“We had to win that game… it was opening night and none of us had ever played in front of that many people before.- Dylan Hunter – 2002
On Saturday, January 28, 2017, the London Knights pulled off one of the largest regular season comebacks in their history, erasing a 5-1 deficit to win 7-6 in a shootout in Owen Sound.
Here are some of the other “biggest comebacks” the Knights have pulled off in the past 15 seasons”
October 11th, 2002 – Opening night of the John Labatt Centre – vs Plymouth
Dylan Hunter opened the scoring. The crowd of 9046 went wild.
Then the Whalers scored pumped in four straight goals and what was supposed to be a great night had become a bit of a mess.
Dylan Hunter remembers the uncomfortable feeling on the bench early in the second period.
“We had to win that game. It was the first one in the building. None of us had ever played in front of that many people before. We had to.”
The Knights changed goalies and a switch seemed to flip. Kyle Piowarczyk scored and then Corey Perry set up three straight power play goals and London won 5-4.
December 12th, 2004 – Game 31 of the 29-0-2 streak – vs Kitchener
London had just broken the Brandon Wheat Kings’ record for longest unbeaten streak to begin a season. Corey Perry, Dave Bolland and captain Danny Syvret had left for Team Canada’s World Junior selection camp. Rob Schremp was just about to leave.
It was natural for the team to exhale. And they did.
They were outshot 7-2 in the first period by the Rangers and they fell behind 3-0. Time was ticking and the streak was certainly in jeopardy. Dylan Hunter and Trevor Kell worked to set up Ryan Pottruff at the 2:21 mark of the third period. Then Rob Schremp fed Brandon Prust for a goal at 8:47 and London was one shot away from tying it. Schremp took that shot and got that tying goal with less than two minutes remaining and the Knights had pushed the game to overtime.
It took 35 seconds to end it. Trevor Kell got a puck to Bryan Rodney and he slapped a shot past Dan Turple, and the unbeaten streak hit 31 games.
No one has even come close to touching it since.
February 4th, 2005 – a rematch against the Peterborough Petes
Following the Knights’ 31-game unbeaten streak, the Knights eventually hit the road and headed east. They were beaten 2-1 in Belleville when Kevin Lalande made 42 saves. The next night, the Petes handed London a 6-2 loss in a game that had an old-fashioned circus feel to it.
Peterborough came to London just over two weeks later, bent on being the only team that the Knights would not beat that season. The Petes scored five goals and less than a minute into the 3rd period they led 5-2.
From there – London outshot the Petes 22-3 – Bryan Rodney scored twice – and added an assist and the Knights netted 5 goals – and won 7-5
November 15th of 2012 – vs Oshawa – Budweiser Gardens
The Knights were again down 3-0 in the third period. There were just over 13 minutes remaining. Max Domi turned to Bo Horvat on the bench and said something to the effect of, “Look around. We could lose this game and all of these people came here to see us win.”
Domi scored twice, Horvat tied the game with 22 seconds left and Seth Griffith won it in overtime.
The Knights would win a few more games after that, putting up the second longest winning streak in Ontario Hockey League history and eventually they would capture the OHL Championship and a second consecutive trip to the Memorial Cup.
January 28, 2017 in Owen Sound
The Knights were missing eight regulars who accounted for more than half of the goals they have scored this season. Three of their replacements had played 10 games or less.
And London was up against the hottest team in the Canadian Hockey League. The Owen Sound Attack had won 15 games in a row.
And 7:38 into the 2nd period, London was down 5-1.
And somehow at the end of the game, it was the Knights who were skating off with a 7-6 victory.
For more on the game, visit Knights Come Back To End Owen Sound’s Streak
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