The Barrie Colts passed the first real test of the season with flying colours.

So give the Colts an ‘A’ grade in their 6-2 road win over the London Knights on Friday night.

They came out revved up — likely courtesy of a 3-2 loss to the Sarnia Sting the night prior — and kept it coming against the Knights, who never could establish themselves in a game pitting two of the league’s best teams.

Yet despite the big win over former Colts keeper Michael Hutchinson and Co., Barrie (8-4) falls to second place in the Central division behind the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (8-3).

The surprising Oshawa Generals (7-3-2) are also in front of Barrie in the Eastern Conference standings.

Still, for what it’s worth, a couple days from now, a couple weeks from now or a couple months from now, Barrie should remember this win against the Knights.

It was a big-game win.

It was a game where the Colts did so many of the little things right.

Heck, it was a game where Barrie beat London, a very good hockey team, and a measuring stick for Ontario Hockey League teams season after season.

The Colts should forget about a few of the ‘lousy’ wins — against Erie, Ottawa and Plymouth — in which Barrie seemed to get by on its talent alone.

The win against London — which came with a few regulars out of the lineup — was that all-out hard effort, full 60 minutes-type of win, the kind every coach looks for every night, but rarely gets.

Sure, there were a few mistakes made along the way, but this was the closest thing to a perfect game Barrie’s played early into the 2009-10 season.

The Colts should remember it. And Barrie should look back on this one when it needs motivation down the road.

Game on.