London Knights

London Knights
City	London, Ontario
League	Ontario Hockey League
Conference	Western
Division	Midwest
Founded	1965 (1965)
Home arena	Budweiser Gardens
Colours	Green, gold, black, and white
General manager	Basil McRae
Head coach	Dale Hunter
Captain	Christian Dvorak and Mitchell Marner
Affiliate(s)	Lambton Shores Predators
Championships	2005 Memorial Cup Champions 2005, 2012, 2013 OHL Champions
Website www.londonknights.com
Franchise history
1965–1968	London Nationals
1968–present	London Knights

The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League. The Knights started out in 1965 as the London Nationals but changed to their current name in 1968.

History

Early days–1968

London Nationals logo.

The London Nationals were granted a franchise in the OHA for the 1965–66 season under the ownership of the London Gardens arena, with the Toronto Maple Leafs controlling the team's players.^[1] Upon the collapse of the Metro Junior A League in 1963, the Leafs were left with only one sponsored OHA team, the Toronto Marlboros, with which to place their prospects. The team in London replaced the old Toronto St. Michael's Majors, who had folded a couple of years earlier. The Leafs originally wanted the Nationals to begin play in 1963–64, but it wasn't until a year later that the Nats became the Leafs' second team.

The Nationals were named for their sponsor, the Canadian National Recreation Association, an organization of Canadian National Railways employees, and took their uniforms as copies of those of the Maple Leafs, except for the words "London Nationals" spelled out on the Leaf instead of the familiar Toronto Maple Leafs script.

Brian Murphy played the most games for the Nationals, 98 in total over three seasons. Garry Unger lead the team in career goals with 42 in only 50 games. Walt McKechnie was their all-time point leader with 26 goals, and 74 assists, totalling 100 points.

After three seasons, direct NHL sponsorship of junior teams ended. The team and Gardens was sold to businessman Howard Darwin for $500,000, who renamed the team to the Knights and changed the colours to green and gold.^[2]

The Darwin Era, 1968–86

London Knights logo, 1968–86 (this particular version is from the 1981/82 - 1985/86 seasons.)

In 1968, businessman Howard Darwin bought the London Nationals (he also owned the Ottawa 67's) as the era of NHL sponsorship of junior hockey ended. Darwin wanted to give a fresh look to the team, and so held a contest to rename the team. Londoner Nawaal Salat suggested the name Knights, and the team's colours were changed to green, white and gold. In 1970 the team also hired trainer Don Brankley, who stayed with the team until retiring at the end of the 2007–08 season. The team grew from a chronic also-ran in the late 1960s and early 1970s to a contender near the end of the decade. The highlight of the Darwin era came in 1976–77, when a powerful Knights team led by future NHLers Rob Ramage, Brad Marsh and Dino Ciccarelli defeated the St. Catharines Fincups in the conference final on an overtime goal by Dan Eastman to advance to the OHL final against the 67's. However, the 67's were triumphant in six games in the league final. In the early 1980s the Knights descended to a nadir in franchise history, with small crowds and a poor record. However, right winger Brendan Shanahan would soon rise to prominence and help to draw larger crowds.

New Owners, New Dawn, 1986–94

London Knights logo, 1986–94.

In 1986 Howard Darwin sold the Knights and the arena to Paris, Ontario businessmen Jack Robillard, Al Martin and Bob Willson. The trio also owned the Hamilton Steelhawks. The Knights were sold for a dollar but the London Gardens was sold at market value. The new ownership group modernized the team's logo and renovated the Gardens. Under their stewardship the Knights would go on a run of success. Between 1987 and 1993 the team would finish no lower than third in the Emms Division, including a division title in 1989–90. However, regular season success did not translate into playoff success, as the Knights would never make the league final in these years.

Knightmare and Redemption 1994–2000

In 1994 the Knights were sold to St. Thomas, Ontario, real estate developer Doug Tarry, Sr.. He died before the team had played a game under his ownership, and the team was inherited by his son, Doug Tarry, Jr.. Upon taking command, Tarry carried out further renovations on the Gardens including a name change to the "London Ice House." He also alienated a fair portion of the team's fan base by changing the team's uniforms from traditional green and gold to eggplant and teal, and changing the logo to a cartoon logo instantly and derisively nicknamed "Spiderknight"^[3] by the faithful.

