With Erie, Sarnia, and Windsor all losing last night in the Western Conference, the London Knights have clinched the first playoff spot in the OHL.
The London Knights have become the first team in the OHL to clinch a playoff spot, with several teams losing in the West last night. Erie, Sarnia, and Windsor all lost last night, broadening the gap between them and London at the bottom of the standings.
This is the 23rd straight season that the Knights have made the OHL Playoffs.
It is no surprise that the most historical team in the OHL was the first to clinch a spot, but they didn't begin the season as the league's top team.
London faced some adversity at the beginning of the season, as it was the Soo and Kitchener running the show in the Western Conference. As time has continued on, the Greyhounds and the Rangers have levelled out, while the Knights continue to soar.
The Knights are four points ahead of Saginaw in the Western Conference, and are thirteen points up on Kitchener in the Midwest Division. London is currently on a seven game winning streak.
From Cowan & Barkey, to Bonk & Dickinson, to Simpson in goal, the Knights have no shortage of talent in each position. They have a young core, but that is what makes them such a scary threat this year, and in years to come. Cowan, Barkey, and Bonk all have two more seasons left to play in the OHL after this year. Each have three more chances to win an OHL Championship.
The chances of that seem highly likely.
They faced adversity at the hands of the Peterborough Petes in last year's OHL finals, and they now know what it takes to win. Their young talent has learned from defeat and that has been evident this season.