OK, so this hockey season may not be working out exactly how Buffalo Sabres fans envisioned it before the start of the season. But there’s a hockey team just across the border that’s closing out February as the Canadian Hockey League’s (CHL) number one ranked junior team!
The London Knights, under the direction of head coach and GM Mark Hunter, have put together an impressive 42-13-0-1 record. Hunter’s name should be familiar to local hockey fans as he had a long NHL career that included stops in Montreal, St. Louis, Calgary, Hartford and Washington.
The London Knights are also known for launching the NHL career of Buffalo-born Patrick Kane, the Chicago Blackhawks star who recorded 145 points in 58 regular season games for London during the 2006-07 season. He went on to add 31 points in 16 playoff games for the Knights that season before being the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
There’s still plenty of time to catch a Knights game, as the regular season continues through March 17. For more information on the London Knights, who play their home games in downtown London’s fabulous John Labatt Centre, visit www.londonknights.com.
Here’s a look at the current CHL Top 10 rankings:
1. London Knights (42-13-0-1)
2. Saint John Sea Dogs (42-14-0-2)
3. Kamloops Blazers (41-14-1-3)
4. Tri-City Americans (41-15-1-2)
5. Shawinigan Cataractes (39-12-3-4)
6. Portland Winterhawks (42-15-2-1)
7. Edmonton Oil Kings (39-14-3-4)
8. Plymouth Whalers (37-17-2-1)
9. Ottawa 67’s (36-15-5-1)
10. Quebec Remparts (36-15-5-2)
For helpful information planning a quick getaway to nearby London, visit www.londontourism.ca.
