How Austin Elliott went from the waiver wire to London Knights backbone

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Again within the fall, Austin Elliott was waived by the whole Western Hockey League.

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On Wednesday, the London goaltender heard his title being chanted on the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium after the Knights booked their third straight journey to the OHL last.

“It was (superb),” the 20-year-old from Strathmore, Alta., mentioned. “To have that a lot of our followers come out right here was superior.”

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It has been a surreal journey for Elliott. Earlier than becoming a member of London, he had solely been to Ontario as soon as and that was to Toronto for a Maple Leafs rookie camp.

He was a part of two sturdy Saskatoon Blades groups earlier than dropping the web to youthful goaltender Evan Gardner, a Blue Jackets second-rounder, within the 2024 playoffs. That made the overager expendable this season and the Knights contacted him shortly when searching for a substitute for Owen Willmore.

He constructed a staggering 32-1 document whereas sharing the crease with rookie Aleksei Medvedev and is now an ideal 12-0 within the playoffs with one of the crucial proficient London rosters ever assembled.

Throw in his three wins earlier than the Blades reduce him and he has an general document this season of 47-1. The very best half for him is proving it within the post-season.

“I suppose the third time’s the allure for me,” the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder mentioned. “It feels actually good to make it to the ultimate. To win our manner (undefeated) feels nice however the job’s not completed but.

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“The entire crew is aware of we have now to maintain working for the final word purpose.”

POWERING THROUGH: In Ken Dryden’s well-known guide ‘The Recreation,’ the Hockey Corridor of Famer writes in regards to the stress of enjoying for a bona fide dynasty within the Nineteen Seventies Montreal Canadiens and seeing restricted photographs each evening.

Your errors are magnified if you’re anticipated to win each recreation with a shutout.

It’s one thing Elliott understands effectively. In 12 playoff video games, he has by no means confronted 30 photographs whereas London routinely pumps 35 or 40-plus on the opposing netminder.

He had 28 photographs as soon as and that was when Erie compelled extra time in Recreation 4 of the second spherical.

“I’ve needed to modify to it all through the entire 12 months,” he mentioned. “I wouldn’t say it will get simple. It’s a psychological grind each recreation if you’re not getting lots of photographs. I feel I’ve positively gotten higher at it because the 12 months has gone on.”

Elliott had that unbelievable win-loss document and the very best web stats within the league this season, however Kitchener’s Jackson Parsons was the runaway winner of each high goaltender and overager.

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Elliott was largely disregarded due to the crew in entrance of him and the actual fact he solely performed in half the regular-season video games. However he put up a 2.00 objectives towards common and .919 save share towards the Rangers whereas Parsons ended up with a 4.65 GAA and .884 save share within the sequence.

“I had a little bit little bit of a chip on my shoulder – particularly earlier than (Recreation 4) after they introduced goalie of the 12 months,” he mentioned. “He (Parsons) is nice. He’s tremendous deserving of that award however I suppose it simply added a little bit little bit of gasoline to the hearth for me.”

Teammate Sam Dickinson appreciates the place as a result of he performed goalie in minor hockey earlier than beginning the trail that made him the OHL’s greatest defenceman. He stands behind Elliott and is aware of what he means to the Knights.

“(Parsons) had an incredible season, however on this room, you have a look at Austin had in all probability one of many biggest seasons a goalie can ever have with that document,” Dickinson mentioned. “What number of video games did he hold us in but in addition win for us? In our room we all know who ought to have gotten it. The largest stat is the win-loss document.

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“Save share, objectives towards common – that stuff is sweet to have however for those who ask any goalie, they’ll take a document like ‘Auzzy’ has over anything.”

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HOLY GOALIE

Playoff stats of London Knights goaltender Austin Elliott

First spherical vs. Owen Sound: 4-0 document, 12 objectives towards, 3.00 objectives towards common, .868 save percentageSecond spherical vs. Erie: 4-0 document, 8 objectives towards, 1.94 GAA, .922 save percentageConference last vs. Kitchener: 4-0 document, 8 objectives towards, 2.00 GAA, .919 save percentageCumulative: 12-0 document, 28 objectives towards, 2.31 GAA, .904 save share

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