Wildcats advance to 2025 Memorial Cup semi-final after defeating Océanic

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Rimouski, QC – MAY 28: Round Robin game 6 of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Moncton Wildcats and the Rimouski Océanic on May 28, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/CHL)

RIMOUSKI, QC — The Moncton Wildcats clinched a spot in the 2025 Memorial Cup semi-finals with a commanding 6-2 win over the host Rimouski Océanic on Wednesday night.

Utah Hockey Club prospect Gabe Smith led the way with two goals, while Julius Sumpf, St. Louis Blues prospect Juraj Pekarcik, Calgary Flames prospect Étienne Morin, and Alex Mercier also found the back of the net. Goaltender Mathis Rousseau turned aside 32 shots in the victory. Rimouski responded with goals from Maël St-Denis and Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mathieu Cataford, with Mathis Langevin making 27 saves.

Holding a narrow 3-2 lead after two periods, the Wildcats pulled away with a dominant third. Morin delivered the key insurance marker just over four minutes in, ripping a low wrister from the top of the left circle to restore a two-goal cushion before Smith and Mercier sealed the win with a pair of empty-netters.

“(MacDougall) gave us a special talk in the room,” said Smith about the first-period intermission, which the Wildcats entered trailing the Océanic 2-1. “We got a little jump in our step after that and started playing our game.

“Coach is a very special motivator, and I think he did a great job of it there. We started playing our hockey after that.”

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
POST-GAME RIMOUSKI
POST-GAME MONCTON – GARDINER MACDOUGALL
POST-GAME MONCTON

The win sets up a semi-final clash against the OHL champion London Knights on Friday at 7 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. AT. The two teams previously met in the round-robin, where London narrowly defeated Moncton 3-2 in overtime.

Moncton opened the scoring at 7:39 of the first period when Julius Sumpf ended the team’s forward scoring drought. The German forward slipped behind the Rimouski defence and buried a crisp feed from Juraj Pekarcik, becoming the first Wildcats forward to score in the tournament.

Rimouski responded with a pair of goals in under four minutes to carry a 2-1 lead into the intermission. Maël St-Denis notched his second of the tournament by finishing a rebound on the backhand at 13:27, and Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mathieu Cataford struck at 17:11 with a well-timed redirection of Olivier Théberge’s cross-ice pass.

The second period swung in Moncton’s favour. NHL prospects Juraj Pekarcik and Gabe Smith each scored to put the Wildcats back on top. Pekarcik tipped in a point shot from Predators prospect Dylan MacKinnon just 1:27 into the frame, while Smith pounced on a bouncing puck off the end boards at 4:05 following a deflected shot by Preston Lounsbury.

“I had trouble to find words in the room, I just told them, ‘Thank you,”‘ shared Océanic head coach Joël Perrault about what he told his group post-game. “It’s a group that tied together quickly, and I’ll remember them for a long time, I’m disappointed for them tonight, our fans.

“Our fans saw their effort, their resilience, the injuries they fought through.”

When they face the Knights in Friday’s semi-final at 7 p.m. ET, the Wildcats will look to secure just their second trip to the Memorial Cup final and their first since 2006. As the only team in this year’s tournament yet to capture the trophy, Moncton is in pursuit of its first-ever CHL championship title.

Conversely, the London Knights are looking to become just the fifth team in the last 35 years to reach back-to-back Memorial Cup finals, joining an exclusive group last achieved by the Windsor Spitfires in 2009 and 2010. A victory on Friday would also mark London’s 18th all-time Memorial Cup tournament win, giving them sole possession of second place on the all-time wins list. Additionally, it would secure their fifth appearance in a Memorial Cup final since 1972 — moving them into second place all-time behind only the Kitchener Rangers and Peterborough Petes, who each have six.

The Medicine Hat Tigers will face the winner of Friday’s semi-final between the London Knights and Moncton Wildcats in Sunday’s championship game. The Tigers are making their first trip to the Memorial Cup final in 18 years after becoming the first WHL team to advance directly to the title game since the Kelowna Rockets accomplished the feat in 2009 — the last time the tournament was held in Rimouski. On Sunday, Medicine Hat will be looking to become the first WHL team to lift the Memorial Cup in 11 years.

