‘Excited for the challenge’: London Knights the favourites in stacked field at 2025 Memorial Cup

As CTV London's Brent Lale reports, the Memorial Cup tournament starts this Friday night, with the Knights' first game Saturday.

The London Knights reputation stretches across the country.

During the coaches’ media conference, Moncton head coach Gardiner MacDougall was asked what he knows about the mighty Knights? He was quick to respond with a joke.

“Once we got the schedule, I went to our equipment manager, Chris McDonald,” said MacDougall, referring to the Wildcats opening game against London. “I asked him to get longer sticks and faster skates. Good news, they’re arriving tomorrow.”

The tournament opens Friday night with the host Rimouski Oceanic taking on the Western Hockey League champion Medicine Hat Tigers.

There has already been plenty of pomp and circumstance. The historic Memorial Cup trophy arrived Thursday afternoon in a helicopter with military personnel repelling down with the trophy strapped on their back. It was then brought into the city by veterans, and Oceanic alumni.

On the ice, the Knights are settling into their surroundings and for those who have never been to the tournament before like goalie Austin Elliott, it’s a unique experience.

“It’s been awesome,” said Elliott. “Coming onto the charter flight and now getting here, seeing the ocean - which I don’t see very often - and just being in a hotel with the boys for one last time. It’ll be fun.”

For those who were members of the team who suffered heartbreak in last year’s final, they are ready to get down to business.

“It’d be nice to play earlier,” said Knights forward Sam O’Reilly, who spoke about advantages and disadvantages of playing game two. “The way it is, it’s getting us more ready for it, and guys are resting up and we’re hoping we’ll be 100 per cent for this game.”

In a short tournament, O’Reilly said they are approaching every game like it’s their last but are very excited to face Moncton.

It was 20 years ago when the Knights beat Sidney Crosby and Rimouski at the then John Labatt Centre to win their first ever Memorial Cup tournament.

This season, its the Oceanic who are the hosts and London has a team who as asserted similar dominance over their opponents.

“There were some special players in that (2004-2005 tournament) and they’re still playing,” Knights head coach Dale Hunter said during the coaches press conference. “Sid (Crosby) is still playing and we had Corey Perry playing. They’re both special teams back then but I don’t like to compare teams to each other. It’s not fair. They were good teams, and there’s good teams here.”

London has won twice in their six tournament appearances over the past two decades. They came close to winning two more with an overtime loss in Shawinigan, Que. in 2012 and in the final seconds in Saginaw, Mich. last year.

“We’ve got a lot of returning players and they realize that it’s a tough tournament,” said Hunter. “They’ll be ready for it. We lost with 20 seconds left [in 2024] and that that hurts. That’s how tough the tournament is to win.”

It will be no easy test in what some are calling a “dream field” of teams.

The Knights are stacked with NHL prospects, and they are joined by projected 2026 NHL Draft top pick Gavin McKenna and the Medicine Hat Tigers, top 2025 NHL Draft prospect Caleb Desnoyers of the Wildcats and 2024-25 QMJHL scoring leader Jonathan Fauchon of the Oceanic.

The fans in Rimouski have been lucky enough to watch Crosby and Alexei Lafreniere. Now, they get a tournament with all this talent.

“I don’t think I’m anywhere near those guys, but it’ll be fun to play here,” said Easton Cowan. “It’s a great rink, and Crosby played here too, so it’s pretty cool. I’m just excited and ready for the challenge. We’re excited to get started on Saturday.”