Knights franchise celebrates 50 years in 2014-15
By Mark Schadenberg
You can start by voting for all the
players recognized already with banners hanging from the rafters of
Budweiser Gardens.
You likely can then add players who had more than
200 points in the OHL.
You can attempt to cover all the
decades with representation from the various eras since 1965.
Rogers TV is providing an opportunity for fans to vote for nine forwards, six defencemen,
and three goaltenders.
RogersTV.com/knightsalltimeteam is asking for the assistance
of all Knights fans, especially those who have followed the club for a long time.
The Knights began as the London
Nationals when they were granted acceptance into a Junior A Ontario
Hockey Association league which already featured the Kitchener
Rangers, Oshawa Generals, Toronto Marlboros, Peterborough Petes, St
Catharines Blackhawks, Niagara Falls Flyers, Hamilton Red Wings, and
Montreal Jr Canadiens.
In 1965-66, the Nationals would finish
last at 12-29-7, but a few players would eventually earn pro NHL
careers from that season such as Walt McKechnie, Jim Dorey, Darryl Edestrand, Bob Cook
and goalie Norm Farr.
The franchise became the Knights in
1968-69 and the league became the OHL officially in 1980-81.
From great years like 2004-05 (and
back-to-back league playoff titles in 2012 and 2013) to sub-par
seasons like 1995-96 with a poor 3-60-6 record, the Knights have
developed many great players. Some of your favourites may have never
earned a long-time NHL career, but they made their mark in the OHL.
Sometimes it was the opposite – a long tenure in the NHL, but their
Knights numbers were not too flashy.
As for an all-time Knights team,
banners at The Bud include Brendan Shanahan, Darryl Sittler, Corey
Perry (pictured), Rick Nash Brad Marsh, Rob Ramage, and on Oct 15 of this year
Dave Bolland will be added.
The other nominess could include Dennis
Maruk (145 points in 74-75 when second on team was future Leaf/Sabre
Terry Martin with 99), Dennis Ververgaert, Dave Simpson (155 points
in 81-82 to lead the OHL), Pat Riggin, Dino Ciccarelli, Rick Green (1976 first overall pick by Capitals),
Reg Thomas, Billy Carroll, Vern Stenlund, Brian Bradley (273 points
in 210 Knights games), Jason Allison (142 points in 93-94 on a squad
with a losing record), John Erskine, Gene Chiarello, Chris Kelly,
Frank Caprice, Dave Lowry, Chris Taylor, Dennis Wideman, Aaron
Molnar, Jim Sandlak . . . and from the last decade Dylan Hunter, Rob
Schremp, Danny Syvret, Patrick Kane, John Carlson, Nazem Kadri,
Steve Mason, Michael Houser, Max Domi, Bo Horvat and Seth Griffith.
Your list could include various others.
Sometimes one great season does not
create a long enough resume to be honoured amongst the best ever? Or
maybe Sam Gagner, Dan Girardi or Patrick Maroon deserve the
recognition. A better example, is the terrific NHL career as a player
and coach by Jim Schoenfeld, but he played just 16 games with the
Knights before moving to the Hamilton Red Wings.
The top 18 will survive the cut. The
fans will decide by online voting.
Maruk is an easy selection pour moi as
he and Guy Charron are the main reason I have always followed the
Washington Capitals (Story for another day).
Rogers TV has made life a little easier
as a visit to www.rogerstv.com/knightsalltimeteam
you can 'pull down and click' on the names you like. You can vote
more than once. Rogers TV has also quietly received some votes from
former players and in early March a panel will sift through all the
vote tabulations and announce the 18 players on the 50-year all-time
Knights roster.
LINKS:
Mark
Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior
Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal
LePage Triland Realty
757
Dundas St, Woodstock
(519)
537-1553, cell or text
Email:
mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter:
markroyallepage
Facebook:
Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
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