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Sports Briefs: Van Gorp, Knights get preseason win out West

September 9, 2026

Barry Wright/The Independent

Watford’s Evan Van Gorp drew a pair of assists in London’s 5-3 preseason win against the Royals in Victoria, BC last weekend during the preseason Clash of the Kingdoms.

The WHL team prevailed 7-1 in the opener of the two-game series on the west coast.

The Knights and Sting close out the exhibition season with home-and-home contests this week.

London hosts Sarnia on Thursday at Canada Life Place while the Sting will entertain the Knights on Friday night at Progressive Auto Sales Arena.

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Petrolia’s Gage Brandon was not in the Flint lineup in their 6-4 OHL exhibition win over the Sting at PASA last weekend.

The 18-year-old split time between the BCHL’s Sherwood Park Crusaders and the GOHL’s Fort Erie Meteors last season.

Brandon was a third round pick by the Firebirds in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection.

His plans for the coming season are not immediately known.

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The Enniskillen Express was a finalist in the recent Lambton Central Girls Softball League year-end tournament.

The Express defeated Corunna, 13-5, the Merlin Mavericks, 4-2 and Chatham, 11-6 in the preliminary round but came up just short against the Mavericks in the final by a score of 11-7.

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Muddy and wet from a day of rain, the Wyoming Wranglers were all smiles after winning the recent select Ontario Baseball Association (SOBA) UB11 division two championship in St. Thomas.

The Wranglers avenged a one-run loss earlier in the tournament to Southwest London to beat the same team, 17-9 in the gold medal contest.

The Wranglers also beat teams from North London, Dutton and top seed from Lucan-Ilderton to reach the final.

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The OBA Senior AA baseball trophy will be handed out on September 27th in Kincardine.

Tecumseh will take on New Lowell (Barrie-area) at noon on that day with the winner playing the Wyoming Cattlebarons for the championship at 3 p.m.

The original tournament late last month was shortened due to inclement weather.

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Jack Stephenson was a double winner at the recent Sarnia/Point Edward Pacers year-end lacrosse banquet.

The Oil Springs native was chosen as the most valuable player on the Sarnia Pacers under-22 squad and was named rookie of the year for the Point Edward Pacers Junior B team.

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The Lambton College women’s softball team is hosting Minor Softball Day this Sunday (Sept 13) at Tecumseh Park in Sarnia.

The full day of action begins with the Lady Lions taking on Oshawa’s Durham College at 11 a.m. Lambton also plays Sheridan at 5 p.m.

Minor softball players are encouraged to wear their team gear to the diamond for a chance at giveaways.

Lambton’s rookie class this season includes Sommer Dalgety of Courtright and Dresden’s Abigail Coffin.

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