Knights Name Rob Simpson General Manager

Knights also appoint Assistant Director of Scouting Jake Goldberg as new Assistant General Manager.

LONDON, ON – The London Knights have announced today that Basil McRae is stepping down as General Manager to become the new Director of Player Personnel for the Columbus Blue Jackets.  Current Knights’ Assistant General Manager/Assistant Coach, Rob Simpson, has now been appointed as the new General Manager of the London Knights Hockey Club.

“I would like to thank Mark and Dale Hunter for guiding me during my time as the General Manager of the London Knights.  They have been great mentors of mine and given me the necessary skills for my new position.  I truly appreciate everything they have done for me in London,” said McRae.  “I would also like to thank everyone behind the scenes with the team; the trainers, the doctors, the scouts, all of the front office staff, and of course the fans.  The team is in great hands with Rob Simpson moving forward.”

Simpson has been with the Knights since 2012 and was instrumental in shaping the 2013 OHL Champion London Knights and the 2016 OHL and Memorial Cup Championship team.

“I feel honoured that the ownership group of Mark, Dale, and Basil have the confidence in me to take over this role.  I would like to thank them all for this opportunity”, said Simpson.  “Over my last four years of being with the organization, first working with Mark, then recently with Basil, and alongside Dale since I started, the ownership group has taught me invaluable lessons to prepare me for this role.  I look forward to using this knowledge moving forward in my new position with the team.”

While Simpson will be taking over General Manager duties, he will still have a role in assisting with the coaching and development of current London Knights players.

Knights’ Assistant Director of Scouting, Jake Goldberg, will now take over the Assistant General Manager position.  Goldberg has worked with them team for three years, two as an area scout, and this season as the Assistant Director of Scouting.  Goldberg will bring a history with working in advanced analytics to the team.  Goldberg comes from Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, a law firm based in Toronto where he focused on mergers and acquisitions for the organization.  He earned his HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business and his law degree from Western Law, where he finished at the top of his graduating class.

The announced changes will take effect immediately.

For more information, please visit londonknights.com.