London Knights (UK)


London Knights were an English ice hockey team based in London. They played in the UK's Ice Hockey Superleague between September 1998 and April 2003.

History

The Knights were founded in 1998 by Anschutz Entertainment Group in the hope of being able to partake in the British ice hockey boom of the 1990s, when teams like Manchester Storm and Sheffield Steelers drew in large crowds of up to 8000 on average and up to 17,000 in single games. Anschutz hoped that a London-based team would help raise the awareness of the sport not only in London, but in the whole of the UK. Furthermore, the team was founded in order to help make the financially struggling London Arena more profitable.
The team shared its name with the Ontario Hockey League team, the London Knights, but they had nothing to do with each other as the origin of the name came from the then policy of Anschutz Entertainment Group to brand its ice hockey franchises with a regal theme associated with its flagship Los Angeles Kings NHL franchise, hence the Ontario Reign, Reading Royals and the Manchester Monarchs and Munich Barons, both of whom are now defunct as well.
The Knights enjoyed some success in their brief existence. They won the British Super League playoffs in 2000, thus becoming British league champion, but their biggest success was reaching the final of the Continental Cup in 2001, becoming the first British team to do so and being the most successful British team in the history of the tournament until it was won by the Nottingham Panthers in 2017. They beat HC Slovan Bratislava 5:2 and the Munich Barons 4:1, but lost to the ZSC Lions 0:1.
They were coached by Jim Fuyarchuk, Chris McSorley and Bob Leslie. McSorley would later go on to coach Great Britain and work as assistant coach to Team Canada. His brother Marty McSorley, then of the Boston Bruins, was almost signed by the Knights while serving a 100-game ban in the NHL.
Despite their on-ice success, their attendance figures were always rather disappointing as they never drew much more than 3000 people on average - which certainly wasn't bad considering that before the Knights, there hadn't been a professional ice hockey team in London for decades, but on the other hand, there was certainly much more potential, considering the size of the town, the attendance figures of the other teams in the league and the fact that the arena could hold up to 12,500 people and Anschutz invested much in marketing.
In 2003, the team's arena, the London Arena, was sold, and the team was left homeless. There were hopes they would find a temporary home for two years before moving to the O2 Arena in 2005, but when the Superleague folded after the 2002–03 season, the team announced that it would "not be icing" in the following season, and never returned.
After the demise of the Superleague, the Elite Ice Hockey League was founded as its replacement, and the London Racers were established as a successor to the Knights, but they were much more low-profile and played at a much smaller venue, and after only two and a half seasons, they folded in late 2005 due to safety problems at their home venue. Since then, there hasn't been a London-based ice hockey team in the top-tier league again.

Season History

Superleague

This table shows the Knights' standings and results in the British Ice Hockey Superleague.
The team finished bottom of the league in their first season, but followed that in the 1999-2000 season by winning the playoffs, beating the Newcastle Jesters 7–3 in the final.
SEASONGPWTLOTWOTLGFGATPRANKPOSTSEASON
1998 - 19994210325-4114183278Qualification
1999 - 20004223315-1135125504Champion
2000 - 20014818-1776143130744Finalist
2001 - 200248141321--130145416Semifinalist
2002 - 20033211812-18790314Finalist

Continental Cup

The Knights became the first British team to reach the finals of the Continental Cup in January 2001, where they narrowly missed taking the title at their first attempt. Their run included a surprise 4-1 win over Anschutz stablemates the Munich Barons, and only a 1-0 loss to eventual champions Zurich Lions denied them further glory. Their silver medal was considered a major success for a British side.
SeasonRoundGPWTLOTWOTLGFGATPRANK
2000 - 2001Second Group Stage3210--15251
Final Group Stage3201--9442
2001 - 2002Second Group Stage3111--111233

Bensons and Hedges Cup

The Knights performed well in the Bensons and Hedges Cup, making two semifinals and one final in three seasons.
SeasonRound
1998 - 1999Semifinal
1999 - 2000Final
2000 - 2001Semifinal

Challenge Cup

The Knights also took part in the Challenge Cup, making three semifinals in five seasons.
SeasonRound
1998 - 1999First round
1999 - 2000Semifinal
2000 - 2001Semifinal
2001 - 2002First round
2002 - 2003Semifinal

