London Admirals
Encyclopedia
The London Admirals were a Canadian
Senior
ice hockey
team from London
, Ontario
. The Admirals were one-time national Allan Cup
finalists.
. They have the distinction of playing in an era where Senior hockey's popularity was near dead in Ontario, but still managed to compete in two Allan Cup
tournaments in only two seasons.
In 1997, the Southwestern Senior A Hockey League, the only sanctioned senior league left in Ontario, was down to five teams and wished to expand. One team brought in was the London Admirals. In their first season, the Admirals cleaned house with 24 wins, 2 losses, and a tie. The first place finish and a great playoff run got them into the 1998 Allan Cup
in Truro, Nova Scotia
in only their first season. In the first game of the tournament, the Admirals took on Manitoba
's Ile des Chenes North Stars but lost 6-4. In the second game, London defeated British Columbia
's Powell River Regals
4-3. In the third round robin game, the Admirals were pitted against the hometown Truro Bearcats
who beat London 5-3. Finishing third in the round robin, the Admirals earned the right to play the North Stars again in the semi-final. After being tied 4-4 at the end of regulation, the Admirals and North Stars played late into the night. In the third overtime, London scored to win 5-4 and earn a birth into the Allan Cup final, a little more than half a day away. In the final, the Bearcats asserted themselves on the Admirals in front of the crowd at the full Colchester Legion Stadium
taking an early lead and never looking back, the Bearcats would win 6-1 in what would be their last ever game.
Throughout the 1997-98 campaign fan support was dismal for the Admirals who had to share the market with the popular London Knights
of the Ontario Hockey League
. To bolster the team for its second campaign, the Admirals took on a sponsorship deal from MacMaster Chevy in London. Despite finishing third in the league in 1998-99, London still had a record of 18-7-0-3. They won the right to compete in the national playdowns again and ended up in the 1999 Allan Cup
in Stony Plain, Alberta
. In the first game, the hometown Stony Plain Eagles
flattened London 8-3. In the second game, the Powell River Kings
avenged their 1998 loss with an 8-1 blowout over London. In the third game of the round robin, the London MacMaster Chevys lost 4-3 to Saskatchewan
's Lloydminster Border Kings
to close out the Allan Cup tournament without a win. This would be the last game London would ever play.
A combination of poor fan support and a lack of major sponsors led to the demise of the Admirals, who never suited up again.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Senior
Senior ice hockey
Senior hockey refers to amateur or semi-professional ice hockey competition for players too old to play junior ice hockey. The top senior amateur teams in Canadian leagues compete annually for the Allan Cup....
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team from London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The Admirals were one-time national Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
finalists.
History
The London Admirals were a short lived Senior hockey team in Southwestern OntarioSouthwestern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario, centred on the city of London. It extends north to south from the Bruce Peninsula on Lake Huron to the Lake Erie shoreline, and east to south-west roughly from Guelph to Windsor. The region had a population...
. They have the distinction of playing in an era where Senior hockey's popularity was near dead in Ontario, but still managed to compete in two Allan Cup
Allan Cup
The Allan Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the national senior amateur men’s ice hockey champions of Canada. It has been competed for since 1909. The current champion is the Clarenville Caribous hockey club of Newfoundland and Labrador.-History:...
tournaments in only two seasons.
In 1997, the Southwestern Senior A Hockey League, the only sanctioned senior league left in Ontario, was down to five teams and wished to expand. One team brought in was the London Admirals. In their first season, the Admirals cleaned house with 24 wins, 2 losses, and a tie. The first place finish and a great playoff run got them into the 1998 Allan Cup
1998 Allan Cup
The 1998 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 1997-98 Senior "AAA" season. The event was hosted by the Truro Bearcats in Truro, Nova Scotia...
in Truro, Nova Scotia
Truro, Nova Scotia
-Education:Truro has one high school, Cobequid Educational Centre. Post-secondary options include a campus of the Nova Scotia Community College, as well as the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in the neighboring town of Bible Hill.- Sports :...
in only their first season. In the first game of the tournament, the Admirals took on Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
's Ile des Chenes North Stars but lost 6-4. In the second game, London defeated British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
's Powell River Regals
Powell River Regals
The Powell River Regals are a Canadian Senior ice hockey team from Powell River, British Columbia. The Regals play an independent schedule under the supervision of BC Hockey. The Regals are 3-time Allan Cup National Champions, 1-time Allan Cup National Finalists, and 1-time Hardy Cup National...
