Knights vs 67s - OHL Championship

[go_leafs_go02]

Well, the OHL west and east champs have been decided, and the London Knights play the Ottawa 67s in the OHL Final.

Who will win? and this should be a great series.

go knights!

[leaferfan87]

The 67's have gone on an incredibe playoff run, there is no denying that but I think that this is where they run into a wall against the Knights. I say the Knights win the series in six games.

[scorpionn]

This should be a good series, I can't wait.

The Knights will come out on top, of course ;)

[Max Power]

67's won't roll over for good Knights
LONDON -- The Ottawa 67's bus rolled down Hwy 401 and exited at Wellington St., on the outskirts of London.

Decorated with the photos of past players like Dan Tessier and Joey Talbot hoisting championship trophies over their heads, the big vehicle pulled onto one of the streets near the team's hotel.

Then "it" happened.

A player looked out the window and observed: "Hey, look at that guy! He just gave us the finger!"

Yep, this city is keyed up for the beginning of the OHL final.

The underdog 67's and the London Knights start the best-of-seven championship series tonight at the John Labatt Centre.

There's been talk this final will be an exercise in futility because both teams are already in the Memorial Cup, which begins here on May 21.

But you'd never know it from the way this city is reacting, or from what the players have been saying.

A few cars in the downtown core displayed Knights flags from the driver's-side window. Businesses are displaying "Go Knights Go" messages on street-front marquees. And this series won't be a waste of time for the players.

"We're fortunate to have a spot in the Memorial Cup regardless of what happens in this series, but it's not going to take away from the way we play," said 67's captain Will Colbert. "We're looking for a league championship."

The 67's don't have much to lose.

Nobody expected them to get here, but now they're up against the team that everybody figures will be able to win the series blindfolded.

The pressure is on the Knights because they don't want to lose the championship after one of the finest seasons in junior hockey history.

London went 59-7-2 during the regular season, and set a major junior record for consecutive games without losing. They lost only once at home all year and are 12-1 during the playoffs.

Corey Perry, their leading scorer, was the league's MVP. Danny Syvret was the league's top defenceman.

"Corey Perry is the one fella that, if you don't watch him, he's going to find the open man time and time again," said 67's coach Brian Kilrea.

Bottom line is the Knights are expected to win, but the Ottawa players are not intimidated.

"I think I was nervous a while back, but now that it's getting to game time, I'm starting to get focused," said 16-year-old 67's rookie Jamie McGinn. "It's a big game and I'll be nervous, but that's good because that means I'm in the game."

The 67's haven't played since April 27. And they're itching to start things off tonight.

"We're feeling a little bit of everything right now because we've had such a long time off," said winger Chris Hulit, who leads the club with 10 playoff goals. "Now that we've had time to think about it, we're getting a little more nervous and a little more anxious for the game."

And so it begins.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/OttawaSun/Sports/2005/05/06/1028049-sun.html

[Madferret]

4-3 67's with about 16 left in the 3rd....


:thumb:

[Madferret]

The reffing is pretty daft....
BTW - Should be 5-3

:conspire:

[Madferret]

...and it is now 5-3 67's

:thumb:

[Madferret]

6-3 67's. Well this should serve those cocky Knights players and disrespecting Knights fan humble pie eh.

:thumb:

[Madferret]

Ottawa 6 London 3
*Series is tied 1-1

Well we're heading back to Bank Street for games 3 & 4. Tempers are getting hotter by the minute in this series...

:thumb:

[Madferret]

Back to Ottawa...

OHL: Ottawa downs Knights; tie series
Canadian Press
5/8/2005 4:59:34 PM

LONDON, Ont. (CP) - Mark Mancari scored two power-play goals as the Ottawa 67's beat the London Knights 6-3 on Sunday to tie the Ontario Hockey League championship series 1-1. The 67's scored four times in a six-minute span in the third period to earn a split of the first two games in London in the best-of-seven series.

Both teams have already punched their tickets for the Memorial Cup in May 21-29. The Knights are the host team of the Canadian Hockey League championship tournament, and by reaching the final opened the door for the other finalist, the 67's, to secure a berth. But the two teams are still playing for an OHL title and Game 3 is Tuesday in Ottawa. The Knights won 4-2 in Friday's Game 1.

Mancari's goals and Brad Bonello's short-handed effort sparked the four-goal run for Ottawa in front of a full house at the John Labatt Centre. Brad Staubitz, Jeremy Akeson and Lukas Kaspar also scored for the 67's. Ottawa goaltender Danny Battochio stopped 42 of 45 shots for the victory, while London counterpart Adam Dennis turned away 37 shots.

