Former London Knights winners give Memorial Cup advice: ‘Compete like hell’

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Nothing replaces experience. And ahead of Sunday night’s Memorial Cup championship game, LFP reporter Jonathan Juha spoke with three former London Knights players who won the national junior hockey championship in green and gold and asked them : What advice would you give to this season’s team heading into this one? -final of the match?

Adam Denis

Former London Knights goaltender Adam Dennis still considers his 2005 Memorial Cup championship one of the most important highlights of his hockey career. He says he’s sure the 2024 players also know the magnitude of what they can accomplish Sunday night against Saginaw.

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“I think it’s huge,” he said, referring to what it means for young players to win the Memorial Cup. “It’s a trophy that you only have a limited number of years to win, so if you have the opportunity to go there, it’s a great experience, but to win it, for me personally . it’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

Now an executive himself, Dennis, general manager of the North Bay Battalion, said for aspiring players hoping to make it to the National Hockey League, winning the trophy represents a unique opportunity to get noticed and prove their worth. courage.

“Teams at the next level want winners,” he said. “They want players who have been in pressure situations, and when you have that on your CV, it’s something that definitely helps you down the line.”

His advice for current knights? Stay in the present moment and trust the process.

“When you get to this kind of tournament, there’s a lot of noise and it’s easy to get lost in the distractions, but if you stick to what got you here, I think that’s what’s important,” Dennis said.

Danny Syvret

As captain of the team that won it all in 2005, Syvret had the privilege of lifting the Memorial Cup trophy first. It’s a moment that remains etched in his mind.

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Now 38 years old, he still remembers very well the last minutes of the match won 4-0 against the Rimouski Océanic at the Budweiser Garden, then at the John Labatt Center, and what he felt when he finally lifted the trophy.

“The excitement turns into more realistic excitement in the last couple of minutes, especially when you’re up 4-0 and you’re just watching the clock tick down,” Syvret said.

“The trophy probably only weighs 30 pounds, but it feels like the heaviest thing on Earth until you can actually touch it. It takes a whole team and organization to lift this thing, but when you’re lucky enough to get your hands on it, you’re completely weightless.

Syvret went on to win gold at the World Junior Championship and was named the CHL’s top defenseman before turning professional after being drafted by the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers at the age of 20. Now a minor hockey coach in London, he advised the current Knights to treat Sunday’s game the way they did. no other so far during this successful season.

“I think they got here by doing what they did, and even though this is the biggest game of their lives so far, and for some it will be the biggest game of their career, you still have to play it as if it were a regular match,” he said.

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“You can’t be uptight and tense and unable to play or make decisions or afraid to make mistakes.

“I think they realize they’re a good team, and if they play their game and stay disciplined and compete like hell, then good things will probably happen to them.”

Owen MacDonald

Unlike the 2005 team, the 2016 Memorial Cup champions London Knights faced some adversity before coming out on top.

Despite taking a lead in the second period, the Knights led 2-1 with just over four minutes remaining in the third period of the winner’s final against the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The Knights would eventually tie the game and win it in overtime.

MacDonald, the team’s closeness and willingness to trust each other made the difference in this championship match. That’s what he hopes the London Knights players remember if they find themselves in the same position.

“Stay relaxed. Stay calm. And don’t let the pressure get to you,” said the team’s former center. “And then, obviously, if you play with the leader, play with the leader. Don’t relax or sit down. Make sure to attack.

MacDonald said the current roster also benefits from playing for an organization with a long list of recent success. Building on what they’ve learned could help the team gain an advantage.

“I’m sure (London Knights coach) Dale (Hunter) has the guys in the right frame of mind going into this game,” he said. “Many staff members have experienced this many times, so listen to them. They have the best advice possible.

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