CREDIT: LONDON KNIGHTS / CLAUS ANDERSON / GETTY IMAGES
Tyler Parsons, 18, has started the 2015-2016 season off strong with a 3.81 goals against average and a save percentage of 0.89 percent.

When Tyler Parsons took to the ice on Thursday, Sept. 24 for the All-American Prospects game, he was missing an important piece of protection for a goaltender, a neck guard.

Parsons was ultimately forced to leave that game after taking a shot to the collarbone, just one day before he was set to make his debut as the London Knights starting net minder in their season opener.

Parsons missed that game, but returned to action the following night in a 6-5 loss to the Kingston Frontenacs.

Fast-forward to mid-October, and the Knights have only one loss in regulation, a 2-1 nail-biter to the Owen Sound Attack.

Parsons, a native of Michigan, is sporting a 3-1-1-1 record with a modest 3.81 goals against average and 0.891 per cent save percentage, though, in a relatively small sample size.

Despite the uncertain start to his season, Parsons has teammates convinced that he has earned the starting goaltender position.

“I think he’s played great all around,” said team co-captain Mitch Marner. “That’s why we’re so good.”

Although still early in the year, Parsons, 18, has seemingly bounced back from an injury plagued 2014– 2015 season, which limited him to 33 appearances.

“We’ve played good, the guys in front of me have made it easy for me to find the puck,” Parsons said, who’s started six straight games since returning from injury.

During the Knights 6-2 win over Sudbury on Friday night, Parsons became the first London Knights goaltender in history to be credited with a goal, something matched only by seven goaltenders in Ontario Hockey League (OHL) history.

During the second period, Sudbury forward Matt Schmalz sent a pass back to the blue line during a delayed penalty, unfortunately for Schmalz and the Wolves, there was nobody there to receive the pass and the puck slid the length of the ice into the open Sudbury net.

The last Knights player to touch the puck was Tyler Parsons.

“I wasn’t thinking too much about it, but when I realized it was my goal, it was a great feeling,” he said.

Although not very reminiscent of the Martin Brodeur empty-net shot that every goalie dreams of one day scoring, Parsons is content with becoming a part of history.

“It felt good to get that goal,” he said.

After defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs 8-6 on the road during a Thanksgiving Monday matinee, Parsons and the Knights now get an abbreviated rest before hosting the Saginaw Spirit and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds this weekend at Budweiser Gardens.

In fact, the Knights will play their next four games at home. The team will not hit the road again until Oct. 25 when they travel west down the 401 to take on the West Division leading Windsor Spitfires.

Students of Fanshawe College can still visit the Biz Booth to purchase tickets to the upcoming Friday night game on Oct. 23 when they take on the division rival Owen Sound Attack. Tickets cost $18 for students and $20 for guests.