London Knights 2023-2024 Season Thread (Part 8)

[Fastpace]

It would have been a travesty to the game, had London won last night

Period one, 1 shot - period two, 5 shots - period three, 7 shots for a game total of 13, and this after 3 full days of rest, in their most important game in junior hockey. I love London's junior hockey club, but I couldn't be happy with this kind of performance even if they had won. I mean, to win the biggest prize in junior hockey with a poor performance wouldn't have been right for this sport.

Congratulation to the Spirit for winning the greatest prize in junior hockey with their full deserving performance! Your turn to celebrate and cap an excellent season

 

[ohloutsider]

If I recall, didn't they also have a big lead in that game and Medicine Hat came back ? Was that the year?

Yes I believe so but my memory is a little foggy on the game details.

 

[Matt93]

The Knights had a great season and there were many exciting games in the regular season and playoffs. I definitely enjoyed following them this year. It'll be a new slate next season but this team never falls far with Dale and company behind the bench. They will be near or at the top next season as well.

It'll be interesting to see if they release what injuries players were playing with like NHL teams once they are done. Cowan definitely was not 100% during the Memorial Cup. Some periods he only played 1-2 shifts. However, he was dangerous every time he was on the ice.

If the Knights started on time last night and Cowan was 100%, it would've been a blowout.

 

[Matt93]

It may be early but here is my prediction for the team next year with the players that played this year. I won't take a guess at which prospects jump in quickly.

Goalies:
Willmore (OA) - Starter
Medvedev - Backup

Defence:
Brzustewicz
Dickinson
Jenken
Leonard (OA)
Woolley
Bonk
Fagan
Edward (OA) - Trade bait

Forward:
Julien (OA)
Van Gorp
O'Reilly
Johnston
Van Bommel
Nicholl
Barkey
Sim (OA)

Notable Omission:
Cowan - The Leafs need a major shake up and need players that are hungry for the puck (looking at your Marner) so he will make the team
Halttunen - Adapted well to the NA game and has a NHL calibre shot. He will be at least in the AHL
Gazizov - Very rarely does a team use an import and OA spot on the same player
George - His skating and escapability is probably the best in the OHL. He will be at least in the AHL

Our D is set. Mark will need to make some trades for F who can put the puck in the net.

 

[rangersblues]

It may be early but here is my prediction for the team next year with the players that played this year. I won't take a guess at which prospects jump in quickly.

Goalies:
Willmore (OA) - Starter
Medvedev - Backup

Defence:
Brzustewicz
Dickinson
Jenken
Leonard (OA)
Woolley
Bonk
Fagan
Edward (OA) - Trade bait

Forward:
Julien (OA)
Van Gorp
O'Reilly
Johnston
Van Bommel
Nicholl
Barkey
Sim (OA)

Notable Omission:
Cowan - The Leafs need a major shake up and need players that are hungry for the puck (looking at your Marner) so he will make the team
Halttunen - Adapted well to the NA game and has a NHL calibre shot. He will be at least in the AHL
Gazizov - Very rarely does a team use an import and OA spot on the same player
George - His skating and escapability is probably the best in the OHL. He will be at least in the AHL

Our D is set. Mark will need to make some trades for F who can put the puck in the net.

I'd be keeping Edward as an OA over Sim all day. And if George somehow returns you won't even need a goalie some nights.

 

[Fergus31]

It may be early but here is my prediction for the team next year with the players that played this year. I won't take a guess at which prospects jump in quickly.

Goalies:
Willmore (OA) - Starter
Medvedev - Backup

Defence:
Brzustewicz
Dickinson
Jenken
Leonard (OA)
Woolley
Bonk
Fagan
Edward (OA) - Trade bait

Forward:
Julien (OA)
Van Gorp
O'Reilly
Johnston
Van Bommel
Nicholl
Barkey
Sim (OA)

Notable Omission:
Cowan - The Leafs need a major shake up and need players that are hungry for the puck (looking at your Marner) so he will make the team
Halttunen - Adapted well to the NA game and has a NHL calibre shot. He will be at least in the AHL
Gazizov - Very rarely does a team use an import and OA spot on the same player
George - His skating and escapability is probably the best in the OHL. He will be at least in the AHL

Our D is set. Mark will need to make some trades for F who can put the puck in the net.

Remember Finn Wilson is signed as a goalie. That complicates the crease.

Edward and George are NHL signed and gone.

Big wild card is Julien. Jets have another year to sign him.

Cowan and Dickinson - I would approach the off season without those two coming back.

 

[windsor7]

Do the Knights lose any players or will it be the same team this upcoming season?

 

[ArielNederland]

Do the Knights lose any players or will it be the same team this upcoming season?

100 percent lose players

 

[LDN]

Remember Finn Wilson is signed as a goalie. That complicates the crease.

Edward and George are NHL signed and gone.

