The London Knights push for history was thwarted by the Sarnia Sting - and the stick of rookie Nikolay Goldobin - days before London’s defense was going to be bolstered by the return of World Junior Championship players. Now they are firmly in control of the Ontario League though, and sit atop the circuit they were expected to challenge for at the start of the season.
And the Knights further strengthened their back end for the 2013 half of the season, by signing Dakota Mermis, a player drafted by London in 2010 who had been playing with the NCAA’s Denver Pioneers. A strong skater with puck-moving skills, Mermis will likely get a chance on the second defense unit alongside one of the more experienced blueliners returning from the WJC.
It’s unlikely the Knights will piece together another mammoth streak, but they’re about to get stronger and, amazingly, deeper in talent. That’s a scary thought for opponents who have spent the past two months being run through the London buzz saw.