CREDIT: NHL.COM
Max Domi is key to the Knights’ Memorial Cup chances this season.

London Knights left wing Max Domi has been on a tear ever since he was snubbed by Team Canada for the World Juniors. He may not have spoken much about the snub — he seemed visibly upset by Hockey Canada's decision to leave him off the roster, refusing to speak to the media for a few days — but he let his on ice performances do most of his talking.

Domi put up 23 points in December alone — 11 goals and 12 assists in 10 games. Prior to that, the Toronto native had just 26 points all season.

“It's just a lot of the same stuff,” he said. “Working a little harder. Getting a little puck luck. Sometimes those don't go in. Just got to stick with it.”

“It pays off.”

It sure is paying off for Domi and the Knights. London struggled a little in January and got into a bit of a scoring slump as a team, but they're still within striking distance of the Erie Otters and the Guelph Storm in the Midwest Division.

The Knights were stymied on offence by their opposition on a number of occasions, but it wasn't for a lack of trying. Shot after shot came from the Knights, but for whatever reason, the floodgates wouldn't open. But when it came to facing two of the weaker western conference sides in Sarnia and Kitchener in late January, the Knights combined for 14 goals on 103 shots.

Had those Sarnia and Kitchener games not gone according to plan, it might have been time to sound the alarm. But no, expect the Knights to pick up their game from here on out.

January 2014 will also go down — at least for Domi — as memorable following his first OHL fight on January 16.

“He did great,” Metro London quoted Knights assistant GM Rob Simpson in a story published on January 20 called “Max Domi pulled the right punch: London Knights brass.”

“When you come from his family, with arguably one of the best fighters of all times, I think we all knew he'd be okay.”

Domi is the son of former NHL tough guy Tie Domi.

His opponent? Kitchener Rangers Dylan DiPerna. And Domi won, by the way.

“Obviously, when any of your teammates (Bo Horvat) get hit like that, you are expected to step up, and everyone holds each other accountable,” Domi added. “He got hit pretty hard, and I didn't like it too much. I just stepped in and the rest is history.”

Don't expect many more fisticuffs from Domi. No. It took him 203 OHL games (playoffs included) before picking up his first fighting major. His father, by the way, has 25 fights over three seasons of junior hockey with the Peterborough Petes.

Whether or not we see Domi back in a Knights jersey next season is still up in the air. As a 19- year-old, it's either make the Phoenix Coyotes roster out of training camp or return to London for what will be his last season of junior hockey.

The London Knights could definitely use Domi next season. But that's getting ahead of things. Right now for Domi and his teaammates, it's all about hosting — and winning — the 2014 Memorial Cup.