London Knights Clinch 1st Place In OHL Standings For Second Consecutive Year
Photo Credit: Natalie Shaver/OHL ImagesFirst Place in the Ontario Hockey League has been locked up with less than two weeks to go in the regular season.
The London Knights have clinched the top spot in league standings for the second consecutive year, bringing home their eighth Hamilton Spector Trophy in franchise history.
On Tuesday night, the Knights hosted their divisional rivals, the Guelph Storm, in a contest that featured multiple fights and another high-flying offensive game by the home team.
London's 7-3 win over the Storm was backed by another four assist performance by Toronto Maple Leafs star prospect Easton Cowan, and a two-goal night by San Jose Sharks' number-one defense prospect, Sam Dickinson.
Guelph kept the game close after the opening period tied 1-1 despite having been outshot 14-10. However, London's potent offense broke free in the second period, scoring four goals, sealing the game shut.
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Before puck drop, London honored the 2005 Knights squad, which is arguably the greatest junior hockey team in history, as they were voted the CHL's team of the century.
Led by Corey Perry and current Knights Assistant Coach Dylan Hunter, the 2005 London team started the season on an incredible 31-game win streak. They finished the season with 59 wins, seven losses, and two ties, posting 120 points, which is the most wins and points recorded in franchise history.
The Knights defeated Sidney Crosby's Rimouski Oceanic in the Memorial Cup final that year, achieving the club's first national championship victory.
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With six games left in the regular season for the 2024-25 London Knights, they won't be able to match the 59-win total from the 2004-05 squad, but they are on pace to record the second-most wins and points in franchise history.
London has won back-to-back OHL championships before: 2012 and 2013. They have a strong opportunity to do so again this year with one of the deepest teams on forward and defense and a goaltending tandem that can shut the door on any given night.
The Knights have three "Playoff-caliber" games remaining before they look to defend their title. They take on Windsor twice and Kitchener once. Those games will set the tone for what's to come in the playoffs.