Owen Willmore backstops London Knights to 5-1 win over Guelph Storm

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Now that Landon Sim has returned from injury, the London Knights over-age crunch is real.

Veteran goaltender Owen Willmore didn’t dress in Friday’s comeback win over Barrie, but he backstopped the Knights to a third straight victory – 5-1 over the Guelph Storm before 9,041 Saturday at Canada Life Place.

Sturdy defenceman Alec Leonard sat out while Sim and Jacob Julien utilized the other two of three spots per game allowed for players born in 2004 this season.

“You can’t think about it,” said Willmore, who made 26 saves. “You go do your job. They tell you you’re playing, you play. If you’re not, you’re not. You support the team.

“It’s nothing against anyone.”

It’s a surplus that will be resolved soon. Willmore gave up seven goals to Flint in the season opener and got pulled in Brampton against the high-flying Steelheads but that was before London’s all-star cavalry returned.

Did he need this tidy triumph to build confidence?

“No, just finding my rhythm,” he said. “It’s taken a little bit. It’s early, right? We hadn’t had everyone back and it’s not an excuse. I still have my job. It’s to stop the puck. It doesn’t matter who’s out there.

“It’s figuring out what works and keeping it like that.”

This time, he gave them exactly what the Knights needed. All four over-agers have done their part.

“They’re handling it well,” forward Will Nicholl said. “Owen and Alec are both great guys and even though one of them has to take a turn sitting out right now, they’ve been super positive around the team.”

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GOT YOUR BACK: London defenceman PJ Fagan II scored his first OHL goal in the second period, but didn’t make it back for the third after being squished into the boards by Guelph tough guy Ryan McGuire.

The Knights say Fagan II will be OK, but fellow d-man Jared Woolley still stepped in to fight McGuire early in the third. The message sent by the Kings prospect will resonate throughout the league that London isn’t afraid to mix it up and hold people accountable – just like last season’s OHL championship squad.

“It speaks volumes of our team,” Nicholl said. “We’re all brothers. Woolley sees one of our guys taken advantage of, he goes and answers the bell.”

That’s a reason, he figures, why the Knights are good every year.

“We’re so tight and it carries over,” the Oilers draft pick said. “The older guys do a great job of teaching us the ways of what it takes to win. It’s good to bring that back.”

BIG OUTING: On Saturday, Nicholl matched his two-goal, three-point outing from the season-opening loss against Flint. It was much better to do it this time to spur a victory.

“It makes it 100 times better,” he said. “No matter how many points you get, if you don’t win, then what’s it for? Nothing.”

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Nicholl had a late chance for a hat trick goal into an empty net but he set up linemate Evan Van Gorp. It was clear Van Gorp wanted Nicholl to try to tip in the attempt.

“It was the right play to make the pass,” Nicholl said. “It was going in the net and I was tied up there. A goal is a goal.”

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AROUND THE RINK: Easton Cowan extended his OHL regular-season point streak to 39 games dating back to last season with a third-period goal . . . London forward Ryder Boulton was suspended two games for being the aggressor in a fight Friday against Barrie. He will be eligible to return next Sunday afternoon (Oct. 20) against Erie . . . The Knights will formally announce their leadership group Wednesday. Julien and Sim wore ‘A’s on Saturday . . . Londoner Jett Luchanko became the youngest player in Flyers history when he made his NHL debut at age 18 (and 50 days) Friday at Vancouver. The rookie centre finished minus-1 in a 3-2 shootout victory over the Canucks. Will he back with Guelph this season? Hard to say right now . . . The Knights won five of six meetings with the Storm last season . . . Guelph rang four shots off the post and crossbar behind Willmore. “I always love my posts – as long as it goes out,” he said with a grin. “I love a good post, not a bad post.” . . . The Knights moved above .500 for the first time this season. “We’re starting to get some momentum going,” Willmore said. “Not the start we wanted (at 1-3) but that’s typically how we do it. This was a good week and we’ll keep going forward.” . . . Two of London’s goals were the result of clean faceoff wins by Rene Van Bommel and Sam O’Reilly. “We work on it after every practice,” Nicholl said. “It’s crucial to winning.” . . . The Knights held Guelph to three first-period shots. The big positive from the two games this weekend was better starts.

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rpyette@postmedia.com

OHL HOCKEY

Knights 5, Storm 1
London goals: William Nicholl (2), PJ Fagan II, Easton Cowan, Evan Van Gorp
Guelph goal: Alex McLean
Next: The Knights meet defending Memorial Cup champion Saginaw Friday, 7 p.m. at Budweiser Gardens.

Saturday at Canada Life Place

Knights 5, Storm 1

First period
1., London, Nicholl 3 (Bidgood, Brzustewicz) 17:47
Penalties – Bidgood, Ldn (boarding) 2:05, McFadden, Gue (diving), Fagan II, Ldn (holding) 9:05.

Second period
2. London, Fagan II 1 (Van Bommel) 6:34
3. Guelph, McLean 3 (Alriksson, Stevens) 15:00 (pp)
4. London, Nicholl 4 (Van Gorp, Fagan II) 18:21
Penalties – Sutherland, Gue (slashing) 2:43, O’Reilly, Ldn (slashing) 13:44, Allen, Gue, Bidgood, Ldn (roughing) 18:21, O’Reilly, Ldn (slashing) 19:53.

Third period
5. London, Cowan 2 (O’Reilly) 9:58
6. London, Van Gorp 5 (Nicholl, Woolley) 19:06 (en)
Penalties – McGuire, Gue, Woolley, Ldn (fighting) 1:17, Van Bommel, Ldn (charging), Arrowsmith, Ldn (10-minute misconduct) 16:56, Allen, Gue, Paquette, Gue, Nurmi, Ldn, Dickinson, Ldn (10-minute misconduct) 18:11.

Shots on goal by
Guelph 3 15 9–27
London 11 12 12–35

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

Goalies: Gillespie, Gue (L, 3-2). Willmore, Ldn (W, 1-2).

Referees – Nicholas Bet, Darcy Burchell. Linesmen – Adam Harris, Jordan Hurtubise.

Attendance – 9,041 (9,061).

Three stars: 1. Will Nicholl, Knights; 2. PJ Fagan II, Knights; 3. Henry Brzustewicz, Knights

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