Knights Improve to 2-0 at the 2024 Memorial Cup on Monday

Published on May 28, 2024 under Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release

SAGINAW, MI - Last night, the London Knights collected their second win at the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow after a 5-4 victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors in Saginaw, Michigan. The win assures the Knights a spot in Friday's semi-final, while the Warriors will be fighting for their tournament lives later today (at 7:30 p.m. ET) against the Drummondville Voltigeurs.

Ruslan Gazizov (1G), Sam Dickinson (1G), Sam O'Reilly (1G), Landon Sim (1G), and Kasper Halttunen (1G) scored for London while Michael Simpson collected his second straight win after a 26-save performance.

"Obviously it's new going against two teams we've never played," Dickinson said. "It's been different but you have to jump right into it right away with such a quick tournament so to get those two games out of the way and have two wins is nothing to complain about."

Ethan Sememiuk (2G) had a pair of goals for Moose Jaw while Denton Mateychuk (1G) also found the back of the net. Jackson Unger turned away 23 shots in defeat.

Mateychuk gave Moose Jaw the perfect start 3:39 in as he ripped a wrister from the low slot for his first of the tournament but the Knights rebounded with a pair to close out the opening frame.

Gazizov buried his tournament-leading third goal at 11:58 as he converted Jacob Julien's backhand pass before Dickinson patiently outwaited Jagger Firkus (1A) to create a shooting lane to beat Unger at 17:50.

Semeniuk's first of the night leveled the scores 7:01 into the second before London struck three times to take a 5-2 lead. O'Reilly, the 24th-ranked North American skater in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft, put his name into consideration for the goal of the tournament as he deked around Cosmo Wilson before beating Unger in-tight at 9:02.

"I think we knew as a line we needed to do something and that switched the momentum back our way," O'Reilly said."

Sim scored at 12:47 as he finished off an odd-man rush seconds after a Knights penalty expired before Halttunen blasted home a one-timer on the power play at 16:14 for his second of the Memorial Cup.

However, Semeniuk got one back for the Warriors just six seconds later as he scored from centre ice after the puck bounced over Simpson's glove.

Martin Rysavy (1G) cut the deficit to 5-4 with 3:45 to play as he poked home a loose puck with Unger pulled but the Warriors couldn't find the game-tying goal in the closing stages.

"Two wins are nice but at the end of the day our goal is to win this tournament and that's our focus," O'Reilly said.

For the fourth time since 1972, two OHL clubs (London Knights & Saginaw Spirit) have started the Memorial Cup tournament with a 2-0 record. The most recent example took place in 2017, while the other occurrences were in 1990 and 1984. By winning on Monday, the Knights also extended their active winning streak at the Memorial Cup to six games, placing them in a tie with the Medicine Hat Tigers (1987-88) for the third-longest winning streak in Memorial Cup history.

London will face Saginaw tomorrow where the winner will advance to the final of the 2024 Memorial Cup presented by Dow. Meanwhile, Moose Jaw will meet Drummondville today at 7:30 p.m. ET where the victor will secure a berth in Friday's semi-final.

"We know each other well and two good teams are going to battle," Knights head coach Dale Hunter said of Wednesday's contest with Saginaw.

Last night's result also ensures that Thursday's tie-breaker game will not be played.

Upcoming Games

Today @ 7:30 ET - Drummondville Voltigeurs vs. Moose Jaw Warriors (TSN1/3, RDS et NHL Network)

Wednesday, May 29 @ 7:30 p.m. ET - Saginaw Spirit vs. London Knights (TSN1, RDS2 & NHL Network)

Friday, May 31 @ 7:30 p.m. ET - Semi-Final (TSN 1/3, RDS2 & NHL Network)

London Knights goaltender Michael Simpson and defenceman Oliver Bonk

Ontario Hockey League Stories from May 28, 2024

• CHL Announces Disciplinary Action at the 2024 Memorial Cup - London Knights
• Three Rangers Named to 2023-24 OHL All-Star and All-Rookie Teams - Kitchener Rangers
• Jake O'Brien Named to OHL First All-Rookie Team - Brantford Bulldogs
• Cameron Named to OHL Second All-Rookie Team - Peterborough Petes
• OHL Announces 2023-24 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams - OHL
• Matthew Schaefer Named to OHL's All-Rookie First Team - Erie Otters
• Knights Improve to 2-0 at the 2024 Memorial Cup on Monday - OHL

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.