London earns J Ross Robertson Cup with Game 7 win over Barrie
Today announced: London to host 2014 Memorial Cup
By Mark Schadenberg
LONDON -- Bo Horvat's goal with 0.1 seconds left in the third period lifted the London Knights to a 3-2 win over the Barrie Colts in the decisive Game 7 of the OHL final here on Monday.
London Knights are first back-to-back Ontario Hockey League champions since the Windsor Spitfires in 2009 and 2010.
Horvat, who also scored 7:13 into the contest to start the offence, finished the series with seven goals and four assists, and was named the winner of the 99 Trophy as playoff MVP as voted on by the media. Horvat had 16 goals and seven assists in 21 playoff contests.
With video review required for the 19:59 Horvat effort to confirm both the time remaining and whether the puck actually crossed the line, post-game London captain Scott Harrington said he gradually became confident of the outcome.
"The longer the time for the review went on, the better the chance I knew it would be a good goal," said Harrington, who is a Penguins prospect.
On the winner, Alex Broadhurst directed the puck toward the Barrie net and it came loose close to the crease for Horvat to slip it past Mathias Niederberger.
"I knew I had to get to the net and look for a rebound," said Horvat.
"It's unbelievable to win the 99 Trophy," Horvat continued. "I'm humbled to have my name going on that trophy with all the other great names. I certainly couldn't have done it without all the other guys in our room.
"You dream as a kid about scoring a goal like that in a Game 7."
Earlier, Andreas Athanasiou had scored mid-way through the first for Barrie to even it 1-1. The former Knight had one goal in each of six of seven games and on a powerplay had a yawning cage to fire the puck into after a terrific pass from Zach Hall. It would be Barrie's lone powerplay opportunity.
Olli Maatta's powerplay goal in the middle frame restored the London lead. The blueliner had left his point position, receiving a pass from Alex Broadhurst before beating Niederberger. The Knights were 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
London maintained its 2-1 advantage until Colts' Mitchell Theoret's 14th of the playoffs at 17:09 of the third created the electric finish in front of 9,046 at the Budweiser Gardens. The tension included a Barrie shot off the crossbar with just over two minutes remaining.
The Knights now join host Saskatoon Blades, WHL champion Portland Winterhawks and QMJHL winners Halifax Mooseheads at the Memorial Cup, which begins Friday with the Blades entertaining London in the tourney opener. Saskatoon has been idle since March 27, losing in the first round of the WHL playoffs.
Last year, the Knights lost in the Memorial Cup final in overtime, 2-1, to Shawinigan.
Theoret had one goal and one assist for Barrie as the Colts had led the best-of-seven 3-1 before losing 6-4, and then 5-4 in overtime to force the decisive seventh game. The Colts played without OHL playoff scoring champion Mark Scheifele (15+26=41), who was injured in Game 6 in Barrie.
Jake Patterson stopped 30 of 32 for London for his third post-season win in three consecutive starts. Anthony Stolarz had won London's first 13 in the playoffs.
Niederberger faced 48 shots, including Barrie trailing that stat 39-17 after two periods.
The Colts only OHL title was in 2000, when they outlasted Plymouth in seven games, clinching that year on the road.
LONDON -- Bo Horvat's goal with 0.1 seconds left in the third period lifted the London Knights to a 3-2 win over the Barrie Colts in the decisive Game 7 of the OHL final here on Monday.
London Knights are first back-to-back Ontario Hockey League champions since the Windsor Spitfires in 2009 and 2010.
Horvat, who also scored 7:13 into the contest to start the offence, finished the series with seven goals and four assists, and was named the winner of the 99 Trophy as playoff MVP as voted on by the media. Horvat had 16 goals and seven assists in 21 playoff contests.
With video review required for the 19:59 Horvat effort to confirm both the time remaining and whether the puck actually crossed the line, post-game London captain Scott Harrington said he gradually became confident of the outcome.
"The longer the time for the review went on, the better the chance I knew it would be a good goal," said Harrington, who is a Penguins prospect.
On the winner, Alex Broadhurst directed the puck toward the Barrie net and it came loose close to the crease for Horvat to slip it past Mathias Niederberger.
"I knew I had to get to the net and look for a rebound," said Horvat.
"It's unbelievable to win the 99 Trophy," Horvat continued. "I'm humbled to have my name going on that trophy with all the other great names. I certainly couldn't have done it without all the other guys in our room.
"You dream as a kid about scoring a goal like that in a Game 7."
Earlier, Andreas Athanasiou had scored mid-way through the first for Barrie to even it 1-1. The former Knight had one goal in each of six of seven games and on a powerplay had a yawning cage to fire the puck into after a terrific pass from Zach Hall. It would be Barrie's lone powerplay opportunity.
Olli Maatta's powerplay goal in the middle frame restored the London lead. The blueliner had left his point position, receiving a pass from Alex Broadhurst before beating Niederberger. The Knights were 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
London maintained its 2-1 advantage until Colts' Mitchell Theoret's 14th of the playoffs at 17:09 of the third created the electric finish in front of 9,046 at the Budweiser Gardens. The tension included a Barrie shot off the crossbar with just over two minutes remaining.
The Knights now join host Saskatoon Blades, WHL champion Portland Winterhawks and QMJHL winners Halifax Mooseheads at the Memorial Cup, which begins Friday with the Blades entertaining London in the tourney opener. Saskatoon has been idle since March 27, losing in the first round of the WHL playoffs.
Last year, the Knights lost in the Memorial Cup final in overtime, 2-1, to Shawinigan.
Theoret had one goal and one assist for Barrie as the Colts had led the best-of-seven 3-1 before losing 6-4, and then 5-4 in overtime to force the decisive seventh game. The Colts played without OHL playoff scoring champion Mark Scheifele (15+26=41), who was injured in Game 6 in Barrie.
Jake Patterson stopped 30 of 32 for London for his third post-season win in three consecutive starts. Anthony Stolarz had won London's first 13 in the playoffs.
Niederberger faced 48 shots, including Barrie trailing that stat 39-17 after two periods.
The Colts only OHL title was in 2000, when they outlasted Plymouth in seven games, clinching that year on the road.
Written By: Mark Schadenberg for The Canadian Press.
Picture: Myself and J Ross Robertson Cup
2014 Memorial Cup:
At the Budweiser Gardens on Tuesday morning it was officially announced by CHL president and OHL commissioner David Branch that the London Knights would be hosting the 2014 Memorial Cup tournament.
The Knights had been vying to host the event after presentations to a selection committee, against bids from the Barrie Colts and Windsor Spitfires.
The Knights hosted the Memorial Cup in 2005, wining the CHL championship in a finals win over Rimouski, which featured Sidney Crosby.
The London squad was potent that year partly due to the NHL lockout and included Corey Perry (130 points in regular season and then 38 more in 18 playoff games), Dylan Hunter (current Knights assistant coach), Danny Syvret, Dave Bolland, Ron Schremp, Brandon Prust, Marc Methot, Dan Girardi and Dan Fritsche.
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