Another OHL Knightmare

A pair of London Knight rookies are making a name for themselves with strong performances early on in the season.

Following Sunday’s 7-5 victory over the Brampton Battalion in Brampton, Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner find themselves in the Ontario Hockey League’s top five scorers. Gagner leads all scorers with eight goals and 33 points through just 11 games while Kane is fourth in scoring with nine goals and 25 points.

Both players joined the Knights this season after spending time in the USA Hockey program. Kane played last season with the US National Team Development Program on the US Under-18 team. Kane was the Knights fifth round draft pick in the 2004 OHL Priority Selection from the Detroit Honeybaked Midget program.

Gagner spent last season with the United States Hockey League’s Sioux City Muskateers after being the Knights fourth round pick in the 2005 Priority Selection. Both players were integral parts of the US National Team Development programs and Kane is among five American players on the Knights roster this season.

Gagner was born in Oakville, Ontario but has dual citizenship. The other American players include David Meckler of Highland Park, Illinois; Philip McRae and Kevin Bodker, who were both born in Chesterfield, Missouri; as well as Tony DeHart of Ballwin, Missouri.

The fathers of both Gagner and McRae spent time in the NHL. Gagner’s father Dave spent 17 years in the NHL with seven teams. The elder Gagner spent his NHL career with the New York Rangers, Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, and Vancouver Canucks. Sam Gagner also spent time in the OHL with the Brantford Alexanders.

McRae, the Knights first round pick in 2006, also has an NHL background as his father Basil played 18 years in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, St. Louis Blues, and Chicago Black Hawks. Basil, a former London Knight, is a current owner of the Knights.

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FRONTENACS ACQUIRE GOALTENDING:

The Kingston Frontenacs were picked by many to be one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams but questionable goaltending has not helped the team.

Frontenacs goaltender Daryl Borden has struggled at times this season causing the team to look elsewhere for net minding help. On Sunday afternoon, the team completed a three-way trade with the Windsor Spitfires and Guelph Storm that saw the team acquire Jason Guy from the Storm.

First the Storm acquired Jonathan Sciacca from the Spitfire in exchange for Harry Young and a fifth round pick in 2007. Then the Storm flipped Sciacca to Kingston along with Guy to the Frontenacs for Luke Pither and a fifth round pick in 2009.

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ADT CANADA/RUSSIA SITES ANNOUNCED:

The Canadian Hockey League has announced the sites for the Canada/Russia series being played in six CHL cities.

“The Canadian Hockey League is extremely excited about hosting the fourth consecutive series between two prestigious hockey countries,” said CHL President David Branch in a release. “This series will play a large part in the final step of identifying our country’s top players for the National Junior Team, who will compete in the World Junior Championships in Leksand and Mora, Sweden this Christmas.”

2006 ADT Canada Russia Challenge
Schedule of Games

Game 1 – Monday November 20 at Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, 7:00pm (EST)
Game 2 – Wednesday November 21 at Val-d’Or Foreurs, 7:00pm (EST)
Game 3 – Thursday November 23 at Sarnia Sting, 7:00pm (EST)
Game 4 – Monday November 27 at Oshawa Generals, 7:00pm (EST)
Game 5 – Wednesday November 29 at Chilliwack Bruins, 7:00pm (PST)
Game 6 – Thursday November 30 at Kamloops Blazers, 7:00pm (PST)