Doyle: Knights ready to rock

The London Knights are an excited group, but are looking to keep their emotions in-check. They know they are one game from winning the 2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup.

It's the Knights and the Shawinigan Cataractes for junior hockey's holy grail. The winner raises the trophy many believe is the most difficult in hockey to capture.

"You play in the National Hockey League you only have to play four rounds to win the Stanley Cup. We have to play four rounds, and play four games to win the Memorial Cup," said Knights GM/Coach Mark Hunter "Yes, it is the toughest trophy to win to get here and to win it against three other good teams - it's interesting."

The Knights last played Tuesday when they beat the WHL champion Edmonton Oil Kings in their final round robin match-up. They have combined rest and preparation with a little site-seeing to Quebec City in advance of the big game.

"There's not much more to be said," added Hunter. "We've prepared all week for it. They got good rest for a couple days, we practiced for a couple days and watched some video. Now it's time to get on the ice and show what we can do."

Knights forward Austin Watson could finish Sunday with his second career Memorial Cup title. He was a member of the 2009 Windsor Spitfires that won it all in Rimouski. He's gone from wide-eyed rookie to grizzled veteran during that time. "It's incredible for me even just to be back for a second time. It's something that most players don't get to experience. I'm trying to take it all in, but it's going to be great game and we're all pretty excited to get it going," said Watson, a Nashville Predators prospect.

The Knights forward has gone from being limited to one assist, and scratched during one of the 2009 Memorial Cup games, to among the leaders among potential candidates for tournament MVP.

"I think being more in the thick of things makes it just that much more enjoyable to do. It's all fun, it's one of those things you're not going to take for granted that's for sure and try to give it your best."

Win or lose, the city of London already has a parade planned for Monday afternoon. The Knights are hoping they have a special guest in-toe, a trophy that has been awarded since 1919.

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