Our first OHL game of the Friday Night Hockey schedule pits the Windsor Spitfires against the London Knights in a fierce Western Conference rivalry.
London Knights
The Knights made three straight trips to the MasterCard Memorial Cup from 2012 to 2014 and came away empty-handed every time. After a second-round exit in the playoffs last season, it looks like the Knights are a legit threat to get to the big dance once again.
Who can forget Windsor’s back-to-back Memorial Cups wins in 2009 and 2010? The Spits gave it another good run in the 2011 playoffs before bowing out to the eventual OHL champion Owen Sound. It’s been a tough road to hoe since then for the Spitfires, who have failed to make the post-season twice and suffered first-round exits twice. League sanctions, including a big fine and the loss of draft picks, have forced Windsor to be patient in its rebuild.
Under the Hunters’ ownership, the Knights have almost always chosen to reload rather than rebuild. This year is no different, thanks to the additions of Americans Matthew Tkachuk, Max Jones, Kole Sherwood and J.J. Piccinich, along with Finnish defenceman Olli Juolevi. Tkachuk, Jones and Juolevi are all expected to go in the first round of the 2016 NHL draft.
When you add them to returnees Mitch Marner, Christian Dvorak and Victor Mete, you have the highest scoring team in the CHL by almost a full goal per game. The Knights’ power play is a league-leading 31.3 per cent and has accounted for 32 per cent of London’s 128 goals.
The Knights are also dynamic defensively, with the great skating duo of Mete and Juolevi, who have combined for 36 points. London has size on the back as well, with the likes of six-foot-seven Chris Martenet, six-foot-four Nicolas Mattinen and three others at six-foot-two.
London has the puck considerably more than its opponent but when that’s not the case netminder Tyler Parsons has been steady, allowing four or more goals just twice in his last 14 starts. To serve as a mentor and backup, the Knights picked up overager Brendan Burke, who was waived out of the WHL and landed with Guelph before being acquired by London.
NHL Drafted/Signed Players
Mitch Marner (TOR, 4th, 2015)
Christian Dvorak (ARI, 58th, 2014)
J.J. Piccinich (TOR, 104th, 2014)
Chris Martenet (DAL, 103rd, 2014)
Chandler Yakimowicz (STL, 172nd, 2014)
Kole Sherwood (CLB, FA)
NHL Central Scouting
PTW A
Matthew Tkachuk
Max Jones
Olli Juolevi
PTW B
Victor Mete
Tyler Parsons
PTW C
Brandon Crawley
Cliff Pu
Nicholas Mattinen
Emanuel Vella
Under the Radar
Chris Martenet draws all the top defensive assignments and has only been in the red three times in 24 games played.
Windsor Spitfires
Windsor is right near the top of its rebuilding cycle — don’t be surprised when you see the franchise bid for the 2017 Memorial Cup. The blueprint is not all that different from London’s in that GM Warren Rychel has made shrewd trades, drafted well and has attracted top-end American and import talent.
Up front, projected first-rounder Logan Brown is surrounded by veterans Bradley Latour, Hayden McCool and Cristiano DiGiacinto, who is currently suspended. The Spitfires have been pleasantly surprised with the play of Aaron Luchuk and rookies Cole Carter and Gabe Vilardi, who is a star in the making.
On the back end, Mikhail Sergachev is another projected first-round pick. Jalen Chatfield can get up and go with the best of them, while Logan Stanley is in the midst of a meteoric rise in draft rankings. Getting Patrick Sanvido back into the lineup should not only help Windsor defend, but give Sergachev and Chatfield more free-wheeling ability.
Not since Zachary Fucale broke into the QMJHL with Halifax as a 16-year-old has a goalie made as much noise as Spitfires rookie Michael DiPietro. He dazzled everyone at Hockey Canada’s POE camp in August, and his regular season numbers to date with Windsor are equally awe-inspiring. Similar to a young Fucale, DiPietro’s skill is only overshadowed by his character and personality. Windsor is taking a cautious approach with him by splitting his minutes with overager Garret Hughson.
The most notable difference for Windsor this season is behind the bench, where it has broken out of the Windsor mould. Head coach Rocky Thompson was hired as a result of a presentation he made during a coaches conference at the 2015 NHL draft. Not long after Windsor owners Bob Boughner and Rychel met with Thompson and were so impressed he was hired almost immediately. Windsor received an added bonus in associate coach Trevor Letowski, who was let go after the ownership change in Sarnia.
Under Thompson, the Spits play an up-tempo, puck-pressure style of game that players have really latched on to. Turnovers and transition are two key words in the Thompson lexicon. Windsor utilizes its size and speed well and contact is commonplace.
NHL Drafted/Signed Players
Christian Fischer (ARI, 32nd, 2015)
Cristiano DiGiacinto (TB, 170th, 2014)
Markus Soberg (CLB, 165th, 2013)
Patrick Sanvido (DAL, 195th, 2014)
NHL Central Scouting
PTW A
Logan Brown
Mikhail Sergachev
PTW B
Logan Stanley
PTW C
Cole Carter
Luke Kirwan
Under the Radar
Twenty-three of Aaron Luchuk’s 25 points have come at even strength or when a man down and his shooting percentage is running at a 19 percent clip.