Every game of the 2025 Memorial Cup will air on TSN and RDS in Canada and be available via live stream on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In addition to full coverage in Canada on TSN and RDS, the 2025 Memorial Cup will air in the United States on NHL Network and be available to stream live for free on Victory+ for viewers outside of Canada.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Semi-Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Friday, May 30 – Moncton Wildcats vs. London Knights
Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Saturday, June 1 – TBD vs. Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers defeat Knights to advance to 2025 Memorial Cup Final

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Rimouski, QC – MAY 27: Round Robin game 47 of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the London Knights and the Medicine Hat Tigers on May 27, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/CHL)

RIMOUSKI, QC — The Medicine Hat Tigers (3-0) advanced to the final of the 2025 Memorial Cup Tuesday night after a 3-1 win over the London Knights (2-1) at Sun Life Financial Coliseum on Tuesday night.

Medicine Hat scored three unanswered goals to secure the win after trailing early, while 2025 WHL Playoffs MVP and Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin was named Player of the Game after steering aside 25 of 26 shots for a .972 save percentage.

Ethan Neutens, Mathew Ward, and Minnesota Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie found the back of the net for Medicine Hat, while San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen scored the lone goal for London. Austin Elliott turned aside 27 shots in the Knights’ loss.

“I thought the difference tonight was Meneghin in net,” Tigers head coach Willie Desjardins said. “I thought our guys played hard, blocked a lot of shots, and that every line contributed.”

“We wouldn’t be going to the final with no. 35,” Ward said. “He’s been a rock for us all year.”

With their win over the Knights, the Medicine Hat Tigers have secured their fourth Memorial Cup final appearance since 1972, tying them for third all-time with five other teams — including the London Knights — for the most championship game appearances. It also marks the Tigers’ first trip to the final in 18 years and makes them the first WHL team to advance directly to the championship game since the Kelowna Rockets did so in 2009, when the event was last held in Rimouski.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
POST-GAME LONDON
POST-GAME MEDICINE HAT

Tied 1-1 heading into the third, the Tigers took the lead just 77 seconds into the frame through Ward’s first of the tournament. The overage forward collected the puck after a minute tip pass from Misha Volotovskii before he spun and slid the puck home to score the eventual game-winner.

“It probably ranks number one,” Ward said of the game-winner after playing his penultimate junior hockey game. “You don’t sit around dreaming about playing that final game. You dream about winning it. I don’t know if Willie remembers, but he sent me a text when he traded for me and said he wants to win that final game. Not just be there.”

Ritchie scored his tournament-leading fourth goal into the empty net with 11.6 seconds left in regulation.

“You’ve got to be so excited to get the chance,” Desjardins said of playing for a Memorial Cup title. “It’s great for us to get the opportunity, but for sure, we want to win it – we don’t want to just show up. So, we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”

The win marks the first time a WHL team has gone 3-0 in the Memorial Cup round-robin since 2008. The Tigers will now look to become the first WHL club to capture the title since the Edmonton Oil Kings did so 11 years ago.

The 2025 Memorial Cup final is set for Sunday at 7:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. MT.

Halttunen had the only goal of the first period as he got a piece of San Jose Sharks prospect  Sam Dickinson’s shot from the point on the power play just 3:34 into the game. In the process, Halttunen moved into second all-time for most goals scored by a Knight in Memorial Cup history with six, trailing only Christian Dvorak, who recorded seven.

The Tigers scored the only goal of the second period when Nashville Predators prospect Tanner Molendyk’s point shot deflected off Los Angeles Kings prospect Jared Woolley’s skate and landed perfectly for Ethan Neutens, who buried it into an open net from the low slot at 5:11.

