RYAN PYETTE The London Free Press The future, present and past are all wrapped into

one OHL nal. The London Knights play at the 9,000-seat John Labatt Centre, a 10-year-old gem part of the leagues recent run of brand new buildings and one of junior hockeys biggest stages. The Niagara IceDogs, for now, operate out of the 74-year-old Jack Gatecliff Arena, the ancient St. Catharines barn whose cramped confines trigger memories of bygone days. New digs are in the works. The IceDogs, transplanted from Mississauga ve years ago, are a relatively new franchise, but make no mistake St. Catharines has a rich junior hockey history. In fact, London and St. Catharines make up one of the leagues best historical rivalries dating back to an old, eight-game playoff battle between the Knights and Fincups in 1977. Knights forward Dan Eastman scored the overtime winner at London Gardens to propel his team to the OHL nal. This time, Londons Mark Hunter is trying to become the OHLs first in-season replacement head coach to lead his team to the title. Niagaras Marty Williamson went to the league nal two years ago with Barrie, and his Colts were swept by the Windsor Spitres. The clubs met twice this season. The Knights beat the shorthanded IceDogs 7-3 on Oct. 6, and the IceDogs won in London in early February on a Brett Ritchie third-period goal. ryan.pyette@sunmedia.ca twitter.com/RyanatLFPress

OLYMPIC BLOOD
Knights defenceman Tommy Hughes grandfather, the late Bob McFarlane, carried Canadas ag at the 1948 Olympics in London, England. IceDogs brothers Freddie and Dougie Hamiltons parents Doug and Lynn represented Canada at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles in rowing and basketball respectively.

OHL FINAL
London Knights vs Niagara IceDogs
LONDON
360,000 Its trees. People mistake it for the other London in England. John Labatt Centre: 10 years old. Capacity: 9,046; Standard NHL 200x85 feet Beat Windsor in four games Beat Saginaw in six games Beat Kitchener in four games
6 5 4 3 2 1

WORLD JUNIORS
The IceDogs boast ve players on the Canadian world junior team that nished third in Alberta: the Hamilton brothers, Ryan Strome (above), defenceman Jamie Oleksiak and goalie Mark Visentin. The Knights have one: defenceman Scott Harrington. London captain Jarred Tinordi and Austin Watson skated for the United States and Olli Maatta represented Finland for the second straight year, though he was hurt in his teams rst tournament game against Canada.

VS
ARENA ROAD TO THE FINAL

ST. CATHARINES
131,400 Its wine. People spell it St. Catherines with an E Jack Gatecli Arena: 74 years old (1938) Capacity: 3,145; Cramped 190x85 feet Beat Oshawa in six games Beat Bramptom in four games Beat Ottawa in ve games
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

POPULATION FAMOUS FOR PET PEEVE

BIRD DOG
Londoner Roger MacLeod is an IceDogs scout. He looks after the Alliance region for the Niagara team. But when football season rolls around, he wears a dierent hat. Hes the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks scout in the London area, sning out players on the Western Mustangs doorstep.

NHL DRAFTED PLAYERS PLAYOFF GOALS FROM DEFENCEMENT PLAYOFF GOALS FROM OVERAGERS SPECIAL TEAMS (PLAYOFFS 2012)

9 in 14 games (ve from Olli Maatta) 0 in 14 games (Defenceman Brett Cook only overager to appear in playos)

7 in 15 games (four from Dougie Hamilton)

THE HILL
Niagara forward Brett Ritchie, the former Sarnia Sting rst rounder, attended the Hill Academy, the private, sports-minded school in Vaughan before his OHL careeer. Knights former head coach and current director of scouting Lindsay Hoord is the head hockey honcho at the Hill.

23 in 15 games (David Pacan, 8; Alex Friesen, 8; Andrew Agozzino, 7)

Power play Penalty kill

20.6% 77.2%

Power play Penalty kill

24.3% 81.4%