Ryan Pyette

Canada

Sports Writer at London Free Press

Writer at Ryan "Pucks" Pyette on the OHL

V-P of the Larry Mellott fan club

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Articles

London Knights need scoring to avoid another Memorial Cup letdown

1 week ago | lfpress.com | Ryan Pyette

Austin Elliott has a tournament-leading 1.65 goals against average and .942 save percentage through the three round-robin games. The defence in front of him has been outstanding and the OHL champs have surrendered a consistently palatable 29 shots in each of the contests. But the big problem is scoring. The Knights only have seven goals so far – including one by Sam O’Reilly in 3-on-3 overtime, an empty-netter by Easton Cowan against Rimouski and two Kasper Halttunen power-play tallies.
Memorial Cup notes: Desjardins’ magic; Knights’ drought; PEI pig race

1 week ago | lfpress.com | Ryan Pyette

PRIME GM: There’s no way around it. Willie Desjardins traded his way to the 2025 Memorial Cup final. The Medicine Hat Tigers GM and head coach already had phenom Gavin McKenna, fellow first-liner Ryder Ritchie and captain Oasiz Wiesblatt on the roster. But the Western League champs will be going for the title Sunday because of contributions from players who weren’t here for a long time. Goaltender Harrison Meneghin, who lost his father before the playoffs, has been their MVP.
Memorial Cup: Moncton coach puts hockey in perspective after family loss

1 week ago | lfpress.com | Ryan Pyette

That was part of the message from Moncton Wildcats coach Gardiner MacDougall as he reflected Wednesday on the sudden loss that shook his team at the Memorial Cup earlier this week. Pat Buckley, the father-in-law of Quebec league champ GM Taylor MacDougall – who is Gardiner’s son – died of a heart attack in Rimouski ahead of the Wildcats-Medicine Hat game on Monday. “You never want that phone call,” Gardiner MacDougall said. “My son, as a general manager, this is the highlight of his career.
12 Western Mustangs track athletes join Canada's FISU summer games team

1 week ago | thelondoner.ca | Ryan Pyette

Advertisement 1The national U Sports champion Western track and field team will provide 12 athletes to Canada’s 50-member athletics team for the FISU Summer World University Games in Bochum, Germany July 21-27. • Article contentThe national U Sports champion Western track and field team will provide 12 athletes to Canada’s 50-member athletics team for the FISU Summer World University Games in Bochum, Germany July 21-27.
LIVE: Memorial Cup – London Knights vs. Medicine Hat Tigers

1 week ago | lfpress.com | Ryan Pyette

THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. • Exclusive articles from Ryan Pyette, Dale Carruthers, Jane Sims, Norman De Bono and others. Plus, the Noon News Roundup newsletter on weekdays and the LFP Weekender newsletter on weekends. • Unlimited online access to London Free Press and 15 news sites with one account.
London Knights vs. Medicine Hat Tigers

1 week ago | nipawinjournal.com | Ryan Pyette
Memorial Cup notes: How did Austin Elliott get waived through the WHL?

1 week ago | lfpress.com | Ryan Pyette

In the case of London Knights overage stopper Austin Elliott, it wasn’t anything more than timing. Medicine Hat GM and coach Willie Desjardins had the best explanation yet for how the 21-year-old ended up in the Ontario Hockey League after several winning seasons in Saskatoon. “There are a lot of different reasons, not anything to do with him,” the Tigers boss said. “It really is surprising he got through our league because he’s a real quality goaltender. Maybe it was just because it was so early.
Memorial Cup: Coach powers ahead after sudden family loss

1 week ago | lfpress.com | Ryan Pyette

Moments after a 3-1 loss to Medicine Hat Monday, Moncton Wildcats coach Gardiner MacDougall revealed that his son Taylor – the team’s general manager – lost his father-in-law Pat Buckley to a heart attack in Rimouski prior to the game. The Rimouski RCMP contacted Taylor MacDougall 20 minutes before puck drop to inform him that Buckley, who had made the five-hour trip from Fredericton to the Quebec city earlier that day, had been golfing at a local course before he passed away.
Memorial Cup: London Knights face big test in phenom Gavin McKenna

1 week ago | lfpress.com | Ryan Pyette

They threw a blanket over Quebec Maritime leading scorer Jonathan Fauchon, with Rimouski. But the biggest hurdle to a berth in the Memorial Cup final is still to come. The OHL champs will need to contain Medicine Hat Tigers wunderkind Gavin McKenna, the frontrunner for No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft, on Tuesday. The 17-year-old forward is determined to end this roller coaster season on the ultimate high note. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs this year,” said the native of Whitehorse, Yukon.
Memorial Cup notes: Velcro pad drama, iffy calls, Easton Cowan’s sacrifice

1 week ago | lfpress.com | Ryan Pyette

When the Rimouski goaltender lost one of his leg pads in a tangle with London centre Sam O’Reilly Sunday night, he didn’t know how to react. He just stood there and shrugged at the officials who allowed play to go on while the Oceanic had the puck. “It never happened in practice,” he said. “It’s velcro, my pads, so it’s super easy to pull and get off. I never thought in game my pad would come off and the play would continue.

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