London now awaits the winner of tonight’s rematch of the 2025 QMJHL Championship Series, as the host Rimouski Océanic (0-2) faces the Moncton Wildcats (0-2) in the round-robin finale tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Every game of the 2025 Memorial Cup will air on TSN and RDS in Canada and be available via live stream on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In addition to full coverage in Canada on TSN and RDS, the 2025 Memorial Cup will air in the United States on NHL Network and be available to stream live for free on Victory+ for viewers outside of Canada.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Game 6 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Wednesday, May 26 – Rimouski Océanic vs. Moncton Wildcats
Semi-Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Friday, May 30 – TBD vs. London Knights
Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Saturday, June 1 – TBD vs. Medicine Hat Tigers

Ritchie leads the Medicine Hat Tigers past the Moncton Wildcats for a second straight win at the 2025 Memorial Cup

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Rimouski, QC – MAY 26: Round Robin game 4 of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Moncton Wildcat and the Medicine Hat Tigers on May 26, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/CHL)

RIMOUSKI, QC — Minnesota Wild prospect Ryder Ritchie scored twice to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers (2-0) to a 3-1 victory over the Moncton Wildcats (0-2) at the 2025 Memorial Cup in Rimouski on Monday night.

2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna scored into the empty net for the Tigers as Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Harrison Meneghin made 21 saves. Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Dyllan Gill had the Wildcats’ lone goal as Moncton netminder Mathis Rousseau turned aside 39 shots.

With the win, the Tigers have secured at least a spot in Friday’s semi-final. Tonight, they’ll face the only other undefeated team at the tournament, the London Knights (2-0), with puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The winner of tonight’s game between the Tigers and Knights will advance directly to Sunday’s championship game, while the loser will play in Friday’s semi-final as the designated home team.

“I thought our team played well and we’re certainly happy with the win,” said Medicine Hat head coach Willie Desjardins. “We are grateful for the opportunity and don’t take it for granted.

“We know what the games are going to be like and know they are going to be hard.”

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
POST-GAME MONCTON
POST-GAME MEDICINE HAT

Conversely, the Moncton Wildcats now face a do-or-die situation following last night’s loss. Their Memorial Cup hopes will hinge on Wednesday’s final round-robin game against the host Rimouski Océanic (0-2) at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. The winner will move on to Friday’s semi-final as the visiting team, while the loser will be eliminated from the 2025 Memorial Cup.

A pair of goals from Ritchie built the Tigers a 2-0 lead through 40 minutes on Monday. He opened the scoring 4:24 into the first as he buried the puck into a wide-open net off of Oasiz Wiesblatt’s feed moments after McKenna had been stopped on a breakaway.

His second of the night came at 9:42 of the second period as he hammered home a one-timer on the power play off of Calgary Flames prospect Andrew Basha’s feed. Ritchie would later add an assist on McKenna’s empty-netter as he led all scorers with three points on Monday night.

Another bright spot for the Tigers on Monday was the return of Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Cayden Lindstrom, who made his Memorial Cup debut. He went 6-for-11 on faceoffs and drew a key high-sticking penalty in the third period, helping to stall a late push from the Wildcats.

Following Monday’s game, Tigers forward Ryder Ritchie leads all skaters at the 2025 Memorial Cup with three goals, edging out Sam O’Reilly (London Knights), Dyllan Gill (Moncton Wildcats), Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers), and Bryce Pickford (Medicine Hat Tigers), who each have two. 

Additionally, Ritchie also shares the tournament scoring lead with Easton Cowan (London Knights), Oasiz Wiesblatt (Medicine Hat Tigers), and McKenna, as all four have recorded four points through two games.

Every game of the 2025 Memorial Cup will air on TSN and RDS in Canada and be available via live stream on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In addition to full coverage in Canada on TSN and RDS, the 2025 Memorial Cup will air in the United States on NHL Network and be available to stream live for free on Victory+ for viewers outside of Canada.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Game 5 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Today – London Knights vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Game 6 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Wednesday, May 28 – Rimouski Océanic vs. Moncton Wildcats
Semi-Final @ 7 p.m. ET – Friday, May 30 – TBD vs. TBD

London Knights defeat Rimouski Océanic to earn a second straight win at the 2025 Memorial Cup

Posted on by Dominic Tiano
Rimouski, QC – MAY 25: Shootout Tournament prior to the Round Robin game 3 of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Rimouski Océanic and the London Knights on May 25, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc. (Photo by Vincent Ethier/CHL)

RIMOUSKI, QC — The London Knights moved to 2-0 at the 2025 Memorial Cup after a 3-1 win over the host Rimouski Oceanic on Sunday night. With the victory, the Knights have assured themselves of at least a place in Friday’s semi-final at the 105th edition of the Memorial Cup, being held in Rimouski, Québec.

