Austin Elliott perfect in Guelph return as London Knights reel off 11th straight win

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A week ago, Austin Elliott gave up seven goals in a visit to Guelph.

This time, nothing.

The London Knights goaltender made 27 saves Saturday for his first OHL shutout in a 4-0 blanking of the Storm before 4,780 at the Sleeman Centre. The 20-year-old from Strathmore, Alta., improved to 7-0 in his first month with the defending OHL champions.

The overager is a perfect 10-0 after winning his first three starts with the Saskatoon Blades this fall, before being waived through the Western league.

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The Knights have won 11 in a row and they are now just one point behind league-leading Kitchener with a game in hand. They visit the Rangers for the first time Tuesday at the Memorial Auditorium.

Maple Leafs first-rounder Easton Cowan scored in the first period to run his personal point streak to an amazing 51 games. The 19-year-old from Mt. Brydges recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist and a fight that he instigated after Guelph’s Thomas Budnick took a run at London captain Denver Barkey.

Finnish forward Kasper Halttunen made his OHL season debut with the Knights and picked up two assists. The 19-year-old Sharks second rounder was sent back to London by San Jose on Friday.

The Knights improved to 3-0 against the Storm, who surprisingly sit at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.

rpyette@postmedia.com


OHL HOCKEY

Knights 4, Storm 0

London goals: Easton Cowan, Noah Read, Denver Barkey, Oliver Bonk

Shutout by: Austin Elliott (27 saves).

Next: The Knights are in Kitchener Tuesday at 7 p.m.


KNIGHTS SUMMARY

Knights 4, Storm 0

Saturday at Sleeman Centre

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First period

1. London, Cowan 13 (Halttunen, Dickinson) 5:10

Penalties – Boulton, Ldn (elbowing) 7:10, Skvortsov, Gue (holding) 16:40, Spada, Gue (slashing) 18:08.

Second period

2. London, Read 3 (Van Bommel) 16:06

Penalties – Namestnikov, Gue (tripping) 9:11, Bonk, Ldn, McGuire, Gue (roughing) 11:04.

Third period

3. London, Barkey 2 (Halttunen, Cowan) 4:09

4. London, Bonk 3 (Julien, Barkey) 16:32 (pp)

Penalties – Cowan, Ldn (fight instigator, 10-minute misconduct), Budnick, Gue (fighting, charging) 7:54, Woolley, Ldn (head check) 9:36, Brzustewicz, Ldn (holding) 13:36, Guelph, bench (too many men) 15:15, Boulton, Ldn, Van Bommel, Ldn, Budnick, Gue (10-minute misconduct) 19:36.

Shots on goal by

London             10   12   11–33

Guelph               6    14    7–27

Power plays: Ldn 1-4. Gue 0-3.

Goalies: Elliott, Ldn (W, 7-0). Gillespie, Gue (L, 6-9).

Referees – Mac Nichol, Sean Reid. Linesmen – Will Dykeman, Brett Heaman.

Attendance – 4,780.

Three stars: 1. Austin Elliott, Knights; 2. Easton Cowan, Knights; 3. Denver Barkey, Knights.

Recommended from Editorial

  1. London Knight Easton Cowan is checked by Mitch Young of the Sarnia Sting during their game at Canada Life Place in London on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press)

    Easton Cowan scores a pair as London Knights top Sarnia Sting 5-3

  2. Kasper Halttunen celebrates his first goal with the London Knights in a game at Budweiser Gardens against the Niagara IceDogs on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. (Mike Hensen/The London Free Press)

    Sniper Kasper Halttunen returned to the London Knights

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