The 1995–96 OHL season went down in history as the worst in the history of the Canadian Hockey League. The Knights set a new record for futility by finishing with nine points and a 3–60–3 record. The years following the so-called "Knightmare" season were improved, but the team was still a long way from the league's upper echelon. Meanwhile, the Ice House was falling apart as the Tarry family had stopped putting money into it as a part of their lobbying the city of London for a new arena. However, the re-signing of former Head Coach Gary Agnew, and the signing of future NHLers Rico Fata and Tom Kostopoulos heralded a marked turnaround for the team's fortunes. In 1999, the Knights went on an unexpected playoff run, in which they defeated the number-one-in-the-CHL Plymouth Whalers in seven games in the quarterfinals and ultimately went all the way to the OHL championship, which they lost in seven games to the Belleville Bulls.

The Hunter Era, 2000–present

Alternate London Knights logo, 2002/03-Pres.

In 2000, former NHL players Dale Hunter and Mark Hunter bought the Knights from Doug Tarry Jr. brokered by George Georgopoulos who was negotiating with the City of London for the development of a state of the art multi-purpose entertainment centre and arena – Budweiser Gardens (formerly the John Labatt Centre (The JLC)). The Hunters began the process of rebuilding by firstly joining in the lobbying for a new 9,900 seat arena in Downtown London and putting together a smart scouting network. The Ice House was scheduled to be sold and close at the conclusion of the 2001–02 OHL season, and as a treat for their fans, the Knights changed back to their 1986–94 green and gold uniforms in February 2002. In October that year the Budweiser Gardens opened, and new, modernized versions of the old green and gold uniforms debuted. The 2003–04 OHL season would mark the beginning of a remarkable dynasty. The Knights had the best record in the CHL after the regular season, also setting an OHL record with 110 points, but they lost to the Guelph Storm in the OHL Western Conference final. In the 2004–05 season, the Knights broke a CHL record, going 31 games in a row without a loss (29–0–2).^[4] The previous record of 29 games, held by the 1978–79 Brandon Wheat Kings (who went 25–0–4 during their streak), was broken with a 0–0 tie against the Guelph Storm on December 10, 2004. The streak ended at 31 games after a 5–2 loss to the Sudbury Wolves on December 17. The Knights finished the season with 120 points (59 wins, 7 losses, 2 ties), breaking their own OHL record set the previous season. In the playoffs, the Knights started by sweeping two best-of-seven series against the Guelph Storm and Windsor Spitfires. In the Western Conference final, the Knights defeated the Kitchener Rangers 4–1 to win the Wayne Gretzky Trophy. In the OHL finals against the Ottawa 67's, the Knights won the series 4–1 to win their first J. Ross Robertson Cup, and in so doing, ended the longest championship drought in the CHL. That same year, the London Knights and the John Labatt Centre (re-named Budweiser Gardens in 2012) were awarded the right to host 2005 Memorial Cup Tournament, which was played from May 21 to May 29. In the tournament, they defeated the Rimouski Océanic 4–3 on May 21, the Kelowna Rockets 4–2 on May 23, and the Ottawa 67's 5–2 on May 26. This earned the Knights a bye into the championship game. On May 29, the Knights defeated Rimouski 4–0 to win their first Memorial Cup. In 2005–06, the team won their third consecutive Hamilton Spectator Trophy for winning the regular season title, but their run into the playoffs ended with a loss to Peterborough in the OHL final. In 2006–07 the Knights continued their run of success, winning their fourth consecutive Hamilton Spectator Trophy as regular season champions. However, they lost the Western Conference Championship to the Plymouth Whalers.

On January 9, 2009, the London Knights made a blockbuster trade. They acquired hockey phenom and future number one pick in the 2009 NHL draft, John Tavares from the Oshawa Generals. The Knights also received defenceman Michael Del Zotto and goaltender Darryl Borden. In return, the Generals got defenceman Scott Valentine, forward Christian Thomas, goaltender Michael Zador, four second-round draft picks (2009–12) and two third-round picks (2010–11). After a strong 2009–10 season, the Knights decided to turn to young players for the 2010–11 season. They traded several veterans for future draft picks throughout the season, and at the deadline in hopes of re-building another contender.