On Sunday night, 2025 NHL Draft prospect Henry Brzustewicz, Winnipeg Jets prospect Jacob Julien, and Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan scored for London as Austin Elliott made 28 saves. Washington Capitals prospect Eriks Mateiko had Rimouski’s lone goal while Mathis Langevin stopped 34 shots.

“That was a really fun game to play in,” Cowan said. “High compete from both teams and we stuck with it to come out with the two points.”

With the London Knights’ win over the Rimouski Océanic on Sunday night, head coach Dale Hunter made Memorial Cup history by earning his 15th career tournament victory — the most by any head coach since the CHL adopted its current format in 1972. The milestone moves Hunter past legendary WHL bench boss Don Hay (14 wins with the Kamloops Blazers and Vancouver Giants), placing him alone atop the all-time coaching wins list at the Memorial Cup.

“It’s a credit to the players here,” Hunter said, who now has a 15-7 career record at the Memorial Cup. “To win games, they are the ones who have to sacrifice on the ice to block shots. Through the years I’ve had great players and winners and they go on to do great things.”

Julien buried the game-winner with just 5:07 left in the third period as he converted a pretty passing play was started by Cowan, who found San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen before he slid the puck over to Julien for his first of the tournament. Cowan ensured the win with an empty-netter at 18:08.

After a goalless first period – in which both teams registered nine goals – it was the Océanic who opened the scoring 2:14 into the second period as after some great work down low by Vegas Golden Knights prospect Mathieu Cataford, Mateiko found a loose puck in the crease to grab his first of the tournament.

London got level through 2025 NHL Draft prospect Brzustewicz who at 9:47 found himself with all kinds of space to bury a wrister from the right dot to make it 1-1.

“That was two strong teams going at it,” Julien said. “Both played really well defensively and offensively and we were fortunate enough to come out on top.”

Next up, the London Knights (2-0) will look to become the first team to make back-to-back appearances in a Memorial Cup final since the Windsor Spitfires did so during their championship runs in 2009 and 2010. With a win over the Medicine Hat Tigers (1-0) tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET, the Knights would secure their spot in this year’s title game.

Meanwhile, the host Rimouski Océanic (0-2) will look to keep their Memorial Cup hopes alive when they take on the Moncton Wildcats (0-1) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. The matchup marks a rematch of the QMJHL Championship Series, where Moncton defeated Rimouski in six games to capture the third league title in franchise history.

But first, tonight at 7 p.m. ET, the Medicine Hat Tigers (1-0) will try to follow in the Knights’ footsteps and clinch a spot in at least Friday’s semi-final — a feat they can accomplish with a win over the Wildcats. Moncton, on the other hand, will be fighting for their first victory of the tournament and a chance to secure a place in Thursday’s potential tiebreaker.

Every game of the 2025 Memorial Cup will air on TSN and RDS in Canada and be available via live stream on TSN.ca, the TSN app, RDS.ca, and the RDS app. In addition to full coverage in Canada on TSN and RDS, the 2025 Memorial Cup will air in the United States on NHL Network and be available to stream live for free on Victory+ for viewers outside of Canada.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Game 4 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Today – Moncton Wildcats vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Game 5 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Tuesday, May 27 – London Knights vs. Medicine Hat Tigers
Game 6 (Round-Robin) @ 7 p.m. ET – Wednesday, May 28 – Rimouski Océanic vs. Moncton Wildcats


Following Sunday’s victory, the London Knights sit in first place as the 2025 Memorial Cup enters its fourth day.

