Former Peterborough Pete Michael Simpson Wins Second OHL Championship With London Knights

After winning an Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Championship and J. Ross Robertson Cup with the Peterborough Petes last year, goaltender Michael Simpson has done it again with the London Knights on Wednesday night.

Simpson won the Wayne Gretzky Award for Playoff MVP last year alongside his OHL Championship with the Peterborough Petes. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The Knights defeated the Generals in game four, 7-1, at the Tribute Communities Centre in Oshawa to capture the title, Simpson’s second straight championship and London’s fifth title in franchise history.

“Anytime you get to be a part of two OHL Championships is special and to win both times is something I would’ve never dreamed of,” said Simpson. “It was a dream come true to come to my hometown team as an overager and be able to win here. Obviously I spent lots of time at the Bud growing up so it’s pretty cool to be able to win with the Knights.”

The former Pete allowed only one goal in the game-four victory over the Generals in the final minute of the opening period. The London native stopped 25 of 26 shots to help the Knights sweep the Generals in four games.

“It’s obviously pretty exciting (to win),” said Simpson. “Last year was a lot harder but this year was just as sweet. Sweeping the finals is pretty special; this is a special group and it was pretty fun this year.”

The Peterborough Petes traded Simpson to the Knights for goaltender Zach Bowen and Kingston Frontenac’s third-round pick in 2025 on Sept. 26 last year.

Simpson was an overage player and was the first transaction the Petes made prior to the season. With the Knights as runner-ups to Peterborough, Simpson had 34 wins in 48 starts to help his hometown team win this year’s OHL Championship.

“It’s super-special,” said Simpson. “I’ve gone to a lot of playoff games over my childhood growing up and seeing a lot of Knights wins. It’s pretty special to be part of a group that won.”

He was ranked the number one goalie after the regular season with the lowest goals-against average of 2.61 according to OHL statistics.

Simpson joins Adam Dennis (2004-05) and Josh Unice (2008-09) as the third goaltender in OHL history to win a back-to-back OHL Championship with two different teams.

With another OHL Championship, Simpson and the Knights qualified for the Memorial Cup. They join the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors, QMJHL’s Drummondville Voltigeurs and host and OHL’s Saginaw Spirit.

Simpson will take on former teammate and former Peterborough Pete Owen Beck at the Memorial Cup. The latter, a Montréal Canadiens prospect, was dealt to Saginaw on Jan. 8 for three draft picks and forward Aiden Young.

The Memorial Cup begins with Moose Jaw vs. Saginaw on May 24 at 7:30 p.m. The Knights open their run against Moose Jaw vs. Saginaw on Saturday at 4 p.m.

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