‘Kudos to leadership group’: London Knights will rely on veterans to lead young team against Sault Ste. Marie in OHL playoffs

CTV London’s Brent Lale with a round one preview of London Knights versus Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the OHL playoffs.

The London Knights feel like they’ve been playing playoff hockey for weeks.

“The last two games especially, I’ve really felt like it’s taken on another level,” said Knights defenceman Henry Brzutewicz. “It’s the kind of hockey it’s going to be like at this point of the year.”

The Knights went toe-to-toe with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds down the stretch in a battle for fourth place in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage in the first round of the OHL playoffs.

“I don’t think there’s anything better than being here on a Friday night with our fans behind us,” said Rick Steadman, Knights’ assistant coach. “They [the fans] will give us some motivation and some more energy in our legs.”

London edged out the Greyhounds by one point, when Windsor beat the Soo on the final day of the regular season.

“The last couple games have been like feel like do or die games,” said Ryan Brown, the Knights leading scorer. “I think going into the playoffs we’ve you played some big games and I think we’re ready.”

This franchise continues to impress. In a year where they traded away stars like Sam O’Reilly and Jarred Woolley at the deadline in January, they still won 40 games for the fourth straight year.

They’ve won at least 39 games in each of the last 14 seasons.

“It’s never fun losing best friends or guys you won with,” said Steadman. “Kudos to this leadership group. They just they pulled up their straps, they went out and they just kept playing hockey. We had some tight games, got some close wins, and they just kept getting closer and closer together and they did a great job getting home ice advantage.”

Many of these veterans know what it is like to play into April and May. However, others like Brown – who was acquired from Sarnia – have never experienced post-season play.

“This is what you dream of when you’re growing up wanting to play in the OHL,” said Brown. “Playing in playoffs and playing in these big games in this rink. I’m excited to play in front of all our fans.”

Game one is set for Friday and game two will go Sunday, both at Canada Life Place.

On Sunday, the first 1,000 fans in attendance will take home a 2016 replica Memorial Cup banner to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the championship.