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Knights Secure Another Win Against Storm with Halttunen’s Heroics
The London Knights continued their impressive run by defeating the Guelph Storm 6-3, marking their second consecutive victory over the team. Key player Kasper Halttunen made a significant contribution with two goals, while Evan Van Gorp also added to the scoreboard, recording his 19th goal of the season along with an assist.
London’s Jacob Julien showcased his playmaking skills by providing three assists, bringing his total to six in the last three games. The Knights’ current winning streak stands at six games, and they have now accumulated 106 points this season, surpassing the 105 points achieved by the 2015-16 Memorial Cup winning team.
In a familiar pattern, Guelph opened the scoring early in the game. Just under three minutes in, Charlie Paquette capitalized on a partial breakaway, netting his 33rd goal of the season and giving the Storm a 1-0 lead.
However, London responded swiftly, scoring the next two goals. At 10:33 of the first period, P.J. Fagan and Van Gorp combined to assist Halttunen’s 18th goal of the season. Shortly after, a shot by Van Gorp ricocheted off the end glass, landing in the crease, where Brendan Gerber was quick to score his first OHL goal. This also marked the Knights’ 300th goal of the season.
The second period saw only one goal, as Sam Dickinson’s shot found the back of the net, extending London’s lead to 3-1. This goal brought Dickinson closer to historical recognition, placing him just three points shy of tying the record for most points by a Knights defenceman in a single season.
A Season of Milestones
Blake Montgomery expanded the Knights’ lead to 4-1 with his 23rd goal, but Guelph’s Paquette responded with his second goal of the night shortly after. Halttunen’s second goal on a power play at 11:47 restored London’s two-goal lead. Guelph continued to fight back with Justin Bottineau scoring from a rebound, making it 5-3 with just over five minutes to play.
To secure their victory, Van Gorp capped off the night with an empty-net goal with 1:29 left in the game. Despite the loss, the Storm outshot London 37-32, while the Knights managed to go 1-for-5 on the power play and successfully killed off both of Guelph’s power plays. Despite missing key players such as Denver Barkey and Oliver Bonk due to injuries, the Knights maintained their strong performance.
Dickinson on Track for Record
Sam Dickinson is enjoying one of the most remarkable seasons for a London Knights defenceman. With his well-rounded skills, he has proven to be valuable on both ends of the ice. Recently, he became the fourth defenceman in Knights history to reach 80 points in a season, joining notable players like Rick Corriveau and Evan Bouchard. Both Corriveau and Bouchard hold the record at 87 points for a single season, a milestone Dickinson is keen to surpass. Currently, he leads all players with a plus-61 rating, highlighting his defensive prowess.
Mitchell Recognized in GOJHL
In other news, future Knights defenceman Caleb Mitchell received recognition by being named to the Western Conference All-Rookie team as the 2024-25 GOJHL regular season came to a close. A second-round pick by London in the recent OHL Priority Selection, Mitchell finished his year with the London Nationals with nine goals and 28 points across 34 games.
Looking Ahead
The Knights will face off against the Saginaw Spirit at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 14, at Canada Life Place. The two teams played 14 times last season, but haven’t met since November 23, 2024, when London secured a 6-5 win. Both teams have combined for over 300 goals this season, although London leads the league in fewest goals allowed, contrasting with Saginaw’s struggles defensively.
Coverage of the upcoming game will begin at 6:30 p.m. on 980 CFPL and will also be available through the iHeart Radio and Radioplayer Canada apps.
Source
globalnews.ca