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London Knights Dominate Kitchener Rangers in Game 1 of OHL Championship Series

In a thrilling opener of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Western Conference Championship on April 25, 2025, Sam Dickinson showcased his prowess by scoring four points, leading the London Knights to a decisive 5-2 victory over the Kitchener Rangers. This performance came just a day after Dickinson was honored as the OHL Defenceman of the Year.

With two goals and two assists, Dickinson was instrumental in driving the Knights’ offense, setting the tone for what could be a promising playoff campaign for the team. The Knights now hold a 1-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series.

However, not all news was positive for London; team captain Denver Barkey left the game in the third period due to an apparent leg injury, raising concerns about his status moving forward.

Leading up to Game 1, the Knights emphasized the importance of preparation, especially after an eight-day gap since their previous game, while the Rangers were in the midst of a more rhythmical schedule, competing every other day in their series against Windsor.

The Knights wasted no time establishing their momentum. Just over two minutes into the first period, Landon Sim redirected a pass from Cam Allen to score, giving London an early lead. Dickinson quickly followed this up, burying his own rebound to make it 2-0 just 67 seconds later.

Less than two minutes later, a delay of game penalty against Kitchener set the stage for a Knights power play. Kasper Halttunen capitalized on this opportunity, executing a powerful one-timer from the left faceoff circle, increasing London’s lead to 3-0.

Knights goalie Austin Elliott made crucial saves during the first period, particularly against attempts by Jack Pridham and Luca Romano, which helped maintain the Knights’ advantage. Just before the first intermission, Dickinson scored again from the high slot, concluding the first period with a commanding 4-0 lead.

In the second period, the teams exchanged goals, with Blake Montgomery widening the gap to 5-0 before Kitchener finally broke through with a goal from Romano, bringing the score to 5-1 by the end of the second period.

Romano would score once more at 10:24 of the third, tightening the score margin to 5-2. The game took a concerning turn when Rangers forward Christian Humphries left the ice after a heavy check by Halttunen, which was ruled legal upon review by officials.

Overall, London outshot Kitchener 41-24 and finished 1-for-3 on power plays while successfully killing all three penalties against them.

Sam Dickinson’s Achievement

Prior to the game, Sam Dickinson was honored as the OHL Defenceman of the Year on April 24, an accolade that recognizes his outstanding performance. With 91 points in the regular season and an impressive plus-minus rating of +64, Dickinson not only made history for the London Knights but also joined the ranks of esteemed defenders, becoming the eighth player from the franchise to earn the Max Kaminsky Trophy.

“This is a tremendous honor,” Dickinson remarked. “I owe a huge thanks to my teammates, coaches, and family for their support throughout the season.”

Looking Ahead

The Knights will seek to extend their series lead in Game 2 against the Rangers on Sunday, April 27, at 4:00 p.m. The matchup will take place at Canada Life Place, with coverage starting at 3:30 p.m. on 980 CFPL and available on the iHeart Radio and Radioplayer Canada apps.

Source
globalnews.ca