the game. Desnoyers later equalized on the man-advantage, ripping a wrist shot from the left circle through Elliott at 18:20. The Knights went ahead again 5:24 into the second period when Barkey hammered a slick feed from Cowan into a gaping net. Nurmi, however, took a slashing penalty 22 seconds later, leading to Gill's third goal of the tournament. Moncton almost took its first lead late in the period when Gill's point shot deflected twice before bouncing off the post. 'You need a little lady luck,' Wildcats head coach Gardiner MacDougall said. 'There's a couple of shots from the point that, an inch this way and we have a lead. Our goal for this game was to get the lead. We played this team twice. We never had the lead. 'We showed some resilience. We've come back four different times on them, and that's not easy to do.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025. Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
London beats Moncton 5-2 to advance to face Medicine Hat in Memorial Cup final
London Knights' Landon Sim (90) celebrates after scoring against the London Knights during first-period semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Moncton Wildcats goaltender Mathis Rousseau (60) makes a save against London Knights' Sam O'Reilly, right, during first-period semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Moncton Wildcats goaltender Mathis Rousseau (60) makes a save against London Knights' Sam O'Reilly (23) during first-period semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Moncton Wildcats goaltender Mathis Rousseau, left, makes a save against London Knights' Sam O'Reilly (23) during first-period semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Moncton Wildcats' Markus Vidicek (6) skates off the ice as London Knights players, top, celebrate after their win in semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Moncton Wildcats' Markus Vidicek (6) skates off the ice as London Knights players, top, celebrate after their win in semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) London Knights' Landon Sim (90) celebrates after scoring against the London Knights during first-period semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Moncton Wildcats goaltender Mathis Rousseau (60) makes a save against London Knights' Sam O'Reilly, right, during first-period semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Moncton Wildcats goaltender Mathis Rousseau (60) makes a save against London Knights' Sam O'Reilly (23) during first-period semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Moncton Wildcats goaltender Mathis Rousseau, left, makes a save against London Knights' Sam O'Reilly (23) during first-period semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) Moncton Wildcats' Markus Vidicek (6) skates off the ice as London Knights players, top, celebrate after their win in semifinal Memorial Cup hockey action in Rimouski, Quebec, Friday, May 30, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press via AP) RIMOUSKI, Quebec (AP) — Blake Montgomery broke a tie at 3:35 of the third period and the London Knights beat the Moncton Wildcats 5-2 on Friday night in the Memorial Cup semifinal to advance to face the Medicine Hat Tigers on Sunday in the final. Montgomery slipped the puck past goalie Mathis Rousseau on a break off a short backhand feed from Sam Dickinson. Advertisement On Tuesday night, Western Hockey League champion Medicine Hat beat Ontario Hockey lewague winner London 3-1 to advance to the final in the four-team tournament. The Knights lost last year in the final, falling 4-3 to the host Saginaw Spirit. Landon Sim, Denver Barkey, Jesse Nurmi and Easton Cowan — into an empty net — also scored for London. Austin Elliott made 21 saves. Caleb Desnoyers and Dyllan Gill had power-play goals for Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League champion Moncton, with Gill tying it at 2 in the second period. Rousseau stopped 32 shots for the Wildcats. Moncton won the QMJHL title in Rimouski last week, beating the Oceanic in six games. On Wednesday, the Wildcats beat host Rimouski 6-2 to reach the semifinal. ___ AP sports:
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Pair of London Knights very familiar with Memorial Cup opponents
It's an east coast homecoming for Landon Sim. 'I had a chance to pick between the 'O' (OHL) and the Quebec League when I was 15, and I picked the OHL. Now I'm going to finish off my junior career in Quebec, so it's kind of funny, but I can't wait,' said Sim. While most players from Atlantic Canada are required to play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Sim was eligible for both as his father Jon Sim played for the Sarnia Sting in the mid-90s. In a tournament of unknowns, Sim is the one Knight with an inside scoop on both the Moncton Wildcats and Rimouski Oceanic. Landon Sim Landon Sim practices with the London Knights on May 20, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'I know some from playing against them when I was younger, and a couple of them are from my town, so it's pretty special,' said Sim, who has 12 goals in 17 playoff games this season. When it comes to the Medicine Hat Tigers, goalie Austin Elliott has the scouting report. Two of his former Saskatoon Blades teammates - defenseman Tanner Molendyk—a Nashville Predators prospect—and forward Misha Volotovskii – were traded to the Tigers from the Blades in January. 