London Nationals
The London Nationals are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in London, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Hockey League. Brandon Prust is the team's head coach, with Rumun Ndur as an assistant coach. The Nationals play their home games at the Western Fair Sports Centre. Established in 1950, the franchise has also used the names Lou Ball Juniors, Diamonds, Athletics, Bees, and Squires. The Nationals won the Sutherland Cup in the 2012–13 season as the league's playoffs champions.
History
Early days — 1950
The team's life began in 1950, playing in The Big '10' Western Division out of the Ontario Arena at the Western Fair grounds. They won the Western Division title in 1952 as the London Lou Ball Juniors, after sponsor Lou Ball's clothing store. In 1956 the 'Big 10' was divided, and London became a member of the Western Ontario Junior "B" Hockey League.Consistent representation of the city of London at the Jr. B level began in 1950 with the London Lou Ball Juniors, playing in The 'Big 10' Western Division out of the Ontario Arena at the Western Fairgrounds. The team was named after Lou Ball Clothes, which were stores owned by coach Lou Ball, and they won the championship the following season. The team was known as the London Collinson Flyers during the 1955–56 season before reverting to Lou Ball Juniors for 2 more seasons. The name changed to London Diamonds in 1958, then to Athletics in 1960. In 1961 the team was renamed again. They were called the Nationals, after sponsor Canadian National Recreation Association, an organization of Canadian National Railways employees.
The Maple Leafs — 1963
In 1963 the Toronto Maple Leafs began sponsoring the Nationals. The Maple Leafs traditionally had affiliations with the Toronto Marlboros and St. Michael's Majors, however with the withdrawal of the Majors from the OHA, and the collapse of the Metro Junior A League, the Leafs were left with only one team. They decided to sponsor the junior team in London, which they wanted to play at the new London Gardens and be promoted to the Ontario Hockey Association.The OHA initially balked at the proposition however, and so the Nationals continued to play in the Junior B league, winning the London Free Press Trophy as league champions in 1964 and 1965. For the 1965–66 season, the team was finally admitted to major junior hockey, and London's Junior B franchise moved to Ingersoll to make room for the Junior A Nationals. The Junior A team was renamed as London Knights in 1968, and the Nationals name disappeared from the London sports landscape.
The Bees, Squires and Diamonds — 1966
The Junior B team returned to London under the name Bees for the 1966–1967 season, but then fell dormant for two seasons. The team was revived in 1969 as the Squires, and played under that name until 1976. The team was then known as the Diamonds from 1976–1991, before the Nationals name was revived after a long-lasting sponsorship with a diamond jeweler dissolved.The team's time under the Diamonds name was successful, as they claimed the Western Ontario Hockey League title in 1981, 1983, and 1984.
Nationals Name Returns — 1991
The next change came when Kent Phibbs purchased the team and changed the name back to the London Nationals, and they won the Western Jr. B championship that same year. The team uniforms were once again the blue and white of the Maple Leafs and the team remained at Nichols Arena for a few years.Mr. Phibbs now moved the team back to the Gardens. In the summer of 1998, the team was sold again, this time to the Doug Tarry Group. The team remained playing at the same arena, but the name had changed to the London Ice House. The team colors and logo were changed to eggplant and teal to match the affiliate and the team still played at the London Ice House. The team's most recent championship came in 2019 as Western Conference Champions.
In 2013, the Nationals defeated the Cambridge Winterhawks to win their first-ever Sutherland Cup. The Nationals appeared in back-to-back Sutherland Cups in 2016 & 2017, and again in 2019.
In 2020, the Nationals marked their 70th anniversary as a Jr. B franchise in London.
