2005 London Knights Win CHL Team Of The Century

The 2005 Memorial Cup Champion London Knights have been selected as the Canadian Hockey League (CHL)’s Team of the Century. The CHL set up an online voting program for fans to select who they thought was the best Memorial Cup winner over the last 100 championships, as part of the 100th Memorial Cup festivities. The 2005 London Knights beat out the 1995 Kamloops Blazers, 2000 Rimouski Oceanic, and 2013 Halifax Mooseheads, in the final voting that went on for the last three-plus weeks.

Coached by Dale Hunter, the Knights featured future NHL talent like Memorial Cup MVP Corey Perry, David Bolland, Dan Girardi, Marc Methot, and Brandon Prust.

That team didn’t lose a game in it’s first 31 games, which broke the CHL record of 29 games set by the Brandon Wheat Kings in 1978/79. They broke the CHL record with a final season tally of 120 points. They only dropped two in eighteen, in three OHL playoff series.

They didn’t drop any in four Memorial Cup games, including two wins over the Sidney Crosby led Rimouski Oceanic.

The Knights were unstoppable from beginning to end.

“It is an honour to be named CHL Team of the Century,” said London Knights Owner, President, and Head Coach, Dale Hunter. “That season was one filled with records, unbelievable accomplishments, but most of all, many extraordinary young men, many of who went on to successful NHL careers.”

The entire 2005 Memorial Cup was a spectacle unlike any other Memorial Cup in history. There was no NHL because of the labour dispute. It was the most watched junior hockey championship ever. All eyes were on that 2005 Memorial Cup Champion London Knights team, and they delivered one of the most dominant Memorial Cup performances ever in front of a raucous hometown crowd.

“We are very appreciative of everyone who voted for us,” said Hunter. “Once again, this is a testament to our amazing fanbase here in London. We are incredibly proud of this team, our fanbase, and everyone involved in that unforgettable season.”

Two of the eight players to ever have their London Knights jersey retired, came from that team – Perry (94) and Bolland (91). The others are: Rob Ramage (5), Dino Ciccarelli (8), Darryl Sittler (9), Brendan Shanahan (19), Brad Marsh (22), and Rick Nash (61).

That team played 90 games that year. They only lost nine.

Congratulations to the Knights organization, and to all the fans who voted and helped them earn their rightful prize.

The 2005 Memorial Cup Champion London Knights were the greatest junior hockey team ever.

Now they have the title belt to prove it.