Plenty of U.S. pride in London Knights dressing room: 'Really exciting'

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9 years in the past, the London Knights gained the Memorial Cup with 9 People on their roster.

Printed Feb 20, 2025 • 4 minute learn

London Knights participant Henry Brzustewicz skates throughout apply in London on Tuesday September 24, 2024. (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press)

9 years in the past, the London Knights gained the Memorial Cup with 9 People on their roster.

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Now, they’re attempting to do it with three, defenceman Henry Brzustewicz, ultra-quick ahead Blake Montgomery and rough-and-tumble Ryder Boulton. They didn’t have a lot backing through the dressing room chirping and facet bets over Thursday’s Canada-United States remaining within the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off, however the American Knights know what the event’s curiosity spike has meant for his or her nation.

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“It’s been actually thrilling,” mentioned Brzustewicz, a product of Washington, Mich. “I’d like to see the sport within the U.S. develop and I believe this helped lots. I’ve quite a lot of pleasure being from the States and I like seeing extra individuals being into hockey.”

To this present day, the Hunters nonetheless maintain up Knights alumnus Matthew Tkachuk of Staff USA and the Florida Panthers as certainly one of their poster boys for future success.

“They are going to speak about some previous guys like him,” Brzustewicz mentioned, “and the way he exhibits character and the willingness to win.”

Nobody can predict what the NCAA’s current rule change, which now permits main junior gamers to earn U.S. scholarships, will imply for future Knights rosters. To date, Montgomery and d-man Andoni Fimis, who’s Canadian however dedicated to an American college, confirmed up in London after the doorways had been opened.

The Knights could not stand up to 9 U.S. gamers on their group on the identical time any time quickly. Nevertheless it definitely can be an vital a part of their drafting and recruiting technique transferring ahead.

USA Hockey’s current world junior success and this buzz from 4 Nations ought to assist appeal to extra People to the game. That may be nice for the sport and even higher for the Knights if extra blue-chip expertise – like Tkachuk and Patrick Kane – made their means north as soon as extra.

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GRIND TIME: The London blue line held robust in its first three video games with out suspended Cam Allen, however these subsequent three video games can be one of many greatest remaining checks of the schedule.

The Knights face a three-in-three towards a stronger-than-their-record Brampton group, a Saturday bus trip to Erie and a Sunday night tilt with the rival Kitchener Rangers.

“It’ll be thrilling,” the 18-year-old Brzustewicz mentioned. “It’ll be powerful at occasions, however these are those you play for. It’s simply pushing via and we’ve received to get the job performed.”

Brzustewicz needs to be the primary Knight picked within the NHL draft in June. He has absorbed a few of Allen’s minutes and the right-hand shot has seemed spectacular even whereas enjoying the left facet.

“Everyone seems to be stepping up and that’s what you’ve received to do to win,” he mentioned. “We confirmed it final yr and we now have all of the instruments to be higher than final yr’s group. We simply need to put it collectively and play laborious like we did. I really feel actually assured with my sport and really feel I’ve been constant.

“The whole lot’s been clicking and I really feel actually good on the market.”

Brzustewicz, a first-round choose of the Ottawa 67’s in 2023, ended up enjoying ahead as a rookie in final yr’s OHL title run with the Knights. The 6-foot-1, 194-pounder by no means complained about it and scored a large time beyond regulation winner within the league remaining towards Oshawa.

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“He’s been within the state of affairs two years in a row the place he has a few world junior defencemen in entrance of him,” London affiliate GM Rob Simpson mentioned. “It exhibits his character that he has accepted any position Dale and Dylan (Hunter) have put him in. He’s very versatile and is making an influence. Any time we’ve seen gamers at that age with that mind set with the ability to carry out whereas being shuffled round a bit, they’ve at all times performed very properly for us and had careers after the Knights, as properly.”

AROUND THE RINK: London ahead Noah Aboflan is recovering from an upper-body damage and nonetheless wants a couple of extra weeks. He’s anticipated again earlier than the playoffs . . . The Knights are hoping to clinch first place total within the league lengthy earlier than the common season finishes to get some added relaxation, however they nonetheless have a technique to go. The present mission is for his or her coach Dale Hunter. “We’re closing in on Dale’s 1,000th (OHL) win,” Brzustewicz mentioned, “and we’re seeking to push for that.” Hunter is presently at 994 and wishes six extra to achieve quadruple digits. “I used to be there when he turned second all-time (forward of Bert Templeton),” Brzustewicz mentioned. “We gave him a water bathe. I’m positive this one can be even higher.” . . . Kitchener head coach Jussi Ahokas was prolonged for an additional two seasons. The Finn has saved the Rangers within the hunt for first in what was purported to be a rebuilding yr . . . Brampton star Porter Martone, a Sarnia first-rounder in 2022, rolls into London because the Steelheads’ single-season factors king. The 18-year-old has a Trout document 84 factors in 45 video games . . . The Steelheads are a harmful group. They’re more likely to end no higher than fifth within the Japanese Convention, however they’ve the roster to beat anybody on that facet. Their particular groups have been surprisingly underwhelming to this point . . . Congrats to Huron County’s Cal O’Reilly, who performed in his 1,000th American Hockey League sport this week. The 38-year-old Milwaukee Admiral was the ninth participant in league historical past to achieve that milestone. He has additionally appeared in 145 NHL video games.

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KNIGHTSWATCH

Friday: vs. Brampton 7 p.m. at Canada Life Place. Steelheads beat London 6-3 Oct. 5Saturday: at Erie, 7 p.m.. Otters look destined for first-round collection towards Saginaw.Sunday: vs. Kitchener, 6 p.m. at CLP. Knights have gained three of 4 vs. Rangers, together with each at dwelling.

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