Championships
Sutherland CupGOJHL Champions
- 2012–13 Champions vs. Cambridge Winterhawks
GOJHL Western Conference Champions
- 2018–19 Champions vs. Leamington Flyers
- 2017–18 Champions vs. St. Thomas Stars
- 2016–17 Champions vs. Leamington Flyers
- 2015–16 Champions vs. Leamington Flyers
- 2012–13 Champions vs. Chatham Maroons
- 2011–12 Champions vs. Strathroy Rockets
Western Ontario Junior Hockey League
- 1991–92 Champions vs. Windsor Bulldogs
- 1983–84 Champions vs. Sarnia Bees
- 1982–83 Champions vs. Sarnia Bees
- 1980–81 Champions vs. Chatham Maroons
- 1974–75 Champions vs. St. Mary's Lincolns
Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League
- 1964–65 Champions vs. St. Thomas Barons
- 1963–64 Champions vs. St. Thomas Barons
- 1951–52 Champions vs. Sarnia Jr. Sailors
Season-by-season results
Playoffs
- 1950–51 Lost to Windsor 8–6
- 1951–52 Defeated Windsor 3–0 in semi-finals
- 1952–53 Semi-final round robin. London Eliminated.
- 1953–54 Lost to Sarnia 4–0 in semi-finals.
- 1954–55 Lost to Sarnia 3–2 in semi-finals.
- 1955–56 Did not qualify
- 1956–57 Did not qualify
- 1957–58 Defeated Woodstock 3–0 in first round.
Lost to Sarnia Bees 4–1 in final.
- 1958–59 Lost to Sarnia Bees 4–1–1 in semi-finals
- 1959–60 Did not qualify
- 1960–61 Did not qualify
- 1961–62 Did not qualify
- 1962–63 Did not qualify
- 1963–64 Defeated Sarnia Bees 4–2 in semi-finals.
- 1964–65 Defeated Chatham Maroons 4–1 in semi-finals.
- 1965–66 Lost to Sarnia Bees 4–1 in semi-finals.
- 1966–67 Did not qualify
- 1967–68 Did not participate
- 1968–69 Did not participate
- 1970–78 NO RECORDS AVAILABLE
- 1978–79 Defeated Petrolia Jets 7–3 in first round.
- 1980–80 Defeated Chatham Maroons 3–1 in first round.
Lost to Windsor 4–0 in finals.
- 1980–81 Defeated Windsor 4–0
- 1981–82 Defeated Chatham Maroons 3–0 in first round.
Lost to Sarnia 4–3 in finals.
- 1982–83 Defeated St. Thomas Pests 5–2 in first round.
- 1983–84 Defeated Windsor 4–0
- 1984–85 Defeated St. Thomas Pests 3–0
- 1985–86 Lost to Chatham Maroons 5–4 in first round.
- 1986–87 Defeated Chatham Maroons 4–0 in first round.
- 1988–89 Did not qualify
- 1989–90 Did not qualify
- 1990–91 Lost to St. Mary's Lincoln's 4–0 in quarter-final.
- 1991–92 Lost to Windsor 4–1 in quarter-final.
- 1992–93 Defeated St. Thomas Stars 4–1 in divisional semi-final.
Defeated Windsor 4–3 in finals. WOJHL CHAMPIONS
- 1993–94 Defeated St. Thomas Stars 4–1 in divisional semi-final.
- 1994–95 Defeated Aylmer 4–2 in divisional semi-final.
- 1995–96 Lost to St. Thomas Stars 4–0 in divisional semi-finals.
- 1996–97 Lost to St. Thomas Stars 4–0 in divisional semi-finals.
- 1997–98 Lost to St. Thomas Stars 4–1 in divisional semi-finals.
- 1998–99 Did not qualify.
- 1999–00 Lost to St. Thomas Stars 4–0 in divisional semi-finals.
- 2000–01 Did not qualify.
- 2001–02 Defeated Strathroy Rockets 4–2 in first round.
Lost to Chatham 4–2 in finals.
- 2002–03 Lost to Sarnia Blast 4–1 in quarter-finals
- 2003–04 Defeated St. Thomas Stars 4–1 in quarter-finals
- 2004–05 Defeated Leamington Flyers 4–2 in first round.
Lost to Chatham 4–2 in finals.