Big wild card is Julien. Jets have another year to sign him.

Cowan and Dickinson - I would approach the off season without those two coming back.

George, Edward, Julien, Cowan are gone

Gazizov will be back and Halttunnen will move on to the A

Willmore is ready

 

[Fastpace]

Ideally, this CHL championship series (Memorial Cup) should be a 2 week 6 game round-robin for each league champions only, with each team playing each other's twice, three home and away games each and then the top two playing in the best of three miniseries. Why not have a B series afternoon games for each league runner ups that would also include the host team, if they are not among league champions, as a recognition prize, if you will. This tournament is way too short for the importance it carries to our National Big Junior Prize. This formula needs to change, it is time. IMHO

 

[LDN]

Ideally, this CHL championship series (Memorial Cup) should be a 2 week 6 game round-robin for each league champions only, with each team playing each other's twice, three home and away games each and then the top two playing in the best of three miniseries. Why not have a B series afternoon games for each league runner ups that would also include the host team, if they are not among league champions, as a recognition prize, if you will. This tournament is way too short for the importance it carries to our National Big Junior Prize. This formula needs to change, it is time. IMHO

Too many games (they need it short for financial reasons)

 

[EvenSteven]

Ideally, this CHL championship series (Memorial Cup) should be a 2 week 6 game round-robin for each league champions only, with each team playing each other's twice, three home and away games each and then the top two playing in the best of three miniseries. Why not have a B series afternoon games for each league runner ups that would also include the host team, if they are not among league champions, as a recognition prize, if you will. This tournament is way too short for the importance it carries to our National Big Junior Prize. This formula needs to change, it is time. IMHO

It used to be this way. But there is opportunity to manipulate outcomes. Mike Keenan’s Petes did just that back in the day.

 

[Fastpace]

Too many games (they need it short for financial reasons)

The overall importance of this prize is big, they need to expend and elevate it to that level as well, for larger audience nationally and worldwide, not just only for locals and participating teams involved. To get the full recognition from all level of junior hockey communities all over, it needs to be big

It used to be this way. But there is opportunity to manipulate outcomes. Mike Keenan’s Petes did just that back in the day.

I need to hear or read more about that, can you point me to that direction, first time hearing about this

 

[OHL 17]

Manipulationg would be the ideal way to win.

 

[EvenSteven]

The overall importance of this prize is big, they need to expend and elevate it to that level as well, for larger audience nationally and worldwide, not just only for locals and participating teams involved. To get the full recognition from all level of junior hockey communities all over, it needs to be big


I need to hear or read more about that, can you point me to that direction, first time hearing about this

Big Read: The craziest Memorial Cup ever is still starting fights

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[EvenSteven]

1980 Memorial Cup

The 1980 Memorial Cup occurred May 4-May 11 at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba and at the Regina Agridome in Regina, Saskatchewan. Participating teams were the winners of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League which were the...

icehockey.fandom.com

 

[TheOrangePylon]

Maybe someone has some insight on this, not sure if it has been discussed or not, but just an observation I had from being at the game last night. I always thought the memorial cup was a "neutral" site tournament, yes there is obviously a host team, but I thought everything else was neutral as far as in game production. London was technically the home team yesterday, but the in game presentation was all Saginaw, with constant Let's Go Spirit chants on the scoreboard, the in game host pumping Saginaw, etc.

Also, I bought tickets in the end that indicated Home Team shoots twice, thinking London would be shooting twice as the home team, but they did not, Saginaw retained their "Home" bench, so that was irritating on a personal level. But If I am London staff, I want their bench. I want the in game audio neutral, anything I can do to try and take Saginaw off their "Home" game.

Don't take it wrong, I am not saying this is why London lost. Just an observation from attending Memorial cups in London vs. this one. I remember the one's in London were very neutral.

 

[Fastpace]

Big Read: The craziest Memorial Cup ever is still starting fights

www.sportsnet.ca

Thank You Evensteven, after reading about it, it's vaguely coming back to me, I was out of the country on a long business trip that spring. I had been told about it, but never seen any games myself. The thing is the double game round-robin to each championed teams really had anything to do with what has happened. It was all on the coaching staff and players, and still in the end they ended up losing the finals anyway, very unfortunate for Regina, but they did have their chances early in the tournament, and they blew their chances, setting up the big fiasco for the end

 

[crowncarrier]

might not win league with the players that are graduating. Can't win everything.

Do you not see who possibly will be returning. This team is going to be stacked next year. We have great D here now and coming up. If we sign Ustinkov over the summer there's a fantastic shot we will be playing again at the end of May once again. But, the West is going to be crazy good. Erie, kitchener, Guelph, SSM, and Guelph will be tough aswell. But just the fact that you are doubting shows that's its going to happen.....I've never seen a poster more wrong about things.

