Kings Prospect Jared Woolley set to compete for OHL championship with London

Jared Woolley and his London Knights continue to dismantle their opponents in the postseason.

Now 12-0-0 through the first three rounds of the OHL playoffs, the London Knights have outscored their opponents 66-28 (averaging out to 5.5 GF/GP and 2.33 GA/GP), one route to three consecutive series sweeps. The Knights most recently took out their Midwest Division rival, the Kitchener Rangers, in four games in the Western Conference Finals to claim their record setting third consecutive Wayne Gretzky Trophy (awarded to the Western Conference Final champions). In doing so, Woolley and the Knights become the first team since the 1993 Soo Greyhounds to reach the OHL Championship Series in three consecutive seasons. Woolley, the 6-foot-5, 207-pound defenseman again had a productive and eventful series despite missing the series-clinching game. Having recorded two helpers in the Knights 6-2 Game 2 victory, Woolley was ejected from Game 3 after receiving a game misconduct penalty for kneeing late in the first period. Woolley then received a one-game suspension and missed Game 4. Fear not, Woolley’s suspension has concluded and the left-handed defender from Port Hope, Ontario will be back in the lineup come Game 1 of the OHL Finals later this week.

So what’s to come?

Jared Woolley (#1 London Knights) vs. #4 Oshawa Generals — Game 1: Thursday, 4:00 PM
Both coming off dominant 4-0 conference championship series sweeps, the London Knights and Oshawa Generals are set to face off in the OHL Championship for the second consecutive postseason. Each in search of hoisting the J. Ross Robertson Cup this time around, the Knights will be looking to raise the trophy for the second consecutive postseason and sixth total time in their franchise’s existence, while the Generals are seeking their record-extending 14th OHL championship, but the first since 2014-15.

With the winner of the series etching their name into OHL history and earning a bid to the Memorial Cup in Rimouski, Quebec later this month, Woolley and his Knights have a chance to return to the CHL’s best on best tournament after falling in the Memorial Cup finals last season.

After totaling 28 points (9-19=28) in 68 regular season games, Woolley has upped his offensive production in the postseason. Having notched seven points (2-5=7) in 11 postseason games, Woolley sits third on his blue line in points behind only Sam Dickenson and Oliver Bonk (both of whom are first round draft picks). Woolley also enters the finals with a +12 rating, the third best plus/minus among defensemen in the postseason.

Being that Oshawa and London are in opposite conferences, the teams met just twice during the regular season. With one game going in favor each club during the regular season, the Knights got their revenge on the Generals when they prevailed in overtime over in early March after falling in regulation earlier in the season. Woolley chipped in with one total assist in the two games.

The Knights will have their hands full with the Generals as plenty of firepower awaits them come puck drop. Led by last year’s third overall draft pick Beckett Sennecke (ANA), the Generals have the postseason’s top three scorers so far in defenseman Luca Marrelli (6-25=31), Colby Barlow (13-16=29) and Sennecke (12-15=27).

Woolley and the Knights will begin the Finals on Thursday evening at home at 4:00 PM PST.

Jared Woolley Round 4 Schedule – London vs. Oshawa
Game 1 – Thursday, May 8 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 2 – Saturday, May 10 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 3 – Monday, May 12 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 4 – Tuesday, May 13 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 5* – Thursday, May 15 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 6* – Saturday, May 17 @ 4:00 PM Pacific
Game 7* – Monday, May 19, Time TBD

*designates an if necessary game