London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[Knights Watcher]

No goalie in the CHL is stopping that 2nd Rehkopf goal, so let that slide. I thought Leonard had a decent period, Julian appears just out for a skate today. Knights will be fine when all their bodies are back and people aren't playing roles above their heads. Hawrey with a good lesson early in the season to not be cute especially with a big dog bearing down on you. The sky is not falling, still favourites in the West... likely will need a different tender if planning to compete for the title either way. Lots of time for things to shake out.

Willmore is a BUG, no better. The book in him is high blocker which was exploited twice today already.
Leonard has not had his best games lately. A little slow to react. That could be because of his injury but do we really have time to give him the chance to get back to 100%. Nope
Julien has been lazy and coasting since laye in thr playoffs last year. Time to cut bait on all these OAs.

 

[Ferguson Jenkins]

Exactly. It might do some posters good to get out n enjoy the nice weather n pop back in come November as part of a personal mental health initiative.
They may or may not be the best team in the West but let's give it a wee bit of the season before freaking out.

It’s like people haven’t watched junior hockey or more specifically, the Knights, before. Maybe they just like to complain. I dunno. 22 straight years of a competitive product hasn’t stopped these folks from doom and gloom and turning over the roster three times. Lmao.

 

[Knights Watcher]

Might be the last we see of Willmore in a Knights jersey. Too bad his trade stick is down to 3 sticks, a hockey bag and some practice pucks.

 

[LDN]

Neeeeed to get better. No trades just dig in!!!

 

[dino200022]

Can someone please give Julien a giant kick in the ass. As of 5 minutes left in the 2nd period of the Brampton game he is -8 on the year and has provided 1 point over 5 games. Something has to give, I understand he is probably disappointed coming back so early and not getting a pro contract but a competitive body would turn that into an I will prove you wrong mentality. He is acting like a Prima donna out there.

 

[Ferguson Jenkins]

Mr Cohen on the board. Congratulations - first OHL goal!

 

[Knights Watcher]

Mr Cohen on the board. Congratulations - first OHL goal!

Trade stock rising.

 

[Ferguson Jenkins]

Can someone please give Julien a giant kick in the ass. As of 5 minutes left in the 2nd period of the Brampton game he is -8 on the year and has provided 1 point over 5 games. Something has to give, I understand he is probably disappointed coming back so early and not getting a pro contract but a competitive body would turn that into an I will prove you wrong mentality. He is acting like a Prima donna out there.

Something does seem off about him dating back to last season.
Hope he’s okay and rebounds.

Lots of work to be done by the staff. History suggests things will be corrected. Patience. You also can’t win every year and this club is coming off two straight OHL finals. I still think they’ll be competitive.

 

[JagrBomb93]

Agree that things are not looking good for Willmore. He may get another start or two to see if he can figure it out. It would be tough to give Medvedev starter role with no prior OHL experience. Hunters make look to go get a starter somewhere.

 

[Ferguson Jenkins]

Let’s not forget Finn Wilson is 18 and signed.

 

[frontsfan67]

Agree that things are not looking good for Willmore. He may get another start or two to see if he can figure it out. It would be tough to give Medvedev starter role with no prior OHL experience. Hunters make look to go get a starter somewhere.

Sztuska is an OA and a big upgrade. Willmore is an average at best goalie. Sztuska already had a better save percentage last year on a rebuilding Peteborough team. Imagine him with defencemen like bonk, Dickinson, Leonard, Woolley etc in front of him.

On a team without all the big guns Willmore wouldn’t put any numbers up and he’s really getting exposed now at the start of the year with some of the big guns out- point proven

 

[Knights2729]

Bidgood's stock is rising fast here

 

[LDN]

Sim is always the missing ingredient

 

[Fastpace]

! Wait for it, wait for it, London Knights new star; "Cohen Bidgood" Do not second guess Dale Hunter's coaching

 

[frontsfan67]

! Wait for it, wait for it, London Knights new star; "Cohen Bidgood" Do not second guess Dale Hunter's coaching

I certainly trust Dale more than some people on here

Good for Cohen.

Also team playing better with Medvedev in front of them. Since he came in it’s 3-1 Knights lol

 

[dino200022]

Like I said earlier was not too sure why such the hate for Bidgood...now all of the sudden everyone is in love. Too funny.

