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London Knights Sweep Owen Sound Attack in Playoff Series
In an impressive display of skill and teamwork, London’s rookie Noah Read led the Knights to an 8-4 victory against the Owen Sound Attack on April 3, 2025, marking a successful first-round sweep in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) playoffs. The game took place at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, where Read notched three goals and an assist, finishing with a remarkable plus-4 rating.
Denver Barkey also made headlines by tying for the OHL playoff scoring lead, netting his fifth goal and tallying his 11th point in just four games. He would later take the outright lead with an additional assist.
Captain Barkey opened the scoring by capitalizing on a loose puck off the faceoff in the Owen Sound zone. He maneuvered into the slot and skillfully fired a shot past Attack goalie Carter George, putting the Knights ahead 1-0 at 6:36 in the first period. Just moments later, Masen Wray equalized for Owen Sound at 12:22, scoring on a two-on-one break.
The stalemate was short-lived; only 14 seconds later, London defenseman Cam Allen regained the lead for the Knights. After winning a faceoff, Allen executed a clever head-fake and sped towards the net, unleashing a wrist shot that put London back ahead 2-1 as the teams headed into the first intermission.
The second period showcased a powerful offensive display by London. Kasper Halttunen, recognized for possessing the hardest shot in the Western Conference, scored early with a blistering wrist shot from the slot, extending the Knights’ lead to 3-1.
Read then got in on the action, scoring his first playoff goal at 10:02 after a pass from Sam Dickinson, further energizing the team. Just 15 seconds later, Barkey assisted Easton Cowan, increasing the Knights’ advantage to 5-1.
London maintained relentless momentum, and Dickinson added another goal at 12:52. Although Wray managed to score for the Attack on a power play at 18:15, Read quickly responded with his second goal of the period, ending the second frame with London leading 7-2.
The statistical showdown revealed that the Knights outshot the Attack 41-12 in the first two periods. In the third, David Bedkowski cut into London’s lead early for Owen Sound, but Read’s hat trick goal extinguished any hopes of a comeback for the Attack. Wray completed his own hat trick with just 2:18 remaining, finalizing the scoring for the night.
The Knights outshot Owen Sound 53-19 overall, showcasing their offensive dominance throughout the match. London went 0-for-2 on the power play, while the Attack capitalized on 1-for-4 chances.
Western Conference Coaches Poll Recognizes Knights Players
In related news, the results of the 2024-25 Coaches Poll were released on April 3, highlighting outstanding performances among Knights players:
- Sam O’Reilly: Best defensive forward
- Kasper Halttunen: Best shot and hardest shot
- Denver Barkey: Second-best stickhandler; ranked third for smartest player and best playmaker
- Easton Cowan: Second-best shootout shooter; ranked third for best penalty killer
- Oliver Bonk: Second-best defensive defenceman; ranked third for best shot blocker
- Sam Dickinson: Second-best offensive defenceman; ranked third for best skater
- Austin Elliott: Third-best shootout goaltender
Brett Brochu’s Impact in Bakersfield Playoffs
Meanwhile, former Knights goalie Brett Brochu is making headlines in the American Hockey League with the Bakersfield Condors. Following an injury to Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner, Brochu was called up from the ECHL’s Fort Wayne Komets to fill the void. Since his arrival, he has played a crucial role in breaking the Condors’ four-game losing streak and led them to a critical win over the first-place Calgary Wranglers. Bakersfield is now just two points away from a playoff spot with two games in hand.
Source
globalnews.ca