Ranked second in the Canadian Hockey League, the London Knights have just added three NHL draft picks to their roster. Jaxon Cover (Senators) and Aleksei Medvedev (Canucks) have been returned from their NHL teams, and they added Finnish defenceman Juho Piiparinen from Las Vegas camp. “Just seeing the past three games (3-0 start) that you’re doing so well too, it just seems really great,” said Cover of the team’s hot start. “I can’t wait to get started back here. It was really fun in Ottawa for the couple of weeks I was there, but I’m happy to be back and can’t wait to get started with these guys.” Cover didn’t play in any NHL exhibition games but turned heads – including his own – with seven points in two games during a two-game rookie prospect tournament. “I surprised myself a little bit going into it,” said Cover. “I wasn’t too focused on points or scoring or anything, just trying to make sure I’m playing my game and playing the right way. Then the puck, kind of kept finding my stick, so, I just kept shooting it.” Cover and Medvedev both plan on taking on leadership roles on this team which is expected to contend for the Western Conference title. “It all comes down to like really watching the (NHL) guys and talking to them, asking the questions,” said Medvedev. “Being in the spot of a younger guy there, you kind of come back here and you have a little have a little more sympathy for the younger guys here and kind of you try to help them all even more.” Medvedev has been open about his play last season where he lost his starting job to Sebastian Gatto. He’s been working hard during the offseason to make sure it doesn’t happen again. “There are so many things to prove for me,” said Medvedev who is expected to start Friday night. “We have a really good team here and I just want to be the guy for them and hope help them out every night. He spent hours on the technical side of goalkeeping. “The biggest body of work done was kind of building and creating new routines, kind of new habits,” added Medvedev. “That helped me kind of manage the game, kind of just self-reflecting and working on kind of the mental side. I think those are the biggest changes.” Brittany Howard ready for St. Thomas homecoming The Joe Thornton Community Centre (JTCC) in St. Thomas, Ont. will be packed with family and friends as Western Mustangs Women’s Hockey Coach Brittany Howard steps behind the bench Saturday. Howard’s Mustangs will play a preseason game against the Guelph Gryphons as part of Panther Day which is a day dedicated to girls’ hockey in her hometown. “My aunt was our MP (Karen Vecchio) in our area in St. Thomas for 10 years and she’s going to drop the puck,” said Howard. “My other aunt, who was a principal in the area, she’s going to do our lineup read. I know they’re both absolutely jazzed to do and participate. I have 13 cousins on my mom’s side, and I hope they all show up.” Howard – who grew up in St. Thomas – has a banner recognizing her NCAA and professional career inside the JTCC. The team will host a meet and greet for the young girls during the afternoon prior to the evening game which is free admission. “It’s a huge opportunity for us to give back to the community,” said Howard. “Last year our players went out for a skate with the organization, and it was a phenomenal event, and I think it really made an impact with our roster. So, I think going into this year, setting up the game against one of the best opponents we can in our conference was an amazing opportunity. I hear we are going to get a great crowd, and I think it will be great for our girls to play in front of that.” Mustangs Football prepares for undefeated Queen’s For the second straight week, the Western Mustangs football team will be welcoming an undefeated opponent to Alumni Stadium. Both Western and rival Queen’s are perfect at 4-0 and share top spot in the OUA. In front of 14,000 fans last weekend at Homecoming, the Mustangs held on for a 32-25 win over McMaster in what they admit was not their best effort. “With our 3-0 start, it wasn’t the toughest scheduled to start and we knew it was going to get significantly tougher,” said Michael Faulds, Mustangs head football coach. “That’s kind of what you want. As the season goes along, you’ve got to keep building. You’ve got to get stronger and you’ve got to stay motivated and our guys will. There’s going to be a lot of correctable in the film and you know, our guys will be motivated to play a talented Queen’s team.” Faulds said the goal is to go 1-and-0 every week and believes his team will try to accomplish that goal by any means possible. London Smash wins Canadian National Pickleball League title London’s professional Pickleball team capped off a remarkable season with a Canadian Championship. The Smash established itself as one of the premier organizations in the Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL). London advanced through the playoff rounds and defeated United to win the 2026 title. It was an extraordinary season capturing the CNPL Mid-Season Championship, finishing first at the Central Split in London, capturing first place at the Vancouver Split, securing a first-round playoff bye, and ultimately raising the championship trophy in Waterloo. The championship roster featured Ryan Torresin, Anne-Sophie Courteau, Aibika Kalsarieva, Lucas Wong, Sophia Racine, with every member contributing to the team’s championship journey. Ed Sater was named owner/manager of the year while captain Ryan Torresin received the Player’s Choice Award, voted on by his peers across the league.
