With a newly named leader, the London Knights are ranked number two in the country heading into a home and home matchup with the Sarnia Sting. Ryan Brown has been named the 55th captain in franchise history after a vote by his peers. “It’s a huge honour to wear the jersey and especially to wear the ‘C’ when I have the trust of my teammates,” said Brown. “I think nothing really changes. I think I bring the same attitude to the rink and be the same guy as I was before I got the ‘C’. I think that’s important that I don’t change and I can’t be a different person.” With a team expected to contend for a championship, he’s hoping to join the likes of Danny Syvret, Mitch Marner and Denver Barkey as legends who captained a Memorial Cup championship squad. “I think it’s very important, the consistency of having the same mannerisms and the same guy and treating people in the right way,” said Mark Hunter, Knights general manager. “Brownie does that. He’s another one of them that is going to have a history of being a captain and the legacy of being a captain. The next step is hopefully we can get a championship team here and Ryan is an integral part of getting where we want to go.” London has just one regulation loss through its first nine games and is second place behind Guelph in the Midwest Division. “We got the points we wanted but I thought we got lucky for a couple of points that we didn’t earn,” said Dylan Hunter, Knights assistant coach. “It was something that we didn’t like the game and came out with the two (points), which is great, but we’ve got to learn from it. The standings are good, but I think we got some movement here.” MUSTANGS TO HONOUR MARSHALL AS THEY LOOK FOR TOP SPOT IN OUA There are playoff implications on the line when the Western Mustangs take on Sir Wilfrid Laurier Saturday at Alumni Field. “There’s a lot at stake and that’s kind of why the OUA puts all the games at 1:00 for the last week so there is no scoreboard watching,” said Mustangs head coach Michael Faulds. “For us to have a chance to finish first (place) we need to take care of business and beat Laurier and then we need some help from McMaster beating Queen’s.” Faulds has said each week he wants to go 1-0. It’s his way of not looking too far ahead. He is excited about recognizing the seniors and his former coach prior to the game. “Coach (Greg) Marshall we’re going to honour him during the game and obviously it’s our last regular season game of the year, so playoff seedings on the line,” said Faulds. “It’s you know looking like it’s going to be a beautiful fall day 17 degrees and sunny.” After having a week-one bye, they have avoided the injury bug and would love to get the number one seed and have next week off. If not, they’ll be home for the first round of the playoffs. COWGIRLS STEAMROLL COMPETITION FOR TOP SPOT IN GIRLS FIELD HOCKEY The Medway Cowgirls nearly completed a perfect regular season on the field hockey turf. They scored 39 times and allowed just one goal all season finishing with a 9-0 record heading into Thursday’s TVRA semifinals. Saunders was the only team to sneak one past them. With first place on the line Tuesday afternoon, the Cowgirls shutout Strathroy 4-0 on the back of a three-goal performance by rookie Nicole Claxton. “I couldn’t have done it without my team and I’m just so happy that we’re here,” said Claxton, a grade 10 student who plays ice hockey. “I was so scared to try out being a rookie and I didn’t think I could make this great team. They all helped me get here, and scoring a hat trick feels so great.” The Cowgirls will face Parkside Collegiate in the semifinals with Saunders taking on Strathroy in the other matchup. The winner of the championship game later in the day will get an automatic berth to OFSAA. “It’s been a big development year for us and we’ve been putting in a lot of work at practice and just getting closer as a team, which has helped us a lot,” said Maelle Huls. With multiple graduating seniors from their OFSAA champion team, they weren’t sure what to expect but the new players have helped them excel. “I think communication is a big thing and just keep putting in the work and putting it in the back of the net,” added Huls. FALCONS TO HOST OCAA BASEBALL FINAL VS LAMBTON COLLEGE Playing baseball in late October can be hit or miss when it comes to the weather, but the forecast looks perfect for the OCAA final this weekend. The Fanshawe Falcons will host their rival across Highway 402, the third-seeded Lambton Lions in a best of three series at Aldrige Field in London, Ont. The Falcons are the top seed in the province having finished 17-1 in the regular season and completing a two-game sweep of powerhouse St. Clair College last weekend. The Falcons will be counting on OCAA Player of the Year Holden Heipel to lead them on the mound for game one Friday at 3:00 p.m. Game two is Saturday at noon, with game three if necessary to follow.
