CREDIT: CLAUS ANDERSON / GETTY IMAGES / LONDON KNIGHTS
London Knights rookie Max Jones is someone to keep your eye on in the 2015 - 2016 season, he is one of five American recruits and promises to make this season a strong one for the Knights.

It may be early in the season, but the London Knights rookies appear to be in mid-season form.

After a season opener that saw the Knights comeback from a 2-1 deficit to beat the Hamilton Bulldogs 5–3 in front of 9,046 fans at Budweiser Gardens, the bigger story was the timely performance of newcomers Max Jones and Matthew Tkachuk.

“We were all playing well, and all playing together. What could go wrong when you’re doing that?” said Jones, who was held scoreless after being stopped by Hamilton net-minder Charlie Graham on a breakaway late in the game.

Jones’ counterpart Tkachuk, however, contributed two assists on Owen MacDonald and Aaron Berisha tallies, before netting his first career Ontario Hockey League goal – an empty netter, with 49 seconds left in the game.

He went on to match that performance the following night versus Kingston and leads the Ontario Hockey League in points with six after two games.

Even more impressive than the play of the forwards, was the performance of goaltender Emanuel Vella, who started in place of the injured Tyler Parsons.

“I woke up, went to school and I got the message from goalie coach Dave Rook,” said Vella, who was notified of his start only hours before game time.

“I was more than excited to get the start tonight and it was great to get the win tonight as well.”

Vella, who started only two games for the London Knights last season, had never played at Budweiser Gardens.

“For me, the experience was incredible. You know the fans yelling and screaming and stuff, great support, I couldn’t be happier to be honest.”

Starting goaltender Tyler Parsons suffered a collarbone injury after taking a shot off of the neck during the USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game earlier in the week, but returned to action the following night in a 6-5 shootout loss to the Kingston Frontenacs.

The Knights received a big boost over the weekend after it was announced that the Toronto Maple Leafs and Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL) would be returning star forwards Mitchell Marner and Christian Dvorak back to their junior squad.

Marner, the 18-year-old Markham native, earned 126 points for the Knights last season and was selected fourth overall by the Maple Leafs in the NHL Entry Draft. Dvorak was second in points on the Knights with 109.

Both players are expected to hit the ice for the Knights on the weekend as they host the Windsor Spitfires before heading out on the road for the first time this season when they face the Oshawa Generals.

As for the rookies, the goal remains the same.

“Every team wants to go to playoffs and win the league,” said Jones, one of five American players signed by the Knights during the off-season. “That’s obviously our goal, so we’re going to make the best of it.”

When asked if he had received any advice from the veterans on the team, Jones gave a big grin.

“Keep my head up, college eligibility is gone now.”