Every hockey season is a war of attrition, no more so than this weekend. For the first time this season, the Knights play three games in three days.

“Three games in two-and-a-half days, really, because it’s an afternoon game on Sunday,” London coach Dale Hunter said. “It’s the first time for the kids, and we try to prepare them all week.

“You give them a good, crisp practice ‘ but not too long either, because they’ll get tired.”

To cope with the heavy schedule, Hunter says he plans to take full advantage of the extra players on his roster.

And he who quits, sits.

“We’ve got two guys raring to get in the lineup,” said Hunter. “So it’s a little competition among the team …

“You want fresh legs in there. So if someone’s not playing as well Friday night, they’ll be out, another guy will be in.”

It’s that type of depth that brings long-term success. It’s clearly brought success in the short term ‘ London is the top-ranked team in the CHL for the second straight week.

Heading into Thursday’s games, the Knights average the most goals per game in the OHL ‘ and that’s without a guy in the top 12 scoring leaders. The Knights have seven players averaging at least a point per game.

 “We’ve got four balanced lines and the D are chipping in,” said Hunter, who also credited goalie Michael Houser with the team’s success. “It’s a battle out there; they’re all battling for ice time, which is a good way to be.

“They all want to be on the power play, they all want to be on the ice all the time. It’s definitely a good thing to have.”