On November 28, 2011 Dale Hunter resigned as head coach to take head coaching position with his former team, the Washington Capitals. Brother Mark Hunter assumed the coaching helm. Under Mark's guidance, the Knights won their second OHL title in 2011–12, defeating the Niagara IceDogs four games to one in the league final and advancing to the 2012 Memorial Cup. The Knights finished the round robin in first place, but lost in the championship final 2–1 in overtime to the host Shawinigan Cataractes.

On December 29, 2013, the Knights and the Plymouth Whalers broke the newly set Canadian Hockey League attendance record. The Knights and Whalers, playing in the second OHL game of the evening outdoors at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan (also the second outdoor game ever played in the OHL), played in front of 26,384 spectators. The Whalers won the game 2-1 in a shootout.^[5]

Championships

Awards

Canadian Hockey League

Ontario Hockey League

Coaches

The London Nationals were coached by Jack McIntyre for the 1965–66 season. For their second and third seasons from 1966–68, the Nationals were coached by Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Turk Broda.

London Knights coaches have won the Matt Leyden Trophy, emblematic of the OHL's Coach of the Year, five times. Bill Long won it once, in 1976–77, Gary Agnew twice, in 1992–93 and in 1997–98, and Dale Hunter twice, in 2003–04 and 2004–05. Dale Hunter also won the Brian Kilrea Coach of the Year Award, emblematic of CHL Coach of the Year honours, in 2003–04. Former NHLer, Dave Gagner left the team during the summer of 2008 to accept a position with the Vancouver Canucks of the NHL.

As London Nationals:

• 1965–66 — Jack McIntyre
• 1966–68 — Turk Broda

As London Knights:

Notes: Mike Fedorko was entering his second season as Knights' coach and GM in the autumn of 1995. He was fired in October 1995 when the Knights began the season with a 13-game losing streak. Assistant Murray Nystrom took over coaching duties temporarily. Tom Barrett, who had led the Kitchener Rangers to the 1984 Memorial Cup, was named head coach in December. Barrett died of cancer in April 1996, shortly after the conclusion of the season. Moe Mantha was originally named the head coach to take over from Barrett, but left to coach the Baltimore Bandits of the American Hockey League before coaching a game. Brad Selwood was ultimately named Barrett's replacement for 1996–97 but was fired mid-season and GM Paul McIntosh took over on an interim basis for the rest of the season. Gary Agnew was rehired at the start of 1997–98.^[6]

Players

Current roster

Goaltenders
Number		Player	Catches	Position	Acquired	NHL rights	Place of birth
1		Tyler Parsons	L	G	Free Agent 2014	Eligible 2016	Chesterfield, Michigan
30		Emanuel Vella	L	G	2014 OHL Priority Selection	Eligible 2016	Toronto, Ontario
50		Brendan Burke	L	G	Traded from Guelph (2015)	ARI 2013	Paradise Valley, Arizona

Defencemen
Number		Player	Shoots	Position	Acquired	NHL rights	Place of birth
2		Evan Bouchard	R	D	2015 OHL Priority Selection	Eligible 2018	Oakville, Ontario
3		Nicolas Mattinen	R	D	2014 OHL Priority Selection	Eligible 2016	Orleans, Ontario
4		Olli Juolevi	L	D	2015 CHL Import Draft	Eligible 2016	Lempäälä, Finland
14		Brandon Crawley	L	D	Free Agent 2014	Undrafted	Glen Rock, New Jersey
44		Jacob Graves	R	D	Traded from Oshawa (2016)	Undrafted	Barrie, Ontario
74		Aiden Jamieson	L	D	2013 OHL Priority Selection	Undrafted	Lindsay, Ontario
86		Chris Martenet	L	D	Free Agent 2014	DAL 2015	St. Louis, Missouri
98		Victor Mete	L	D	Traded from Owen Sound (2014)	Eligible 2016	Woodbridge, Ontario

