London Nationals

The London Nationals are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in London, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Western division of the Greater Ontario Hockey League (GOHL). Donny Martin has been the team's head coach since 2026. The Nationals play their home games at the Western Fair Sports Centre. Established in 1950, the franchise has also used the names Lou Ball Juniors, Diamonds, Athletics, Bees, and Squires. The Nationals won the Sutherland Cup in the 2012–13 season as the league's playoffs champions.

History

Early days — 1950 The team's life began in 1950, playing in The Big '10' Western Division out of the Ontario Arena at the Western Fair grounds. They won the Western Division title in 1952 as the London Lou Ball Juniors, after sponsor Lou Ball's clothing store. In 1956 the 'Big 10' was divided, and London became a member of the Western Ontario Junior "B" Hockey League.

Consistent representation of the city of London at the Jr. B level began in 1950 with the London Lou Ball Juniors, playing in The 'Big 10' Western Division out of the Ontario Arena at the Western Fairgrounds. The team was named after Lou Ball Clothes, which were stores owned by coach Lou Ball, and they won the championship the following season. The team was known as the London Collinson Flyers during the 1955–56 season before reverting to Lou Ball Juniors for 2 more seasons. The name changed to London Diamonds in 1958, then to Athletics in 1960. In 1961 the team was renamed again. They were called the Nationals, after sponsor Canadian National Recreation Association, an organization of Canadian National Railways employees.

The Maple Leafs — 1963

In 1963 the Toronto Maple Leafs began sponsoring the Nationals. The Maple Leafs traditionally had affiliations with the Toronto Marlboros and St. Michael's Majors, however with the withdrawal of the Majors from the OHA, and the collapse of the Metro Junior A League, the Leafs were left with only one team. They decided to sponsor the junior team in London, which they wanted to play at the new London Gardens and be promoted to the Ontario Hockey Association.

The OHA initially balked at the proposition however, and so the Nationals continued to play in the Junior B league, winning the London Free Press Trophy as league champions in 1964 and 1965. For the 1965–66 season, the team was finally admitted to major junior hockey, and London's Junior B franchise moved to Ingersoll to make room for the Junior A Nationals. The Junior A team was renamed as London Knights in 1968, and the Nationals name disappeared from the London sports landscape.

The Bees, Squires and Diamonds — 1966 The Junior B team returned to London under the name Bees for the 1966–1967 season, but then fell dormant for two seasons. The team was revived in 1969 as the Squires, and played under that name until 1976. The team was then known as the Diamonds from 1976–1991, before the Nationals name was revived after a long-lasting sponsorship with a diamond jeweler dissolved.

The team's time under the Diamonds name was successful, as they claimed the Western Ontario Hockey League title in 1981, 1983, and 1984.

Nationals Name Returns — 1991 The next change came when Kent Phibbs purchased the team and changed the name back to the London Nationals, and they won the Western Jr. B championship that same year. The team uniforms were once again the blue and white of the Maple Leafs and the team remained at Nichols Arena for a few years.

Mr. Phibbs now moved the team back to the Gardens. In the summer of 1998, the team was sold again, this time to the Doug Tarry Group (London Knights). The team remained playing at the same arena, but the name had changed to the London Ice House. The team colors and logo were changed to eggplant and teal to match the affiliate and the team still played at the London Ice House. The team's most recent championship came in 2019 (4th straight) as Western Conference Champions.

In 2013, the Nationals defeated the Cambridge Winterhawks to win their first-ever Sutherland Cup. The Nationals appeared in back-to-back Sutherland Cups in 2016 & 2017, and again in 2019.

In 2020, the Nationals marked their 70th anniversary as a Jr. B franchise in London.

Championships

Sutherland Cup GOJHL Champions 2012–13 Champions vs. Cambridge Winterhawks

Bill Weir Trophy GOJHL Western Conference Champions 2018–19 Champions vs. Leamington Flyers 2017–18 Champions vs. St. Thomas Stars 2016–17 Champions vs. Leamington Flyers 2015–16 Champions vs. Leamington Flyers 2012–13 Champions vs. Chatham Maroons 2011–12 Champions vs. Strathroy Rockets

Western Ontario Junior B Champions Western Ontario Junior Hockey League 1991–92 Champions vs. Windsor Bulldogs 1983–84 Champions vs. Sarnia Bees 1982–83 Champions vs. Sarnia Bees 1980–81 Champions vs. Chatham Maroons 1974–75 Champions vs. St. Mary's Lincolns

Western Junior B Champions Western Ontario Junior B Hockey League 1964–65 Champions vs. St. Thomas Barons 1963–64 Champions vs. St. Thomas Barons 1951–52 Champions vs. Sarnia Jr. Sailors