4-3. In the third round robin game, the Admirals were pitted against the hometown Truro Bearcats
Truro Bearcats (senior)
----The Truro Bearcats were a Canadian Senior ice hockey team from Truro, Nova Scotia. The Bearcats were 1998 Allan Cup Canadian National champions of Senior hockey.-History:...
who beat London 5-3. Finishing third in the round robin, the Admirals earned the right to play the North Stars again in the semi-final. After being tied 4-4 at the end of regulation, the Admirals and North Stars played late into the night. In the third overtime, London scored to win 5-4 and earn a birth into the Allan Cup final, a little more than half a day away. In the final, the Bearcats asserted themselves on the Admirals in front of the crowd at the full Colchester Legion Stadium
Colchester Legion Stadium
The Colchester Legion Stadium is a 2,100-seat multi-purpose arena in Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.The Colchester Legion Stadium has six team dressing rooms, an officials room and first aid room. Canteens and washrooms are located at the front of the facility...
taking an early lead and never looking back, the Bearcats would win 6-1 in what would be their last ever game.
Throughout the 1997-98 campaign fan support was dismal for the Admirals who had to share the market with the popular London Knights
London Knights
The London Knights are a junior ice hockey team from London, Ontario, Canada, playing in the Ontario Hockey League, one of the leagues of the Canadian Hockey League.-Early days–1968:...
of the Ontario Hockey League
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
. To bolster the team for its second campaign, the Admirals took on a sponsorship deal from MacMaster Chevy in London. Despite finishing third in the league in 1998-99, London still had a record of 18-7-0-3. They won the right to compete in the national playdowns again and ended up in the 1999 Allan Cup
1999 Allan Cup
The 1999 Allan Cup was the Canadian national senior ice hockey championship for the 1998-99 Senior "AAA" season. The event was hosted by the Stony Plain Eagles in Stony Plain, Alberta...
in Stony Plain, Alberta
Stony Plain, Alberta
Stony Plain is a large town in rural Alberta, Canada, just west of Edmonton.Stony Plain is a rapidly growing town with strong historical roots. It is located west of Spruce Grove and surrounded by Parkland County. The town is governed by one mayor and six councillors. The region is dominated by...
. In the first game, the hometown Stony Plain Eagles
Stony Plain Eagles
The Stony Plain Eagles are a senior ice hockey team based in Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada. Founded in the 1930s, the team moved up to the Senior AAA ranks in 1992. They presently play in the Chinook Hockey League.-History:...
flattened London 8-3. In the second game, the Powell River Kings
Powell River Kings
The Powell River Kings are a Junior "A" Ice Hockey team based in Powell River, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Coastal Conference of the British Columbia Hockey League...
avenged their 1998 loss with an 8-1 blowout over London. In the third game of the round robin, the London MacMaster Chevys lost 4-3 to Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
's Lloydminster Border Kings
Lloydminster Border Kings
The Lloydminster Border Kings are a Senior AAA ice hockey team based in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan, Canada. They play in the Chinook Hockey League, as the once prominent Wild Goose Hockey League is on hiatus for 2008-09. The Border Kings captured the Allan Cup, Canada's national senior...
to close out the Allan Cup tournament without a win. This would be the last game London would ever play.
A combination of poor fan support and a lack of major sponsors led to the demise of the Admirals, who never suited up again.
Season-by-season standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | P | Results |
| 1997-98 | 27 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 204 | 104 | 49 | 1st SWSHL |
| 1998-99 | 28 | 18 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 199 | 131 | 39 | 3rd SWSHL |