Forwards
Number		Player	Shoots	Position	Acquired	NHL rights	Place of birth
7		Matthew Tkachuk	L	LW	2013 OHL Priority Selection	Eligible 2016	St. Louis, Missouri
10		Christian Dvorak	L	C	2012 OHL Priority Selection	ARI 2014	Frankfort, Illinois
11		Owen MacDonald	R	C	2012 OHL Priority Selection	Undrafted	Elora, Ontario
20		Daniel Bernhardt	L	LW	2015 CHL Import Draft	NYR 2015	Huddinge, Sweden
21		Chandler Yakimowicz	R	RW	Free Agent 2013	STL 2014	Kingston, Pennsylvania
27		Robert Thomas	R	C	2015 OHL Priority Selection	Eligible 2017	Aurora, Ontario
28		Chad Heffernan	L	LW	Traded from Sudbury (2016)	Undrafted	Peterborough, Ontario
49		Max Jones	L	LW	2014 OHL Priority Selection	Eligible 2016	Orion, Michigan
63		Cliff Pu	R	RW	Traded from Oshawa (2015)	Eligible 2016	Richmond Hill, Ontario
67		Kole Sherwood	R	RW	Free Agent 2015	CBJ 2015	New Albany, Ohio
72		Aaron Berisha	R	RW	Traded from Belleville (2014)	Undrafted	Toronto, Ontario
84		J. J. Piccinich	R	RW	2012 OHL Priority Selection	TOR 2014	Paramus, New Jersey
93		Mitchell Marner	R	C	2013 OHL Priority Selection	TOR 2015	Thornhill, Ontario

NHL/WHA alumni

The following is a complete list of London Knights who later played in the National Hockey League or World Hockey Association.

London Nationals

London Knights

• Italics denote played in NHL in 2014-15

First-rounders in NHL/WHA entry draft

The London Knights have produced more first overall selections in the NHL Entry Draft (5) than any other team in the world. The Knights also produced one first overall selection in the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft. London is also ranked third (behind Peterborough and Oshawa) on the all-time list of number of players drafted by the NHL, with 142 as of 2007.¹

The following players were selected in the first round of the NHL entry draft:
Darryl Sittler 1970 8th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs
Dan Maloney 1970 14th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks
Dennis Ververgaert 1973 3rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks
Rick Green 1976 1st overall by the Washington Capitals
Scott Campbell 1977 9th overall by the St. Louis Blues
Brad Marsh 1978 11th overall by the Calgary Flames
Rob Ramage 1979 1st overall by the Colorado Rockies
Jim Sandlak 1985 4th overall by the Vancouver Canucks
Brendan Shanahan 1987 2nd overall by the New Jersey Devils
Nick Stajduhar 1993 16th overall by the Edmonton Oilers
Jason Allison 1993 17th overall by the Washington Capitals
Rico Fata 1998 6th overall by the Calgary Flames
Rick Nash 2002 1st overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets
Corey Perry 2003 28th overall by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
Rob Schremp 2004 25th overall by the Edmonton Oilers
Patrick Kane 2007 1st overall by the Chicago Blackhawks
Sam Gagner 2007 6th overall by the Edmonton Oilers
John Tavares 2009 1st overall by the New York Islanders
Nazem Kadri 2009 7th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs
Vladislav Namestnikov 2011 27th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning
Olli Maatta 2012 22nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins
Bo Horvat 2013 9th overall by the Vancouver Canucks
Max Domi 2013 12th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes
Nikita Zadorov 2013 16th overall by the Buffalo Sabres
Mitchell Marner 2015 4th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs

The following players were selected in the first round of the WHA amateur draft:
Reg Thomas 1973 8th overall by the Los Angeles Sharks
Rick Green 1976 10th overall by the Quebec Nordiques
Scott Campbell 1977 1st overall by the Houston Aeros

Retired numbers

5 – Rob Ramage
8 – Dino Ciccarelli
9 – Darryl Sittler
19 – Brendan Shanahan
22 – Brad Marsh
61 – Rick Nash
91 - Dave Bolland
94 – Corey Perry

Hall of Famers

• Dino Ciccarelli
• Brendan Shanahan
• Darryl Sittler

300 point club

The following players recorded a minimum of 300 career points in a Knights' uniform:
Note: GP = Games Played, G = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points

¹ Dave Simpson recorded the best single season in Knights' history, when he scored 155 points in 1981–82.

