The incumbent OHL champion London Knights and WHL champion Moose Jaw Warriors entered tonight with different aspirations. The Knights were seeking to cement themselves in the top spot of the ladder for the round robin, while the Warriors were seeking to bounce back after losing to the host Saginaw Spirit to avoid being in a must-win situation in their final game against the Drummondville Voltigeurs. The first period saw a pretty frightening moment very fast for London, as C/RW Jagger Firkus (Seattle Kraken) had a quick opportunity just thirty seconds in, but G Michael Simpson made a clutch stop against the CHL’s leading point scorer. Moose Jaw did look more in control in the opening minutes and this turned into a goal at 3:39 by D/captain Denton Mateychuk (Columbus Blue Jackets) that was such a remarkably hard shot that it had to be intensively reviewed to verify that it actually crossed the line. The assists were credited to C/RW Atley Calvert and D Cosmo Wilson. In the ensuing several minutes, London would quickly thereafter get a power play on a roughing call on C Ethan Semeniuk for an after the whistle/save by Moose Jaw G Jackson Unger hit to the face on London LW Landon Sim (St. Louis Blues). However, it would almost immediately be negated by a check to the head minor call on RW Kasper Halttunen (San Jose Sharks) committed on C/LW Matthew Savoie (Buffalo Sabres), though nothing would come of the ensuing 4v4. The Knights seemed to have difficulty sustaining pressure and creating dangerous looks, outshooting Moose Jaw but having a lot of nothing burgers and one-and-dones. However, a strong forecheck turned into a goal set up from behind the net by C Jacob Julien (Winnipeg Jets) and finished by RW Ruslan Gazizov (2024 Draft eligible) at 11:58. The most intriguing save of the period occurred when Michael Simpson stopped one with the handle of his stick blade in the most “no look” manner possible, leading to D Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia Flyers) subsequently clearing it from the crease. Before the period came to a close, D Sam Dickinson (2024 Draft eligible) ripped a wicked wrister past Jackson Unger, with assists credited to C/LW Denver Barkey (Philadelphia Flyers) and Bonk to make it 2-1 London. Despite a tough start, London looked like the better team overall in the opening stanza, and led in shots 12-9 in addition to their advantage on the scoreboard.

In the second period, London began the proceedings by controlling the pace of gameplay and looking solid when playing off the rush, but did not score. Eventually, Moose Jaw would get a very good possession where they hemmed London in their own zone and got a fair number of shot attempts off. Eventually, D Aiden Ziprick would take a solid shot that turned into a great rebound opportunity that Semeniuk would score on despite Simpson’s best efforts to dive back to the other side of the net, tying the game at 2 at the 7:02 mark. Just 2 minutes and 1 second later, however, London would have some phenomenal puck movement that concluded with C Sam O’Reilly (2024 Draft eligible) pulling off a phenomenal dangle and scoring, with assists credited to RW/LW Max McCue (Columbus Blue Jackets) and C/LW Easton Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs). Cowan would get called for interference one minute and forty-three seconds later, but this was not a deterrent for London, as they looked like the stronger team despite being a man down, which was on brand for a team that was so good at scoring shorthanded goals during the season. Just two seconds after Cowan’s penalty ended, LW Landon Sim (St. Louis Blues) would tally a goal on a terrific rush play, assisted by O’Reilly and D Jackson Edward (Boston Bruins). London would make it 5-2 after Barkey drew a tripping call on RW Rilen Kovacevic, as Halttunen unleashed a terrific, trademark one-timer after a cross-ice pass from Cowan that Unger had no chance on. Barkey would be credited with a secondary apple on the goal. The ensuing faceoff was not thrilling for the Knights, as Simpson would surrender a soft goal on a shot from the neutral zone from Semeniuk after Kovacevic scooped up the puck, therefore having an answer for the power play goal that came on Kovacevic’s penalty in a matter of six seconds. In an attempt to catalyze the continued comeback efforts by Moose Jaw, D Kalem Parker (Minnesota Wild) engaged in fisticuffs with McCue (who continues to have a very entertaining postseason) but would come out on seemingly the losing end. After this unexpected bout at the 17:30 mark, C/RW Kaleb Lawrence (Los Angeles Kings) would be called for roughing at 18:16, giving the Warriors a power play with just under two minutes remaining in the middle frame. However, they were not able to capitalize. The Knights went into the dressing room at the second intermission with a 5-3 edge on the scoreboard, after having also led in shots, 12-11, in the second stanza.

The third period was defined by quick exchanges of rush plays and strong possessions in the early goings, with London perhaps having more of them though both teams impressing. In one instance, Halttunen sauced a backhand pass across almost the entire neutral zone, landing on Sim’s stickblade and leading to Sim taking a solid backhand shot attempt, but being denied by Unger. Moose Jaw would have a great chance wherein Savoie had a great look and some zip on his release, but struck the post. In another instance, Cowan had most likely the best look of the tournament for what would have been his first Memorial Cup goal, but Unger stonewalled the double MVP. In the long run, Moose Jaw head coach Mark O’Leary would pull Unger for the extra attacker with a handful of minutes left. What would ultimately transpire was that things got busy in front of the net and LW Martin Rysavy (drafted by Columbus Blue Jackets in 2021, left unsigned) would work it in, with Firkus being credited for the apple. Unger would not be able to be pulled for the next several minutes, as the Warriors were unable to keep the puck away from their own zone long enough for it to be a feasible option. With little time left, they did eventually get the puck out and get Unger back out, but what largely transpired was the Knights neutralizing the Warriors every time in their own zone. They iced the puck a couple of times, but the Warriors were not able to do anything with the offensive zone draws. Ultimately, the Knights would get the puck in the Warriors zone late and did not get a good look at the empty net, but were able to kill the clock and win the game, 5-4. O’Reilly earned Player of the Game honors for his 1g-1a performance.

With this result, the stakes are incredibly high for the fifth game of the round robin tomorrow between Moose Jaw and Drummondville. Taking place between two winless teams, it serves as the de facto tiebreaker. The winner will be sent through to the semifinals and the defeated team will be sent home. London, meanwhile, will face off with OHL colleagues/tournament hosts Saginaw to determine who has the automatic final berth in round robin game 6. It should be fun to see where the chips land in the high stakes final two games of the opening rounds before we get to the process of finally determining the champions of the CHL.