Wikipedia

London Knights

For the ice hockey team in London, United Kingdom, see London Knights (UK).

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. The Knights have won two Memorial Cup championships.

London Knights
CityLondon, Ontario
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionMidwest
Founded1965
Home arenaCanada Life Place
ColoursGreen, yellow, black, and white
       
General managerMark Hunter
Head coachDale Hunter
AffiliatesLondon Nationals, St. Thomas Stars
Websitewww.londonknights.com
Franchise history
1965–1968London Nationals
1968–presentLondon Knights
Championships
Playoff championshipsMemorial Cup: 2005, 2016
OHL: 2005, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2024
Current uniform

History

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Early days

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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]

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]

1968–1986: the Darwin era

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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.[3]

1986–1994: new owners, new dawn

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In 1986 Howard Darwin sold the Knights and the arena to Paris, Ontario businessmen Jack Robillard, Al Martin and Bob Willson.[4]

1994–2000: "Knightmare" and redemption

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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 colours from green, gold and black to eggplant and teal, and changing the logo to a cartoon logo instantly and derisively nicknamed "Spiderknight".[5]

2000–present: the Hunter era

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In 2000, former NHL players Dale Hunter, Mark Hunter, and Basil McRae bought the Knights from Doug Tarry Jr.[6]

The 2003–04 OHL season would mark the beginning of a remarkable dynasty. The Knights had the best regular season record in the CHL and set an OHL record with 110 points, but lost the OHL Western Conference final to the Guelph Storm. In the 2004–05 season, the Knights set a new CHL record by going 31 games in a row without a loss (29–0–2).[7] 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, ending the longest championship drought in the CHL. The London Knights qualified for the 2005 Memorial Cup both as OHL Champion and the tournament host. In the tournament round robin, they defeated the Rimouski Océanic 4–3, the Kelowna Rockets 4–2, and the Ottawa 67's 5–2. This earned the Knights a bye into the championship game in which they defeated Rimouski 4–0 to win their first Memorial Cup.[8] In 2018, the 2004–05 London Knights were named the CHL's "Team of the Century".[9]

Dale Hunter announced on May 14, 2012, he would not return to coach the Capitals in the 2012–13 season, choosing instead to return to the London Knights.[10]

The Knights capped their OHL season with a game seven win over the Barrie Colts as Bo Horvat scored the game-winning goal in the last second of the third period to capture the Knights' second consecutive J. Ross Robertson Cup.[11]

London finished the 2013–14 season third in the OHL with 103 regular season points. However, the only two teams above them were their division opponents, the Guelph Storm and Erie Otters, thus denying the Knights a third straight division title. After sweeping the Windsor Spitfires in the first round the Knights were eliminated by the Storm in five games. Nevertheless, the Knights earned a berth in the 2014 Memorial Cup, their third straight, by virtue of being selected to host the tournament the day after winning the OHL championship the year before.[12]

On October 21, 2014, Mark Hunter resigned as Knights general manager after being appointed director of player personnel for the Toronto Maple Leafs.[13]

The Knights entered the 2016 Memorial Cup as favourites due to their impressive winning streak and did not disappoint, dominating the round robin and outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 20–5. In the championship game, the Knights faced off against the CHL number-one ranked Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The Huskies pushed the Knights to the limit, carrying a 2–1 lead late into the third period before Christian Dvorak scored with 4:11 remaining to force overtime, where a goal by Matthew Tkachuk earned the Knights their 17th-straight win and second Memorial Cup championship.[14]

On July 6, 2016, McRae stepped down as general manager of the London Knights to become the director of player personnel for the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was replaced by former assistant general manager and former assistant coach of the London Knights, Rob Simpson.[15]

The Knights subsequently finished the 2016–17 OHL season third in the Midwest. In the playoffs, they defeated the Windsor Spitfires in seven games before falling to the Erie Otters in seven games in the second round.[16]

Having resigned from his role with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mark Hunter returned as general manager of the London Knights on August 10, 2018, with Rob Simpson returning to his former role as assistant general manager.[17]

Championships

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The London Knights have won the Memorial Cup tournament two times, won the J. Ross Robertson Cup five times, won the Western Conference eight times, and have won sixteen division titles.

Awards

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Canadian Hockey League

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Ontario Hockey League

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Coaches

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The London Nationals were coached by Jack McIntyre for the 1965–66 season. For their second and third seasons from 1966 to 1968, 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.

