What are the Flyers getting in Oliver Bonk? We watched a game with his dad,

LONDON, Ont. — Radek Bonk and his wife, Jill, are sitting in section 103 at a roaring, packed Budweiser Gardens, decked out in London Knights gear. Radek is wearing a black T-shirt with the “Spider Knight” logo and a classic black Knights ball cap. Jill is sporting a black Knights hoodie and a black Knights ball cap as well, only hers is marked with “59” on one side for their son, Knights defenseman Oliver Bonk, who is hoping to cap off his NHL draft year with an OHL championship en route to a possible Memorial Cup.

The two of them have made the nearly six-hour trip from Ottawa to catch Oliver in Game 5 of the OHL Championship Series against the Peterborough Petes. Down 3-1, it’s do or die for the Knights.

Admittedly, Radek is nervous for this one.

“You know what? I’ve caught myself being nervous, especially during the playoffs now,” said Radek, who’s been making trips back and forth between London, Peterborough and Ottawa. “You get a little bit nervous when you play and it’s a big game, but nothing like this.”

Of course, with 13 NHL seasons and 939 regular-season NHL games between three NHL clubs on his resume, he knows a thing or two about nerves before a game.

Except this time he’s a fan, watching his son play in the most important game of his life, just over a month away from hopefully hearing his name called by an NHL club.

So yes, tonight he’s nervous, but he’s mostly excited. And proud, as always.

“You just want your kids to succeed. You just want them to do well,” Radek said. “Today on the drive here, you know, you’re smiling the whole game because you get to see him tonight, and all of them playing.”

The first period draws to a close and it’s 1-1. Bonk has a secondary assist on the tying goal from fellow 2023 NHL Draft-eligible Easton Cowan.

“That was a huge goal,” Radek said when asked about the opening period. “You know what? We had a bunch of chances to score and it seemed like it was going to be one of those days where nothing goes in. But Easton Cowan had a perfect moment of the period, you know, just to tie it up. I’m hoping they’re going to come out flying.”

When asked to paint a picture of Bonk’s game, there’s a particular sequence of plays that comes to mind for Knights assistant coach Rick Steadman.

It’s late in the game and the Knights, up by one goal, are on a big penalty kill. The opposing team skates in and dumps the puck in with three guys forechecking. Instead of roaming around or throwing the puck away, Bonk creates a battle, takes a couple of hits and makes a backhand center outlet between his legs from the boards.

“To be that young and that calm and confident in your ability to make that elite play (is) outstanding,” said Steadman, who oversees the Knights power play.

Bonk is a puck-moving defenseman who can…