Played on Feb 22, 2025
Ontario Hockey League
Game Played in Erie Insurance Arena
Scout: Ben Marshall
General Game Notes: London ran away with this one in the middle of the second period where they were finally able to increase the lead larger than two goals. This game was one with the depth of the London Knights roster showing up to play with five different goal scorers getting on the board. Strong defense and goalie helped contain the win.
Malcolm Spence (LW, L, 6’1″, 205, Erie Otters, 09/22/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Spence is a solid size winger who does a good job at using his size to maintain space for himself. Scored a nice goal down the wing looking off a two on one and taking a shot from tops of circles, beating the goalie clean over the glove. As a back checker within contact length of him was applying pressure, Spence picked his head up and saw a corner for a great goal showing off his ability to pick a corner under pressure. Where Spence was at his best tonight was off the rush, not only because he was able to score, but he was able to show multiple ways to enter the zone. He uses his size to put a shoulder down at wants to get to the net. Other than his goal tonight, he got jammed up at the near post almost every time he looked to net drive. His skating is powerful but not quick enough to out muscle and beat defenseman to the top of the crease. He has time to work on this and his play style would greatly improve.
Sam Alfano (RW, R, 6’4″, 210, Erie Otters, 01/18/2004)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Alfano did a great job at the net front taking contact and being available for high tips and second chances at the net. When there is a loose puck at the net, he focuses on the puck disregarding the contact he is taking, this allows him to use his strength and swing his hips around for multiple attempts. Defensively is where his game needs to improve. He loses track of players and without momentum or space to gap up, he loose players with quick footwork. Once connected to someone, he leads with his stick, and with his reach, he is able to keep players to the perimeter well.
Lucas Ambrosio (D, L, 6’4″, 185, Erie Otters, 01/06/2008)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Ambrosio is a solidly built defensive defenseman with a strong physical presence. He plays with grit and passion, never shying away from confrontation. However, this aggressive style can sometimes lead to penalty issues. When stationary in his own zone, he makes solids reads of when to leave his position and look to close. He has to makes these reads early because his foot speed is not the best against smaller more agile forwards. When he is able to get contact, he swallows up defenders and does a good job at eliminating them from the play. Like to see him be more of a shooter in the offensive zone.
Pano Fimis (C, R, 5’11”, 185, Erie Otters, 06/17/2004, Notre Dame)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Where Fimis is at his best in pushing the pace on entries. He did a good job tonight at manipulating the rush by cutting to the middle early in the neutral zone, forcing defenseman to make decisions before they wanted to. He keeps his head up looking for the space to attack and has the hands and feet to do so. Couple times tonight he showed off his footwork skating backwards with the puck in the offensive zone making his decision that much more deceptive. It draws in defensemen to the play who sees backs but helps the second wave because often the defense loose their marks.
Austin Elliott (G, L, 6’0″, 175, London Knights, 05/14/2004, UMass Lowell)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: Austin was able to showcase tonight that he is a decent sized goaltender who effectively uses his size to cover the net, making it difficult for opponents to score on direct shots. However, his limited agility leaves him vulnerable to rebounds, requiring strong defensive support to clear loose pucks. Occasionally, he can be prone to allowing soft goals. He saw plenty of shots tonight while only allowing one in, that was an odd man rush. Elliot did a good job tonight at attacking shooters and getting to second chance opportunities quickly. He pounces on pucks making it hard for net front players to get to get a whack on loose pucks.
Sam Dickinson (D, L, 6’3″, 195, London Knights, 06/07/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Dickinson was at his best tonight, using his skating for all aspects of his game. He gets back to pucks quickly where he looks to beat the first forechecker with a pass or his feet, usually his feet. He created rushes into the offensive zone where he tends to lead rather than join. As well skating as he is, he tends to use all his energy with the puck and stays patient without it. Most the time he can get away with it, but skilled forwards exploited this and exposed his gaps in small areas. One area where he really excelled was walking the blue line and showing off his lateral mobility. There is no confidence lost when looking to beat the first layer, knowing he is last man back, he will still toe drag to create a lane, and usually does.
Easton Cowan (RW, L, 5’11”, 190, London Knights, 05/20/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: No doubt, one of the better players on the ice. Has all the tools to be a threat every time he crosses the blue line for a rush for. He does a good job at keeping the puck close to his body and also has that type of release that is very deceptive and hard for shot blockers to read as well as goalies. Cowan was able to show tonight that he reads the play very well and is a skilled playmaker. Is also a speedy skater that does not shy away from the rough stuff, although he is not really a big-time physical player. He was at his best when he was looking to take players one on one. He makes larger slower footed defenseman pay with their ill times gaps and slower pivots. He can really take advantage of a player looking to play him soft.
Kasper Halttunen (RW, R, 6’4″, 215, London Knights, 06/07/2005)
Game Rating
A-
1 Viewing
Comments: The big man is a force to be reckon with. Halttunen was at his best tonight being hard to play against. This consisted of protecting the puck for an extended period of time, drawing players in only to make passes to players getting into a scoring area. He does this really well where he is able to see a lot of the ice while taking contact due to his size. His foot speed could improve but for now he makes up for it with being able to be physically dominant. He really does have a great package where he can play with his big size and the potential of improving both his straight line speed and small area agility, will be able to make him a threat in other places than being stationary.
Jared Woolley (D, L, 6’5″, 207, London Knights, 02/27/2006)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Woolley was able to show tonight that he is a well rounded defenseman with offensive skill, contributing effectively at both ends of the ice without being elite in either area. A strong team player, he possesses good size and skates well for his frame. His passing is a strength, and he has a respectable shot. The big man needs the extra second to wind up his shot but when he does, he was able to showcase the power that he can put behind it. His size helps him out in front of the net where he can easily box out the smaller forwards looking to gain net front advantage. Woolley was at his best tonight when taking rushes and he was able to match speed, when he matches speed he has the tools to either use his reach or be physical to break up plays. He makes himself really hard to beat wide or to the middle.
Noah Read (C, L, 6’0″, 172, London Knights, 01/06/2007)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Read was able to show tonight, with scoring his goal, that he is a strong skating two way forward with good hockey sense. He is a very smart and mature player and is solid both offensively and defensively. Read has good technical skills and plays with plenty of intensity. His shot is quick, but could be more accurate and he does not really play very physical. He has great size and should incorporate more of this into his game, at the least, finish more checks defensively. He is worried about the rush too much and getting into a good spot for the entry. Of course this is important in his game but not at the cost of leaving opponent behind you.
Photo Credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images