As London Nationals:

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.[18]

Players

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NHL or WHA alumni

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

London Nationals
London Knights

First round picks in NHL or WHA drafts

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The London Knights have had at least one player drafted in each NHL Entry Draft from 1969 onward.[19]

The following players were selected in the first round of the NHL entry draft:[citation needed]

The following players were selected in the first round of the WHA amateur draft:[citation needed]

Retired numbers

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List of numbers retired by the London Knights.[21]

Hall of Famers

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List of London Knights players in the Hockey Hall of Fame.[citation needed]

Season-by-season results

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Legend: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SL = Shoot-out losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Memorial Cup champions OHL champions OHL runners-up
Season GP W L T OTL SL Pts Win % GF GA Standing Playoffs
1965–66 48 12 29 7 - - 31 0.323 149 235 9th OHA
1966–67 48 18 21 9 - - 45 0.469 185 214 6th OHA Lost Quarterfinal (Niagara Falls Flyers) 8–4
1967–68 54 17 31 6 - - 40 0.370 177 262 7th OHA Lost Quarterfinal (Hamilton Red Wings) 8–2
1968–69 54 19 26 9 - - 47 0.435 242 258 7th OHA Lost Quarterfinal (Peterborough Petes) 8–4
1969–70 54 22 25 7 - - 51 0.472 209 238 6th OHA Won Quarterfinal (Peterborough Petes) 8–4
Lost Semifinal (Toronto Marlboros) 9–3
1970–71 62 19 35 8 - - 46 0.371 232 281 8th OHA Lost Quarterfinal (Montreal Junior Canadiens) 8–0
1971–72 63 23 31 9 - - 55 0.437 253 285 8th OHA Lost Quarterfinal (Ottawa 67's) 8–6
1972–73 63 33 22 8 - - 74 0.587 334 246 4th OHA Won Quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 8–0
Lost Semifinal (Peterborough Petes) 9–5
1973–74 70 36 27 7 - - 79 0.564 282 250 4th OHA Lost Quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 9–1
1974–75 70 26 37 7 - - 59 0.421 296 368 9th OHA
1975–76 66 31 26 9 - - 71 0.538 317 256 2nd Emms Lost Quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 8–2
1976–77 66 51 13 2 - - 104 0.788 379 203 2nd Emms Won Quarterfinal (Toronto Marlboros) 9–3
Won Semifinal (St. Catharines Fincups) 9–7
Lost OHL Championship (Ottawa 67's) 8–4
1977–78 68 35 22 11 - - 81 0.596 333 251 1st Emms Won Quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 8–0
Lost Semifinal (Hamilton Fincups) 9–5
1978–79 68 37 29 2 - - 76 0.559 310 287 2nd Emms Tied First-round (Windsor Spitfires) – Series disputed
Lost Semifinal (Niagara Falls Flyers) – Round-robin
1979–80 68 26 38 4 - - 56 0.412 328 334 5th Emms Lost First-round (Niagara Falls Flyers) 6–4
1980–81 68 20 48 0 - - 40 0.294 300 388 6th Emms
1981–82 68 35 30 3 - - 73 0.537 359 328 3rd Emms Lost First-round (Brantford Alexanders) 6–2
1982–83 70 32 37 1 - - 65 0.464 336 339 5th Emms Lost First-round (Brantford Alexanders) 6–0
1983–84 70 32 37 1 - - 65 0.464 288 319 4th Emms Won First-round (North Bay Centennials) 6–2
Lost Quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 8–0
1984–85 66 43 22 1 - - 87 0.659 340 276 2nd Emms Won First-round (Windsor Spitfires) 8–0
Lost Quarterfinal (Hamilton Steelhawks) 6–2
1985–86 66 28 33 5 - - 61 0.462 271 292 6th Emms Lost First-round (North Bay Centennials) 9–1
1986–87 66 25 39 2 - - 52 0.394 259 329 7th Emms
1987–88 66 40 22 4 - - 84 0.636 309 273 2nd Emms Won First-round (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4–2
Lost Quarterfinal (Hamilton Steelhawks) 4–2
1988–89 66 37 25 4 - - 78 0.591 311 264 3rd Emms Won First-round (Guelph Platers) 4–3
Won Quarterfinal (North Bay Centennials) 4–3
Lost Semifinal (Niagara Falls Thunder) 4–3
1989–90 66 41 19 6 - - 88 0.667 313 246 1st Emms Lost First-round (Niagara Falls Thunder) 4–2
1990–91 66 38 25 3 - - 79 0.598 301 270 3rd Emms Lost First-round (Windsor Spitfires) 4–3
1991–92 66 37 25 4 - - 78 0.591 310 260 3rd Emms Won First-round (Owen Sound Platers) 4–1
Lost Quarterfinal (Niagara Falls Thunder) 4–1
1992–93 66 32 27 7 - - 71 0.538 323 292 3rd Emms Won First-round (Kitchener Rangers) 4–3
Lost Quarterfinal (Detroit Junior Red Wings) 4–1
1993–94 66 32 30 4 - - 68 0.515 293 279 5th Emms Lost First-round (Guelph Storm) 4–1
1994–95 66 18 44 4 - - 40 0.303 210 309 4th Western Lost First-round (Detroit Junior Red Wings) 4–0
1995–96 66 3 60 3 - - 9 0.068 179 435 5th Western
1996–97 66 13 51 2 - - 28 0.212 215 365 5th Western
1997–98 66 40 21 5 - - 85 0.644 301 238 1st Western Won First-round (Erie Otters) 4–3
