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Toronto Maple Leafs Kick off Pre-Season in Lucan Ontario

By Christopher Vassos

LUCAN, ON - SEPTEMBER 18: Organizing committee member Cathy Burghardt-Jesson Mayor of Lucan drops the puck for the ceremonial face-off with Matt Duchene #95 of the Ottawa Senators and John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Kraft Hockeyville Canada at the Lucan Community Memorial Centre on September 18, 2018 in Lucan, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
LUCAN, ON - SEPTEMBER 18: Organizing committee member Cathy Burghardt-Jesson Mayor of Lucan drops the puck for the ceremonial face-off with Matt Duchene #95 of the Ottawa Senators and John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Kraft Hockeyville Canada at the Lucan Community Memorial Centre on September 18, 2018 in Lucan, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs kicked off their pre-season last night in Lucan, Ont.

The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated a partial version of what is an already depleted Ottawa Senators roster 4-1.

Last night marked a very special time in my young writing career. It is my first start to a season at Editor in Leafs. Not unlike another Ontario boy, John Tavares. John Tavares got his first start in his childhood team’s jersey, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mind you that this is still the preseason but none the less, still a Blue and White jersey. While there are not much expected of these preseason games, many are taking this as their first opportunity to evaluate the players even if the teams are playing with split squads (half the team one night, half the next).

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Ottawa Senators

This game was a little different though. It’s not in front of thousands of screaming fans in a large arena. No, this game is taking place in the small town of Lucan, Ontario just outside London. Lucan was awarded this game along with thousands of dollars in arena upgrades thank in part to Kraft and their annual Kraft Hockeyville contest in which small towns across the country participate in.

London was the home of current Toronto Maple Leafs players Mitch Marner, Nazem Kadri and the new John Tavares. All three of the Maple Leafs played for the London Knights before they made it to the NHL. Kadri and Tavares were actually on the team at the same time. This game may not mean much to the rest of the Toronto Maple Leafs fan base, but those who are fans in this town of 4,700 citizens, it will remain a memory for as long as they live.

While the Ottawa Senators got the first goal in the game, the Toronto Maple Leafs were ready to strike back thanks to a power play goal from their newest addition, John Tavares. After Andreas Borgman put the Toronto Maple Leafs up 2-1 and they would take this lead in to the second period. It wouldn’t be until six minutes in to the third where John Tavares scored his second goal of the game, putting the Maple Leafs up 3-1. After a breakaway midway through the period, a rebound found it’s way to Mitch Marner in the high slot. The snap shot goes by Ottawa goalie Marcus Hogberg.

That would be the end of the scoring in the game as the Toronto Maple Leafs ended up wining the first game of their preseason. John Tavares may have scored two goals and an assist in his first game with the Maple Leafs, and Mitch Marner scored one and assisted on two but we cannot forget about the goal tending battle that is heating up in Toronto.

The game was split between Curtis McElhinney and Garrett Sparks. The same should happen tonight with Frederik Andersen and Calvin Pickard to help the Maple Leafs determine who will backup Andersen during the regular season. All I can say is, bring it on and I’m so glad hockey is back.

A great beginning to what is, hopefully, a great season for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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