Season-by-season results SeasonGPWLTOTLGFGAPStandingPlayoffs1950–51 14 8 6 0 — — — 18 2nd Big '10' Western1951–52 16 11 5 0 — 107 68 22 2nd Big '10' WesternWon League1952–53 18 14 4 0 — — — 28 1st Big '10' Western1953–54 24 6 18 0 — 119 189 12 4th Big '10' Western1954–55 25 5 20 0 — 110 204 10 4th Big '10' Western1955–56 27 0 27 0 — 68 249 0 5th Big '10' Western1956–57 27 9 18 0 — 126 167 18 5th WJBHL1957–58 30 20 10 0 — — — 40 2nd WJBHL1958–59 36 14 22 0 — 165 224 28 3rd WJBHL1959–60 25 1 24 0 — — — 2 6th WJBHL1960–61 32 0 32 0 — 86 399 0 5th WJBHL1961–62 36 10 25 1 — 201 254 21 7th WJBHL1962–63 35 3 32 0 — 133 348 6 6th WJBHL1963–64 40 28 11 1 — 260 159 57 2nd WJBHLWon League1964–65 40 23 17 0 — 213 181 46 3rd WJBHLWon League1965–66 40 25 15 0 — 237 178 50 3rd WJBHL1966–67 40 5 35 0 — 124 278 10 5th WJBHL1967–69 Did not participate1969–70 36 16 17 3 — 137 169 35 3rd WOJHL1970–71 41 10 29 2 — 139 240 22 4th WOJHL1971–72 39 12 18 9 — 173 185 33 5th WOJHL 1972–73 42 21 15 6 — 224 203 48 2nd WOJHL 1973–74 40 4 32 4 — 114 239 12 5th WOJHL1974–75 40 19 15 6 —186 172 44 2nd WOJHL1975–76 39 11 22 6 — 168 206 28 6th WOJHL1976–77 38 13 24 1 — 191 274 27 5th SWJBHL DNQ1977–78 40 30 8 2 — 261 171 62 1st SWJBHL Lost final1978–79421918 5—227213435th WOJHL 1979–80422212 8 —182127525th WOJHLLost final1980–814231 9 2 —256147641st WOJHLWon League1981–82422216 4 —196180483rd WOJHLLost final1982–834231 7 4 —263138661st WOJHLWon League1983–844834 7 7 —297148751st WOJHLWon League 1984–85483513 0 —285164701st WOJHLLost final1985–864234 5 3 —275150711st WOJHL 1986–87422810 4 —272162602nd WOJHLLost final 1987–88421324 3 2190213317th WOJHL1988–89411916 4 2197193445th WOJHL1989–90402018 1 1205231424th WOJHL1990–91481530 3 0170259338th WOJHL1991–92483013 3 2274191651st WOJHL EastWon League1992–93522520 5 2 — —572nd WOJHL East1993–94502521 3 1273251542nd WOJHL East1994–95521634 0 2223281344th WOJHL East 1995–96512717 5 2208184613rd WOJHL East1996–97522319 7 3220230563rd WOJHL East1997–98521435 0 3205307315th WOJHL East1998–99521932 0 1213282394th WOJHL East1999-00542227 0 5189232498th GOHL2000–01543911 1 3251143822nd GOHLLost final2001–02543221 0 1251169656th WOHL2002–03483114 0 3207182653rd WOHL2003–04482718 2 1172150575th WOHLLost final2004–05482222 1 3161173485th WOHL2005–06482225 1 0148165458th WOHLLost quarter-final2006–07482123 — 4183178467th WOHLLost quarter-final2007–08 48 30 14 —4 214 175 64 3rd GOJHL-W Lost Conf. Final2008–09 52 33 10 —9 221 174 75 2nd GOJHL-WLost Conf. Final2009–10 50 37 10 —3 244 133 77 1st GOJHL-W Lost Conf. SF2010–11 51 34 13 —4 235 162 72 2nd GOJHL-W Lost Conf. Final2011–12 51 28 20 —3 185 190 59 3rd GOJHL-W Lost SF Round Robin2012–13 51 28 17 —6 196 172 62 4th GOJHL-W Won League2013–14 49 29 19 —1 188 150 59 5th GOJHL-W Lost Conf. SF2014–15 49 22 24 —3 166 166 47 7th GOJHL-W Lost Conf. SF2015–16 50 31 14 4 1 212 155 67 2nd of 9-W6th of 26-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters, 4–1 (Strathroy) Won Conf. Semi-finals 4–2 (Lasalle)Won Conf. Finals 4–2 (Flyers) Won Sutherland Cup Semifinals, 4–2 (Cullitons) Lost Sutherland Cup Finals, 0–4 (Corvairs)2016–17 50 36 13 1 0 232 131 73 3rd of 9-W7th of 27-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–1 (Lincolns)Won Conf. Semifinals 4–1 (Maroons)Won Conf. Finals 4–1 (Flyers)Won Sutherland Cup Semis 4–1 (Cyclones)Lost Sutherland Cup Finals 1–4 (Sugar Kings)2017–18 50 35 12 0 3 217 121 73 1st of 9-W6th of 26-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–0 (Rockets)Won Conf. Semifinal 4-2 (Maroons)Won Conf. Finals 4-0 (Stars)Lost Sutherland Cup Semis 2-4 (Cyclones)2018–19 48 33 12 1 3 217 121 73 2nd of 9-W4th of 26-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–0 (Stars)Won Conf. Semifinal 4-1 (Lasalle)Won Conf. Finals 4-0 (Flyers)Won Sutherland Cup Semis 4–1 (Cyclones)Lost Sutherland Cup Finals 3–4 (Siskins)2019–1920 50 42 5 1 2 217 121 87 1st of 9-W4th2nd of 26-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–0 (Legionnaires)Incomplete Conf. Semifinal 1-0 (Lasalle)Playoffs cancelled due to pandemic2020–2021 Season lost due to pandemic2021–22 48 34 11 2 1 187 121 71 2nd of 9-W5th of 25-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–2 (Stars)Lost Conf. Semifinal 1-4 (Maroons)2022–23 50 34 11 4 1 228 169 73 2nd of 9-W7th of 25-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4–0 (Stars)Lost Conf. Semifinal 0-4 (Lincolns)2023–24 50 36 11 1 2 218 136 75 1st of 8-W3rd of 23-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4-1 (Kings)Won Conf Semifinals, 4-1 (Lasalle)Lost Conf. Finals 3-4 (Lincolns)2024–25 50 30 16 3 1 195 165 64 5th of 12-West Conf9th of 23-GOJHL Won Conf. Quarters 4-0 (Cyclones)Lost Conf Semifinals, 3-4 (Lincolns)2025–26 50 32 16 1 1 223 169 66 5th of 12-West Conf8th of 23-GOJHL Lost Conf. Quarters 0-4 (Warriors)

