London Nationals
Encyclopedia
The London Nationals were a junior
ice hockey
team in the Ontario Hockey Association
, who played for three seasons before being renamed to the London Knights
. The team played out of the London Gardens in London, Ontario
, Canada
.
. Upon the collapse of the Metro Junior A League
in 1963, the Leafs were left with only one sponsored OHA team with which to place their prospects. They wanted a team in London to replace the old Toronto St. Michael's Majors
, who had folded a couple years previous. 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, joining the Toronto Marlboros
. Prior to 1965, the Nationals had played in the Western Junior B league, and had won the championship there in 1952, 1964 and 1965.
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 was sold by the Leafs to businessman Howard Darwin
, who renamed the team to the Knights and changed the colours to green and gold.
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
.
in 1989.
List of alumni who also played in the National Hockey League
.
Playoffs
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in the Ontario Hockey Association
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
, who played for three seasons before being renamed to the London Knights
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.-Early days–1968:...
. The team played out of the London Gardens in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
History
The London Nationals were granted a franchise in the OHA for the 1965-66 season under the ownership of the Toronto Maple LeafsToronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
. Upon the collapse of the Metro Junior A League
Metro Junior A League
The Metro Junior A League was a junior ice hockey league created in 1961 by Toronto Maple Leafs owner Stafford Smythe in an attempt to rival the OHA, and act as a farm system for his NHL team. The league operated for two seasons from 1961 to 1963...
in 1963, the Leafs were left with only one sponsored OHA team with which to place their prospects. They wanted a team in London to replace the old Toronto St. Michael's Majors
Toronto St. Michael's Majors
The Toronto St. Michael's Majors, was a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The hockey program was founded and operated by St. Michael's College School in 1906, and adopted the name "Majors" in 1934, and was commonly referred to as St. Mike's...
, who had folded a couple years previous. 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, joining the Toronto Marlboros
Toronto Marlboros
The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...
. Prior to 1965, the Nationals had played in the Western Junior B league, and had won the championship there in 1952, 1964 and 1965.
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 was sold by the Leafs to businessman Howard Darwin
Howard Darwin
Howard Darwin was a Canadian businessman and sports team owner. Among his businesses, he owned the Ottawa 67's, London Knights and Ottawa Lynx sports franchises.-Personal life:...
, who renamed the team to the Knights and changed the colours to green and gold.
Coaches
The London Nationals were coached by Jack McIntyreJack McIntyre
John Archibald "Jack" McIntyre was a professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:...
for the 1965-66 season. For their second and third seasons from 1966-68, the Nationals were coached by Hockey Hall of Fame
Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
goaltender Turk Broda
Turk Broda
Walter "Turk" Broda was an ice hockey goaltender, playing his entire career for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League . Broda was born in Brandon, Manitoba to a Ukrainian family; joining the Maple Leafs in 1936.-Personal:...
.
NHL alumni
Darryl Sittler played 54 games for the London Nationals during the 1967-68 season, scoring 22 goals and 41 assists as a rookie. He later played 15 NHL seasons from 1970 to 1985, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of FameHockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it is both a museum and a hall of fame. It holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup...
in 1989.
List of alumni who also played in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
.
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Season-by-season results
Regular season| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Pct % | Goals For |
Goals Against |
Standing |
| 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 |
| 1967-68 | 54 | 17 | 31 | 6 | 40 | 0.370 | 177 | 262 | 7th OHA |
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.
Arena
The Nationals played their home games at the London Gardens for three seasons, which was also briefly known as the Treasure Island Gardens during their residency there.- Capacity = 5,075
- Ice Size = 190' X 85'
- London Gardens The OHL Arena & Travel Guide