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*-double overtime

Ryan Pyette, Postmedia Network

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“When I saw the goalie look back, I fell over myself, I was so happy,” the 18-year-old said. “It’s special and awesome. Biggest goal of my life. By far.”

His second goal of the game and fifth of the tournament capped the greatest two-month run in the history of junior hockey. The Knights won 17 straight games and went 13-0 on the road this spring.

Tkachuk said all the Knights wanted was to be remembered in London like the much-celebrated 2005 Cup champions.

They have reached that height in head coach Dale Hunter’s eyes.

“They’re equal,” Hunter said of his two title teams. “To win a championship is so special and to win so many games in a row in the playoffs and now here is a credit to those guys.

“We’re playing good teams and 17 in a row is unheard of — and they did it through the tough times (of the later rounds and Cup event). It may never be repeated.”

Hunter’s father Dick, who has been battling illness much of the past year, made it to Red Deer in time to watch the final. Until this season, he has been a fixture at almost every Knights game.

“He’s tough,” Dale Hunter said with wet eyes and a wide grin. “He wanted to be here to see it. He’s a big supporter of us, and he’s been there forever. It means a lot for him to come fly out and the whole family’s here.

“It’s a family operation and the kids are all part of the big family.”

Photo by Jeff McIntosh / The Canadian Press

Behind the glass in the arena, Tkachuk’s billet dad Wayne Burke placed a picture of his late wife atop the boards. After she passed away, Tkachuk started a #PlayForSue hashtag on Twitter during the Owen Sound series and that’s when the Knights run really started to take flight.