How suite it is!

It’s said that home is where the heart is.r

In Don Brankley’s case, his heart is wherever the London Knights may be.

rWhether it was his 32-plus years at the Ice House or now, just over five months downtown in the new John Labatt Centre, the dean of Ontario Hockey League trainers has made his team’s new address feel just like home.r

“Branks has done a wonderful job on this,” Knights captain Danny Bois says of the spacious, 2,220-square-foot dressing room located in the northwest corner of the JLC.r

The Knights’ new digs are four times the size of their old dressing room.r

But Bois says the JLC dressing room didn’t really start to feel like home until Brankley began mounting on the walls the hundreds of pieces of memorabilia he has collected over his years with the team.r

“The first few weeks this was just walls and paint,” said Bois, who is in this third season with the team.r

“It’s important we feel comfortable. At first it didn’t feel like a home game and our record showed it.r

“Now that the dressing room feels like home, our record shows we feel like we’re playing at home.r

“It was very tough to leave the Ice House. We really did miss it the first few weeks, but this is definitely our home now.”r

Brankley isn’t sure whether it was harder taking all the items down or putting it all back up — and he still has more items packed away in boxes.r

“It’s a work in progress,” he said of the 343 pieces he has on the walls to this point.r

“And just think,” offered assistant trainer Bill (Chevy) Harron, “it’s taken Branks only two months to put up what it took him 32 years to collect at the Ice House.”r

Don’t bother asking Brankley what his favourite artifact is. That would be like asking him who’s his favourite player.r

Team photos, personalized pictures from players who have worn the Knights sweater, sticks, pucks . . . you name it, Brankley has collected it over the years and it’s all on display.r

A virtual London Knights hall of fame is on those walls.r

The sweater Dino Ciccarelli wore when he got his 545th NHL goal to pass Maurice (Rocket) Richard on the all-time goal-scoring list is framed.r

turn typer

Brankley was at that game at Joe Louis Arena when Ciccarelli, then a Detroit Red Wing, scored his historic marker.r

“To Branks. This goals for you. #545 Dino 22” the sweater is inscribed.r

There are even signed pictures from people who never played for the Knights but developed a great respect for Brankley. Bobby Orr, Craig Simpson, Byron Dafoe, Jeff Hackett and NHL referee Don Van Massenhoven have put pen to picture and they now have a place of honour.r

Larry Goodenough (Philadelphia), Steve Smith (Edmonton), Bill Carroll (New York Islanders) and Tim Taylor (Detroit) have a special spot — the Stanley Cup champions wall.r

The actual dressing room has stalls for 25 players, a far cry from the 21 spots in the old room at the Ice House.r

A big Knights’ head is on the carpet in the middle of the room. Coach Dale Hunter instituted a $10 fine for anyone who steps on the logo, feeling that would show disrespect for the organization.r

“Dale was the first one to have to pay it,” Brankley said with a laugh. “And the only one.”r

The dressing room is the perfect size, Brankley said. “I like the openness, but it’s still intimate. The players can feel like it’s their space.”r

Although the Knights opened the JLC on Oct. 11, Brankley didn’t get at putting up his memorabilia until January. The Knights used the visitors’ dressing for the first month while they built their room.r

Once they got into their room, Brankley said the players would come in each day and ask when he was going to start putting up the pictures.r

It just didn’t feel like home, they said.r

Now they come in each day and check to see what’s new.r

Yesterday, assistant Bob Hammond finished installing a bit of nostalgia in the weight room — the old stall from the Ice House that was last used by Rick Nash.r

That stall has also seen players such as Brendan Shanahan, Dave Simpson, Jason Allison, Louie DeBrusk, Joe Paterson and Carroll.r

“There’s a lot of history at that seat,” Brankley said.r

Even though the JLC is feeling like home, the move out of the Ice House had to be the toughest on Brankley.r

“It was the biggest change in my hockey career, but the memories, they’re all up here,” he said, pointing to the walls, his shrine to 32-plus years with the Knights.r

Brankley was at that game at Joe Louis Arena when Ciccarelli, then a Detroit Red Wing, scored his historic marker. “To Branks. This goal’s for you. #545 Dino 22” the sweater is inscribed.r

There are even signed photos from people who never played for the Knights but developed a great respect for Brankley.r

Bobby Orr, Craig Simpson, Byron Dafoe, Jeff Hackett and NHL referee Don Van Massenhoven all have a place of honour.r

Larry Goodenough (Philadelphia), Steve Smith (Edmonton), Bill Carroll (New York Islanders) and Tim Taylor (Detroit) also have a special spot — the Stanley Cup champions wall.r

The actual dressing room has stalls for 25 players, up from the 21 spots in the old room at the Ice House.r

A big Knights logo is on the carpet in the middle of the room. Coach Dale Hunter instituted a $10 fine for anyone who steps on the logo, feeling that would show disrespect for the organization.r

“Dale was the first one to have to pay it,” Brankley said with a laugh. “And the only one.”r

The dressing room is the perfect size, he said. “I like the openness but it’s still intimate. The players can feel like it’s their space.”r

Although the Knights opened the JLC on Oct. 11, Brankley didn’t get at putting up his memorabilia until January. The Knights used the visitors’ dressing for the first month while they built their room.r

Once they got into their room, he said the players would come in each day and ask when he was going to start putting up the pictures.r

It just didn’t feel like home, the players said.r

Now they come in each day and check to see what’s new.r

Yesterday, assistant Bob Hammond finished installing a bit of nostalgia in the weight room — the old stall from the Ice House that was last used by Rick Nash.r

That stall also has seen players like Brendan Shanahan, Dave Simpson, Jason Allison, Louie DeBrusk, Joe Paterson and Carroll.r

“There’s a lot of history at that seat,” said Brankley.r

Even though the JLC is feeling like home, the move out of the Ice House had to be toughest on Brankley.r

“It was the biggest change in my hockey career but the memories, they’re all up here,” he said, pointing to the walls, his shrine to 32-plus years with the Knights.r

KNIGHTS’ ROOM BY THE NUMBERSr

Address: John Labatt Centre, 99 Dundas St., Londonr

Overall size: 2,200 square feetr

Dedicated areas: Eight — players’ room, changing area, bathroom/shower, coaches’ room, skate sharpening, medical, weight room, laundry roomr

Player stalls: 25r

Televisions: Three (two to come)r

Stereo units: Oner

Showers: Six, including two that are handicapped accessibler

Distance from room to ice surface: 60 feetr

Memorabilia on the walls: 343 items and mounting