Sarnia Sting defeat London Knights to kick off Rivalry Week in the OHL
Two third-period power-play goals lifted the Sarnia Sting to a 6-4 win over the London Knights on Oct. 21 at Progressive Auto Sales Arena in Sarnia, Ont.
The Sting entered the game with the second-best power play in the OHL, clicking at 34.5 per cent. It scored in every period. In the third, it broke a 4-4 tie after London’s Jonathan Kapageridis was assessed a major penalty for slashing.
Former Knight Logan Hawery scored twice on the ensuing five-minute advantage. That gave the Sting the cushion they needed to end a four-game losing skid.
Hawery went to Sarnia in the deal that brought Ryan Brown to London on Dec. 28, 2025. So far, the trade has worked out for both sides.
Brown stepped into the Knights lineup and led London in scoring in 2025-26. He was named captain on Oct. 19. Hawery battled injuries over the second half of last season but currently leads the OHL in assists.
Brown had eight assists in five games this year coming into the first of a home-and-home between the clubs to kick off rivalry week in the Ontario Hockey League.
The Dallas Stars prospect scored his first two goals of the year against his old teammates.
Jonas Gulbranson opened the scoring for Sarnia. London’s Marcus Nordmark, the OHL Player of the Week, tied it 1-1 on a 5-on-3 power play.
Jack Van Volsen restored the Sarnia lead with a power-play goal of his own.
Brown evened the score 2-2 with 1:01 left in the first period. Just 21 seconds into the second, he scored again to give London a 3-2 lead.
Then came a rare sequence. Cody Wood’s shot hit the post behind Sarnia goaltender Ivan Tkach-Tkachenko, struck the netminder’s skate and wobbled back to the goal line. Easton Walos, who finished with four assists for the Sting, pulled the puck away before either referee got a clear look at whether it had crossed the line. Play continued for one minute and 37 seconds.
The goal was reviewed at the next whistle. The puck had completely crossed the line, which put London up 4-2 and set off a celebration on the Knights bench for Wood’s first career OHL goal.
Sarnia answered before the end of the period. Sting captain Alessandro Di Iorio scored his fifth of the season on the power play.
Just 54 seconds later, a broken play let Calgary Flames draft pick Simon Katolicky snap a shot into the London net, and the game was tied 4-4.
Sarnia outshot London 31-20. The Sting went 4-for-9 on the power play, and the Knights went 2-for-7.
The teams meet again Friday, Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at Canada Life Place. The game can be heard on Classic Rock 98.1, with the pregame show beginning at 3 p.m. Coverage can also be found at www.classicrock981.com