The Barber Poles take on the reigning Memorial Cup Champions

OTTAWA, ON – For the second game of their road trip through Western Ontario, the Ottawa 67’s are gearing up to face the defending champions, the London Knights, tonight at Canada Life Place. The puck is set to drop at 7:00 p.m. Fans can catch all the action live on Flo Hockey or tune in to Kenny Walls’ broadcast on TSN 1200. Prior to the game, the Knights will hold a moment of silence to honour former goaltender Jake Patterson, who tragically passed away at the age of 31. Patterson spent three seasons with London, playing a pivotal role in the Knights’ back-to-back OHL championship wins, including their Game 7 victory over Barrie in 2013. He also proudly represented the team in two consecutive Memorial Cups in 2013 and 2014.

Yesterday, Ottawa (7-4-0-0) faced a tough test against the Windsor Spitfires, falling short in a hard-fought matchup. The game held particular importance for the 67’s, as it was a chance to measure themselves against one of the league’s top teams. Despite the loss and a shutout performance by Windsor’s goaltender Michael Newlove, Ottawa showed flashes of what makes them a team to watch: speed, sharp passing, and strong on-ice chemistry. Goaltender Jaeden Nelson stood out with an impressive effort, earning the OHL’s Save of the Night after a sequence of highlight-reel stops.

The back-to-back Memorial Cup Champions, the London Knights, enter tonight’s game with a 5-2-3-0 record. They’re coming off an overtime loss to Kitchener on October 19, which snapped their winning streak. This season marks a new chapter for the Knights, following the departure of their veteran leadership group: Captain Denver Barkey and Alternates Easton Cowan, Oliver Bonk, Jacob Julien, and Landon Sim. As the team works to build new chemistry and identity, they’ve recently announced a fresh leadership core featuring Captain Sam O’Reilly, along with Alternates Jared Woolley and Henry Brzustewicz. Tonight’s matchup will be the first time this new leadership group takes the ice since the announcement, as they look to set the tone for the next era of London hockey.

Tonight marks the first meeting of the season between the Ottawa 67’s and the London Knights. A rematch is scheduled for Halloween night, next Friday at 7:00 p.m. in Ottawa. Last season, the Barber Poles fell short to the Knights twice, once in regulation and once in a shootout.

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