Cinderella season ends

There was a huge sigh of relief heard around r the OHL last night. The London Knights can’t spoil the party plans of any r more teams this year. r

The most relieved team has to be the Erie Otters, who eliminated the r pesky Knights from their Western Conference semifinal series last night. r

r

Carlo Colaiacovo tipped in a shot at 13:29 of overtime for a 5-4 Otters’ r victory before a capacity crowd of 5,076 at the Ice House.

r

The Otters won the best-of-seven series 4-2 and advance to the conference r final against the Windsor Spitfires.

r

Nobody need worry about the Knights any more this season. The Otters, r Spitfires, Toronto St. Michael’s Majors, Barrie Colts and Belleville Bulls r are in the clear.

r

"They’re only going to be better for it in the long run, but thank r God we won," said Otters coach Dave MacQueen, finally able to enjoy r his ritual postgame cigar.

r

"I didn’t have a good feeling. They gave us all we could handle. r One bounce their way and we’d be going back to Erie for a Game 7." r

r

The Knights had finished eighth in the Western Conference and not only r were they the lowest surviving team, they were the only team left to have r a losing record in the regular season.

r

The Knights upset regular season champion Plymouth in six games in the r first round. The Whalers were ranked No. 3 in the Canadian Hockey League r going into the postseason.

r

"I told the kids I’m proud of them," said Knights co-owner r and head coach Dale Hunter, completing his first season behind the bench. r

r

"The kids were down again and they battled back. I don’t have to r block shots and I don’t have to take the hits, but I look at these kids r and we have kids who competed and they care."

r

Charlie Stephens, who has played his final OHL game, tied it for the r Knights with 3:06 remaining in regulation time on a power play.

r

He was parked in front of the Otters net when Rick Nash let go with a r ripper about waist high. The puck glanced in off Stephens for his second r goal of the game.

r

"I was proud to be a part of this playoff run," said Stephens, r from Nilestown, who was obtained this season from the Guelph Storm. Guelph r is in the Memorial Cup as host team after being beat out by Windsor on r Friday night.

r

"To be home in London and to do it in front of friends and family, r it makes me even more proud to be a part of this," Stephens continued. r

r

"It really hasn’t sunk in yet that we lost. You sit here for a while r and you feel like you still have a game to go to on Tuesday. I’m sure r it will hit me when I go to bed and it won’t be a good feeling." r

r

Knights goalie Chris Houle came up with the save of his career with 19.4 r seconds remaining in regulation time, stoning Brad Boyes on a breakaway. r

r

Boyes had scored four goals on Saturday and opened the scoring last night r 2:29 into the game, his 12th of the postseason.

r

Boyes, who signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs two days before the series r began, shares the playoff scoring lead with teammate Cory Pecker, each r with 24 points in 11 games.

r

"I never expected to be playing in April," said Houle, who r came to the Knights in December from the Alberta junior league.

r

"We surprised a lot of people. It’s a little disappointing but I’m r sure everyone is on our side. We gave them a good show to end off the r Ice House."

r

Defenceman Dennis Wideman said nothing, not even last night’s dramatic r and heartwrenching ending to the season, can take anything away from what r the Knights accomplished during the playoffs.

r

"We had a hell of a year," he said. "We upset the best r team in the OHL and almost took down the second-best team.

r

"We played our hearts out."

r

Rick Nash, who will go No. 1 or 2 in this year’s NHL entry draft, sat r in front of his locker well after the game still in his full uniform. r

r

"It’s tough to take off the sweater," he said.

r

"Nobody has to leave here hanging their head, but when that red r light went on, I felt like I was in a bad dream. I wanted to pinch myself r and wake up, but it’s reality and we’ve got to move on and start concentrating r on next year."

r

Forward Mike Stathopulos, who has played three years and could return r as an over-ager, said he wouldn’t give that a second thought.

r

"I’ve love to be back. You obviously want to move on but if it doesn’t r work out, there’s not a place I’d rather be than London."

r

There were a few OHL teams who wouldn’t share that sentiment during these r playoffs.

r

GAME GLANCE

r

Otters 5, Knights 4 (OT)

r

Series: Erie wins the best-of-seven OHL Western Conference semifinal r 4-2 and meets Windsor in the conference final

r

London goals: Charlie Stephens two, including the tying goal with r 3:06 left in regulation time, Rick Nash and Rick Steadman

r

Erie goals: Brad Boyes, Cory Pecker, Brandon Cullen, Jeff Doyle r and Carlo Colaiacovo, the winner at 13:29 of overtime