Knights’ prowess puts teeth in bid

London is likely to be a Memorial Cup contender, this season and next.

rThe London Knights would like nothing better than to go into the 2005 Memorial Cup as the host team and defending champion. It has happened only once since the Canadian Hockey League adopted the round-robin tournament format in 1972. The Kamloops Blazers won the 1994 cup in Laval, Que., then played host to — and won — the championship at home the following year. r

But for the Knights to be in that situation, they’ll have to do two things: Win the bid to stage the championship when it returns to the OHL in 2005, and make it to the 2004 Memorial Cup in Kelowna, B.C., in May.r

The Knights currently have the second-best record in the Ontario Hockey League.r

“And we should have a good team, too (next season),” Knights co-owner and general manager Mark Hunter said yesterday. “We’re not that old yet, unless something happens that’s out of our hands,” such as players sticking in the NHL.r

Forwards such as Corey Perry, Rob Schremp, David Bolland and Dylan Hunter will be in their prime next season. The defence, already among the best in the league, also will be a year older.r

The fact the Knights can make their Memorial Cup bid presentation in April and say they’ll have a good team next season will score with the OHL selection committee.r

That committee consists of Paul Beeston, former president of the Toronto Blue Jays and former vice-president of major league baseball, Frank Bonello, director of NHL central scouting, and Brian O’Neill, a retired NHL vice-president.r

The OHL has reverted to awarding the tournament a year in advance, a change from having teams bid midway through the season it’s holding the cup, where one of the criteria was bidding teams had to be in the top half of their conference.r

The OHL knows it’s again flirting with danger, as it did when the Dukes of Hamilton were awarded the 1990 Memorial Cup in August 1989, before the season opened.r

A Hamilton group had purchased the Toronto Marlboros from Harold Ballard and was moving the team to the 16,000-seat Copps Coliseum for the 1989-’90 season.r

The Marlies were a decent team in 1988-’89, finishing third in their division, so the league felt comfortable awarding the tourney to Hamilton.r

But that season, the Dukes were dreadful, going 11-49-6.r

Many in the OHL saw their participation in the cup as an embarrassment to the league. Finally, under pressure, the Dukes pulled out, though they still staged the event in Hamilton.r

The Kitchener Rangers, who had lost to the Oshawa Generals in the OHL final, filled in the host team spot.r

The OHL lucked out when the Generals and Rangers met in the cup final, with Oshawa winning in double overtime before a full house.r

The Dukes lasted one more season in Hamilton, then went to Guelph and became the Storm. “We can safely go to the table and say we’ve got good players for next year,” Hunter said.r

The bid process also is not just an exercise in who writes the biggest cheque.r

Bid guidelines require a minimum guarantee of a $600,000 profit.r

In 2002, the last time the tournament was in the OHL, the Ottawa 67’s came to the table with $1.3 million. The Storm came with $800,000, but their presentation won.r

The Storm had built their bid around a theme honouring Canadian veterans. The Memorial Cup was established in 1919 to honour Canada’s dead in the First World War.r

Guelph also had just opened a new arena in 2000.r

KNIGHTWATCHr

Next: The London Knights and Windsor Spitfires play tomorrow at the John Labatt Centre at 7:30 p.m.r

Teddy Bear Toss: Fans are encouraged to bring a stuffed animal or toy and toss it on the ice when the Knights score their first goal. Last season, 6,453 fans tossed 2,954 animals that were distributed to needy children for Christmas.r

Karaga a hit: Knights rookie forward Vadim Karaga has 14 points, including eight goals in four games for Belarus as it clinched first place with one game remaining in the world junior division one championship in France. Belarus will play in the top division next year in Grand Forks, N.D., after being relegated at the 2003 tournament in Halifax.r