LONDON KNIGHTS WIN SECOND STRAIGHTJ. ROSS ROBERTSON CUP AS OHL CHAMPIONS

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

London, ON – The London Knights are OHL champions for a second straight year, winning the 113th J. Ross Robertson Cup following a 5-2 win over the Oshawa Generals in Game 5 at Canada Life Place.

OHL Playoff MVP Kasper Halttunen scored his eighth and ninth goals of the Championship Series while Sam O’Reilly and Easton Cowan each had a goal and an assist as London outlasted Oshawa for a second straight year, hoisting the J. Ross Robertson Cup before a capacity crowd of 9,061.

“We’ve dreamt of this since day one and to do it in back-to-back years is a surreal feeling. It’s even better to do it on home ice,” said Knights captain Denver Barkey, who returned to the lineup from injury in Game 5. “It’s a great way to cap-off what we’ve built here in London and there’s one more thing to go win now.”

Landon Sim also scored for London while blueliner Sam Dickinson had a pair of primary assists and goaltender Austin Elliott stood tall in the crease, stopping 32-of-34.

“We’re a close-knit family here,” said Knights Head Coach Dale Hunter, who won his fifth J. Ross Robertson Cup to tie him for the most all-time with Leighton “Hap” Emms. “The kids enjoy playing and it’s easy to coach when they enjoy it. It’s been a real fun couple years here with these kids.”

The victory marks London’s sixth OHL championship in franchise history and the second instance in which they’ve won back-to-back following previous titles in 2024, 2016, 2013, 2012 and 2005.

The Knights finished the OHL Playoffs with a record of 16-1, becoming just the third team in league history to win the championship with one or fewer losses as they join the 1998 Guelph Storm (12-1) and 1988 Windsor Spitfires (12-0) in that department.

Easton Cowan finished as the top scorer of the 2025 OHL Playoffs, registering 39 points (13-26–39) over 17 games with a plus/minus rating of plus-25. Halttunen, who claimed the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as Playoff MVP, recorded 21 points (15-6–21), nine of which came in the Championship Series. Halttunen’s nine Championship goals are the most since Belleville’s Jonathan Cheechoo, another San Jose Sharks prospect, tallied nine in 1999.

Knights captain Denver Barkey received the J. Ross Robertson Cup from OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford as the Knights, who eliminated Owen Sound, Erie, Kitchener and now Oshawa, travel to Rimouski, Quebec for the 2025 Memorial Cup that begins Friday, May 23rd.

SPITFIRES’ LIAM GREENTREE AWARDED MICKEY RENAUD CAPTAIN’S TROPHY

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that Windsor Spitfires forward Liam Greentree is this year’s recipient of the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy.

Greentree was chosen for the award by a panel of accredited OHL media members, being recognized as the team captain that best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, with a passion and dedication to the game of hockey in his community that Mickey demonstrated.

“I’m truly honoured to receive this award. It’s incredibly meaningful—not just for me personally, but for our entire organization.” said Greentree. “This recognition is a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and passion that every member of our team brings every day. I may be the one accepting this, but it represents a collective effort. I’m proud to lead such an inspiring team, and even prouder to stand alongside them. This award belongs to all of us.”

Greentree had a tremendous third season in Windsor, his second as the team’s captain. He produced 49 goals, 70 assists and 119 points over 64 games along with a plus/minus rating of plus-55. His 306 shots on goal were the second-most in the OHL as he helped guide the Spitfires from the bottom of the standings to the top of the West Division with 45 wins and 96 points.

“Liam is a great teammate and leader.” said Spitfires General Manager Bill Bowler. “We are delighted as an organization for Liam to be recognized for this award as it is a credit to his character. Here in Windsor we all know what Mickey meant to our organization and Liam proudly wears the ‘C’ and has tried to replicate what Mickey embodied.”

Noted as the first Spitfire to arrive at the rink and the last one to leave on game days, Greentree has become known for his friendly disposition toward fans and staff at the WFCU Centre. He played a lead role in the club’s involvement with the Goodfellows paper drive, a local organization that raises funds for individuals in the community needing assistance with food and housing.

