Knights win 2nd OHL title

London to compete for Memorial Cup

Story I wrote for The Canadian Press after last night's London championship.
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LONDON -- After beating the IceDogs to become top dog in the OHL, the London Knights next opponents are the SeaDogs.
London is the 2011-12 Ontario Hockey League champions, edging the Niagara IceDogs 2-1 Friday at the John Labatt Centre, winning the best-of-seven final 4-1.
The Knights claim their first J Ross Robertson Cup since 2005 and just its second in franchise history, and will begin play May 18 in the Memorial Cup round robin in Shawinigan, Que, versus the defending CHL champion, and current QMJHL champion Saint John SeaDogs. London won the Memorial Cup in 2005 when it hosted the tourney.
"With such a young group of players, we didn't think we would win this early -- this year," said an elated Mark Hunter, who wears several hats -- head coach, general manager and vice president of the London Knights. "We also knew though that we had the right players in the mix like (Jarred) Tinordi, Harry (Scott Harrington), Seth Griffith, Vladdy (Vladislav Namestnikov), and of course (goalie) Michael Houser.
"I'm very proud of all my players. After I took over, the players seemed to really buy into what I was teaching," said Mark Hunter, who on Nov 28 assumed the head coaching duties when brother Dale Hunter was hired as head coach of the Washington Capitals. London had 20 wins in 26 starts at the time, and ended up 49-18-1, so were 29-13 with Mark Hunter at the helm.
Younger ('94 and '95) players referred to for the Knights include Ryan Rupert with four goals in the five-game finals, plus Max Domi, Chris Tierney and defenceman Olli Maatta who was tied for first on the club in scoring in the post-season with six goals and 23 points.
After a scoreless first period in the decisive game, London's Austin Watson slipped the puck past IceDogs' goalie Mark Visentin in a scramble in the crease. The play was rather innocently set up by Scott Harrington taken a shot from an impossible angle, but Visentin was unable to locate the puck on the blue paint.
London went up 2-0 at 1:48 into the third as Seth Griffith buried a pass from Vladislav Namesnikov on a 2-on-1. For both Griffith and Watson it was their 10th of the post-season. For Watson, who had previously won an OHL title in 2009 with Windsor, used the goal to help him earn the playoff most valuable player trophy, the 99 Award, named after Wayne Gretzky.
The lone Niagara goal was by Tom Kuhnhackl 7:53 into the third period.
Niagara would outshot the Knights 27-22 on the contest, but were 0-for-4 on the powerplay including an inability to beat Houser during a pivotal four-minute advantage when it was still scoreless early in the second. The double minor had been assessed to Knights' defenceman Jarred Tinordi.
Houser would stop 26 of 27 pucks for London, who were 0-for-3 on the powerplay.
OHL commissioner David Branch pointed out to the loud arena that London won 16 of 19 playoff games.
In the series, Niagara won the opener 3-2 in double overtime and led Game 2 at one point 2-0 before London took control, skating to a 5-3 victory
Proud of winning the playoff MVP, Watson described his elation, saying the Knights are a team that had its doubters.
"The biggest thing is winning the OHL championship. We worked so hard for an entire year and grew together so much after the trade deadline," said Watson, who had 10 goals and seven assists in the playoffs.
"Bringing the OHL championship to London is awesome.
"We have to give Niagara credit, they never quit," continued Watson. "Even going down 3-1 in the series Niagara gave us a tough tough game."
Captain Tinordi said the bench stayed composed down the stretch in maintaining its late lead.
"We're confident in our team, we're confident in Houser and we were confident in all our guys playing the right way and staying with the game plan."
The Memorial Cup will also include host Shawinigan and the WHL champions, either Portland or Edmonton.
"The ultimate goal is to win the Memorial Cup," said Harrington. "We were always confident in our capabilities and everyone (on our team) came to play every night."
For Niagara, it was a club with 12 NHL drafted players and after a slow start of just three wins in 10 starts to begin the season, entered the playoffs with 44 wins in its final 58 games. Coach Marty Williamson also lost in the 2010 finals as head coach of the Barrie Colts.