Across all levels of hockey, the importance of having experienced players in your dressing room come playoff time is well-known. Having veterans that have battled deep into the playoffs and dealt with the trials and tribulations of the postseason can prove invaluable to a team on a championship run.
What better way to provide your team with that veteran presence than to bring in players who won last year’s championship?
That’s what both the London Knights and Peterborough Petes opted for as they built their rosters this season.
After bringing in Hamilton Bulldogs forward and local product George Diaco in October, the Knights moved for his former teammates, Ryan Winterton and Ryan Humphrey, at the trade deadline. The Petes no doubt had a similar plan in mind when they brought in goalscorer Avery Hayes and smooth-skating defenceman Gavin White from Hamilton.
With the Knights and Petes facing off for the J. Ross Robertson Cup beginning tonight, it will be a case of friends turning foes – at least for seven games.
According to Hayes, the time for niceties will be after the series is finished.
“We’ve kept in touch a bit throughout the year,” said the 20-year-old, while grinning.
“We texted when we found that we’d be playing each other, but other than that not so much – we’ll leave that until afterwards.”
Rather than focusing on reconnecting with former teammates, White says he and Hayes are concentrating on trying to help the Petes prepare for the series.
“‘Hayesy’ and I learned a lot last year,” explained the Dallas Stars prospect.
“It takes everyone to win a championship and all playoffs we’ve been harping on all the younger guys to stay ready and focused because you never know when your time will come.”
It’s a similar story in London according to Diaco. While Winterton and Humphrey’s ability is well known, the Knights co-captain says the intangibles they bring off-ice are vital.
“They are really skilled on the ice, but more importantly, they add a lot of character to the room,” said the London native.
That’s why we brought them over and they’re two of my best buddies, so it’s good to have them here.”
“[The young guys] look up to us, they come to us for advice,” added Humphrey.
“But at the same time, they are very mature in how they approach game day. It’s a grind – it’s a long playoffs, so I’m proud of them.”
Championship pedigree was at a premium at the trade deadline and the way Winterton sees it, a former Bulldog winning a second consecutive OHL Championship was inevitable.
“There was [Brenden] Anderson in Sarnia and [Logan] Morrison in Ottawa, and these guys in Peterborough, so it was kind of destined that one of us would play each other,” detailed the Seattle Kraken pick.
“With three of us and two [former Bulldogs] on the Petes, it’s probably the most Hamilton people [there could have been] in the finals which is cool, but honestly, we won’t think of that much more out there,” he added.
“I wish them all the best,” said Humphrey with a smile.
“But I definitely want to beat them obviously.”
Tune in to tonight’s game at 7:00pm live on Rogers tv in London, YourTV in Peterborough, across the province on the OHL Action Pak and streaming live online at ohllive.com.