“Liam is as genuine and humble as they come,” added Bowler. “He represents the Spitfires organization with class and we’re very proud of his accomplishments.”

A 19-year-old from Oshawa, Ont., Greentree was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the first round (26th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-3, 216Ib. left-wing has amassed 254 points (110-144–254) over 189 career regular season games with the Spitfires, and was an OHL first all-rookie team member in 2022-23 followed by a third team all-star in 2023-24. He won a World Under-18 Hockey Championship gold medal with Canada in 2024. Greentree was Windsor’s second round (34th overall) pick in the 2022 OHL Priority Selection.

The Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy is presented in honour of former Windsor Spitfires captain and Calgary Flames prospect Mickey Renaud, who tragically passed away at the age of 19 on February 18, 2008 due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an underlying heart condition. Renaud, from Tecumseh, Ont., played three seasons with the Spitfires from 2005-08, leaving a lasting impact on the city’s hockey community.

Greentree follows Ryan Ellis (2010-11) as the second Spitfires player to win the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy. Recent winners have included Braden Haché of the Saginaw Spirit (2023-24), Nolan Dillingham of the Sarnia Sting (2022-23) and Mark Woolley of the Owen Sound Attack (2021-22).

Nomination forms are submitted annually by OHL General Managers on behalf of their individual team captains. The selection committee consists of a panel of four, representing media from each OHL division.

Greentree will be formally presented with the Mickey Renaud Captain’s Trophy at the OHL Awards Ceremony at the Hockey Hall of Fame in June.

For a complete list of past award winners, click here.

PAT MYERS WINS KEN BODENDISTEL CHARACTER AWARD FOR OFFICIALS

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that 13-year officiating veteran Pat Myers is this year’s recipient of the Ken Bodendistel Character Award for Officials. “The Bodie” recognizes an OHL official who demonstrates a passion and dedication to officiating and the game of hockey, who best exemplifies leadership on and off the ice, professionalism, and is respected by OHL member teams, players, and fellow officials.

“I am extremely honoured to have been chosen by my fellow officials for “The Bodie” award,” said Myers. “I started in 2011-12 with the OHL and was fortunate to have Ken Bodendistel supervise and mentor me during my first couple seasons before he passed away in November of 2013. The guidance that he was able to provide me early on helped my development as an official. I know that he had a big impact on officiating over his 40-year career and I am lucky to have been around for a small part of that. I’m proud to be selected for the award in his name because I know Ken had a passion for officiating and was a true professional that you could always turn to for advice. I am humbled that my fellow officials see some of those same characteristics in me.

“This isn’t possible without my family,” Myers added. “I am grateful for the love and support of my wife Jessica and daughter Brodie. My late father Fern was the one who got me started in officiating and was my biggest fan. My mother Carrie, sister Erica, and brother Brent along with my in-laws Tim and Sandra Fickel have all helped and had to make sacrifices so that I can go out to officiate. I am truly grateful to have them in my life.

“I want to thank Conrad Haché and all officials and officiating managers, both past and present, for this prestigious honour.”

Originally from Pain Court, Ont., a community located just west of Chatham, Myers is currently refereeing his first OHL Championship Series. He was voted as this year’s award winner by his fellow OHL officials. Myers has been living in the Niagara region since 2006 and works for North Country Property Maintenance as a Sales and Office Representative.

“Pat is not only very deserving of this award, but his peers selected him because he’s the perfect candidate,” said OHL Director of Officiating Conrad Haché. “He’s a humble and highly respected individual who quietly goes about his work, often unnoticed.

“When you look at the meaning behind the award, Pat is a perfect fit—he has quietly earned the respect of OHL teams, players, and fellow officials through his professionalism and character. It’s also especially meaningful, given Pat’s 13-year career. Bodie was familiar with Pat, and I know he would be proud and happy to see him receive this award.”

Established in 2013, “The Bodie” is presented annually in recognition of former OHL Senior Officiating Manager Ken Bodendistel, who served 40 years in the league beginning as a Supervisor in 1974-75.  Bodendistel passed away in November, 2013, at the age of 73 after a courageous battle with cancer.  This year marked the 12th year “The Bodie” has been presented with recent recipients including Dustin McCrank, Drew Jackson and Mike Hamilton.