Won Quarterfinal (Kingston Frontenacs) 4–1
Lost Semifinal (Ottawa 67's) 4–0
1998–99 68 34 30 4 - - 72 0.529 260 217 3rd West Won First-round (Sarnia Sting) 4–2
Won Quarterfinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–3
Won Semifinal (Owen Sound Platers) 4–1
Lost OHL Championship (Belleville Bulls) 4–3
1999–2000 68 22 36 7 3 - 54 0.397 186 250 5th West
2000–01 68 26 34 5 3 - 60 0.441 222 263 4th West Lost First-round (Erie Otters) 4–1
2001–02 68 24 27 10 7 - 65 0.478 210 249 5th West Won First-round (Plymouth Whalers) 4–2
Lost Quarterfinal (Erie Otters) 4–2
2002–03 68 31 27 7 3 - 72 0.529 220 205 2nd Midwest Won First-round (Windsor Spitfires) 4–3
Lost Quarterfinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–3
2003–04 68 53 11 2 2 - 110 0.809 300 147 1st Midwest Won First-round (Windsor Spitfires) 4–0
Won Quarterfinal (Erie Otters) 4–0
Lost Semifinal (Guelph Storm) 4–3
2004–05 68 59 7 2 0 - 120 0.882 310 125 1st Midwest Won First-round (Guelph Storm) 4–0
Won Quarterfinal (Windsor Spitfires) 4–0
Won Semifinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–1
Won OHL Championship (Ottawa 67's) 4–1
1st place in Memorial Cup Round-robin
Won Memorial Cup Final (Rimouski Océanic) 4–0
2005–06 68 49 15 - 1 3 102 0.750 304 211 1st Midwest Won First-round (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4–0
Won Quarterfinal (Owen Sound Attack) 4–2
Won Semifinal (Guelph Storm) 4–1
Lost OHL Championship (Peterborough Petes) 4–0
2006–07 68 50 14 - 1 3 104 0.765 311 231 1st Midwest Won First-round (Owen Sound Attack) 4–0
Won Quarterfinal (Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds) 4–3
Lost Semifinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–1
2007–08 68 38 24 - 4 2 82 0.603 250 230 2nd Midwest Lost First-round (Guelph Storm) 4–1
2008–09 68 49 16 - 1 2 101 0.743 287 194 1st Midwest Won First-round (Erie Otters) 4–1
Won Quarterfinal (Saginaw Spirit) 4–0
Lost Semifinal (Windsor Spitfires) 4–1
2009–10 68 49 16 - 1 2 101 0.743 273 208 1st Midwest Won First-round (Guelph Storm) 4–1
Lost Quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–3
2010–11 68 34 29 - 4 1 73 0.537 230 253 5th Midwest Lost First-round (Owen Sound Attack) 4–2
2011–12 68 49 18 - 0 1 99 0.728 277 178 1st Midwest Won First-round (Windsor Spitfires) 4–0
Won Quarterfinal (Saginaw Spirit) 4–2
Won Semifinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–0
Won OHL Championship (Niagara IceDogs) 4–1
1st place in Memorial Cup Round-robin
Lost Memorial Cup Final (Shawinigan Cataractes) 2–1 (OT)
2012–13 68 50 13 - 2 3 105 0.772 279 180 1st Midwest Won First-round (Saginaw Spirit) 4–0
Won Quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–1
Won Semifinal (Plymouth Whalers) 4–1
Won OHL Championship (Barrie Colts) 4–3
3rd place in Memorial Cup Round-robin
Won Memorial Cup Tiebreaker (Saskatoon Blades) 6–1
Lost Memorial Cup Semifinal (Portland Winterhawks) 2–1
2013–14 68 49 14 - 1 4 103 0.757 316 203 3rd Midwest Won First-round (Windsor Spitfires) 4–0
Lost Quarterfinal (Guelph Storm) 4–1
4th place in Memorial Cup Round-robin[a]
2014–15 68 40 24 - 1 3 84 0.618 289 260 2nd Midwest Won First-round (Kitchener Rangers) 4–2
Lost Quarterfinal (Erie Otters) 4–0
2015–16 68 51 14 - 2 1 105 0.772 319 182 2nd Midwest Won First-round (Owen Sound Attack) 4–2
Won Quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–0
Won Semifinal (Erie Otters) 4–0
Won OHL Championship (Niagara IceDogs) 4–0
1st place in Memorial Cup Round-robin
Won Memorial Cup Final (Rouyn-Noranda Huskies) 3–2 (OT)
2016–17 68 46 15 - 3 4 99 0.728 289 194 3rd Midwest Won First-round (Windsor Spitfires) 4–3
Lost Quarterfinal (Erie Otters) 4–3
2017–18 68 39 25 - 2 2 82 0.603 233 212 3rd Midwest Lost First-round (Owen Sound Attack) 4–0
2018–19 68 46 15 - 6 1 99 0.728 299 211 1st Midwest Won First-round (Windsor Spitfires) 4–0
Lost Quarterfinal (Guelph Storm) 4–3
2019–20 62 45 15 - 1 1 92 0.742 265 187 1st Midwest Playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 68 39 22 - 5 2 85 0.625 264 232 1st Midwest Lost First-round (Kitchener Rangers) 4–3
2022–23 68 45 21 - 2 0 92 0.676 269 214 1st Midwest Won First-round (Owen Sound Attack) 4–0
Won Quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–1
Won Semifinal (Sarnia Sting) 4–2
Lost OHL Championship (Peterborough Petes) 4–2
2023–24 68 50 14 - 1 3 104 0.765 322 197 1st Midwest Won First-round (Flint Firebirds) 4–0
Won Quarterfinal (Kitchener Rangers) 4–0
Won Semifinal (Saginaw Spirit) 4–2
Won OHL Championship (Oshawa Generals) 4–0
1st place in Memorial Cup Round-robin
Notes
  1. ^ The London Knights automatically qualified for the 2014 Memorial Cup as tournament hosts.