Playoffs

1950–51 Lost to Windsor 8–6 (2–3, 6–3) 1951–52 Defeated Windsor 3–0 in semi-finals Defeated Sarnia 4–0 in finals. BIG '10' WESTERN CHAMPIONS 1952–53 Semi-final round robin. London Eliminated. 1953–54 Lost to Sarnia 4–0 in semi-finals. 1954–55 Lost to Sarnia 3–2 in semi-finals. 1955–56 Did not qualify 1956–57 Did not qualify 1957–58 Defeated Woodstock 3–0 in first round. Defeated St. Mary's Lincolns 3–1 in semi-finals. Lost to Sarnia Bees 4–1 in final. 1958–59 Lost to Sarnia Bees 4–1–1 in semi-finals 1959–60 Did not qualify 1960–61 Did not qualify 1961–62 Did not qualify 1962–63 Did not qualify 1963–64 Defeated Sarnia Bees 4–2 (7–4, 2–5, 4–2, 5–7, 6–2, 5–3) in semi-finals. Defeated St. Thomas Barons 4–2 (7–6, 3–5, 4–2, 5–2, 3–7, 6–1) in finals. WOJHL CHAMPIONS 1964–65 Defeated Chatham Maroons 4–1 (4–6, 6–5, 5–3, 5–0, 7–4) in semi-finals. Defeated St. Thomas Barons 4–0 (8–4, 6–3, 3–1, 7–5) in finals. WOJHL CHAMPIONS 1965–66 Lost to Sarnia Bees 4–1 (4–3, 2–8, 7–2, 3–2, 5–2) in semi-finals. 1966–67 Did not qualify 1967–68 Did not participate 1968–69 Did not participate 1970–78 NO RECORDS AVAILABLE 1978–79 Defeated Petrolia Jets 7–3 (6-pt series) in first round. Lost to Strathroy Blades 8–0 (8-pt series) in second round. 1980–80 Defeated Chatham Maroons 3–1 in first round. Defeated Strathroy Blades 4–0 in second round. Lost to Windsor 4–0 in finals. 1980–81 Defeated Windsor 4–0 (London advanced directly to final) Defeated Chatham Maroons 4–1 in finals. WOJHL CHAMPIONS 1981–82 Defeated Chatham Maroons 3–0 in first round. Defeated Petrol Jets 3–0 in second-round. Lost to Sarnia 4–3 in finals. 1982–83 Defeated St. Thomas Pests 5–2 in first round. (Best 5-of-9; London advanced directly to final) Defeated Sarnia Steeplejacks 4–1 in finals. WOJHL CHAMPIONS 1983–84 Defeated Windsor 4–0 (London advanced directly to final) Defeated Sarnia Steeplejacks 4–0 in finals. WOJHL CHAMPIONS 1984–85 Defeated St. Thomas Pests 3–0 (London advanced directly to final) 1985–86 Lost to Chatham Maroons 5–4 (Best 5-of-9) in first round. 1986–87 Defeated Chatham Maroons 4–0 in first round. Second Round (Double Round-Robin): 1st - St. Thomas, 2nd - London, 3rd - Sarnia (eliminated) Final: St. Thomas def. London 4–0 1988–89 Did not qualify 1989–90 Did not qualify 1990–91 Lost to St. Mary's Lincoln's 4–0 in quarter-final.