London Nationals (original) (raw)

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For the team that existed from 1965–1968 with the same name, see London Knights.

Canadian junior ice hockey team

London Nationals
City London, Ontario
League Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
Conference Western Conference
Founded 1950
Home arena Western Fair District Sports Centre
Colours Blue, white, and black
Owner(s) Paul Duarte
General manager Tony Mandarelli
Head coach Brandon Prust[1]
Website https://nationals.gojhl.ca/
Franchise history
1950–1958 London Lou Ball Juniors
1958–1960 London Diamonds
1960–1961 London Athletics
1961–1965 London Nationals
1965–1966 Ingersoll Nationals
1966–1967 London Bees
1969–1973 London Squires
1973–1976 London-Glencoe Squires
1976–1991 London Diamonds
1991–present London Nationals
Championships
Playoff championships Sutherland Cup Champions: 2013WOC Champions: 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 WOJHL Champions: 1981,1983,1984,1992WJBHL Champions: 1964,1965Big 10 West Champions: 1952

The London Nationals are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in London, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL).

Paul Duarte is the current owner of the London Nationals, with Tony Mandarelli serving as general manager and Brandon Prust as the team's head coach. The Nationals play their home games at the Western Fair Sports Centre. The arena's seating capacity is 1,800, and features an international-sized ice surface measuring 100' X 200'.

The team's life began in 1950, playing in The Big '10' Western Division out of the Ontario Arena at the Western Fair grounds. They won the Western Division title in 1952 as the London Lou Ball Juniors, after sponsor Lou Ball's clothing store. In 1956 the 'Big 10' was divided, and London became a member of the Western Ontario Junior "B" Hockey League.

Consistent representation of the city of London at the Jr. B level began in 1950 with the London Lou Ball Juniors, playing in The 'Big 10' Western Division out of the Ontario Arena at the Western Fairgrounds. The team was named after Lou Ball Clothes, which were stores owned by coach Lou Ball, and they won the championship the following season. The team was known as the London Collinson Flyers during the 1955–56 season before reverting to Lou Ball Juniors for 2 more seasons. The name changed to London Diamonds in 1958, then to Athletics in 1960. In 1961 the team was renamed again. They were called the Nationals, after sponsor Canadian National Recreation Association, an organization of Canadian National Railways employees.

The Maple Leafs — 1963

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In 1963 the Toronto Maple Leafs began sponsoring the Nationals. The Maple Leafs traditionally had affiliations with the Toronto Marlboros and St. Michael's Majors, however with the withdrawal of the Majors from the OHA, and the collapse of the Metro Junior A League, the Leafs were left with only one team. They decided to sponsor the junior team in London, which they wanted to play at the new London Gardens and be promoted to the Ontario Hockey Association.

The OHA initially balked at the proposition however, and so the Nationals continued to play in the Junior B league, winning the London Free Press Trophy as league champions in 1964 and 1965. For the 1965–66 season, the team was finally admitted to major junior hockey, and London's Junior B franchise moved to Ingersoll to make room for the Junior A Nationals. The Junior A team was renamed as London Knights in 1968, and the Nationals name disappeared from the London sports landscape.

The Bees, Squires and Diamonds — 1966

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The Junior B team returned to London under the name Bees for the 1966–1967 season, but then fell dormant for two seasons. The team was revived in 1969 as the Squires, and played under that name until 1976. The team was then known as the Diamonds from 1976–1991, before the Nationals name was revived after a long-lasting sponsorship with a diamond jeweler dissolved.

The team's time under the Diamonds name was successful, as they claimed the Western Ontario Hockey League title in 1981, 1983, and 1984.

Nationals Name Returns — 1991

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The next change came when Kent Phibbs purchased the team and changed the name back to the London Nationals, and they won the Western Jr. B championship that same year. The team uniforms were once again the blue and white of the Maple Leafs and the team remained at Nichols Arena for a few years.

Mr. Phibbs now moved the team back to the Gardens. In the summer of 1998, the team was sold again, this time to the Doug Tarry Group (London Knights). The team remained playing at the same arena, but the name had changed to the London Ice House. The team colors and logo were changed to eggplant and teal to match the affiliate and the team still played at the London Ice House. The team's most recent championship came in 2019 (4th straight) as Western Conference Champions.

In 2013, the Nationals defeated the Cambridge Winterhawks to win their first-ever Sutherland Cup. The Nationals appeared in back-to-back Sutherland Cups in 2016 & 2017, and again in 2019.

In 2020, the Nationals marked their 70th anniversary as a Jr. B franchise in London.

