Kirill Steklov and Camaryn Baber come to London – London | The Canadian News

There is hope that 2022 will be a better year for everyone.

The London Knights announced two moves on the final day of 2021 that will make them an even stronger team to start 2022.

With the cancellation of the world youth hockey championships in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alta., Kirill Steklov will not return to Russia. He will come to London to finish the season with the Knights.

London also acquired forward Camaryn Baber from the Saginaw Spirit for a fourth-round pick in 2025 and a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025.

The move gives the Knights the full complement of three players in excess after starting the year with none, as Baber joins Tye McSorley and Cody Morgan at the helm.

Steklov spent the 2019-20 season in London and showed his great reach and mobility. He started this year at the KHL with Vityaz Podolsk, where he played in nine games. Steklov also spent time in the two Russian leagues below the KHL before being selected to play for Russia at the World Youth Cup. The eight-foot-tall Estonian native dressed for Russia’s two games with Red Deer before the tournament was halted due to COVID-19 concerns.

Baber has spent his Ontario Hockey League career with Spirit beginning in 2017-18 when he joined the club during the second half of the season. Baber has been wearing the “C” in Saginaw this year, something his father Brad did as a member of Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the early to mid-1990s.

Baber is from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and has become known for his tireless work ethic and fantastic shots. He has added 26 goals and 69 points throughout his time at OHL.

The Knights are due to play the Otters in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Saturday.

The game would be the first for London since December 17, when they began their holidays.

Erie is coming off a 7-2 win over the Hamilton Bulldogs. Both teams were supposed to be in action on New Years Eve, but the COVID-19 protocols involving Sarnia Sting postponed the game between London and Sarnia, while the COVID-19 protocols for Guelph Storm meant the rescheduling of the game between Guelph and Erie.

Six of the eight New Year’s Eve matches at OHL have been postponed.