The Atlanta Knights was an IHL expansion team in 1992 as the top farm team of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning. They won the Turner Cup in the 1993–94 season. The Knights featured the first professional blackhead coach in John Paris Jr.. The Knights were also one of the first professional teams to play a female goalie, Manon Rheaume, in a regular-season game.
1993–94: The Knightmare Continues...and Comes True – Turner Cup Champions
In 1993–94, the Knights became the first Atlanta-based sports franchise since the 1968 Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer League to win a professional championship, capturing the Turner Cup in a best-of-seven Finals victory over the Fort Wayne Komets, 4 games to 2. The season-long excellence of goalkeepers J.C. Bergeron and Mike Greenlay resulted in the duo being awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy. This masterful netminding combined with outstanding play from off-season acquisitions Steve Larouche and Jeff Madill as well as the blueline brilliance of Jeff Buchanan, Eric Charron, Cory Cross & Eric Dubois contributed greatly to the Knights' second-consecutive division championship, this time the Midwest. The 1993–94 season also saw Knights' legend Stan Drulia establish single-season club records for goals, assists, and points. The captain's extraordinary play carried over into the post season, culminating in his being awarded the Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy as MVP of the Turner Cup Playoffs with a 13-goal, 25 point performance over the tournament's 14-game span. 4-0 series sweeps in each of the Turner Cup Playoff's first two rounds earned the Knights their first Finals appearance. Greenlay's brilliant play continued throughout the tournament with the netminder posting an eye-popping 11–1 record, a microscopic 2.32 GAA & an outstanding.910 save percentage in 13 playoff appearances.
1994–95: The Knightmare Continues
1995–96: Waking From the Knightmare – Relocation
For the 1996–97 season, the Knights relocated due to the Omni's impending demolition to make way for Philips Arena, a facility that would become home to Atlanta's second NHL expansion team, the Atlanta Thrashers. During their years in Atlanta, Rick Morgan was their full-time national anthem singer and encouraged the crowd to shout "KNIGHTS!" during the line, "Gave proof through the "KNIGHTS" that our flag was still there." It was customary to hear an emphasized, shouted "KNIGHTS!" during the national anthem at Atlanta Thrashers games at Philips Arena by spectators in honor of their team, and the tradition has carried over to Atlanta United FC soccer matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, although this is considered rude by the vast majority of fans, as the "tradition" has absolutely nothing to do with soccer.
Club records
Single Season Games Played: Eric Dubois, Steve Larouche, Jeff Madill, Colin Miller Goals: Stan Drulia Assists: Stan Drulia Jamie Sargent Points: Stan Drulia Penalty Minutes: Chris LiPuma Wins: J.C. Bergeron Goals Against Average: Derek Wilkinson Career Games Played: Christian Campeau Goals: Stan Drulia Assists: Stan Drulia Points: Stan Drulia Penalty Minutes: Chris LiPuma Wins: J.C. Bergeron Goals Against Average: David Littman Playoff Games Played: Goals: Steve Larouche, Stan Drulia & Steve Larouche Assists: Jason Ruff, Stan Drulia Points: Steve Larouche, Stan Drulia Penalty Minutes: Wins: Mike Greenlay Goals Against Average: Mike Greenlay Affiliates
The Knights became the Quebec Rafales, after relocating to Quebec City, and took residence at the Colisée de Québec. The team drew well in 1996–97 one year after the NHL Quebec Nordiques departed Quebec City for Denver, Colorado. The next year, after trading some of their best players, such as goaltender Stephane Beauregard, the team didn't reach the postseason. The owners did not realize the expected profit and folded the team after only two seasons in Quebec.