All-time roster

The majority of Knights players were Canadian-born; only a handful were British natives. Rich Bronilla is the most-capped Knights player with 125 appearances, and fellow Canadian Ian McIntyre was London's top scorer, with 25 goals. The following is a list of players who played for the Knights.
Player NameSeasonsYrs.Pos.BirthdateBirthplaceHighest Level
Gerad Adams4948121762001-200321978-04-03Regina, CanadaMinor Pro
Kim Ahlroos75203454322001-200321971-07-02Helsinki, FinlandEuropean Elite
Dominic Amodeo815622001-200211968-03-06Mississauga, CanadaMinor Pro
Steve Aronson244913102002-200311978-07-15Minnetonka, United StatesMinor Pro
Tom Ashe3751116481999-200011974-06-07Springfield, United StatesMinor Pro
Peter Åslin600001998-199911962-09-21Norrtälje, SwedenEuropean Elite
Scott Bailey100022001-200211972-05-02Calgary, CanadaMajor League
Darren Banks2382101011999-200011966-03-18Toronto, CanadaMajor League
Mike Barrie482024441402001-200211974-03-17Kelowna, CanadaMinor Pro
Andy Bezeau11156441999-200011970-03-30Saint John, CanadaMinor Pro
Sean Blanchard67111829382001-200321978-03-29Sudbury, CanadaMinor Pro
Aaron Boh22134202000-200111974-04-04Lethbridge, CanadaMinor Pro
Rick Brebant1991423321999-200011964-02-21Chelmsford, CanadaMinor Pro
Rich Bronilla125224062762000-200331975-07-15Mississauga, CanadaMinor Pro
Mark Bultje3972027661999-200011973-06-08Etobicoke, CanadaMinor Pro
Greg Burke79916251371999-200331969-03-12Boston, United StatesMinor Pro
John Byce2911182961999-200011967-08-09Madison, United StatesMajor League
Scott Campbell10022181999-200011972-01-22Glasgow, United KingdomMinor Pro
Jason Campeau3371017121998-199911974-10-23Ottawa, CanadaMinor Pro
Debb Carpenter347613201998-199911972-08-11Edmonton, CanadaMinor Pro
Mark Cavallin5302241998-200021971-10-20Mississauga, CanadaMinor Pro
Nicky Chinn161231052000-200111972-09-14Cardiff, United KingdomEuropean Lower Leagues
David Clarke1021302001-200211981-08-05Peterborough, United KingdomEuropean Lower Leagues
Ian Cooper5471522771998-200021968-11-29Durham, United KingdomEuropean Lower Leagues
Dean Crossland200002001-200211974-05-21Penticton, CanadaMinor Pro
Troy Crowder16235711998-199911968-05-03Sudbury, CanadaMajor League
Brent Cullaton411221999-20001W1974-11-12Petawawa, CanadaMinor Pro
Andrew Dale2641115201998-199911976-02-16Greater Sudbury, CanadaMinor Pro
Dom DiGiorgio100002001-200211977-01-09Niagara Falls, CanadaMinor Pro
Rob Donovan4111314962001-200211970-05-26Boston, United StatesMinor Pro
Shane Dungey37088381998-199911973-09-21Richmond Hill, CanadaMinor Pro
Ryan Duthie2161521161999-200011974-09-02Red Deer, CanadaMinor Pro
Mark Dutiaume1010162000-200111977-01-31Winnipeg, CanadaMinor Pro
Bruce Eakin1131215221998-199911962-09-28Winnipeg, CanadaMajor League
Jussi Eloranta1121342000-200111976-03-07Turku, FinlandMinor Pro
Pat Ferschweiler3931720262000-200111970-02-20Rochester, United StatesMinor Pro
Eric Flinton39161733241998-199911972-02-02Williams Lake, CanadaMinor Pro
Greg Gatto286511561998-199911971-01-01Lethbridge, CanadaMinor Pro
Kelly Glowa20891741998-199911963-08-11Fort Saint John, CanadaMinor Pro
Jamie Hanlon100002000-200111968-08-11Montreal, CanadaMinor Pro
Mike Harding3791221491998-199911971-02-24Edmonton, CanadaMinor Pro
Peter Hasselblad18459121998-199911966-04-20Långbro, SwedenEuropean Elite
Jeff Hoad73242953661999-200321973-01-26Brandon, CanadaMinor Pro
Bill Huard110142000-200111967-06-24Welland, CanadaMajor League
Marc Hussey3961319581999-200011974-01-22Chatham, CanadaMinor Pro
Shane Johnson3661117481998-199911974-01-01Brandon, CanadaEuropean Lower Leagues
Jeff Johnstone722421999-200011975-09-21Niagara Falls, CanadaMinor Pro
Jonas Junkka1223501998-199911975-05-04Kiruna, SwedenMinor Pro