Sutherland Cup
GOJHL Champions

Bill Weir Trophy
GOJHL Western Conference Champions

Western Ontario Junior B Champions
Western Ontario Junior Hockey League

Western Junior B Champions
Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League

Season-by-season results

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Season GP W L T OTL GF GA P Standing Playoffs
1950–51 14 8 6 0 — — — 18 2nd Big '10' Western
1951–52 16 11 5 0 — 107 68 22 2nd Big '10' Western Won League
1952–53 18 14 4 0 — — — 28 1st Big '10' Western
1953–54 24 6 18 0 — 119 189 12 4th Big '10' Western
1954–55 25 5 20 0 — 110 204 10 4th Big '10' Western
1955–56 27 0 27 0 — 68 249 0 5th Big '10' Western
1956–57 27 9 18 0 — 126 167 18 5th WJBHL
1957–58 30 20 10 0 — — — 40 2nd WJBHL
1958–59 36 14 22 0 — 165 224 28 3rd WJBHL
1959–60 25 1 24 0 — — — 2 6th WJBHL
1960–61 32 0 32 0 — 86 399 0 5th WJBHL
1961–62 36 10 25 1 — 201 254 21 7th WJBHL
1962–63 35 3 32 0 — 133 348 6 6th WJBHL
1963–64 40 28 11 1 — 260 159 57 2nd WJBHL Won League
1964–65 40 23 17 0 — 213 181 46 3rd WJBHL Won League
1965–66 40 25 15 0 — 237 178 50 3rd WJBHL
1966–67 40 5 35 0 — 124 278 10 5th WJBHL
1967–69 Did not participate
1969–70 36 16 17 3 — 137 169 35 3rd WOJHL
1970–71 41 10 29 2 — 139 240 22 4th WOJHL
1971–72 39 12 18 9 — 173 185 33 5th WOJHL
1972–73 42 21 15 6 — 224 203 48 2nd WOJHL
1973–74 40 4 32 4 — 114 239 12 5th WOJHL
1974–75 40 19 15 6 — 186 172 44 2nd WOJHL
1975–76 39 11 22 6 — 168 206 28 6th WOJHL
1976–77 38 13 24 1 — 191 274 27 5th SWJBHL DNQ
1977–78 40 30 8 2 — 261 171 62 1st SWJBHL Lost final
1978–79 42 19 18 5 — 227 213 43 5th WOJHL
1979–80 42 22 12 8 — 182 127 52 5th WOJHL Lost final
1980–81 42 31 9 2 — 256 147 64 1st WOJHL Won League
1981–82 42 22 16 4 — 196 180 48 3rd WOJHL Lost final
1982–83 42 31 7 4 — 263 138 66 1st WOJHL Won League
1983–84 48 34 7 7 — 297 148 75 1st WOJHL Won League
1984–85 48 35 13 0 — 285 164 70 1st WOJHL Lost final
1985–86 42 34 5 3 — 275 150 71 1st WOJHL
1986–87 42 28 10 4 — 272 162 60 2nd WOJHL Lost final
1987–88 42 13 24 3 2 190 213 31 7th WOJHL
1988–89 41 19 16 4 2 197 193 44 5th WOJHL
1989–90 40 20 18 1 1 205 231 42 4th WOJHL
1990–91 48 15 30 3 0 170 259 33 8th WOJHL
1991–92 48 30 13 3 2 274 191 65 1st WOJHL East Won League
1992–93 52 25 20 5 2 — — 57 2nd WOJHL East
1993–94 50 25 21 3 1 273 251 54 2nd WOJHL East
1994–95 52 16 34 0 2 223 281 34 4th WOJHL East
1995–96 51 27 17 5 2 208 184 61 3rd WOJHL East
1996–97 52 23 19 7 3 220 230 56 3rd WOJHL East
1997–98 52 14 35 0 3 205 307 31 5th WOJHL East
1998–99 52 19 32 0 1 213 282 39 4th WOJHL East
