Toronto, ON – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that the 2005 Mastercard Memorial Cup champion London Knights have been appointed the CHL Team of the Century following a fan vote in celebration of the 100th edition of the Mastercard Memorial Cup.
After thousands of votes for history’s 99 Memorial Cup champions, a final four ballot consisting of representatives from each league plus a wildcard was formed and included the Knights, the 1995 Kamloops Blazers, the 2000 Rimouski Oceanic, and the 2013 Halifax Mooseheads.
The 2005 London Knights began their 40th season with a CHL record 31-game unbeaten streak compiling an OHL record 59 wins and 120 points. The tournament hosts entered through the front door winning their first OHL title with a 16-2 record before sweeping the national competition including two wins over the Rimouski Oceanic led by Sidney Crosby. Coached by Dale Hunter, the Knights featured tournament MVP Corey Perry and future NHL talent like David Bolland, Dan Girardi, Marc Methot, and Brandon Prust.
The online voting platform hosted at http://chlteamofthecentury.ca featured photos, rosters, and tournament recaps for all 99 Memorial Cup champions.
The CHL Team of the Century vote is the latest initiative to commemorate the historic 100th Mastercard Memorial Cup celebration. Other initiatives this season have included the creation and sale of a Commemorative Coin in partnership with CIBC, a Memorial Cup Trophy Tour that visited 17 CHL communities in eight different provinces from November 18 through March 17, and a Champions Video Series to share stories and highlight moments of glory from some of history’s most memorable victories.
The Memorial Cup has a rich tradition that has shaped the way junior hockey is played in North America. The trophy was original known as the OHA Memorial Cup and was donated by the Ontario Hockey Association in March, 1919, in remembrance of the many soldiers who paid the supreme sacrifice for Canada in the First Wold War. In 2010 the Memorial Cup was rededicated to the memory of all fallen Canadian Military Personnel.
The 2018 Mastercard Memorial Cup is proudly supported by Mastercard, title sponsor of this event for 20 straight years. Associate sponsors include CIBC, Cooper Tires, and Real Canadian Superstore.
For more information please visit www.mmc100.ca or join the conversation on social media using #MMC100.
OHL Writers 