For the first time this tournament, we got to take a “break” from watching WHL teams play as the London Knights and Rouyn-Noranda Huskies took to the ice.
The games tempo was set early on, as nine seconds into the game the Huskies found themselves killing off a two-minute minor for roughing.
From there 16 more penalties were called by the end of the game, something Knights Head Coach Dale Hunter felt slowed down the game.
“The penalties were a lot tonight and everyone knows it,” said Hunter following the win.
“It just breaks the flow of the game.”
As they have all tournament, the London Knights made the most of their power play opportunities, going 3/7 in thanks to goals from JJ Piccinich, Matthew Tkachuk and Christian Dvorak.
Through the tournament’s first three games, the Knights have gone a whopping 9/20 on the power play.
Despite the fact that the Knights have scored goals like they are playing NHL 16 on easy mode, their goaltender Tyler Parsons has been an absolute star.
“Tyler Parsons is hands down the best goalie I’ve ever seen and I’m not just saying that because he is my goalie,” said Knights F Max Jones in his post-game availability. “That goalie should be the number one goalie – I’m not a scout or anything, but that kid is at the top of his game.
“Hopefully he doesn’t read it and get his head too big, but he is playing outstanding.”
Although Parsons is playing some of the best hockey of his career, he attributes it to the team playing in front of him.
“It’s not easy playing against teams like [the Huskies] in a tournament like this,” said Parsons following the win in his post-game availability.
“We know our gameplan and we know we have great offense that is going to score goals.”
Next up for the London Knights is a trip to Banff to get some rest and relaxation before they play for the Memorial Cup on Sunday.
I am credentialed and covering the 2016 Memorial Cup in Red Deer. You can follow me on twitter here for live updates from all this year’s games.
My work at this year’s Memorial Cup:
Knights surge past the Rebels 6-2 in the tournament’s opening game – Beer League Heroes, May 21.
Conner Bleackley shines in first game in over two months – Copper and Blue, May 21.
Should the Oilers be looking at drafting Kale Clague? – Beer League Heroes, May 22.
Top lines from the Knights and Rebels dominate at the Memorial Cup – Copper and Blue, May 23.
Rebels top line of Helewka, Philp and DeBrusk lead the host squad to a 5-2 victory over the Huskies – Beer League Heroes, May 23.
Wheat Kings dethroned in “disappointing” loss to the Knights – Copper and Blue, May 24.
Tyler Parsons shines as Knights beat Huskies 5-2 to book berth into Memorial Cup final – Beer League Heroes, May 25.
Rebels eliminate the Wheat Kings and book a berth in the semi-finals – Copper and Blue, May 26