Myers will be formally presented with the The Bodie Award at the OHL’s Awards Ceremony held in June at The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

For a complete list of award winners, click here.

Knights Take a 3-1 Series Lead With Win Over Generals

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

The London Knights delivered a commanding performance in Game 4 of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Championship Series, securing a 6-2 victory over the Oshawa Generals on May 13, 2025. With this win, the Knights now hold a 3-1 series lead, putting them on the brink of clinching the championship as they head back home for Game 5.

A Tale of Two Periods

The game began with a scoreless first period, despite both teams having multiple power-play opportunities. However, the second period saw an offensive explosion from the Knights, as they netted five goals, leaving the Generals struggling to keep up.

London’s Sam Dickinson opened the scoring at 6:27 of the second period, capitalizing on a turnover forced by Henry Brzustewicz. Dickinson’s goal marked his eighth of the playoffs, the most among OHL defensemen. Just minutes later, Kasper Halttunen extended the lead to 2-0, sweeping home a rebound off a Jared Woolley slap shot.

The Knights continued their relentless attack, with Easton Cowan setting up Dickinson for his second goal of the game, pushing the lead to 3-0. Oshawa briefly responded with a goal from Andrew Gibson, but London wasted no time in answering back. Landon Sim took advantage of a misplay by Oshawa’s goaltender Jacob Oster, restoring the Knights’ three-goal cushion.

Halttunen’s Heroics

Kasper Halttunen, who had already been a standout performer in the series, recorded his second consecutive hat trick, further cementing his status as a key offensive force for London. His third goal of the night came in the final period, sealing the Knights’ 6-2 victory.

Defensive Dominance

While London’s offense stole the show, their defense was equally impressive. The Knights limited Oshawa’s scoring chances, preventing them from mounting a serious comeback. Goaltender Michael Simpson stood tall between the pipes, making crucial saves to keep the Generals at bay.

Looking Ahead

With a 3-1 series lead, the Knights are now just one win away from claiming the OHL Championship. Game 5 is set to take place at Canada Life Place in London on May 15, 2025, where the Knights will have the opportunity to close out the series in front of their home crowd.

Will the Knights complete their championship run, or will the Generals find a way to extend the series? Hockey fans won’t have to wait long to find out.

Knights Take a 2-1 Series Lead Over the Oshawa Generals

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

The London Knights pulled off a thrilling 7-5 victory over the Oshawa Generals in Game 3 of the OHL Championship series on May 12, 2025, taking a 2-1 series lead. The game was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with the Knights dominating early before the Generals mounted a fierce comeback.

A Fast Start for London

The Knights wasted no time asserting their presence. Easton Cowan opened the scoring at 7:59 of the first period, stripping the puck from Owen Griffin and backhanding a shot past Jacob Oster. Just over three minutes later, Kasper Halttunen fired a one-timer off a feed from Will Nicholl, giving London a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes.

Second Period Surge

London extended their lead early in the second period with a power-play goal just five seconds in. In a dazzling display of skill, Cowan spun in mid-air before feeding Halttunen, whose slap shot—despite breaking his stick—found the back of the net for a 3-0 advantage. Oshawa responded with a power-play goal from Griffin, but London struck again when Jacob Julien converted a two-on-oh breakaway, making it 4-1. Halttunen completed his hat trick at 16:09, pushing the Knights to a 5-1 lead heading into the final frame.

Oshawa’s Furious Comeback

The Generals refused to go quietly. In a span of just over five minutes, Luca D’Amato, Colby Barlow, and Luke Torrance all scored, cutting London’s lead to 5-4 with 6:18 remaining. The Tribute Communities Centre crowd roared as Oshawa pressed for the equalizer.

Knights Seal the Win

With the game hanging in the balance, Sam O’Reilly flipped the puck ahead to Jesse Nurmi, who skated across the blue line and buried a shot to make it 6-4 with 2:11 left. Oshawa pulled their goalie and Beckett Sennecke capitalized, scoring with 1:29 remaining to bring the Generals within one again. But London had the final say—Cowan netted his second goal of the night into an empty net, securing the 7-5 victory.