Arenas

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The John Labatt Centre.

The London Gardens 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 Knights final 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 Knights used the Ice House for their training camp and exhibition schedule for the 2002–03 season and moved out permanently in October 2002.[22]

The Canada Life Place opened on October 11, 2002 as the Knights played host to the Plymouth Whalers. The arena, located in downtown London, is the largest in Western Ontario.[23]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ MacLeod, Rex (February 5, 1966). "Nats' inexperience evident, but club directors optimistic". The Globe and Mail.
  2. ^ "Howard Darwin founded Knights". Toronto Sun. October 23, 2009. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ London Free Press
  4. ^ "Howard Joseph Darwin". Ottawa Sport Hall of Fame. December 30, 2023. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  5. ^ "London Knights logo 2001". hockeydb.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008.
  6. ^ Maloney, Patrick (November 5, 2022). "LFP ARCHIVES: When the Hunter brothers bought the London Knights". The London Free Press. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "Longest Undefeated Streak". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2006.
  8. ^ "Knights win the MasterCard Memorial Cup". CHL.ca. May 28, 2005. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "London Knights of 2004-05 named CHL Team of the Century". Global News. May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "Hunter steps down as Capitals coach". May 14, 2012. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016.
  11. ^ "Game Summary 19140". May 15, 2013. Archived from the original on April 9, 2016.
  12. ^ "Knights to host 2014 Memorial Cup". May 14, 2013. Archived from the original on June 9, 2013.
  13. ^ "Leafs name Mark Hunter new director of player personnel". CBC.ca. October 21, 2014. Archived from the original on October 22, 2014.
  14. ^ "London Knights are 2016 MasterCard Memorial Cup Champions". chl.ca. May 29, 2016.
  15. ^ "London Knights' GM Basil McRae steps down". The Hockey Writers. July 6, 2016.
  16. ^ Pyette, Ryan (April 19, 2017). "London Knights: Game 7 against Erie Otters". London Free Press. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  17. ^ "Mark Hunter returns as London Knights general manager". London Free Press. August 11, 2018.
  18. ^ ". . . worst of times: Only nine years removed from 3-60-3". Archived from the original on November 28, 2004. Retrieved April 15, 2006.
  19. ^ "Knights Extend Historic Streak in 2022 NHL Draft". London Knights. July 7, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Varley, Kristylee (June 29, 2023). "Bonk and Cowan selected in first round of NHL draft". CTV News / CTV London. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  21. ^ Sadler, Emily (October 19, 2018). "How Dale, Mark Hunter turned London Knights into a CHL powerhouse". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  22. ^ Jordan, Kevin (December 4, 2019). "London Knights–London Gardens". OHL Arena Guide. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  23. ^ Jordan, Kevin (March 28, 2020). "London Knights—Budweiser Gardens". OHL Arena Guide. Archived from the original on April 28, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
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