Storybook ending for London Knights core group who call themselves ‘family’

Fans celebrate the Knights' win on Dundas Place, their third win in the last two decades. CTV's Brent Lale has the details.

For the core group of London Knights superstars, hoisting the Memorial Cup trophy is a fairytale ending.

“To raise that trophy and celebrate, and to see the look on everyone’s faces right now, it’s a surreal feeling,” said Knights captain Denver Barkey, who scored twice in the title game.

A dominating 4-1 win over Medicine Hat in the championship final on Sunday in front of 4,512 at Sun Life Financial Coliseum in Rimouski, Que. gave London its third memorial cup crown in the past 20 years.

“They were determined from the start of the year,” said Dale Hunter, who ties Don Hay with a record three Memorial Cup wins as head coach since the tournament changed to the current format in 1972.

“It’s what they wanted. We came up short last year and it hurt a lot. So the boys, they were determined right from the get-go”.

Like his other two championship wins, he did it with a team loaded with future NHL players.

“This is my family,” said defenceman Sam Dickinson, who was named a first-team tournament all-star.

“These guys are my brothers. We’ve been together for me three years now and some guys four years together. It feels like it’s a perfect ending for the core of this group. This is how it should have gone out.”

That core has been together since the 2021 draft where London grabbed Barkey, Easton Cowan and Oliver Bonk in the first two rounds.

“It’s been great to watch each other grow,” said Barkey.

“Oliver Easton, Jacob (Julien), (Landon) Sim. All these guys coming into their own players and contributing with their best foot forward to help this team win.”

Easton Cowan tallied 15 career points in nine games at the past two Memorial Cups — the same total as Marner — and became the first player in history to lead the event in scoring back-to-back years. He was named tournament Most Valuable Player.

“I’m just speechless,” Cowan told TSN on the ice after the game.

“I’m so proud of this team. It sucks this is my last game as a Knight, but I’m so glad I got to do with these guys and win a championship.”

They finally got over the hump. This group lost in the 2023 OHL Final to Peterborough, then suffered heartbreak in the 2024 Memorial Cup final, losing to Saginaw with just 22 seconds remaining on the clock.

“We thought about every day,” said Sam O’Reilly, when thinking back on those defeats.

“In practice, every little game that mattered. Throughout these playoffs it was in the back of our minds.”

With 13 NHL draft picks on the roaster, all they needed as a top-tier goaltender. Austin Elliott was the perfect acquisition, posting a record of 55 wins and 3 losses in the CHL. It’s a mark which may never be duplicated.

“Even out west you know how good of an organization London is,” said Elliott, who played his first three seasons in the Canadian Hockey League for Saskatoon.

“Everyone knows, and you saw what they went through last year. They have a good team and it was a no brainer to come here and have a chance to win it all.”

That’s exactly what they did.

“You’ve dreamt of it all your life, especially growing up in London,” said Jacob Julien, a Knights over-aged player who scored in the title game.

“You’ve watched Memorial Cups happen, so just to be able to be a part of it with this group is unreal.”

The Knights came back from Rimouski to host a celebration Monday night on Dundas Place to say thank you to their fans.