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Knights Overcome Early Deficit to Best Otters in Pre-Season Opener

In a thrilling pre-season opener, Jacob Julien of the London Knights secured a dramatic win against the Erie Otters with a short-handed breakaway goal just 13.2 seconds before the final buzzer, propelling London to a 5-4 victory on home ice.

The game began with the Knights facing a challenging situation, quickly falling behind 3-0. However, they demonstrated resilience, reversing the momentum to take a 4-3 lead in the third period. The Knights’ defense had to endure two significant 5-on-3 power plays late in the game, resulting in the Otters equalizing with only 2:03 left on the clock.

The Knights successfully killed off the penalties, allowing Landon Sim to make a pivotal play. After exiting the penalty box, he stole the puck from an Erie player and set Julien up for a clear shot on goal, which he executed flawlessly, beating Otters’ goaltender Noah Erliden under the blocker.

This match marked London’s first game of the pre-season, while it was Erie’s fourth outing.

The Otters previously competed against the Saginaw Spirit, Brantford Bulldogs, and Kitchener Rangers in a series of games held at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium from August 30 to September 1.

Sim was a standout player for London, finishing with two goals and two assists, earning the distinction of the game’s first star. Both of his goals came during the second period, highlighting his skill on the power play. The first was a well-placed high shot from the slot, concluding a four-way passing sequence. The second goal was executed with precision, following a well-timed pass from Sam O’Reilly, who maneuvered from the right corner before assisting Sim.

Despite the early lead established by goals from Pano Fimis, Ondrej Molnar, and Gabe Frasca, the Knights clawed their way back into contention. Kaeden Johnston played a crucial role, scoring two goals within a span of just over two minutes, flipping the game on its head and granting London a 4-3 lead at 9:46 in the third period. However, a power play goal from Alexis Daviault tied the game, setting the stage for the dramatic finish.

Notably, Bonk also contributed to London’s offense with three assists, and O’Reilly added two assists to his tally, showcasing the teamwork evident throughout the match. Julien rounded off the evening with a goal and an assist, complementing the team’s overall performance. London outshot Erie, registering 36 shots to the Otters’ 33.

Noah Read Officially Joins the Knights

In a significant development, the London Knights have announced the signing of 17-year-old Noah Read from St. Catharines to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Originally a 10th round pick in 2023, Read had a standout season with the St. Catharines Falcons, netting 12 goals and 26 assists in 48 games as a 16-year-old. He made his pre-season debut during the recent matchup against the Otters.

Looking Ahead

The Knights and Otters are set to clash again on Saturday, September 7, in St. Thomas, Ontario, at the Joe Thornton Community Centre. Coverage of the game will commence at 3:30 p.m. on 980 CFPL and the Radioplayer Canada app. Following this encounter, London will take on the Sarnia Sting in back-to-back pre-season games on September 20 in London and September 21 in Sarnia.

Source
globalnews.ca