Defencemen Dan Syvret and Marc Methot and forward David Bolland replied for the Knights, who are trying to win the first OHL title in the franchise's 40-year history. Bonello's shot found the corner of the net behind Dennis for a short-handed goal at 1:22 of the third period. Akeson had a goal waived off about a minute later because it crossed the line after the whistle was blown, but the Knights began to fall apart in their own end and Kaspar scored at 3:06 for the go-ahead goal.

The Knights self-destructed at that point as OHL MVP Corey Perry received a four-minute penalty for high-sticking. Mancari scored his second power-play goal of the game at 5:10. Dennis took a roughing penalty at 5:31 and Staubitz converted the man advantage at 6:39. Ottawa finished the game with a two-man advantage as London took a bench minor and Kelly Thompson served a charging penalty.

The 67's played a textbook road game for 30 minutes - scoring first and containing the Knights snipers in the defensive zone_ before London's formidable offence awoke. Syvret gave London a 3-2 lead heading into the third period with a goal at 14:07, less than three minutes after Methot tied the game 2-2. Akekson's sharp-angled shot gave Ottawa a 2-1 lead at 7:51 after Bolland had tied the game 32 seconds into the period with a shot through traffic.

London was one of only two teams in the CHL to score more than 300 goals during the regular season at 310. The Rimouski Oceanic scored 333 in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Mancari gave Ottawa its first lead of the series with a power-play goal at 5:03 of the first period. London forward Brandon Prust had taken took a four-minute penalty for checking from behind in his first shift after serving a three-game suspension. He had been disciplined for leaving his feet to deliver an open-ice hit that gave Kitchener Rangers defender Matt Lashoff a concussion in Game 3 of the Western Conference final.

Sidney Crosby and the Oceanic lead the Halifax Mooseheads 2-0 in the QMJHL championship series and Game 3 is Monday. In the Western Hockey League, the Memorial Cup defending champion Kelowna Rockets lead the Brandon Wheat Kings 2-0 and Game 3 is Tuesday.

Notes - Knights forward Josh Beaulieu is eligible to the lineup for Tuesday's game after serving a five-game suspension for cross-checking Kevin Henderson of the Kitchener Rangers in Game 2 of the Western Conference final series.

[J.R.]

Prepare for a lashing of excuses, Dev.

Great for the 67s! Great effort and pretty much a dominating performance out there. I've been saying it all season, the Knights are not untouchable. The Rangers played right beside them besides game three and now Ottawa is really pushing them. Hopefully they can now take this home ice advantage and skate with it.

[Madferret]

*lol*
It's already started....

Whining Knights on edge
Complaint forces 67's goalie to remove blade from skates
By BARRE CAMPBELL -- Ottawa Sun

The London Knights are looking for every edge they can get to beat the 67's in the Ontario Hockey League championship. Including the edge on Danny Battochio's goalie skates. The league contacted the 67's yesterday and ordered the removal of a so-called Overdrive blade from Battochio's skates, equipment the Ottawa goalie has used for seven years.

The 67's say the order came after a member of the Knights' training staff noticed an Ottawa counterpart making repairs to Battochio's skates before the second game of the OHL final on Sunday in London. Then the Knights, the 67's maintain, complained to the league.

Ted Baker, the league's director of hockey operations and its referee-in-chief, phoned the 67's yesterday morning to order the removal of the illegal equipment. Battochio arrived for practice in the afternoon and was surprised to learn of the adjustments. "It's not going to affect me at all," he said.

Overdrive blades, used by a handful of goalies in the OHL but many more in recreational hockey, are small pieces of steel that are attached to the bottom of each skate boot, below the inner forefoot. Each one acts as a backup blade and provides improved traction and mobility for goalies as their regular skate blades run parallel to the ice.

Butterfly-style goalies are especially partial to the blades because the small piece of steel allows them to push off the ice from their knees. This improves lateral movement, and also helps a goalie snap back to an upright position, even when the regular blade is not in contact with the ice.

Other goalies claim the blades prevent groin injuries because the extra steel provides improved traction and prevents a skate from sliding out quickly. The NHL banned the equipment in 2001 because goalies using the blades were seen to have an advantage over those not using them.

Former Senators goalie Patrick Lalime and Florida Panthers goalie Roberto Luongo used the Overdrive blades. Most amateur leagues, including the OHL, followed the NHL's lead.
Battochio said his Overdrive blades had become loose and needed to be tightened prior to Sunday's game in London. "Pucks hit them, and stuff," he said. "I guess (the Knights) filed a complaint."

