Elliott’s Statement Season: London’s backbone in the blue paint
When the London Knights acquired Austin Elliott early in the season, few could have predicted just how pivotal the overage netminder would become. Plucked from CHL waivers by the Barrie Colts after a successful 3-0 start with the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades, the 21-year-old Albertan was quickly shipped to London at the beginning of the season — a fresh start that became the storybook ending of his junior career.
And what a story it’s been.
Elliott didn’t just rise to the occasion — he dominated it. In his first 20 starts as a Knight, he was undefeated. His first loss didn’t come until February against the Windsor Spitfires, more than four months into the season.
He has finished his OHL year with a jaw-dropping 48-2 record between the regular season and playoffs. In the postseason alone, he posted a 16-1 record, backed by a 2.46 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage.
Yet despite leading with these stats, Elliott remained largely overlooked in league awards voting, with Kitchener Rangers Jackson Parsons winning the Jim Rutherford Trophy (Goaltender of the Year) and the Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy (Overager of the Year).
“I had a little bit of a chip on my shoulder – especially before [Game 4] when they announced goalie of the year,” Elliott admitted after sweeping Parsons’ Rangers in the Western Conference Final. “He’s great. He’s super deserving of that award, but I guess it just added a little bit of fuel to the fire for me.”
In London, offensive support was never an issue – the Knights led the league in goals scored while also allowing the fewest against. But that dominance meant long stretches of inactivity for their netminders, making focus and mental toughness just as crucial as physical skill.
“I wouldn’t say it gets easy. It’s a mental grind every game when you’re not getting a lot of shots,” Elliott said. “There are some things I do to keep engaged — maybe visualizing a shot or situation if I go on a stretch without action.”
That internal fire has helped shape Elliott into one of the OHL’s most mentally resilient goaltenders.
“He’s been a rock back there for us – very solid and a calming influence,” said London goaltending coach Dave Rook. “When another team claims you, you look at it as a second chance to finish your CHL career. You’re looking for a pro tryout and maybe redeem yourself for how the season ended last year. Once the NCAA rule changed, he looked at getting a scholarship. He was intrinsically motivated and came to an organization where he’d have a chance to win it all.”
And in London, Elliott is on the path to accomplish both.
In February, he committed to the University of Massachusetts Lowell for the 2025–26 season, securing his NCAA future. Then, just last week, he backstopped the Knights to a 5–2 victory over the Oshawa Generals in Game 5 of the OHL Championship, earning the franchise another league title.
For Elliott, the journey has been nothing short of surreal. From waiver claim to OHL championship goalie, he embraced the chaos and came out stronger.
“I never would have thought that this would have happened. It was a whirlwind start to my year, and for this to be the end result, it’s special,” Elliott said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better end to my time in the OHL.”
Now, with the Memorial Cup on the horizon, Elliott and the Knights have their sights set on flipping the script.
A year since falling short in the championship game, with a different face between the pipes, this London squad returns older, sharper, and with a goaltender who’s been nothing short of rock-solid.
For Elliott, it’s a chance to cap off an unforgettable season by doing what he’s done all year: prove people wrong and win when it matters most.