Claude Jutras411514292602000-200111973-09-18Hampstead, CanadaMinor Pro
A.J. Kelham911222002-200311974-03-30Vancouver, CanadaMinor Pro
Mike Kelleher2413481998-199911973-03-29Brookline, United StatesMinor Pro
Rob Kenny39172340631999-200011968-10-19Bronx, United StatesMinor Pro
Scott Kirton4071421421998-199911971-10-04Penetanguishene, CanadaMinor Pro
Mikko Koivunoro4792130362000-200111971-11-12Joensuu, FinlandEuropean Elite
Mark Kolesar124235174882000-200331973-01-23Neepawa, CanadaMajor League
Martin Krainz20336161998-199911967-05-25Klagenfurt, AustriaEuropean Lower Leagues
Nate Leslie626612522001-20032W1977-09-28Winnipeg, CanadaMinor Pro
Ake Lilljebjorn900002002-200311969-09-23Ludvika, SwedenEuropean Elite
Corey Lyons301382181998-199911970-06-13Calgary, CanadaMinor Pro
Maurice Mansi77192847482001-200321965-09-03Montreal, CanadaMinor Pro
Terry Marchant2951116122000-200111976-02-24Buffalo, United StatesMinor Pro
Neal Martin86142741691999-200121975-09-08Greater Sudbury, CanadaMinor Pro
Dennis Maxwell3097161102002-200311974-06-04Dauphin, CanadaMinor Pro
Ian McIntyre80252752942001-200321974-02-12Montreal, CanadaMinor Pro
Sonny Mignacca901141998-199911974-01-04Winnipeg, CanadaMinor Pro
Jesper Morin17224221998-199911975-05-27Malmö, SwedenMinor Pro
Dave Morissette132131172000-200111971-12-24Baie-Comeau, CanadaMajor League
Tim Murray4011011261999-200011974-11-14Calgary, CanadaMinor Pro
Jay Neal48161531242000-200111970-06-03Oshawa, CanadaMinor Pro
Barry Nieckar182021431999-200011967-12-16Rama, CanadaMajor League
Ed Patterson412322002-200311972-11-14Calgary, CanadaMajor League
Randy Perry4811819322000-200111976-06-19Edmonton, CanadaMinor Pro
Nick Poole4271623221998-199911973-07-11Calgary, CanadaMinor Pro
Brent Pope513462000-200111973-02-20Hamilton, CanadaMinor Pro
Pasi Raitanen100001998-199911971-05-13Forssa, FinlandEuropean Elite
Bryan Richardson45173047422000-200111973-07-28Montreal, CanadaMinor Pro
Grant Richison32268492000-200111967-05-05Detroit, United StatesMinor Pro
Trevor Robins7002241999-200231972-05-31Brandon, CanadaMinor Pro
Trevor Roenick3013922202001-200211974-10-07Derby, United StatesMinor Pro
Paul Rushforth1202144654011999-200341974-04-22Prince George, CanadaMinor Pro
Vezio Sacratini73203858682001-200321966-09-12Lasalle, CanadaEuropean Lower Leagues
Claudio Scremin4072633181999-200011968-05-28Burnaby, CanadaMajor League
Doug Searle23123152001-200211972-03-21Toronto, CanadaMinor Pro
Shawn Silver2100002000-200111975-09-06Thunder Bay, CanadaMinor Pro
Chris Slater321671352002-200311974-12-25Mattawan, United StatesMinor Pro
Greg Smyth9000421999-200011966-04-23Oakville, CanadaMajor League
Lee Sorochan8134482000-200111975-09-09Edmonton, CanadaMajor League
Regan Stocco26134241998-199911975-08-16Guelph, CanadaMinor Pro
Darren Stolk9022101998-199911968-07-22Taber, CanadaMinor Pro
David Struch2931114182001-200211971-02-11Flin Flon, CanadaMajor League
Travis Thiessen2821113281998-199911972-07-11North Battleford, CanadaMinor Pro
Steve Thornton15371082001-200211973-03-08Gloucester, CanadaMinor Pro
Mikael Tjallden33022632000-200111975-02-16Sollefteå, SwedenEuropean Elite
David Trofimenkoff5402222001-200321975-01-20Calgary, CanadaEuropean Lower Leagues
David Vallieres822482000-200111974-07-14Juneau, United StatesMinor Pro
Darby Walker29134602000-200111974-08-05Beaverlodge, CanadaMinor Pro
Shawn Wansborough11022571999-200011974-06-03Deseronto, CanadaMinor Pro
Mike Ware6186141231999-200221967-03-22York, CanadaMajor League
Todd Wetzel33111122221999-200011973-09-03Sarnia, CanadaMinor Pro
Ken Wotherspoon100001998-199911978-06-01United KingdomEuropean Lower Leagues
Brendan Yarema391716331392000-200111976-07-16Sault Ste. Marie, CanadaMinor Pro