London Knights

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London Knights
founding 1965
history London Nationals
1965–1968
London Knights
since 1968
Stadion John Labatt Center
Location London , Ontario
Team colors Green, gold, black, white
league Ontario Hockey League
Conference Western Conference
division Midwest Division
Head coach Dale Hunter
General manager Basil McRae
owner Dale Hunter and Mark Hunter
Cooperations Lambton Shores Predators
Memorial Cups 2005 , 2016
J. Ross Robertson Cups 2004/05 , 2011/12 , 2012/13 , 2015/16

The London Knights are a professional Canadian ice hockey team from London in the province of Ontario , which currently in the junior league Ontario Hockey League play.

history

The team was founded as the London Nationals in the Ontario Hockey Association in 1965 , and in 1969 businessman Howard Darwin bought the rights to the Nationals. Darwin wanted to bring a breath of fresh air to the franchise and so a competition was held for a new team name. The nickname "Knights" prevailed, the team colors were changed to green, white and gold. In the 1976/77 season, the team with the later NHL players Rob Ramage , Brad Marsh and Dino Ciccarelli reached the final of the J. Ross Robertson Cup , the championship of the OHL for the first time . However, this was lost to the Ottawa 67’s . The early 1980s represent the low point of the previous franchise history with poor audience figures and results. This changed when the later NHL star Brendan Shanahan gained prominence in the league and was partly responsible for the better results that followed.

In 1986 Howard Darwin sold the Knights and their home stadium, London Gardens , to Jack Robillard, Al Martin and Bob Wilson, three businessmen from Paris , Ontario . The new owners modernized the team and London Gardens, which was initially reflected in the improving results. Between 1987 and 1993 the Knights ended no season worse than in third place in the Emms Division , including a division title in 1990. Nevertheless, the team could not implement these successes in the playoffs, the final of the OHL could not be reached to date.

In 1994 the Knights were resold again, this time to real estate agent Doug Tarry senior . Unfortunately, the team did not play a game under its new owner, as Tarry had previously passed away. The Knights were finally passed on to his son Doug Tarry junior , who renovated the London Gardens again and renamed it the London Ice House . Nevertheless, the 1995/96 OHL season went down as the worst in the history of the entire Canadian Hockey League , as the Knights could only win three of the 66 season games and ended the season with only nine points in last place in the OHL. In the following years the franchise recovered only with difficulty, and the Tarry family also ended their involvement with the "Ice House" in order to get approval for the construction of a new arena from the City of London. With coach Gary Agnew and the future NHL players Rico Fata and Tom Kostopoulos , the results improved, in 1999 the playoffs were even surprisingly reached, where they only failed in the OHL final against the Belleville Bulls .

The beginning of a new era: The John Labatt Center

In 2000, the former NHL players Dale and Mark Hunter bought the franchise and started a rebuilding in the following years. In 2002, the Knights moved to the newly built, 9,090-seat John Labatt Center , and the players wore their traditional green and gold jerseys again, which had been changed in the Tarry era. The 2003/04 season marked the beginning of a new, successful era in franchise history. Since 2004, the Knights have won the Hamilton Spectator Trophy four times in a row as the team with the highest points in the regular season, and the team also reached the OHL final twice. In 2005 the Knights won the final series with 4–1 games against the Ottawa 67’s and thus became champions of the league for the first time. The coronation in the most successful season in the club’s history followed with winning the Memorial Cup , the championship of the Canadian Hockey League, the every year between the champions of the three top junior leagues OHL, WHL and QMJHL .

The OHL final 2005/06 lost the Knights against the Peterborough Petes , in the 2006/07 season they reached the final of the Western Conference again.

Logos

successes

Memorial Cup
champions of the Canadian Hockey League

J. Ross Robertson Cup
Champion of the OHL

Runner-up

Hamilton Spectator Trophy
regular season champion

  • 2003/04 - 110 points
  • 2004/05 - 120 points
  • 2005/06 - 102 points
  • 2006/07 - 104 points
  • 2011/12 - 99 points
  • 2012/13 - 105 points

Wayne Gretzky Trophy
Champion Western Conference

  • 1998/99
  • 2004/05
  • 2005/06
  • 2011/12
  • 2012/13
  • 2015/16

Emms Trophy
Champion Emms Division

  • 1977/78
  • 1989/90

Bumbacco Trophy
Champions West Division

  • 1997/98

Holody Trophy
Champion Midwest Division

  • 2003/04
  • 2004/05
  • 2005/06
  • 2006/07
  • 2008/09
  • 2009/10
  • 2011/12
  • 2012/13

Awards

Canadian Hockey League

CHL Player of the Year

Hap Emms Memorial Trophy
Best goalkeeper of the Memorial Cup

Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy
Most Valuable Player of the Memorial Cup

George Parsons Trophy
Memorial Cup Fairster Player

Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award

CHL Executive of the Year

CHL Defenceman of the Year
Best Defender of the CHL

CHL Goaltender of the Year

CHL Humanitarian of the Year

CHL Rookie of the Year

CHL Top Draft Prospect Award

CHL Top Scorer Award

Ontario Hockey League

Corey Perry

Bobby Smith Trophy
"Scholastic Player of the Year"

Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy
Special social or community engagement

Dave Pinkney Trophy
Fewest goals conceded

Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy
top scorer

Emms Family Award
Rookie of the Year

FW “Dinty” Moore Trophy
Fewest goals conceded among rookie goalkeepers

Jack Ferguson Award
First draft pick in the OHL Priority Selection

Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy
Most points as a right winger

Matt Leyden Trophy
Trainer of the Year

Max Kaminsky Trophy
Best Defender

Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy
Team captain with outstanding leadership skills

OHL Executive of the Year

OHL Goaltender of the Year

Red Tilson Trophy
Most Valuable Player

Wayne Gretzky 99 Award
Most Valuable Player of the Playoffs

William Hanley Trophy
Athletic fairest player

Trainer

Playing times

season GP W. L. T OTL SOL P P% GF GA placement Play-offs
1968/69 54 19th 26th 9 - - 47 0.435 242 258 7. OHA Quarter finals
1969/70 54 22nd 25th 7th - - 51 0.472 209 238 6. OHA Semifinals
1970/71 62 19th 35 8th - - 46 0.371 232 281 8. OHA Quarter finals
1971/72 63 23 31 9 - - 55 0.437 253 285 8. OHA Quarter finals
1972/73 63 33 22nd 8th - - 74 0.587 334 246 4. OHA Semifinals
1973/74 70 36 27 7th - - 79 0.564 282 250 4. OHA Quarter finals
1974/75 70 26th 37 7th - - 59 0.421 296 368 9. OHA not qualified
1975/76 66 31 26th 9 - - 71 0.538 317 256 2. Emms Quarter finals
1976/77 66 51 13 2 - - 104 0.788 379 203 2. Emms final
1977/78 68 35 22nd 11 - - 81 0.596 333 251 1. Emms Semifinals
1978/79 68 37 29 2 - - 76 0.559 310 287 2. Emms qualification
1979/80 68 26th 38 4th - - 56 0.412 328 334 5. Emms 1 round
1980/81 68 20th 48 0 - - 40 0.294 300 388 6. Emms not qualified
1981/82 68 35 30th 3 - - 73 0.537 359 328 3. Emms 1 round
1982/83 70 32 37 1 - - 65 0.464 336 339 5. Emms 1 round
1983/84 70 32 37 1 - - 65 0.464 288 319 4. Emms 1 round
1984/85 66 43 22nd 1 - - 87 0.659 340 276 2. Emms Quarter finals
1985/86 66 28 33 5 - - 61 0.462 271 292 6. Emms 1 round
1986/87 66 25th 39 2 - - 52 0.394 259 329 7. Emms not qualified
1987/88 66 40 22nd 4th - - 84 0.636 309 273 2. Emms Quarter finals
1988/89 66 37 25th 4th - - 78 0.591 311 264 3. Emms Semifinals
1989/90 66 41 19th 6th - - 88 0.667 313 246 1. Emms 1 round
1990/91 66 38 25th 3 - - 79 0.598 301 270 3. Emms 1 round
1991/92 66 37 25th 4th - - 78 0.591 310 260 3. Emms Quarter finals
1992/93 66 32 27 7th - - 71 0.538 323 292 3. Emms Quarter finals
1993/94 66 32 30th 4th - - 68 0.515 293 279 5. Emms 1 round
1994/95 66 18th 44 4th - - 40 0.303 210 309 4. Western 1 round
1995/96 66 3 60 3 - - 9 0.068 179 435 5. Western not qualified
1996/97 66 13 51 2 - - 28 0.212 215 365 5. Western not qualified
1997/98 66 40 21st 5 - - 85 0.644 301 238 1. Western Semifinals
1998/99 68 34 30th 4th - - 72 0.529 260 217 3. West final
1999/00 68 22nd 36 7th 3 - 54 0.397 186 250 5. West not qualified
2000/01 68 26th 34 5 3 - 60 0.441 222 263 4. West 1 round
2001/02 68 24 27 10 7th - 65 0.478 210 249 5. West Quarter finals
2002/03 68 31 27 7th 3 - 72 0.529 220 205 2. Midwest Quarter finals
2003/04 68 53 11 2 2 - 110 0.809 300 147 1. Midwest Semifinals
2004/05 68 59 7th 2 0 - 120 0.882 310 125 1. Midwest Memorial Cup
2005/06 68 49 15th - 1 3 102 0.750 304 211 1. Midwest final
2006/07 68 50 14th - 1 3 104 0.765 311 231 1. Midwest Semifinals
2007/08 68 38 24 - 4th 2 82 0.603 250 230 2. Midwest 1 round
2008/09 68 49 16 - 1 2 101 0.743 287 194 1. Midwest Semifinals
2009/10 68 49 16 - 1 2 101 0.743 273 208 1. Midwest Quarter finals
2010/11 68 34 29 - 4th 1 73 0.537 230 253 5. Midwest 1 round
2011/12 68 49 18th - 0 1 99 0.728 277 178 1. Midwest OHL master
2012/13 68 50 13 - 2 3 105 0.772 279 180 1. Midwest OHL master
2013/14 68 49 14th - 1 4th 103 0.757 316 203 3. Midwest Quarter finals

