As the weather turned cooler this week, it feels a lot more like hockey season. The London Knights opened training camp Monday with 80 players vying for either a crack at the OHL roster, or to make an impression on ownership for a spot on an affiliate club. “I couldn’t wait to be here, honestly,” said Cooper McAslan, who played four regular season and four playoff games for the Knights last season. “It’s really fun seeing all the guys again and meeting new faces as well. It is a battle here with a lot of good skill, a lot of good guys out here.” McAslan is also riding high into camp after winning gold with Canada’s U18 team in the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup. This Knights team has so much young talent, there isn’t roster spots for all of them which makes this three-day camp even more competitive. Fans got their first look Monday at rookie Kane Barch. He spent last season with the U.S. National Team Development Program and appeared in the World U17 Hockey Challenge for the USA. “I’d say I’m a 200-foot player who is very skilled and I like to play hard,” said Barch, the son of former London Knight Krys Barch (1997-2000). He says his game is like his father’s but “maybe not the fighting part.” Barch says he’s heard several stories from his dad about the city and the fans, and is excited to be in London “I mean, we have so much young talent here,” added Barch, whose rights were acquired from Kitchener in the Sam O’Reilly and Jared Woolley trade last year. “We’re a young team. We’re going to be ready to play this year, and I’m excited to see how far we can go in the playoffs this year.” London opens its exhibition season with a two-game series with the Erie Otters on Friday and Saturday. Friday is at Canada Life Place and Saturday they’ll play in Watford, Ont. in a rink with a capacity of 650 people. “I’ve got a lot of friends and family coming, and it was cool to bring the Memorial Cup there, but now to play there it’s even better,” said Evan Van Gorp, a Watford native. The game is acting as a fundraiser for the renovation of the Alvinston Arena’s floor. Tickets are sold out but they are selling additional tickets to watch the game from the gymnasium hall and there are activities planned outside as well. “I think we’ve got a meet and greet after for all the kids to come and meet us,” added Van Gorp. “Just to play there again, I haven’t played there since I was like 10 or 11 years old. It’s going to be really cool.” Spence defends WBA title in Richmond, VA Natasha Spence is now riding a four-fight win streak. The champion – who trains out of Boomerz Boxing Club in London, Ont. – defeated Precious Harris-McCray by a unanimous decision to defend the WBA International Super Welterweight title. “We went in and we did exactly what we said we would do,” said Spence Tuesday after returning to London. “I trained really hard for it. My team was confident and I felt the best I’ve ever felt. So just another notch on the belt and we’re climbing up to the top.” After the bout, she called out two-time Olympic Gold Medallist and 20-time world title holder Claressa Shields. “We want Clarissa Shields,” said Spence. “That’s been the goal ever since I realized that I could hang with these big girls. She’s naturally much bigger than me, but when I realized I could hang with these girls, I was like, okay, she’s the top, that’s what I want. She’s back at 160 (pounds), I’m at 160 and I’m strong at 160. I’m on an undefeated four-win streak, so why not? She’s complaining that there’s no competition out there for her, but I put on a fight, put on a good show every time. So, hey, I’m here! I’m here, Clarissa!” London Majors to Shine the Light on women’s abuse It’s a busy week for the London Majors as they try to clinch the pennant in the inaugural season of the Canadian Baseball League. The Majors hold a two-game lead on Welland with four games left in the standings. London will be at Guelph Wednesday, Thursday in Kitchener, and return home Friday to meet Brantford. The next home game will revive the Purple in the Park game which supports the London Abused Women’s Centre. The Majors will wear purple jerseys and are encouraging fans to also wear purple to raise awareness on the issue of men’s violence against women. Money raised from jersey auctions and the 50/50 raffle will go to the London Abused Women’s Centre. If London wins all three games, they will lock up first place Friday, but they could do it earlier with victories and a loss by Welland. Former MLB player makes history History was made Monday at Fergie Jenkins Field in Chatham, Ont. when former Major League Baseball all-star Yasiel Puig hit a pair of home runs. He went deep in the third and ninth inning to tie Sean Reilly for the most homeruns in a season in league history with 21. The outfielder for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Canadian Baseball League has taken advantage of the small dimensions at Christie Pits in Toronto, but his power at the age of 35 is still evident. He has five more games to hit one more to stand alone in league history.
