After beginning the month on a excessive word with eight factors in three video games, Blake Montgomery returned to the highest with one other huge week, scoring twice and including three assists in simply two appearances with the London Knights earlier than the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Christmas break. Ever since his breakout on the finish of November, he’s been top-of-the-line offensive gamers within the Ottawa Senators’ system and has proven no indicators of slowing down. He’s your Senators Prospect of the Week for Dec. 16-22.
Montgomery’s Season Retains Getting Higher
Though a number of gamers came to visit from Junior A to play within the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) after the NCAA’s announcement, nobody has tailored higher to the extra free-flowing sport than Montgomery. In 17 contests since his arrival from the US Hockey League (USHL), he’s scored 10 targets and 19 factors. Though he solely ranks ninth in factors on the Knights, he sits fifth in targets and fourth in factors per sport.
With 5 factors final week, Montgomery was London’s highest-scoring participant, surpassing newcomer Cam Allen, who completed with 4 factors in two video games and taking up for the absent Easton Cowan, who’s gearing as much as characterize Canada on the World Juniors alongside teammate Sam Dickinson. It began in opposition to the Erie Otters on Dec. 18, when the visiting Knights silenced the house staff 6-1. Montgomery assisted on Allen’s objective early within the second interval, then added a objective within the dying minutes of the third, catching an important go from Denver Barkey and utilizing a fast change in route to hammer the ultimate nail within the coffin.
Two days later, on Dec. 20, the Knights hosted the Sarnia Sting, who didn’t have an important likelihood in opposition to the Western Convention leaders, besides, they had been powerless to cease the surge. Montgomery scored London’s second objective of the sport, which finally turned the game-winner. However his playmaking was rather more spectacular. Early within the second interval, he acquired a stretch go from Allen, then carried it deep into the Sting’s zone, drawing two attackers to him who seemingly assumed, as he has completed so many instances earlier than, that he was going to shoot. As an alternative, he skirted the puck beneath them to Barkey, who had a wide-open internet for the Knights’ third objective of the night time.
Blake Montgomery is DANCIN’#GoSensGo pic.twitter.com/5dKDgOIvjM
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) December 21, 2024
Montgomery added another help in opposition to the Sting to assist London take it away with one other 6-1 victory, incomes the sport’s first star and recording his first game-winning objective of the season. He’s additionally on a four-game objective streak heading into the break and has scored 10 targets in his final 12 video games, and people two video games had been additionally his fourth and fifth multi-point nights in 2024-25. He’s profiting from his solely junior season earlier than heading off to school in September and can give the Knights a shot at returning to the Memorial Cup within the spring.
Senators Prospects Honourable Mentions & Examine-Ins
A number of prospects had sturdy outings earlier than the break. Tomas Hamara continued to rack up factors with the Brantford Bulldogs, including 4 assists in two video games, giving him 25 factors in 24 video games this season and a large margin because the second-highest-scoring defender on the staff. Lucas Ellinas additionally added to his spectacular objective complete with an empty-netter in opposition to the Ottawa 67’s. His 15 targets give him sole possession of second on the staff behind 20-year-old Adrian Misaljevic.
Associated: Ottawa Senators Prospect of the Week – Carter Yakemchuk
Leevi Merilainen made his NHL season debut final week, beginning twice for the Senators and recording one win and one loss as he changed backup Anton Forsberg. Whereas he had some shaky moments in his two appearances, he turned away 21 of 25 pictures in opposition to the Vancouver Canucks and was strong if reduction for Linus Ullmark in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers after the Senators starter went down with an upper-body harm.
Vladimir Nikitin had a powerful begin to his World Junior Championships, taking part in twice in pre-tournament motion and turning away 53 of 58 pictures. He was instrumental in Kazakhstan’s event final 12 months, which earned them a promotion to the highest group in Ottawa in 2025. The small nation may have a troublesome time sticking round within the prime division, however with Nikitin between the pipes, they’ll probably steal a sport or two to forestall them from dealing with relegation.
Tune in after the New 12 months to see which prospect stood out.