GP = games, W = wins, L = defeats, T = draws, OTL = overtime defeats, SOL = shutout defeats, P = points, GF = goals, GA = goals conceded

player

First-round draft picks

Rico Fata
Rick Nash
Draft year player position team
1963 Walt McKechnie 6th Toronto Maple Leafs
1970 Darryl Sittler 8th. Toronto Maple Leafs
1970 Dan Maloney 14th Chicago Blackhawks
1973 Dennis Ververgaert 3. Vancouver Canucks
1976 Rick Green 1. Washington Capitals
1977 Scott Campbell 9. St. Louis Blues
1978 Brad Marsh 11. Atlanta Flames
1985 Jim Sandlak 4th Vancouver Canucks
1987 Brendan Shanahan 2. New Jersey Devils
1993 Nick Stajduhar 16. Edmonton Oilers
1993 Jason Allison 17th Washington Capitals
1998 Rico Fata 6th Calgary Flames
2002 Rick Nash 1. Columbus Blue Jackets
2003 Corey Perry 28. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
2004 Rob Schremp 25th Edmonton Oilers
2007 Patrick Kane 1. Chicago Blackhawks
2007 Sam Gagner 6th Edmonton Oilers
2009 John Tavares 1. New York Islanders
2009 Nazem Kadri 7th Toronto Maple Leafs
2011 Vladislav Namestnikov 27. Tampa Bay Lightning
2012 Olli Määttä 22nd Pittsburgh Penguins
2013 Bo Horvat 9. Vancouver Canucks
2013 Max Domi 12. Phoenix Coyotes
2013 Nikita Sadorov 16. Buffalo Sabers
2015 Mitchell Marner 4th Toronto Maple Leafs
2016 Olli Juolevi 5. Vancouver Canucks
2016 Matthew Tkachuk 6th Calgary Flames
2016 Max Jones 24. Anaheim Ducks
2017 Robert Thomas 20th St. Louis Blues
2018 Evan Bouchard 10. Edmonton Oilers
2019 Connor McMichael 25th Washington Capitals
Brad Schlegel

Various players who spent their junior years with the Knights later made careers in the National Hockey League . Some of them are:

Blocked shirt numbers

19 - Brendan Shanahan

The following players have done so much for the club that their shirt numbers are no longer given in their honor:

Hall of Famer

With Darryl Sittler , Dino Ciccarelli and Brendan Shanahan, three former London Knights players have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame .

300 point club

The following players reached the significant mark of 300 scorer points for the London Knights:

player Item GP G A. P Playing times NHL
Corey Perry RW 253 140 240 380 2001-2005 Anaheim Ducks , Dallas Stars
Chris Taylor C. 259 150 228 378 1988-1992 New York Islanders , Boston Bruins , Buffalo Sabers
Brian Bradley C. 210 138 235 373 1981-1985 Calgary Flames , Vancouver Canucks , Toronto Maple Leafs , Tampa Bay Lightning
Dennis Maruk F. 193 159 211 370 1972-1975 California Golden Seals , Cleveland Barons , Minnesota North Stars , Washington Capitals
Dylan Hunter LW 315 106 263 369 2001-2006 -
Dennis Ververgaert F. 187 141 210 351 1970-1973 Vancouver Canucks , Philadelphia Flyers , Washington Capitals
Dino Ciccarelli RW 226 169 177 346 1976-1980 Minnesota North Stars , Washington Capitals , Detroit Red Wings , Tampa Bay Lightning , Florida Panthers
Jason Allison C. 202 123 202 325 1991-1995 Washington Capitals , Boston Bruins , Los Angeles Kings , Toronto Maple Leafs
Dave Simpson F. 204 130 189 319 1977-1982 -
Scott Morrison F. 203 116 200 316 1981-1984 -
Reg Thomas C. 180 136 173 309 1970-1973 Québec Nordiques
Rob Schremp C. 179 126 178 304 2003-2006 Edmonton Oilers , New York Islanders

Abbreviations: G = goalkeeper, D = defender, C = center, W = wing, F = striker, RW = right wing, LW = left wing

Team records

Regular season
statistics Total season
Points 120 2004/05
Victories 59 2004/05
Most goals 379 1976/77
Fewest goals 179 1995/96
Fewest goals conceded 125 2004/05
Most goals conceded 435 1995/96
Individual records
statistics player Total season
Gates Dino Ciccarelli 72 1977/78
Assists Sergei Kaszitsyn 91 2006/07
Points Dave Simpson 155 1981/82
Points rookie Patrick Kane 145 2006/07
Points defender Chris McCauley 114 1981/82
Conceded goal * Gerald Coleman 1.70 2004/05
* Goalkeepers with at least 1500 minutes of play

Web links