1999-00 54 22 27 0 5 189 232 49 8th GOHL
2000–01 54 39 11 1 3 251 143 82 2nd GOHL Lost final
2001–02 54 32 21 0 1 251 169 65 6th WOHL
2002–03 48 31 14 0 3 207 182 65 3rd WOHL
2003–04 48 27 18 2 1 172 150 57 5th WOHL Lost final
2004–05 48 22 22 1 3 161 173 48 5th WOHL
2005–06 48 22 25 1 0 148 165 45 8th WOHL Lost quarter-final
2006–07 48 21 23 — 4 183 178 46 7th WOHL Lost quarter-final
2007–08 48 30 14 — 4 214 175 64 3rd GOJHL-W Lost Conf. Final
2008–09 52 33 10 — 9 221 174 75 2nd GOJHL-W Lost Conf. Final
2009–10 50 37 10 — 3 244 133 77 1st GOJHL-W Lost Conf. SF
2010–11 51 34 13 — 4 235 162 72 2nd GOJHL-W Lost Conf. Final
2011–12 51 28 20 — 3 185 190 59 3rd GOJHL-W Lost SF Round Robin
2012–13 51 28 17 — 6 196 172 62 4th GOJHL-W Won League
2013–14 49 29 19 — 1 188 150 59 5th GOJHL-W Lost Conf. SF
2014–15 49 22 24 — 3 166 166 47 7th GOJHL-W Lost Conf. SF
2015–16 50 31 14 4 1 212 155 67 2nd of 9-W6th of 26-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters, 4–1 (Strathroy) Won Conf. Semi-finals 4–2 (Lasalle)Won Conf. Finals 4–2 (Flyers) Won Sutherland Cup Semifinals, 4–2 (Cullitons) Lost Sutherland Cup Finals, 0–4 (Corvairs)
2016–17 50 36 13 1 0 232 131 73 3rd of 9-W7th of 27-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–1 (Lincolns)Won Conf. Semifinals 4–1 (Maroons)Won Conf. Finals 4–1 (Flyers)Won Sutherland Cup Semis 4–1 (Cyclones)Lost Sutherland Cup Finals 1–4 (Sugar Kings)
2017–18 50 35 12 0 3 217 121 73 1st of 9-W6th of 26-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–0 (Rockets)Won Conf. Semifinal 4-2 (Maroons)Won Conf. Finals 4-0 (Stars)Lost Sutherland Cup Semis 2-4 (Cyclones)
2018–19 48 33 12 1 3 217 121 73 2nd of 9-W4th of 26-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–0 (Stars)Won Conf. Semifinal 4-1 (Lasalle)Won Conf. Finals 4-0 (Flyers)Won Sutherland Cup Semis 4–1 (Cyclones)Lost Sutherland Cup Finals 3–4 (Siskins)
2019–1920 50 42 5 1 2 217 121 87 1st of 9-W4th2nd of 26-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–0 (Legionnaires)Incomplete Conf. Semifinal 1-0 (Lasalle)Playoffs cancelled due to pandemic
2020–2021 Season lost due to pandemic
2021–22 48 34 11 2 1 187 121 71 2nd of 9-W5th of 25-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–2 (Stars)Lost Conf. Semifinal 1-4 (Maroons)
2022–23 50 34 11 4 1 228 169 73 2nd of 9-W7th of 25-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–0 (Stars)Lost Conf. Semifinal 0-4 (Lincolns)
2023–24 50 36 11 1 2 218 136 75 1st of 8-W3rd of 23-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4-1 (Kings)Won Conf Semifinals, 4-1 (Lasalle)Lost Conf. Finals 3-4 (Lincolns)

