OHL Championship Series heads to Oshawa tied at one
Game 2 – Oshawa Generals 2 at London Knights 5
- Easton Cowan was the difference maker in this one, getting in on all five of London’s goals with a five-point performance (2G, 3A). He also tied the Knights all-time playoff points record, equalling Rob Schremp at 89 points
- Oliver Bonk’s second period goal stood as the game-winner, one he scored from a tight angle under the crossbar
- Edmonton Oilers prospect Sam O’Reilly finished the night with a goal and an assist
- Calum Ritchie and Luke Torrance each tallied one for the Generals, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Knights’ momentum.
- Austin Elliot made 31 saves on 33 shots in the win.
Game 1 – Oshawa Generals 4 at London Knights 2
- Calum Ritchie’s late third period goal stood as the game-winner in the series opener
- Nashville Predators prospect Andrew Gibson scored twice in the Generals win, earning second star honours
- Rene Van Bommel opened the scoring for the Knights at the beginning of the second period. Later on, Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen scored on the power play to send the game into the final frame with the Knights in front
- Matthew Buckley solidified the win for the Gens with an empty netter
- Jacob Oster was stellar between the pipes, turning away 30/32 shots and earning Save of the Night honours
- Oshawa went 3-for-9 on the power play to London’s 1-for-3
SERIES PREVIEW
LONDON, Ont. – In three straight series sweeps against the Owen Sound Attack, Erie Otters and Kitchener Rangers, the London Knights will take on the Oshawa Generals for the 2025 edition of the J. Ross Robertson Cup Ontario Hockey League Championship Series, a repeat of the 2024 OHL Final that saw the Knights sweep the Generals 4-0 on route to the franchise’s fifth OHL Championship.
Scouting the Knights (12-0-0)
The Knights capped off another historic regular season with the Hamilton Spectator Trophy with a 55 win season and 112 points. Their winning ways have translated this post season with three consecutive series sweeps earning a berth in the franchises eighth trip to the OHL Championship Series holding a 5-2 record in the finals.
This season saw milestone accomplishments from forward Easton Cowan who held a 65 game regular season point streak dating November 25th 2023 to February 7th 2025. Third year defenceman Sam Dickinson recorded 91 points on the season to set a new franchise record for most points in a regular season by a D-man, and coach Dale Hunter reached 1,000 wins in the CHL, only the second bench boss to achieve that mark.
Heading into the final, six Knights are scoring at a point per game pace. The depth of the team’s offense and sound defensive unit has propelled them to their perfect record thus far but, the biggest story is the remarkable play of veteran goaltender, Austin Elliott. Elliott, who spent his junior career in the WHL made his way to London last fall and holds a 44-1 record including regular season and playoff games for London this year. Coach Dale Hunter credits his work ethic and dedication to team success as the keys to his success. Elliott enters the series as the goalie with the lower goals against and higher save percentage.
Captain Denver Barkey, the team’s leading scorer in the regular season, suffered a lower-body injury late in game one of the Conference Final. He missed the final three games of that series, his status remains up in air heading into the final series.
Special Teams – 2025 Playoffs
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Power Play: 29.2%
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Penalty Kill: 83.9%
A look at the Oshawa Generals (12-4-0)
The Oshawa Generals, winners of eight straight, earned their place in the OHL Final defeating their first two opponents in six-game series’, the Brampton Steelheads and Brantford Bulldogs before sweeping the Barrie Colts in the Eastern Conference Final.
The Generals have a returning goaltender in Jacob Oster who had the starting job in the 2024 Final. Calum Ritchie – world junior teammate of Easton Cowan, Oliver Bonk and Sam Dickinson was the Generals leading scorer last playoffs. Looking ahead to this round Luca Marrelli is leading the league in playoff scoring with 31 points in 16 games, Colby Barlow, added from the Owen Sound Attack early in the season and Beckett Sennecke who sat out last year’s final due to injury will lace up for their first OHL Championship Series.
Special Teams – 2025 Playoffs
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Power Play: 35.8%
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Penalty Kill: 76.4%
Championship History
The London Knights are playing in their third consecutive OHL Championship Series, the only team in OHL history to capture three straight Wayne Gretzky Trophies. They have won five league titles and two Memorial Cups. They’ll look to be the first repeat champions since the 2012-2013 London Knights. Oshawa most recently won the OHL title in 2015, they’ll be looking for revenge following last year’s four game sweep.
Game 1 of the OHL Championship Series goes on Thursday night from Canada Life Place. The puck drops at 7:00pm EST on TSN and OHL Live.
Tickets are still available for the OHL Championship Series, secure your seats here.
