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The personal record stands out.
Austin Elliott was 58-14-5-1 over parts of four Western Hockey League seasons as a goaltender with the Saskatoon Blades.
“I bring a lot of experience,” the new London Knights over-age stopper said. “I’ve played quite a few games in junior hockey now and also won a lot of games.”
That jives with what the Knights have done for the better part of two decades. They play winning hockey and that is well known beyond the OHL borders of Ontario, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
“You obviously hear about all the winning they do and all the great players that come around here,” said the 20-year-old Elliott, who took part in his first Knights practice Thursday. “It’s probably the pinnacle of junior hockey in Canada. They have tons of good players on the team right now and I’m super fortunate to be here.”
The Knights cleared space for the Strathmore, Alta., native by moving out fellow over-ager netminder Owen Willmore and sturdy veteran defenceman Alec Leonard. Elliott will be expected to perform at a high level while forming a crease tandem with standout 17-year-old rookie Alexei Medvedev.
“(I want to) have a good consistent year and try to earn a (pro) contract,” Elliott said. “The last two years, we (the Blades) made it to the conference final and weren’t able to make it over the hump. I’m really hoping to win it all this year. That’s my No. 1 goal – to do whatever I can to help the team win the championship.”
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Elliott has been part of two NHL camps – Nashville and Toronto. That stint with the Maple Leafs was his first visit to the province of Ontario.
“It’s all new to me and I’m excited to explore (it),” he said. “I never would have thought I’d end up in London. It’s such an amazing place. You take it for what it is. It’s a good opportunity here for me. I just try to make the most of it.”
He will likely see action in at least one of the Knights’ two games this weekend. They face defending Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Friday and then a solid Erie squad on Sunday afternoon, both on home ice.
“I’m not the biggest guy in the world,” the 6-foot-1, 175-pounder said. “I feel like I have good, strong movement and take pride in playing the puck. I think I’m really good moving the puck back there.”
The Knights need him to be solid and come up big when it counts.
If he can do that, his winning record will surely continue.
KNIGHTSWATCH
Friday: vs. Saginaw, 7 p.m. at Canada Life Place. 2025 NHL draft prospect Michael Misa has a league-best 11 goals in just seven games.
Sunday: vs. Erie, 2 p.m. at CLP. Otters beat the Knights 5-3 here two weeks ago.
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