 

[Fastpace]

Maybe someone has some insight on this, not sure if it has been discussed or not, but just an observation I had from being at the game last night. I always thought the memorial cup was a "neutral" site tournament, yes there is obviously a host team, but I thought everything else was neutral as far as in game production. London was technically the home team yesterday, but the in game presentation was all Saginaw, with constant Let's Go Spirit chants on the scoreboard, the in game host pumping Saginaw, etc.

Also, I bought tickets in the end that indicated Home Team shoots twice, thinking London would be shooting twice as the home team, but they did not, Saginaw retained their "Home" bench, so that was irritating on a personal level. But If I am London staff, I want their bench. I want the in game audio neutral, anything I can do to try and take Saginaw off their "Home" game.

Don't take it wrong, I am not saying this is why London lost. Just an observation from attending Memorial cups in London vs. this one. I remember the one's in London were very neutral.

You didn't expect Saginaw fans to cheer for London, I hope. What would be the purpose of having a host team if they could not be that very team playing in front of their fans all year. London blew it in their final game, it was up to them to show up, and they didn't. You don't suppose someone bought the Knights off, now do you, that would be real controversial

 

[sbpointer]

Maybe someone has some insight on this, not sure if it has been discussed or not, but just an observation I had from being at the game last night. I always thought the memorial cup was a "neutral" site tournament, yes there is obviously a host team, but I thought everything else was neutral as far as in game production. London was technically the home team yesterday, but the in game presentation was all Saginaw, with constant Let's Go Spirit chants on the scoreboard, the in game host pumping Saginaw, etc.

Also, I bought tickets in the end that indicated Home Team shoots twice, thinking London would be shooting twice as the home team, but they did not, Saginaw retained their "Home" bench, so that was irritating on a personal level. But If I am London staff, I want their bench. I want the in game audio neutral, anything I can do to try and take Saginaw off their "Home" game.

Don't take it wrong, I am not saying this is why London lost. Just an observation from attending Memorial cups in London vs. this one. I remember the one's in London were very neutral.

yeah I noticed this too and it was entirely neutral in the games not involving Saginaw.
I was kind of looking forward to hearing " My House" in the Dow when the Knights won on Wednesday night but alas.. They at least played the goal song at the end of the game so they were trying to at least pretend neutrality... ( I actually thought at the end of that game that maybe the knights requested the change as to not give bulletin board material )

It's definitely a detail nothing promenent but I'm sure it was a London related omission..

Look for Dionicio and Parekh as synchronized divers at this summers Olympics.

I was starting to wonder if Parekh was the next coming of Christ the amount of times I've seen him resurrected from the dead this season...

 

[ArielNederland]

Do you not see who possibly will be returning. This team is going to be stacked next year. We have great D here now and coming up. If we sign Ustinkov over the summer there's a fantastic shot we will be playing again at the end of May once again. But, the West is going to be crazy good. Erie, kitchener, Guelph, SSM, and Guelph will be tough aswell. But just the fact that you are doubting shows that's its going to happen.....I've never seen a poster more wrong about things.

Cowan, Dickinson, halttunen, possibly gazizov, possibly george, possibly edward won't be back. I don't think those guys will be back, except maybe edward. They're too good for ohl

 

[TheOrangePylon]

You didn't expect Saginaw fans to cheer for London, I hope. What would be the purpose of having a host team if they could not be that very team playing in front of their fans all year. London blew it in their final game, it was up to them to show up, and they didn't. You don't suppose someone bought the Knights off, now do you, that would be real controversial

Well you went very very assumptive on my post, I didn't say Saginaw fans should be cheering for London nor did I even imply that. I was talking about the in game production, nothing with the fans. What I am saying is on paper London was the home team, so the arena audio and visual stuff should be neutral because the memorial cup is a neutral tournament hosted by the CHL. I did say, this stuff isn't the reason London lost, just simply an observation I made while in attendance.

 

[TheOrangePylon]

yeah I noticed this too and it was entirely neutral in the games not involving Saginaw.
I was kind of looking forward to hearing " My House" in the Dow when the Knights won on Wednesday night but alas.. They at least played the goal song at the end of the game so they were trying to at least pretend neutrality... ( I actually thought at the end of that game that maybe the knights requested the change as to not give bulletin board material )

It's definitely a detail nothing promenent but I'm sure it was a London related omission..


I was starting to wonder if Parekh was the next coming of Christ the amount of times I've seen him resurrected from the dead this season...

Both games vs. Saginaw in the tournament, McCue during the ceremonial face off knew London was the home team and quickly won the draw and picked up the puck. A little gamesmanship for sure, but it is his right as the home team. That is why if I am London staff, I am saying give me the "home" bench, just to see if I can shake them up a little bit, try and make them a bit uncomfortable playing as the away team in their home barn these teams were tight so take any edge you can.

 

[sbpointer]

Not trying to troll but does anyone know if there has been any other CHL teams that their first championship was the Memorial Cup..