Sutherland Cup appearances

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2013: London Nationals defeated Cambridge Winterhawks 4-games-to-3

2016: Caledonia Corvairs defeated London Nationals 4-games-to-none

2017: Elmira Sugar Kings defeated London Nationals 4-games-to-1

2019: Waterloo Siskins defeated London Nationals 4-games-to-3

List of alumni who also played in the National Hockey League.

London Nationals Junior B[2]

London Diamonds Junior B[3]

GOJHL Western Conference

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**Stan Moore Award**First Place - Western Conference 2017-18 2019-20 GOJHL Scoring Champion 2019-20 - Cal Davis **Kelly Hearn Award**Volunteer of the Year 1992–93 – Bill McCullough 2006–07 – Bill Westgate 2012–13 – Steve Davidson 2013–14 – Bruce Keck **Chester Pegg Memorial Award**Sportsmanship & Ability 1991–92 – Bill Weir 1995–96 – Craig Watson 2000–01 – Matt Meyer 2009–10 – Adam McKee 2010–11 – Noah Schwartz 2012–13 – Noah Schwartz 2018–19 – Cal Davis **Roy Bruhlman Memorial Award**Rookie of the Year 1989–90 – Keli Corpse 1990–91 – Trevor Gallant 1997–98 – Scott Dickier 2000–01 – Kyle Piwowarczyk **Phibbs Incorporated Award**Most Valuable 1st Year Defenseman 1991–92 – Dan Brown 1992–93 – Chad Palmer 1993–94 – Chad Palmer 1994–95 – John Barrett 1996–97 – Mike Van Ryn 2008–09 – Jake McClelland 2013–14 – Matt Fuller 2015-16 - Jordan DiCicco 2019–20 – Logan Mailloux **Uni-Fab Award**Top Defenceman 2016-17 - Quinn Lenihan 2017-18 - Jordan DiCicco **Kevin McIntosh Award**Defensive Forward 2017-18 - Kyle Dawson **CHOK Award**Most Valuable Player 1992–93 – Chris Legg 1993–94 – Shane Johnson 2000–01 – Ash Goldie 2008–09 – Adam McKee 2018–19 – Cal Davis 2019–20 – Cal Davis **Phibbs Incorporated Award**Most Valuable Rookie Defenseman 2003–04 – Patrick Dobie 2014–15 – Justin Murray **Hugh McLean Award**Regular Season Scoring Champion 1982–83 – Craig Simpson 1988–89 – Bill Weir 1991–92 – Bill Weir 1992–93 – Mike Legg 1993–94 – Shane Johnson 2007–08 – Glenn McCarron 2009–10 – Adam McKee 2016–17 – Brenden Trottier 2018–19 – Cal Davis 2019–20 – Cal Davis **Pat & Jackie Stapleton Award**Playoff Scoring Champion 2000–01 – Ashe Goldie **Sharon Williamson Award**Playoff MVP 2012–13 – Noah Schwartz **Southland Insurance Award**Top Points - Rookie 2019–20 – Logan Mailloux **Smith-Buys Award**Rookie Scoring Champion 2000–01 – Kyle Piwowarczyk **Roy Caley Award**Best Team Goals Against Average 1979–80 – 1980–81 – 1982–83 – D. Sceli, Craig Billington 1983–84 – Richard McCullough, Rob Nixon 1984–85 – 1985–86 – 1986–87 – Joe Noval, Brian Morris 1991–92 – Shawn O'Hagan, Dave Grasso 1995–96 – Steve Tutt, Ian Burt 2009–10 – Mike Coulter, Taylor Edwards 2016–17 – Cameron Zanussi, Trenten McGrail 2017–18 – David Ovsjannikov, Zach Springer 2019–20 – Shawn Wiranata
Team records for a single season
Statistic Player Total Season
Most Goals Craig Simpson 47 1982–83
Most Assists Adam McKee 65 2009–10
Most Points Craig Simpson 111 1982–83
Most Game-Winning Goals Shuan Furlong 9 2009–10
Most Powerplay Goals Chris McKay 17 2009–10
Most Shorthanded Goals Graham Spriel 5 2005–06
Individual player records for a career
Statistic Player Total Career
Most Goals Aaron Dartch 112 2008–13
Most Assists Adam McKee 115 2007–10
Most Points Aaron Dartch 251 2008–13
Most Games Played Max Vinogradov 234* 2015–20
Most Game-Winning Goals Noah Schwartz 18 2010–13
Most Powerplay Goals Aaron Dartch 39 2008–13
Most Shorthanded Goals Craig Watson 6 1996–97

Ontario Arena, 1950–1963

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Original home of the London Nationals. Built on the property of the Western Fair.

London Gardens/London Ice House, 1976–2001

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The London Gardens (see article) was built in 1963 and served as the home of the Nationals from 1963 to its closing in 2001. The building was renamed London Ice House in 1994. The arena is currently home to the Forest City Velodrome.

Ray Lanctin Arena (Medway Arena), 2002–2005

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Medway Arena was renovated in 2009 after being built in 1967. Renovations include updates to the community centre, flooring and rink boards. Winter skating programs and events run throughout the winter season, and arena pad is available for lacrosse during the summer season. This facility is also equipped with a hall and kitchenette, perfect for private rentals..

Western Fair Sports Centre, 2006–present

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The Sports Centre at Western Fair District is a state-of-the-art 160,000 square foot multi-use facility known as a leader amongst the many ice facilities available in London and Ontario.

The original London Nationals were modelled off their parent club, the Toronto Maple Leafs up until the change to the London Knights. 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" The team over went numerous logo and uniform changes with sponsors including Chester Pegg & Phibbs Incorporated. The team adopted similar colours to the Knights (Eggplant & teal) in the 1990s to look more like their Jr A affiliate. The Knight's move to more modern colours in 2002 brought the Nationals' look back to the familiar blue & white look. Today's uniforms mimic the Maple Leafs look, adopting a blue, white & black colour scheme. In 2015, the Nationals adopted a black alternate jerseys with the team's crest logo.

The Nationals' mascot is now known as "Lou", a tribute to the Lou Ball Juniors, a Jr. B team which played out of the Ontario Arena at the Western Fairgrounds beginning in 1950. The winning name was submitted in a "Name The Mascot" contest. Lou made his first appearance in 2012.

  1. ^ Pyette, Ryan (26 April 2024). "Full circle: Brandon Prust returns to London Nationals as head coach". The London Free Press. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  2. ^ www.legendsofhockey.net
  3. ^ www.legendsofhockey.net