Montgomery & Knights advance to the OHL Western Championship
IslandStats.com
Blake Montgomery and his London Knights teammates got to celebrate twice in Game 4 of their Western Conference semi-final series against the Erie Otters as Sam O’Reilly’s goal at 6:49 of OT gave London a 4-3 victory and a 4-0 win in the series.
London appeared to score an overtime winner just 2:32 into overtime when Kasper Halttunen fired a puck into the Erie net but after a long review it was ruled that the play was offside and the game continued.
Easton Cowan got deep into the Otters zone just over four minutes later and passed the puck in front through a defender where O’Reilly put it home to complete a second consecutive four-game sweep.
That goal went through another review as the Otters challenged for goaltender interference but after a much shorter review the goal stood and brought an end to the game and the series.
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Frontier and BDA Spirits Battle in Seven-Goal Thriller
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Frontier 5 BDA Spirits 2
The PCC Hockey Rink was the scene of a hard-fought Bermuda Ball Hockey clash between Frontier and BDA Spirits, with a total of seven goals scored in the contest.
BDA Spirits drew first blood, taking a 1-0 lead in the first period courtesy of a goal from Andrew Bonner. However, Frontier responded strongly, quickly turning the game around with two consecutive goals from Tom Duggan. This put Frontier ahead 2-1.
Duggan completed his hat-trick in the second period, scoring the only goal of the frame and extending Frontier's lead to 3-1.
Frontier further increased their advantage in the third period, with Chris Jackson finding the net to make it 4-1. BDA Spirits managed to pull one goal back through a strike from Jeff Loper, but John Duda quickly restored Frontier's three-goal cushion, sealing the final score at 5-2.
The match provided a compelling display of ball hockey action, with both teams demonstrating attacking intent and defensive resilience. Frontier's offensive efficiency, particularly Duggan's hat-trick, proved to be the decisive factor in their victory.
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Montgomery & Knights Take 3 -0 Series Lead
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Three goals in a span of 31.3 seconds and 23 saves from Austin Elliott led Blake Montgomery and his London Knights teammates to a 4-0 shutout victory over the Erie Otters in Game 3 of their second round play-off series.
London now leads the best-of-seven series three games to none heading into Game 4 on Thursday, Apr. 17 at the Erie Insurance Arena. The Knights were 46.3 seconds away from their first scoreless period of the playoffs when Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan drove the net off the right wing and backhanded a puck behind Charlie Burns to make it 1-0. Just 14.2 seconds later Landon Sim deflected a Sam Dickinson shot into the Erie net for a 2-0 Knights lead and London was not done there.
With 15.3 seconds left, Jacob Julien wristed home his own rebound and the Knights led 3-0 through 20 minutes.
The goals came a total of 31.3 seconds apart.
Kasper Halttunen wired his fourth goal of the playoffs off the glove of Burns and in at the 11:29 mark of the second period on a London power play and the Knights going into the third period.
The Knights held the Otters off from there as they limited Erie to just six shots on goal over the final 20 minutes.
Monday, April 14, 2025
Appleby Snatch Late Win to Take Playoff Series Lead
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ACT 3 Appleby 4
The Bermuda Ball Hockey Winter League playoffs got underway at the PCC Hockey Rink, with Appleby securing a dramatic come-from-behind victory over ACT in the opening match. Appleby's 4-3 win gives them an early lead in the series.
The game was a tense and closely contested affair, with both teams battling hard for every goal.
ACT drew first blood in the first period, with Adam Mattatall putting them ahead 1-0. However, Appleby quickly responded, leveling the score at 1-1 through a goal from Chris Merritt.
The second period saw the lead change hands. Appleby took the lead for the first time, with Merritt scoring his second goal. However, ACT showed their fighting spirit, scoring twice through Chris Cairns and Theo Caimassidis to regain a 3-2 advantage.
The third period provided the decisive drama. Merritt completed his hat-trick, bringing Appleby level at 3-3. Then, Nathan Ische scored the crucial winning goal for Appleby, securing the 4-3 victory and giving his team the series lead.
Appleby's ability to come from behind, particularly with Merritt's hat-trick, was key to their success. The result sets the stage for a potentially exciting and closely fought playoff series.
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Montgomery & Knights Continue Dominance Over Erie
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Following their strong start in the opening game, Blake Montgomery and his London Knights teammates continued their impressive form, securing a decisive 7-2 victory over the Erie Otters in Game 2 of their Ontario Hockey League (OHL) playoff series at Canada Life Place.
The Knights once again established an early lead, mirroring their performance in Game 1 and demonstrating their offensive strength. This time, however, the Knights' scoring spree also contributed to a change in Erie's goaltending.
After Erie's Sam Alfano opened the scoring on the power play, London responded emphatically with four unanswered goals. The Knights' scorers during this crucial run were William Nicholl, Denver Barkey, Landon Sim, and Blake Montgomery. All four goals were scored against Erie's starting goaltender, Noah Erliden.
Erliden's time in net came to an unexpected end late in the second period. His departure was attributed to an issue with his goalie mask, rather than the Knights' offensive pressure. Charlie Burns took over in net for Erie, making his OHL postseason debut.
Despite the change in netminders, Erie coach Kris Mallette opted to send Burns back out for the third period, with London leading 5-2. Ultimately, Burns conceded three more goals, including two from Easton Cowan, as London extended their lead.
The Knights' dominant performance in this second game further solidifies their strong position in the series. Montgomery and his teammates will aim to maintain this momentum as they progress through the OHL playoffs.