Team records

Season-by-season results

Regular season

• 1965 to 1968 as London Nationals
• 1968 to present as London Knights

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shoot Out Loss

Playoffs

• 1965–66 Out of playoffs.
• 1966–67 Lost to Niagara Falls Flyers 8 points to 4 in quarterfinals.
• 1967–68 Lost to Hamilton Red Wings 8 points to 2 in quarterfinals.
• 1968–69 Lost to Peterborough Petes 8 points to 4 in quarterfinals.
• 1969–70 Defeated Peterborough Petes 8 points to 4 in quarterfinals.
  Lost to Toronto Marlboros 9 points to 3 in semifinals.
• 1970–71 Lost to Montreal Junior Canadiens 8 points to 0 in quarterfinals.
• 1971–72 Lost to Ottawa 67's 8 points to 6 in quarterfinals.
• 1972–73 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 0 in quarterfinals.
  Lost to Peterborough Petes 9 points to 5 in semifinals.
• 1973–74 Lost to Toronto Marlboros 9 points to 1 in quarterfinals.
• 1974–75 Out of playoffs.
• 1975–76 Lost to Toronto Marlboros 8 points to 2 in quarterfinals.
• 1976–77 Defeated Toronto Marlboros 9 points to 3 in quarterfinals.
  Defeated St. Catharines Fincups 9 points to 7 in semifinals.
  Lost to Ottawa 67's 8 points to 4 in finals.
• 1977–78 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 0 in quarterfinals.
  Lost to Hamilton Fincups 9 points to 5 in semifinals.
• 1978–79 Defeated Windsor Spitfires in first round – series protested.
  Lost to Niagara Falls Flyers in round-robin.
• 1979–80 Lost to Niagara Falls Flyers 6 points to 4 in first round.
• 1980–81 Out of playoffs.
• 1981–82 Lost to Brantford Alexanders 6 points to 2 in first round.
• 1982–83 Lost to Brantford Alexanders 6 points to 0 in first round.
• 1983–84 Defeated North Bay Centennials 6 points to 2 in first round.
  Lost to Kitchener Rangers 8 points to 0 in quarterfinals.
• 1984–85 Defeated Windsor Spitfires 8 points to 0 in first round.
  Lost to Hamilton Steelhawks 6 points to 2 in quarterfinals.
• 1985–86 Lost to North Bay Centennials 9 points to 1 in first round.
• 1986–87 Out of playoffs.
• 1987–88 Defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 2 in first round.
  Lost to Hamilton Steelhawks 4 games to 2 in quarterfinals.
• 1988–89 Defeated Guelph Platers 4 games to 3 in first round.
  Defeated North Bay Centennials 4 games to 3 in quarterfinals.
  Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 3 in semifinals.
• 1989–90 Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 2 in first round.
• 1990–91 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 3 in first round.
• 1991–92 Defeated Owen Sound Platers 4 games to 1 in first round.
  Lost to Niagara Falls Thunder 4 games to 1 in quarterfinals.
• 1992–93 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in first round.
  Lost to Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 1 in quarterfinals.
• 1993–94 Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in first round.
• 1994–95 Lost to Detroit Jr. Red Wings 4 games to 0 in first round.
• 1995–96 Out of playoffs.
• 1996–97 Out of playoffs.
• 1997–98 Defeated Erie Otters 4 games to 3 in first round.
  Defeated Kingston Frontenacs 4 games to 1 in quarterfinals.
  Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 0 in semifinals.
• 1998–99 Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 2 in first round.
  Defeated Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 3 in quarterfinals.
  Defeated Owen Sound Platers 4 games to 1 in semifinals.
  Lost to Belleville Bulls 4 games to 3 in finals.
• 1999–2000 Out of playoffs.
• 2000–01 Lost to Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in first round.
• 2001–02 Defeated Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 2 in first round.
  Lost to Erie Otters 4 games to 2 in quarterfinals.
• 2002–03 Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 3 in first round.
  Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 2 in quarterfinals.
• 2003–04 Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 0 in first round.
  Defeated Erie Otters 4 games to 0 in quarterfinals.
  Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 3 in semifinals.
• 2004–05 Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in first round.
  Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 0 in quarterfinals.
  Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in semifinals.
  Defeated Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
  Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in first place.
  Defeated Rimouski Océanic 4–0 in the championship game. MEMORIAL CUP CHAMPIONS
• 2005–06 Defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in first round.
  Defeated Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 2 in quarterfinals.
  Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in semifinals.
  Lost to Peterborough Petes 4 games to 0 in finals.
• 2006–07 Defeated Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 0 in first round.
  Defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 3 in quarterfinals.
  Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 1 in semifinals.
• 2007–08 Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in first round.
• 2008–09 Defeated Erie Otters 4 games to 1 in first round.
  Defeated Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 0 in quarterfinals.
  Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 1 in semifinals.
• 2009–10 Defeated Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in first round.
  Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 3 in quarterfinals.
• 2010–11 Lost to Owen Sound Attack 4 games to 2 in first round.
• 2011–12 Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 0 in first round.
  Defeated Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 2 in quarterfinals.
  Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 0 in semifinals.
  Defeated Niagara IceDogs 4 games to 1 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
  Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in first place.
  Lost to Shawinigan Cataractes 2–1 (OT) in the championship game.
• 2012–13 Defeated Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 0 in first round.
  Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 1 in quarterfinals.
  Defeated Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 1 in semifinals.
  Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 3 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
  Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in third place.
  Defeated Saskatoon Blades 6-1 in the tiebreaker game.
  Lost to Portland Winterhawks 2-1 in the semifinal game.
• 2013-14 Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 0 in first round.
  Lost to Guelph Storm 4-1 in quarterfinals.
  Gain entrance to 2014 Memorial Cup as host team.
  Finished Memorial Cup round-robin in fourth place.
• 2014-15 Defeated Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 2 in first round.
  Lost to Erie Otters 4-0 in quarterfinals.