- 2005–06 Defeated St. Mary's Lincolns 4–1 in first round.
- 2006–07 Lost to St. Mary's Lincolns 4–3 in quarter-finals.
- 2007–08 Lost to Sarnia Legionairres 4–3 in quarter-finals.
- 2008–09 Defeated Leamington Flyers 4–2 in first round.
Lost to Tecumseh Chiefs 4–1 in final.
- 2009–10 Defeated LaSalle Vipers 4–1 in first round.
Lost to Sarnia Legionaries 4–2 in final.
- 2010–11 Defeated Leamington Flyers 4–0 in first round.
- 2011–12 Defeated Sarnia Legionaries 4–0 in first round.
Lost to St. Thomas Stars 4–3 in final.
- 2012–13 Defeated LaSalle Vipers 4–1 in first round.
Defeated Strathroy Rockets 4–2 WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Defeated Cambridge Winterhawks 4–3 in the championship round. SUTHERLAND CUP CHAMPIONS
- 2013–14 Defeated St. Thomas Stars 4–2 in first round.
- 2014–15 Defeated Sarnia Legionnaries 4–3 in first round.
- 2015–16 Defeated Strathroy Rockets 4–2 in first round.
Defeated Leamington Flyers 4-2 WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Defeated Stratford Cullitons 4–2
Lost to Caledonia Corvairs 4–0 in final.
- 2016–17 Defeated St. Mary's Lincolns 4–1 in first round.
Defeated Leamington Flyers 4–1 WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Defeated Listowel Cyclones 4–1
Lost to Elmira Sugar Kings 4–1 in Final.
- 2017–18 Defeated Strathroy Rockets 4–0 in first round.
Defeated St. Thomas Stars 4–0 WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Lost to Listowel Cyclones 4–1 in semi-finals
- 2018–19 Defeated St. Thomas Stars 4–0 in first round.
Defeated Leamington Flyers 4–0 WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
Defeated Listowel Cyclones 4–1 in semi-finals
Lost to Waterloo Siskins 4–3 in Final.
- 2019–20 Defeated Sarnia Legionnaries 4–0 in first round.
Players
Retired numbers
- 16 – Tom Cardiff
- 22 – Patrick Dobie
- 29 – Taylor Edwards
- 39 – Scott Lombardi
- 61 – Max Vinogradov
- 96 – Aaron Dartch
NHL alumni
List of alumni who also played in the National Hockey League.;London Nationals Junior B
;London Diamonds Junior B
- Bill Armstrong
- Neal Coulter
- Jeff Hackett
- Ken Hammond
- Dave Hutchison
- Walt McKechnie
- Dan Quinn
- Craig Simpson
- Scott Thornton
Awards
GOJHL Western Conference
Stan Moore AwardFirst Place - Western Conference
- 2017-18
- 2019-20
- 2019-20 - Cal Davis
Volunteer of the Year
- 1992–93 – Bill McCullough
- 2006–07 – Bill Westgate
- 2012–13 – Steve Davidson
- 2013–14 – Bruce Keck
Sportsmanship & Ability
- 1991–92 – Bill Weir
- 1995–96 – Craig Watson
- 2000–01 – Matt Meyer
- 2009–10 – Adam McKee
- 2010–11 – Noah Schwartz
- 2012–13 – Noah Schwartz
- 2018–19 – Cal Davis
Rookie of the Year
- 1989–90 – Keli Corpse
- 1990–91 – Trevor Gallant
- 1997–98 – Scott Dickier
- 2000–01 – Kyle Piwowarczyk
- 2019–20 – Logan Mailloux
Most Valuable 1st Year Defenseman
- 1991–92 – Dan Brown
- 1992–93 – Chad Palmer
- 1993–94 – Chad Palmer
- 1994–95 – John Barrett
- 1996–97 – Mike Van Ryn
- 2003–04 – Patrick Dobie
- 2008–09 – Jake McClelland
- 2013–14 – Matt Fuller
- 2014–15 – Justin Murray
- 2015-16 - Jordan DiCicco
- 2019–20 – Logan Mailloux
Top Defenceman
- 2016-17 - Quinn Lenihan
- 2017-18 - Jordan DiCicco
Defensive Forward