Battochio added that he had the blades tightened against every other opponent during the playoffs -- Barrie, Sudbury and Peterborough -- but no complaints came from the other teams. Battochio spent part of yesterday's practice at the Civic Centre working with goalie coach Tom Dempsey and trying to get accustomed to using the adjusted equipment.

"I'm just getting used to it without them," said Battochio while shrugging his shoulders. "It feels normal. It doesn't matter to me."

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/Junior/2005/05/10/battochio_danny250.jpg

[Newfie John]

That equipment thing is nothing but stupid. I don't understand it. It's illegal because it give the advantage to the goalies who use it over the goalies who don't use it. If thats the criteria for the banning, lets ban the blocker too, because goalies who use the blocker have an advantage over the goaltenders who do not use it.

[Madferret]

Game 3 commences, 0-0 just underway....

:thumb:

[Madferret]

1-0 67's....Hulit with his 11th. What a laser...

:thumb:

[Madferret]

Check that...1-1

[Madferret]

2-1 Knights...

:curse:

[Madferret]

Man, we're just hanging on here. Batts is saving our hides...

[Madferret]

Bah....3-1 on another Knights PP.
We look shakey as all hell. 3 and a bit to go in the 1st, let's just re-focus...

[Madferret]

3-2...Talbot

:thumb:

[Madferret]

What a period. Killer will probably relay the message of shooting at mercy at Denis, he looks about as comfortable as an ostrich puting up a beach umbrella in the Knights nets. Fire at will boys! Ol' Moe is swinging in our direction again, and the score remains 3-2 Knights at the end of the 1st.

[Madferret]

Back and forth....4-3 Knights, Mancs just brought us back within 1.

:thumb:

[Madferret]

4-4
Stabby ties her up...

:thumb:

[Madferret]

4's at the end of 2. Should be a cracker of a 3rd...

http://www.artie.com/20030307/arg-firecracker-sm-url.gif

[Madferret]

5-4 Knights final. Great game to watch, a little loose technically by both teams I think. Knights lead series 2-1, Game 4 is an important one for the Barber Poles....

[Newfie John]

Game 4 is a must win for the 67's, IMO.

[Madferret]

67's need to wipe out jitters
By DON BRENNAN -- Ottawa Sun

Call it twisted logic, but the 67's may have actually made some progress by taking a step back in their OHL championship showdown with the London Knights. If they had even a shadow of doubt about their chances of prevailing in a best-of-seven series against the top-ranked junior team in Canada, it should be erased after losing Game 3 by just one goal Tuesday night.

"It was like we were nervous," assistant coach Bert O'Brien said yesterday of the 5-4 defeat, which leaves Ottawa trailing the final two games to one heading into this evening's (7 p.m.) crucial joust at the Civic Centre. "At times, we played like we did in January and February." For those who have only begun paying attention the past eight weeks or so, the 67's battled some serious inconsistency issues before a playoff run that has produced a 13-5 record to date, including the latest loss, which was their first on home ice in the post-season.

MENTAL ERRORS

"It was our worst game of the playoffs, for mental errors," overage centre Brad Bonello said upon reflection. "Things happen ... but we just weren't sharp." Coach Brian Kilrea, who made yesterday's practice optional to allow for his most used and bruised players a breather, said the 67's uncharacteristically threw the puck away Tuesday.

"We did not play as well defensively as we have lately," said Kilrea. "And we're not the type of team that can afford to have any players at less than their best." For defensive tips, the 67's need not look far. Skating with them most of the season has been locked-out NHL veteran Dan McGillis. Yesterday, the big blueliner Killer's boys call "Gilly" was spotted chatting with Bonello outside the dressing room and then later doing a little instructing on the ice.

"He said the same thing ... that he didn't think we played too good, and he suggested some modifications we can use on how to break out of the trap," said Bonello. "He had some ideas for us on how not to get caught up in too many odd-man rushes. "He said the Knights played a similar style as they do in the NHL, that their coach (Dale Hunter) is familiar with.

"It's playoff hockey, and they try to trap you until you break down then they capitalize on it." Meanwhile, it's unlikely the 67's will be getting the help of rookie winger Jamie McGinn, who was still favouring his sore shoulder at practice. "It would be risky and we don't want to rush him," said Kilrea. "The Memorial Cup is in 10 days, and he would have to be 100% before I'd even consider him."

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/Junior/2005/05/12/67s_practice250.jpg

[Madferret]

Game 4 Knights / 67's live

*1-0 Knights, 10 mins thru 1st...

