Gongshow Hockey › "Chasing History"

The London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League are chasing CHL history. They have started the season on fire going 27-0-1-0, unbeatable in 28 games, with no end in sight. The current record is held by the 1978/79 Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL and it stands at 29 games, they compiled a record of 24-0-5, before eventually losing. If all goes according to plan, the Knights could potentaily tie the record on Wednesday, December 8th, when they take on the Kitchener Rangers, no easy feat. The eventual record breaker would take place at home Friday, December 10th, where they play host to another fierce rival in the Guelph Storm. The game will be played live on Sportsnet, for the entire country to witness, should the record fall.

It seems as if the London Knights could do no wrong, but this wasn't always the case. Only a few short years ago, London was suffering through another losing season, and playing out of the cramped and dingy London Ice House. It seems so long ago that London went an entire season only winning 3 games, and were the laughing stock of the OHL. Oh how things have changed. With the opening of the "JLC" John Labatt Centre, the London franchise took a turn for the better. Currently ranked #1 in the country, and playing in front of 9000+ fans a night, these are great times for the city of London. With the NHL lockout, getting to a London Knights game could quite possibly be the most sought after ticket in Canada. With sellouts night after night, and tickets booked months in advance, the London bandwagon is getting full, very full.

It is almost too easy to forget that London has already booked themselves a ticket to the Mastercard Memorial Cup, they will play hosts to the event May 21-29th, when they take on the best the CHL has to offer. They fell just short of that goal last year, losing to the Guelph Storm in the Western Conference finals after a hard fought 7 game series. Last year should be looked at as stepping stone for London, they finished the season 53-11-2-2, first overall, setting numerous records in the process. While they didn't win a championship last year, they experience they gained will prove to be invaluable. Anything less the a Memorial Cup this year will prove to be the ultimate dissapointment, to the players, the coaches, the fans, and indeed a city that has gone 40 years without a championship to celebrate.

I know I will have my TV tuned to Sportsnet of Friday, December 10th to watch this game, and I suggest you do as well. How often do you get to witness history first hand? Even if it is only junior hockey, it makes for an interesting story in a hockey mad country. It is also my feeling that London will lose eventually, it seems unlikely they can go an entire season without losing, but you can't help and wonder.......what if?