- 2017-18 - Kyle Dawson
Most Valuable Player
- 1992–93 – Chris Legg
- 1993–94 – Shane Johnson
- 2000–01 – Ash Goldie
- 2008–09 – Adam McKee
- 2018–19 – Cal Davis
- 2019–20 – Cal Davis
Regular Season Scoring Champion
- 1982–83 – Craig Simpson
- 1988–89 – Bill Weir
- 1991–92 – Bill Weir
- 1992–93 – Mike Legg
- 1993–94 – Shane Johnson
- 2007–08 – Glenn McCarron
- 2009–10 – Adam McKee
- 2016–17 – Brenden Trottier
- 2018–19 – Cal Davis
- 2019–20 – Cal Davis
Playoff Scoring Champion
- 2000–01 – Ashe Goldie
Playoff MVP
- 2012–13 – Noah Schwartz
Top Points - Rookie
- 2019–20 – Logan Mailloux
Rookie Scoring Champion
- 2000–01 – Kyle Piwowarczyk
Best Team Goals Against Average
- 1979–80 –
- 1980–81 –
- 1982–83 – D. Sceli, Craig Billington
- 1983–84 – Richard McCullough, Rob Nixon
- 1984–85 –
- 1985–86 –
- 1986–87 – Joe Noval, Brian Morris
- 1991–92 – Shawn O'Hagan, Dave Grasso
- 1995–96 – Steve Tutt, Ian Burt
- 2009–10 – Mike Coulter, Taylor Edwards
- 2016–17 – Cameron Zanussi, Trenten McGrail
- 2017–18 – David Ovsjannikov, Zach Springer
- 2019–20 – Shawn Wiranata
Team records
- As of January 19, 2020
Arenas
Ontario Arena, 1950–1963
- Built :
- Capacity :.
- Ice Size : 190' x 85'
London Gardens/London Ice House, 1976–2001
- Built : 1963
- Capacity : 5,075 including standing room.
- Ice Size : 190' x 85'
Ray Lanctin Arena (Medway Arena), 2002–2005
- Built : 1967
- Capacity : N/A.
- Ice Size : 100' x 200'
Western Fair Sports Centre, 2006–present
- Built : 1995
- Capacity : 1,500 including standing room.
- Ice Size : 100' x 200'
Other arenas
- Lambeth Arena
- Earl Nicols Arena
- Ray Lanctin Arena
- Glencoe Arena
Uniforms and logos
The original London Nationals were modelled after their parent club, the Toronto Maple Leafs, up until the affiliation changed to the London Knights. The team’s logo was the same maple leaf used by the parent club at the time, except with “London Nationals” written across the leaf instead of “Toronto Maple Leafs.” Over the years, the team went through numerous logo and uniform changes, with sponsors including Chester Pegg & Phibbs Incorporated influencing the look. In the 1990s, the Nationals adopted the Knights’ eggplant and teal colours to mirror their Jr. A affiliate. When the Knights moved to their modern green, black, and gold look in 2002, the Nationals returned to a familiar blue-and-white design.In 2015, the Nationals introduced a black alternate jersey featuring the team’s crest logo.
In 2025, the Nationals unveiled a complete rebrand, replacing their long-standing Maple Leafs-style crest with a new train logo. This update was more than just a cosmetic change — it was a deliberate nod to the team’s history and its namesake, the Canadian National Railway. Dating back to 1961, the Nationals name was adopted after the Canadian National Recreation Association, an organization of CNR employees, sponsored the team. The new logo and colour palette — featuring a deeper blue accented by black and white — celebrate that heritage by evoking the hard-working, blue-collar spirit of railway workers and the local community they represented, symbolizing strength, motion, and the team’s forward momentum.