London Knights Win 2025 Memorial Cup Championship

RIMOUSKI, QC — For the third time in franchise history, the London Knights are Memorial Cup champions.

Led by captain Denver Barkey’s two goals and defenceman Sam Dickinson’s three assists, the Knights defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 4–1 on Sunday at Le Colisée Financière Sun Life. Goaltender Austin Elliott also played a pivotal role, stopping 31 shots to backstop the win.

With the victory, London joins an elite group of teams—Cornwall Royals, Kamloops Blazers, and Windsor Spitfires—that have lifted the trophy more than twice since the Memorial Cup adopted a tournament format in 1972.

Fast Start, Relentless Finish

The final opened with pace and intensity. Within just over ten minutes, the two teams had combined for 19 shots on goal.

Moments later, the game’s first breakthrough came. After a heads-up play from Henry Brzustewicz and a pinpoint pass by Dickinson, Jacob Julien slipped behind the Tigers’ defense and beat goaltender Harrison Meneghin with a slick backhand for his second goal of the tournament.

Both netminders were sharp throughout the opening period, keeping the score close with key saves.

Early in the second, London seized control. Easton Cowan and Barkey scored just 1:40 apart, pushing the lead to 3–0. Cowan’s tally came after Sam O’Reilly found him cutting to the net, making Cowan the all-time Knights leader in Memorial Cup scoring with 15 points in nine games—surpassing Mitch Marner’s 2016 record.

Soon after, Barkey capitalized on a breakaway created by a defensive steal. His smooth finish between the pads of Meneghin extended the lead further.

Although a potential fourth goal was waved off due to goaltender interference, London responded on the power play. Barkey blocked a clearing attempt, then wired a shot through traffic to make it 4–0.

Tigers Push Back

Medicine Hat’s Gavin McKenna finally got his team on the board at 2:43 of the third period. He appeared to score again late, but a video review showed a high stick had preceded the goal, leading to its disallowance.

Despite outshooting the Knights 32–24, the Tigers couldn’t solve Elliott again. London, meanwhile, went 1-for-2 on the power play and shut down both of Medicine Hat’s man advantages.

Cowan Named MVP

For the second straight year, Easton Cowan led the Memorial Cup in scoring and was named tournament MVP—further solidifying his status as one of junior hockey’s top talents.

Knights Legacy Grows

The Knights’ impact stretches far beyond the junior ranks. An impressive 26 former players were on NHL rosters to start the 2024–25 season. Four of them—Matthew Tkachuk, Corey Perry, Evan Bouchard, and Max Jones—are now heading to the Stanley Cup Final, which begins June 4 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.

Tkachuk, a key piece in London’s 2016 championship, is chasing his second consecutive Stanley Cup with Florida. Edmonton, meanwhile, features Perry (a 2005 Memorial Cup winner), as well as Bouchard and Jones, both from the 2016 team.

As the Knights celebrate their latest triumph, their legacy continues to grow—at every level of the game.

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