In the second matchup of the opening phase of the 2024 Memorial Cup, we had the OHL champions (fifth time ever, first since 2016) pitted against the reigning kings of the QMJHL (second time ever, first in 2009). Drummondville came into this game not having trailed once against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar (who captured the Jean Rougeau Trophy in 2023-24 as the regular season champions) and having looked very impenetrable in defense for quite some time, backstopped well by G Riley Mercer. The QMJHL, while often regarded as the weakest league of the CHL’s three constituent parts, has had its representatives at the Memorial Cup win each of the last four tournaments (2018 – Acadie-Bathurst Titan; 2019 – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies; 2022 – Saint John Sea Dogs; 2023 – Quebec Remparts: 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic). This Voltigeurs squad also includes members of last year’s Quebec squad and therefore know what it takes to win on the grandest stage, including blueliner Vsevolod Komarov (Buffalo Sabres), who had a very decorated season and was a huge part of Drummondville’s success this year. Therefore, while this is yet another impressive manifestation of the Hunter/McRae/Hunter dynasty (perhaps the best since the 2016 Memorial Cup champions, considering the depth of the roster and their ease in navigating the OHL playoffs), the London Knights would have to not take their opponents lightly.

In the early phases, it appeared as though the competition would be very intense and a challenge would be presented by the QMJHL champs. The Voltigeurs played watertight defense and prevented London from creating significant penetration. However, their game was also very undisciplined in the first period (first exemplified within less than a minute as Drummondville LW/Philadelphia Flyers prospect Alexis Gendron and London C/RW/2024 Draft eligible prospect Sam O’Reilly going to the box for matching unsportsmanlike conduct calls due to pleasantries exchanged before a faceoff) and sent London to the power play often. The first power play granted to the Knights came when C/LW Max McCue (Columbus Blue Jackets) was cross-checked in the back by D Mikael Diotte (New Jersey Devils). The first couple of possessions saw Drummondville resist the fearsome London power play and prevent them from even so much as registering any shots on goal. However, London would persist and ultimately, RW Ruslan Gazizov (2024 Draft eligible) would be the beneficiary of their excellent cycle play, scoring shortly after the power play ended but very much clearly part of the same sequence. Defensemen Sam Dickinson (2024 Draft eligible) and Jackson Edward (Boston Bruins) would be credited with the assists. The Knights would subsequently have a lot more confidence with the puck and apply more pressure in subsequent possessions; however, the game would settle back into the status quo a bit for a while. That would change when D Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia Flyers) scored a goal on a terrific one-timer inside the circle on his weak-handed side on a feed from C Jacob Julien (Winnipeg Jets), with McCue getting credit for the secondary apple. The game would further see some development when a fracas ensued upon London G Michael Simpson tying up the puck that put the Knights on the power play, with it subsequently turning into a 5v3 when LW Kassim Gaudet (ex-Rempart) was called for a board on Julien. The Voltigeurs would kill it off and get a power play of their own when Edward was called for a cross-check with just under two minutes remaining, but it did not turn into anything and it would be killed off in the first few seconds of the middle stanza. In respect to the first period, the Knights led in shots, 10-9.

The second period would be defined by some breakaway opportunities for both sides, but did not yield anything in the way of scoring and the teams often found themselves in a stalemate. In the earliest phases, Drummondville broke through almost immediately for a grade A chance, but were denied, and London responded by increasing the physical intensity. London had at least one breakaway opportunity that appeared to be their best chance to increase their lead, but it was negated by a too many men penalty. Drummondville did not do anything on the power play and seemed generally to have difficulty in creating on the man advantage. This was also the case when O’Reilly went to the box for roughing, a man advantage on which Drummondville managed just two SOGs. Drummondville’s discipline did improve, as they only went to the box once, as D Marc Olivier-Beaudry was called for a slash, and their PK rose to the occasion this time. Mercer and Simpson were both challenged a fair bit (with Simpson facing a few threatening shots even though his team did well to take away passing lanes and block shot attempts as the Knights played a somewhat conservative game at times), but both goaltenders made all the saves necessary. Ultimately, there was no scoring in the middle frame, with Drummondville leading in SOGs, 12-7 but neither team looking decidedly better than the other.

In the third period, the Knights made a mark almost immediately, as they scored once twenty seconds in as Gazizov was in the perfect spot to score on the backhander at the netfront after a faceoff, with Julien tallying an assist. Just two minutes and seven seconds later, Bonk unleashed a phenomenal point shot which struck the stick blade of C/RW Landon Sim, the arm of RW Kasper Halttunen (San Jose Sharks) and fluttered into the net, with Mercer having absolutely no chance. The rest of regulation time, London looked mostly like the more confident and in control team, but Drummondville did have their chances and out-shot London 10-5 (bringing them to have the 31-22 advantage on the day), particularly on their most effective power play of the game as C/LW Denver Barkey (Philadelphia Flyers) was in the box for goaltender interference on Mercer. During this sequence, the Voltigeurs got a pretty significant number of shots off and McCue effectively saved Simpson’s shutout by just being on time to remove the puck from the goal line and get it trapped under Simpson’s glove. The game largely proceeded without much intrigue from there, as the Knights prevailed 4-0. Bonk would be awarded Player of the Game for his 1g-1a, +3 statline. London’s entire defensive unit contributed to this win, as I was particularly impressed by Dickinson’s play with the puck from the back-end and the prowess exhibited by Isaiah George (New York Islanders) in blocking shots and taking away space in front of Simpson (who also did well in the crease and his 31 saves are not just entirely fluff, to be fair). However, I can definitely get behind Bonk having earned this accolade (though I acknowledge my personal bias plays a part) as he had just such a big hand in some of the most important plays of the game.

Tomorrow night, the Voltigeurs play the second half of their back-to-back, going up against Saginaw. This might end up being a backbreaker for them, as they will have to face another challenge from a talented OHL squad without much rest (though they do have more than 24 hours). It will not surprise me if they are defeated yet again and their Memorial Cup dream ultimately has to come up short. However, their zone defense did play well at significant stretches despite the final scoreline and they did prove capable of generating chances despite their strong opposition at some junctures. They did not go down quietly tonight and will likely provide some competition for the Spirit. Head coach Sylvain Favreau says he wants to see some more aggression in the forechecking and better support on it (a key part of their success during the postseason) and better usage of rebound opportunities, and if they get that, they might have a solid chance.