Uniforms and logos

"Knightro", 1994–2002.

As the London Nationals, the Knights originally played in the blue and white of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The team's logo was the same Leaf as used by the parent club at the time, except with the words "London Nationals" written out across the leaf instead of "Toronto Maple Leafs". After 1968, the colours changed to green, gold and white, and the logo to a classically-inspired Knight's head with an Old English "K" on the helmet. In 1980 the striping changed slightly, from classical horizontal stripes around the sleeves and bottom of the sweater to large arm stripes and a bare sweater bottom. In 1985–86 the green on the uniforms was darkened and the arm stripes were deleted in favour of broad swathes of secondary colour across the shoulders and down the arms. 1986 saw a total re-design of sweater and logo. Black was added as a secondary colour and the striping returned to a more pedestrian design. The logo was also changed, from a classical Knight's head to a more modernized version on a gold circle with the letter "L". These uniforms were used until 1994. In 1994 the green and gold were disposed of completely in favour of the eggplant and teal used by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The logo was changed to "Spiderknight", with normal horizontal striping and pointed shoulder stripes. There was also a teal shoulder patch bearing the word "London" and a hockey stick. In February 2002, the Knights reverted to their 1986–94 uniforms as a commemoration of the closing of the London Gardens. The special uniforms were identical except for two shoulder patches, one bearing the 1968–86 logo and the other bearing the 1994–2002 logo. These uniforms were also used for the 2002–03 preseason. For the opening of the John Labatt Centre in October 2002, the Knights debuted new uniforms with the 1986–94 logo, minus the "L" and the gold circle. These were drawn on a home white uniform and a road uniform that, for the first time in team history, bore black as its primary colour. Each uniform also bore a new "shield" shoulder patch. The team also debuted green third jerseys, which featured the word "KNIGHTS" printed diagonally across the front of the sweater.

Arenas

London Gardens/London Ice House, 1965–2002

• Built : 1963
• Capacity : 5,075 including standing room.
• Ice Size : 190' x 85'

The London Gardens (see article) was built in 1963 and served as the home of the Knights from the team's inception in 1965 to its closing in 2002. The building was renamed London Ice House in 1994. The last meaningful game played at the arena was in the 2002 playoffs, where the Knights lost in overtime in the sixth game of the second round to the eventual OHL Champion Erie Otters. The last goal in the building was scored by Carlo Colaiacovo. The Knights used the Ice House for their training camp and exhibition schedule for the 2002–03 season and moved out permanently in October 2002. The arena is currently home to the Forest City Velodrome.

The John Labatt Centre.

The OHL Arena & Travel Guide – London Gardens

Budweiser Gardens, 2002–present

• Built : 2002
• Capacity : 9,046 including standing room.
• Ice Size : 200' x 85'

The Budweiser Gardens opened on October 11, 2002 as the Knights played host to the Plymouth Whalers. The first goal in the building was scored by Dylan Hunter. The arena, located in downtown London, is the largest in Western Ontario. Tickets for the 2005–06 season in the building sold out in one day, and there is currently a cap on season tickets due to the team's popularity

The OHL Arena & Travel Guide – Budweiser Gardense

See also

• List of ice hockey teams in Ontario

References

External links

• www.londonknights.com Official web site
• Ontario Hockey League Official web site
• Canadian Hockey League Official web site
• www.knightshistory.com Knights History
• 2006 Mayor's Honour's List recipients
• London Knights history site
• London Knights Blog Site