knights still have hope
May 22nd, 2013
The London Knights will look to the 2012 Shawinigan Cataractes for inspiration as they find themselves hanging by a thread at the 2013 Memorial Cup.
Fortunately for them, there's hope.
The Knights, now with a 1-2 record, will play the Saskatoon Blades on May 23 in a tie-breaker. So far through three games, London has been largely sub par, especially in net.
Anthony Stolarz, a Philadelphia Flyers prospect, and Jake Patterson, who's draft eligible in 2013, have allowed a combined 17 goals, two shy of the team's total in both the 2005 and 2013 tournament's combined.
This season also marks the first time the Knights haven't advanced straight to the Memorial Cup final. The Halifax Mooseheads have that distinction this season after Portland's 4-2 victory Wednesday night.
“I've been on a bigger playing field than this, and a few times, this kind of game happens,” Knights' head coach Dale Hunter said. “They're tired (after losing to Portland on Monday night.)They battled back that game to tie the game up. We took a lot of energy to do that and we didn't have the energy we had to have to play well.”
London was also the first team to give up nine goals in a game since the host Brandon Wheat Kings were trounced 9-1 by Windsor in the 2010 final. In comparison, back in 2005 on home ice, the Knights' allowed just seven goals all week.
Individually, Max Domi sits at minus-9 through three games. Seth Griffith, who leads the team with 4 points (2G, 2A) is a minus-6.
Dale Hunter remains confident that his team can rebound, just like they did in the Plymouth and Barrie series in the OHL playoffs. The Knights also lost by seven goals in the regular season, 8-1 to Windsor, in a game that didn't mean much to the standings, but responded with a victory in the next game.
“It was unacceptable,” Knights forward Matt Rupert told media in Saskatoon. “It's real embarrassing. I don't know why we weren't ready for this one (agianst Halifax). We have no choice now, but we came back on Barrie (from 3-1 down in the OHL final) and there's no reason we can't come back here.”
“We'll be ready.”
In retrospect, the Shawinigan Cataractes were forced to play the tie-breaker last season, where they beat St. John 6-1. The Cataractes followed that up with a convincing performance in the semi finals, 7-4 over Edmonton, before edging London 2-1 in overtime in the finals.
Closer to home, the 2009 Windsor Spitfires played the tie-breaker as well before going on to win the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Quebec.
Dale Hunter has yet to confirm whether Stolarz or Patterson will start Thursday's tie-breaker. It's a difficult decision for the Knights' top brass. Patterson started games 5 to 7 in the OHL final, and while he wasn't spectacular, he got the victories the team needed. Stolarz, meanwhile has been in net for the big games so far this season.
Either way the Knights' will have to step their game up if they want to keep their tournament hopes alive.
They've done it before, and they know it can be done once again.
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Memorial Cup Tie-Breaker
Thursday, May 23, 2013 8 PM
London Knights vs Saskatoon Blades
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The London Knights will look to the 2012 Shawinigan Cataractes for inspiration as they find themselves hanging by a thread at the 2013 Memorial Cup.
Fortunately for them, there's hope.
The Knights, now with a 1-2 record, will play the Saskatoon Blades on May 23 in a tie-breaker. So far through three games, London has been largely sub par, especially in net.
Anthony Stolarz, a Philadelphia Flyers prospect, and Jake Patterson, who's draft eligible in 2013, have allowed a combined 17 goals, two shy of the team's total in both the 2005 and 2013 tournament's combined.
This season also marks the first time the Knights haven't advanced straight to the Memorial Cup final. The Halifax Mooseheads have that distinction this season after Portland's 4-2 victory Wednesday night.
“I've been on a bigger playing field than this, and a few times, this kind of game happens,” Knights' head coach Dale Hunter said. “They're tired (after losing to Portland on Monday night.)They battled back that game to tie the game up. We took a lot of energy to do that and we didn't have the energy we had to have to play well.”
London was also the first team to give up nine goals in a game since the host Brandon Wheat Kings were trounced 9-1 by Windsor in the 2010 final. In comparison, back in 2005 on home ice, the Knights' allowed just seven goals all week.
Individually, Max Domi sits at minus-9 through three games. Seth Griffith, who leads the team with 4 points (2G, 2A) is a minus-6.
Dale Hunter remains confident that his team can rebound, just like they did in the Plymouth and Barrie series in the OHL playoffs. The Knights also lost by seven goals in the regular season, 8-1 to Windsor, in a game that didn't mean much to the standings, but responded with a victory in the next game.
“It was unacceptable,” Knights forward Matt Rupert told media in Saskatoon. “It's real embarrassing. I don't know why we weren't ready for this one (agianst Halifax). We have no choice now, but we came back on Barrie (from 3-1 down in the OHL final) and there's no reason we can't come back here.”
“We'll be ready.”
In retrospect, the Shawinigan Cataractes were forced to play the tie-breaker last season, where they beat St. John 6-1. The Cataractes followed that up with a convincing performance in the semi finals, 7-4 over Edmonton, before edging London 2-1 in overtime in the finals.
Closer to home, the 2009 Windsor Spitfires played the tie-breaker as well before going on to win the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Quebec.
Dale Hunter has yet to confirm whether Stolarz or Patterson will start Thursday's tie-breaker. It's a difficult decision for the Knights' top brass. Patterson started games 5 to 7 in the OHL final, and while he wasn't spectacular, he got the victories the team needed. Stolarz, meanwhile has been in net for the big games so far this season.
Either way the Knights' will have to step their game up if they want to keep their tournament hopes alive.
They've done it before, and they know it can be done once again.
----
Memorial Cup Tie-Breaker
Thursday, May 23, 2013 8 PM
London Knights vs Saskatoon Blades
Back to Sports Stories