Lakeshore Advance, 2011-10-05, Page 30Wedn
Gritty GrandBend combo on the
QMI AQency
L8k9311019 AdVa.
Ryan Rupert leaned against a wall with
a celebratory black sombrero on his
head.
The look spoke volumes about how
eielosive the London Knights offence can
lis season.
'1 low else do you explain one-half of the
gritty (;rand Rend twin combo failing to
score on an early penalty shot, but bounc-
ing back with a hat trick anyway and earn-
ing the right to wear the famous Mexican
chapeau?
'the Knights scored eight titles again in
an 8-2 dismantling of the Sudbury Wolves
before 9,046 Friday night at the John Lab-
att Centre. 'they seore d eight in their home
opener last week when Max Dom' bagged
a hat trick against Saginaw (but wore a
hard hat with the sombrero out of
commission).
"We have (Mile an arsenal on this teitrn,"
the 17 -year-old Rupert said. "It could be
anyone of us who does it on any night. On
the penalty shot, 1 had (Wolves goalie
Brendan O'Neill) beau on the backhand,
hut 1 batted the puck away from the net
(by mistake);'
1 le never missed again.
So what happened? 1)id he get angry,
grit his teeth and hear down?
Well, that doesn't seem possible.
Rupert twins Ryan and Matt are always
angry, gritting their teeth and hearing
down on the Ice.
"I've played against then) since 1 was
eight -years -old;" saki O'Neill, the Merton
native and former London Junior Knight.
"They haven't changed. Not one hit.
'They're always trying to get under my skin
and they were again tonight:'
Just like old times, Ryan admitted,
"We heat his team for the Alliance
championship in minor midget;" he said
with a grin. "We've always battled. We've
even got in a few fights along the way."
'that's hardly a surprise, but maybe this
is - - the Ruperts, hack together again,
formed a lethal trio with ))ane Fox, who
buried his third -period penalty shot
attempt -- yep, their were two of'etn -- on
a nifty shades -of -Peter -Forsberg sbetg dyke.
"Every'lhursday after practice, we have
a penalty shot contest," two -goal Fox said,
"and 1 tried that move on Michael I tourer
it workers. You have to really do some -
g to heat 1 tottser on a breakaway so 1
thought 1'd lay
"(Goalie coach) Rill 1)ark said go pow
blocker (on O'Neill) but 1 went with that
and got It:'
Fox gets the Rttperts. I le knows what
they're about and maybe that's why he's
so effective with them '1 hey're not specifi-
cally tt shutdown Zine but they can !wand
Kane -Sam Gagner days?
"I don't know about that,"
said new captain Jarred
'Monk, a physical presence in
his first game back from Mon-
treal Canadiens camp.
"It doesn't matter if we win
8-2 or 2-1," Fox added, "as
long as we get the wins. 'that's
what we're trying to do. We
have a good offence, good
defence and the goaltending
behind us:'
It's an impressive mix.
This was a big moment for
O'Neill and the injury -ravaged
Wolves. It was the puckstop-
per's eighth 0111. game and he
was back for the Ione yearly
visit to his hometown, his
Lakeshore Advance 29
family was in the crowd and he
and his mates got off to a solid
start.
'they just couldn't sustain it.
The Knights got rolling with a
four -goal second period.
Last week, it was five to sink
the Spirit.
"You always look forward to
playing at home, O'Neill said.
"It just wasn't the result we
were looking for. The Knights
have a good team."
'That could become a famil-
iar refrain in the visitor's
dressing room at the JLC this
season.
Rupert and Co. could make
sure the sombrero conies back
in style in a rather big way.
Matt and Ryan Rupert
they're not Just scorers, but they can chip
'ninety, too.
"We're similar players," I ox, the
Thaunesvi1le native, said, "'Those guys
work hard and go to battle every game.
'they're not afraid of anything.
"When you're going to war, they're the
first ones who'll volunteer. 'they do what
deeds to be done."
They Just don't always remember all
their battle gear. Matt Rupert got dinged
on a misconduct for a mouth guard
Violation.
So far, the Canadian Hockey League's
No. 2 ranked Knights have set some lofty
Kineto 1 heatre
Forest
"THE HELP"
Rating: (Mature Theme)
Ootobor 7, •, 9 & 11th
Starring: Emma Stone
Viola Davis, Octavio Spencer
SS 00 An Se, it , All 1),„
rO1VTI.11 N •
Lynda Hillman-Raptey Lakeshoae Advance
expectations on home ice. Are they going
to put up an eight -spelt every time out?
Is the sombrero going to get a major
workout this season like the Pat
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