 

[Knightsfan90]

They will be fine! Imo the crease is medvedevs. I say bring up Wilson his numbers aren't terrible in Jr B

I believe Bidgood is being showcased for trade but I'm not sure he needs to be moved he looks to be a solid 07 and will be very valuable this year and next!
I hope Bidgood stays but the chance he doesn't is high

 

[TheOrangePylon]

Everyone breathe, if you remember back to last season. The sky was falling and everyone was in full panic mode the first 15/20 games. Then they figured it out and won the OHL.

Dale will get them straightened out and get chemistry figured out, especially once all the regulars get back in the lineup. They are still missing their 4 best players and a guy who stirs the drink in Sim.

They will be okay, there’s a reason they were ranked number 1 and quite frankly after watching todays game, if Brampton is the best in the east, once they get a full roster and get rolling. They can beat them.

 

[Ferguson Jenkins]

Sztuska is an OA and a big upgrade. Willmore is an average at best goalie. Sztuska already had a better save percentage last year on a rebuilding Peteborough team. Imagine him with defencemen like bonk, Dickinson, Leonard, Woolley etc in front of him.

On a team without all the big guns Willmore wouldn’t put any numbers up and he’s really getting exposed now at the start of the year with some of the big guns out- point proven

Sztuska is an OA and a big upgrade. Willmore is an average at best goalie. Sztuska already had a better save percentage last year on a rebuilding Peteborough team. Imagine him with defencemen like bonk, Dickinson, Leonard, Woolley etc in front of him.

On a team without all the big guns Willmore wouldn’t put any numbers up and he’s really getting exposed now at the start of the year with some of the big guns out- point proven

Not necessarily disagreeing with your analysis here but I don’t see London rushing to make a move with Medvedev and Wilson at their disposal. We really don’t know what Wilson is capable of yet. Perhaps London is also waiting out the overage market to get Liam at a perceived discount. In any event, it will be a purposeful move and one not made out of panic.

 

[Ferguson Jenkins]

Good to see some life from the 07’s - Bidgood, Arrowsmith, Brzustewicz, and Medvedev.

 

[Fastpace]

It was a slow start by the Knights once again, they did not get going until Medvedev took over the crease. A lot of positives can come out of this game, especially if they can have the start of a game the way they finished this one. Regardless who is in net, we've seen it last night against Erie with another slow start with Mevedev in net. London scored three goals against Brampton, totaling the total output of their three previous games. Have a better start, and it's a complete different game, even with Willmore in net, kids shown a lot of resiliency.

 

[All the Answers]

It was a slow start by the Knights once again, they did not get going until Medvedev took over the crease. A lot of positives can come out of this game, especially if they can have the start of a game the way they finished this one. Regardless who is in net, we've seen it last night against Erie with another slow start with Mevedev in net. London scored three goals against Brampton, totaling the total output of their three previous games. Have a better start, and it's a complete different game, even with Willmore in net, kids shown a lot of resiliency.

Not to be a downer, but the Steelheads took their foot off the gas, too. Their #1 pp unit didn't see the ice in the 2nd after 5 minutes in. They could have run it to 7-1 before the third, likely.

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

Well that was a shit game! Sometimes we are going to lay an egg, kids need to gel an hit the practice pad.

Some upsides: Medvedev was solid in relief, Bidgood showed why he is on the roster and Arrowsmith full marks.

Brzustewicz also was solid.

Dickinson, O’Rielly, Julien dude…. Shake your heads and don’t do that again.

 

[rve24]

Something does seem off about him dating back to last season.
Hope he’s okay and rebounds.

Exactly
but hey bash away and be disappointed "fans" without context.
Same as the post about to Had Willmore idms wotmrth X in a trade now.
If only they had context.

Bidgood's stock is rising fast here

What I should say..... nope I'll shut up lol.

 

[rve24]

That squad London faced tonight is solid. Going to be tough all year. London couldn't match their skill, exoerienxmce or GAF early. Happens.
Another good lesson for the team, esp the youngins.
The players expected to lead that just got returned......it takes time. Pace, disappointment, entitlement, fatigue, attitude......whatever. Takes time to readjust. ( unless it's attitude )