CREDIT: JORDAN CROW
After a nail-biting loss to the Erie Otters in the 2017 playoffs, the London Knights are set to begin their new season in September.

After a summer of repenting a quarter-final loss to the Erie Otters, new skaters join the London Knights for the 2017-2018 season in hopes of reclaiming their title of Memorial Cup Champions.

The London Knights 2017 playoff run came to a disappointing halt in a quarter-final match up against their highly anticipated rivals, the Erie Otters.

As the two teams have traded knockout eliminations over the past 2015 and 2016 playoff runs, it seemed almost inevitable that Erie would harbour a personal vendetta towards the Knights in the 2017 playoffs, after being knocked out by the London unit in the semi-final round, on their way to becoming the 2016 Memorial Cup Champions.

This year however, Erie returned the favour by ending London’s attempt at a back-to-back league championship earlier than usual, in what turned out to be a nail-biter game 7 overtime finish, that left the Knights out of contention for the remainder of the 2017 OHL playoffs.

As the London unit skated back to the dressing room with their heads held down in disappointment, they knew the off-season would be an opportune time to rebuild their once deadly team that allowed them to claim the crown of 2016 Memorial Cup Champions, just one year ago.

But as eight Knights have already sparked the interest of NHL teams in both the 2016 and 2017 entry draft, head coach Dale Hunter has been hard at work ensuring the positions and roles are filled accordingly.

The 2016 NHL draft class have secured Knights frontmen Cliff Pu, Nicholas Mattinen, Max Jones, and goalie Tyler Parsons, who have been selected by the Buffalo Sabres, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Anaheim Ducks, and the Calgary Flames respectively, whom which all have solid chances of playing in the NHL this upcoming season.

Additionally, 2017 standouts such as Robert Thomas, Alex Formenton, Brandon Crawley and Jacob Golden have already been acquired by NHL teams in the 2017 entry draft.

Although it is uncertain if those selected in either draft year will remain with the Knights moving forward, new skaters have been added to the roster to prepare for what’s inevitably to come.

New to the Knights 2017-2018 roster are Sweden natives Jesper Bratt (49th pick) and Adam Boqvist (109th pick), selected in the 2017 CHL import draft. London has a track record of selecting star-studded international players such as Robin Salo and Janne Kuokkanen in last year’s import draft, leaving the newly knighted Knights with big shoes to fill.

Bratt, the 19-year-old Swedish winger is reminiscent of Knight’s superstar and the 2016 OHL Most Outstanding Player of the Year recipient, Mitch Marner, in the sense that he lacks height but makes up for it with his quickness and physical toughness. Averaging a point every two games with the AIK Hockey Club in Stockholm, Sweden, the Knights will look to utilize Bratt’s speed and strength in the upcoming season.

Additionally, 15-year old defensemen Andrew Perrott, son of former Toronto Maple Leaf Nathan Perrott, will find himself in a Knights uniform this upcoming season along newcomers Lucas Rowe, Dalton DuHart, and defensemen Ryan Bangs.

Although the Knights have done a good job acquiring many talented young guns over the course of summer, there still lies the uncertainty of what the final roster may look like heading into the season.

However, one thing that can be said is that despite the outcome, the Knights will preserve their reputation of being unanimously feared amongst the league, with Coach Dale Hunter leading the charge game after game.

With a new season of fast-paced Knights hockey just around the corner, London skaters are preparing to lace up for their pre-season debut on Friday Sept.1, as they take on the Sarnia Sting at their home arena of Budweiser Gardens.