Stars of the Game

  • Kasper Halttunen (London Knights) – Hat trick, 10th goal of the playoffs.
  • Easton Cowan (London Knights) – 2 goals, 1 assist, now London’s all-time franchise leader in playoff scoring with 92 career points.
  • Jesse Nurmi (London Knights) – Game-winning goal.
  • Luca Marrelli (Oshawa Generals) – 3 assists.

Looking Ahead

With the Knights now leading the series 2-1, the Generals will look to bounce back in Game 4 on Tuesday. If this game was any indication, the battle for the OHL Championship is far from over.

For video highlights, check them out here!

SPIRIT’S MICHAEL MISA WINS RED TILSON TROPHY AS OHL’S MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER

Posted on by Dominic Tiano

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) today announced that NHL Draft eligible Saginaw Spirit forward Michael Misa is this year’s recipient of the Red Tilson Trophy, presented annually to the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player as voted by the League’s accredited writers and broadcasters.

Misa led the OHL with 134 points (62-72–134) over 65 games, the most the league has seen since London’s Patrick Kane in 2007. He had multi-point outings in 46 of his 65 contests, with his 134 points tied with John Tavares (2006-07) for the most by an under-18 player since the year 2000. Misa’s 62 goals are tied for the third-most by a draft eligible skater in OHL history.

“I am honoured to receive the Red Tilson Trophy,” said Misa. “None of this would be possible without the hard work of my teammates, the dedication of my coaches and support staff, or the support of my family. I am grateful to each of them, as well as the voters and the league for this recognition.”

Misa’s season was highlighted by a 28-game point streak that spanned from December 29th through March 6th, one that featured 28 goals and 63 points. He becomes the first player in Saginaw Spirit history to win the Red Tilson Trophy, and is the OHL’s first to claim the honour alongside the Eddie Powers Trophy as leading scorer and Bobby Smith Trophy as top scholastic player in the same season since Dave Simpson of the 1981-82 London Knights.

“In my mind, it was never in doubt that Michael was the most outstanding player in our league this season,” said Spirit General Manager Dave Drinkill. “He carried our team on his back when we needed him the most and we’re so proud of him. For him to do all of this in his draft year is even more impressive–people forget he was only 17 to start the year.”

An 18-year-old from Oakville, Ont., Misa was chosen by Saginaw as an exceptional status first overall OHL Priority Selection choice in 2022 after winning an OHL Cup title with the Mississauga Senators, a tournament that saw him set a new scoring record for the annual showcase. Misa was the OHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2023 and helped the Spirit hoist the Memorial Cup on home ice last summer. He is the Spirit’s all-time leading scorer with 265 points (113-152–265) over 177 career regular season games, and enters the 2025 NHL Draft as the second-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings released on April 15th.

The Red Tilson Trophy is the most prestigious individual award presented by the Ontario Hockey League.  First presented in 1945, the trophy is named in honour of Albert “Red” Tilson, who was killed in action in Europe during World War II. Tilson was the OHA scoring champion for the 1942-43 season after scoring 19 goals and 38 assists for 57 points in 22 games with the Oshawa Generals.

Accredited media were asked to select their top choice from a ballot consisting of 20 team-nominated representatives. Misa was this year’s Red Tilson Trophy voting frontrunner with 50 percent of the vote followed by Nick Lardis of the Brantford Bulldogs who garnered 26 percent.

Other recent winners of the Red Tilson Trophy have included London Knights forward Easton Cowan (2023-24), a pair of Windsor Spitfires forwards in Matthew Maggio (2022-23) and Wyatt Johnston (2021-22) along with Ottawa 67’s forward Marco Rossi (2019-20) and Sudbury Wolves goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (2018-19).

Misa will be formally recognized with the Red Tilson Trophy at the 2025 OHL Awards Ceremony to be held at The Hockey Hall of Fame in June.

For a complete history of OHL award winners, click here.