London Nationals Jr. B
Encyclopedia
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
.
Bill and Ken Eansor are the current owners and General Managers of the London Nationals. The Assistant General Manager is Tim Simmons, and the head coach of the Nationals is Tim Flynn. 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 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.
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 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 Southwestern Junior B Hockey League title in 1977, and the Western Ontario Hockey League title in 1981, 1983, and 1984.
The team's most recent championship came in 1992.
.
London Nationals Junior B
London Diamonds Junior B
T = Tie (1982-2005), SL = Shoot Out Loss (2005-06 onward), OTL = Overtime Loss
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...
junior 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 based in London
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...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, 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...
. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League
The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Canadian junior ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation, and Hockey Canada...
.
Bill and Ken Eansor are the current owners and General Managers of the London Nationals. The Assistant General Manager is Tim Simmons, and the head coach of the Nationals is Tim Flynn. The Nationals play their home games at the Western Fair
Western Fair
The Western Fair is a fair held annually in London, Ontario, Canada in early September.The first Western Fair was held in September 1868 in downtown London, northeast of the current location of Victoria Park. Organizers had hoped to use the Crystal Palace Barracks as the main exhibition area...
Sports Centre. The arena's seating capacity is 1,800, and features an international-sized ice surface measuring 100' X 200'.
History
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.The team's 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.
In 1963 the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto 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...
began sponsoring the Nationals. The Maple Leafs traditionally had affiliations with 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...
and St. Michael's Majors
St. Michael's Majors
St. Michael's Majors may refer to:*Mississauga St. Michael's Majors - an Ontario Hockey League team that moved to Mississauga from Toronto in 2007.*Toronto St. Michael's Majors - an OHA/OHL team that had been in Toronto for 100 years....
, however with the withdrawal of the Majors from the OHA, and 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...
, 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
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
.
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
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:...
in 1968, and the Nationals name disappeared from the London sports landscape.
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 Southwestern Junior B Hockey League title in 1977, and the Western Ontario Hockey League title in 1981, 1983, and 1984.
The team's most recent championship came in 1992.
NHL alumni
List of alumni who also played in the National Hockey LeagueNational 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...
.
London Nationals Junior B
- Mike CorriganMike CorriganMichael Douglas Corrigan is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 594 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, and Pittsburgh Penguins...
- Gerry DesjardinsGerry DesjardinsGerard Ferdinand Desjardins is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League for the Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Black Hawks, New York Islanders, and Buffalo Sabres, and also played one season in the World Hockey Association.- References :...
- Darryl EdestrandDarryl EdestrandDarryl Edestrand is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 455 games in the National Hockey League for the St. Louis Blues, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and Los Angeles Kings....
- Brandon PrustBrandon PrustBrandon Prust is a professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the New York Rangers in the NHL.-Playing career:*London Knights hockey team in London, Ontario, which were the OHL and Memorial Cup Champions, 2005....
- Mike Van RynMike Van RynMichael Van Ryn is a former professional ice hockey defenceman. He attended Sir Fredrick Banting Secondary School in London, Ontario. He played for the St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, and Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League...
London Diamonds Junior B
- Bill Armstrong
- Neal CoulterNeal CoulterNeal M. Coulter is a retired Canadian ice hockey right winger. He played in the NHL for the New York Islanders.-External links:...
- Jeff HackettJeff HackettJeff Hackett is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers...
- Ken HammondKen Hammond (ice hockey)Ken Paul Hammond is a Canadian retired ice hockey professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:Ken captained his RPI team to a Division I NCAA men's hockey championship in 1985. He was a First Team All-American and First Team All-NCAA Tournament team selection with Adam Oates, Daren Puppa and...
- Dave HutchisonDave HutchisonDave Hutchison is a retired former professional ice hockey player who played for the Philadelphia Blazers and Vancouver Blazers of the World Hockey Association, plus the Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks and New Jersey Devils of the NHL...
- Walt McKechnieWalt McKechnieWalter Thomas John McKechnie is a retired Canadian professional hockey centre. He played for nine teams in the National Hockey League and four minor professional teams over a 17-year pro career.-Playing career:...
- Dan QuinnDan QuinnDaniel Peter Quinn is a Canadian professional golfer and former professional ice hockey player. Quinn played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
- Craig SimpsonCraig SimpsonCraig Andrew Simpson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and the Buffalo Sabres...
- Scott Thornton
Season-by-season results
Legend:T = Tie (1982-2005), SL = Shoot Out Loss (2005-06 onward), OTL = Overtime Loss
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | T/SL | OTL | Goals For | Goals Against | Points | 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 | ||
| 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 | |||||||
| 2008-09 | 52 | 33 | 10 | ||||||||
| 9 | 221 | 174 | 75 | 2nd GOJHL-W | |||||||
| 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 | ||||||