'I've talked to both of them,' said Elliott, referring to recent communication after finding out they'll be facing each other. 'It'll be so funny playing against them. That's another thing I can't even imagine. I'll have to try not to laugh when I see those two guys are coming in on me. It'll be fun playing them and seeing them there.' Austin Elliott Austin Elliott practices with the London Knights on May 20, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) Knights assistant coaches Dylan Hunter and Rick Steadman have spent hours pouring over video of all three opponents. 'You watch a couple of their series, you know seven or eight games on each team,' said Hunter. 'Obviously when you're playing against guys in this league, you know them, you know the players, and you've seen them play. It takes a little bit more trying to go down the line up there, getting the understanding of each player and tendencies and what lines you like to put on certain situations.' Hunter does think they have an advantage having been through this many times, including last year in Saginaw, Mich. Rimouski, Que. The lighthouse in Pointe-au-Pere is affected by heavy fog which causes bad visibility for the sailboats having to make a buoy close to the shore in the transat race from Quebec to Saint-Malo, France, Monday July 21, 2008, in Rimouski, Que. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press) (JACQUES BOISSINOT/Canadian Press) 'Play your strengths, which is the reason you got there,' added Hunter. 'You can't do too much to change your game up. You've got to go in there, do what you're good at and see if you come out on top.' Sim said he's never been to Rimouski but does make the drive by the road signs when heading back to the Maritimes after each season. 'I turn right to go home, which is like a six-hour drive,' said Sim. 'If I go straight, there's a sign that goes just to Rimouski. I circled that last year, going home and I said to the boys, 'We have it here next year.' We're going there next year now. It's probably a good town, the ocean's right there, and any town near the ocean is good by me.' He's hoping a successful opening weekend in the tournament will put them in a position to get more downtime and sightseeing. He can show his teammates around his part of the country.
Winnipeg Free Press
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
OHL playoffs: Knights edge Rangers 3-2, lead series 3-0
KITCHENER – Landon Sim scored twice, Easton Cowan and Sam Dickinson each had two assists, and the visiting London Knights edged the Kitchener Rangers 3-2 to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven Ontario Hockey League Western Conference Championship series. Jacob Julien also scored for the Knights, who can sweep the series with a win Wednesday at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Luke Ellinas and Cameron Arquette scored for the Rangers, who were outshot 37-23. The Knights led 2-1 after the first period and 3-2 heading into the third. The Rangers went 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Knights were 1-for-5. The Knights won the first two games of the series in London, Ont., by scores of 5-2 and 6-2. * This roundup was generated automatically with a CP-developed application. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
OHL playoffs: Dickinson has 4-point night, Knights beat Rangers 5-2 in series opener
LONDON – Sam Dickinson had two goals and two assists and the London Knights scored four goals in the first period en route to a 5-2 Ontario Hockey League playoff win over the visiting Kitchener Rangers on Friday at Canada Life Place. Landon Sim, Kasper Halttunen and Blake Montgomery also scored for the Knights, who lead the best-of-seven Western Conference Championship series 1-0. Easton Cowan chipped in with two assists. Luca Romano scored twice for the Rangers, who were outshot 41-24. The Knights went 1-for-3 on the power play while the Rangers were 0-for-4. The Knights led 4-0 after the first period and took a 5-1 lead into the third. Game 2 in the series is Sunday in London. Elsewhere in the OHL playoffs on Friday: — GENERALS 3 COLTS 1 (Oshawa leads best-of-seven Eastern Conference Championship series 1-0) BARRIE, Ont. — Owen Griffin, Matthew Buckley and Calum Ritchie scored as the visiting Oshawa Generals defeated the Barrie Colts 3-1 in the opening game of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Championship series 1-0. Anthony Romani scored for the Colts, who were outshot 39-28. The teams were scoreless after the first period, and the Generals took a 2-0 lead into the third period. The Generals went 1-for-4 on the power play, while the Colts were 0-for-3. Game 2 in the series is Sunday in Barrie. * This roundup was generated automatically with a CP-developed application. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 25, 2025.