[Madferret]

Boo-yah!
Bones for the Barber Poles....1-1!!

:thumb:

[Madferret]

Quick Knights goal by 67's killer Bolland early in the 2nd, 2-1 Knights....


:curse:

[Madferret]

Still 2-1 Knights, 'bout 2 mins left in the 2nd...

[Madferret]

2-1 Knights, end of 2nd. Defineatly alot more attention paid to defense in this one...


:thumb:

[Madferret]

3-1 Knights, man. Come on boys...

:curse:

[Madferret]

4-1 Knights.....

:curse:

[Madferret]

Well, 4-1 Knights. What can we 67's fans say? The Knights brought their A game, 67's brought their C game. The better team won tonight, plain and simple.

[J.R.]

Damn. Too bad.

:(

Gonna be real tough now going back to London.

[Madferret]

Yup. But, they didn't play like they should deserve any better this series Junes, aside from Game 2. 1, 3 & 4 of been sub-par in my books compared to the rest of the playoffs this year.

[Madferret]

Some London columnists are as cocky as their fans...

Ottawa praying for a miracle
By MORRIS DALLA COSTA -- London Free Press

You'll hear no one involved with the London Knights predict that it would take an act of God for the Ottawa 67's to win tonight. But there are enough people not associated with the team who believe just that -- that only an act of God will prevent the Knights from celebrating their first OHL championship. The Knights and 67's play Game 5 tonight at the John Labatt Centre. They lead the series 3-1. It's a much different situation than Sunday when the 67's left London with a split in the first two games and great expectations with the next two games in Ottawa's Civic Centre.

But the Knights shattered those hopes, winning both games on the road, the second convincingly. The look on the faces of the 67's told a story. And if you are an Ottawa fan, it wasn't a happy one. They looked like a beaten team. But the Knights remember Sunday when the 67's stung them badly, winning 6-3. They won't underestimate the 67's because acts of God do happen.

Many years ago, Leo Cahill was the coach of the Toronto Argonauts. The Argos were playing the Ottawa Roughriders in a two-game total-point Eastern Conference final to see who would go to the Grey Cup. The Argonauts won the first game 22-14 in Toronto, prompting Cahill to quip, "Only an act of God can beat us on Saturday." The act of God appeared in the form of Russ Jackson, a Canadian quarterback -- and the weather. The weather froze Frank Clair Stadium (which backs onto the Civic Centre) and the Argos had brought the wrong shoes. Jackson decimated the Argos 32-3. "Jackson was seen walking on the Rideau Canal," one columnist intoned.

Can Mark Mancari & Co. deliver that type of miracle?Can the situation be any more stacked against them? Look at the storyline. The Knights' primary goal since they were awarded the Memorial Cup was to win the OHL title, to go in the front door so that no one could claim the only reason they made it was because it was handed to them. They have that opportunity tonight. The Knights have had unprecedented support from their fans. They would love to reward them with a celebration and a skate around the JLC with the J. Ross Robertson trophy. They didn't skate around the ice when they won the Western Conference championship because, in their minds, they hadn't won anything.

They have that opportunity to win something tonight that merits more than a few trips around the ice. On a more practical level, the Knights would love to have an extra few days off before the Memorial Cup tournament. They don't want another trip back to Ottawa. Nor do they want to run the risk of extending this series. This city is a junior hockey city. Baseball has failed here repeatedly. As much as Western Mustangs football is recognized as an institution, it attracts nowhere near the interest of junior hockey.

Knights fans are a breed apart -- really apart some would say. After Thursday night's win in Ottawa, Barre Campbell of the Ottawa Sun watched as the Knights left the Civic Centre to a long line of fans who cheered every player and coach.

"Now that's impressive," he remarked. Danny Syvret agreed. "This is incredible," he said. "I don't know how many miles it is but they made what, a six-hour trip? There are at least (a hundred) that stuck around. It's amazing to see that." The motivation to kick off the celebration tonight will drive the Knights like no other time this season. What a celebration it will be.

As for an act of God, He'll probably sit this one out.

Gimme a break....

[J.R.]

Same old crap from the Free Press.

They've berated this same style all season. I have them bookmarked, just to get a laugh.

Also I still remember when they announced London would be hosting the Leafs' training camp, only to lose that duty (for lack of a better word) to Kitchener. :laughing:

[BURY]

Lodon will probably finish this one tonight but give credit to the 67's for winning at least one game against them and making it to the final while finishing 6th in their conference !