London Knights win Hamilton Spectator Trophy, crowned Midwest Division champions

The London Knights are regular season champions for a second straight year, claiming the Hamilton Spectator Trophy for the eighth time since 2003-04.

The Knights also secured their sixth consecutive Midwest Division crown on Tuesday, defeating the Guelph Storm 7-3 in front of 9,061 at Canada Life Place. Blueliner Sam Dickinson had two goals and an assist and Easton Cowan collected four helpers as the Knights beat Guelph on a night where they honoured their 2005 Memorial Cup championship team prior to puckdrop.

The 51-9-2-0 Knights are clear of the second place Kitchener Rangers with six games remaining on their schedule. It marks London’s second straight 50+ win season, giving them 100+ points in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2012-14.

Head coach Dale Hunter recently became the second CHL coach to reach the 1000 career win mark as the Knights continue their march towards the playoffs, looking to repeat as J. Ross Robertson Cup champions before finishing the job they came one win short of last spring – capturing the Memorial Cup.

The Hamilton Spectator Trophy was first presented to the Ontario Hockey Association in the 1957-58 season. Winners have gone on to capture the OHL championship 26 times and the Memorial Cup 11 times. The 2009 Windsor Spitfires were the last OHL team to complete the trifecta, emerging as Memorial Cup champions.

Since joining the Midwest Division at the start of the 2002-03 season, the Knights have earned the Holody Trophy – named in honour of late former owner and governor of the Guelph Platers and Owen Sound Platers, Joe Holody – a total of 14 times. Prior to that, they clinched first in the West Division during the 1997-98 campaign, and finished atop the Emms Division in 1977-78 and 1989-90.

The Knights become just the first team in OHL history to win their respective division in six consecutive years.