Villanova Knights

OPJHL team
team_name = Villanova Knights
bg_color = DodgerBlue
text_color =
logo_

division = Phillips
founded = 1980
history = 1980-1991: Henry Carr Crusaders
1991-1993: Weston Dukes
1993-1997: Thornhill Islanders
1997-2004: Thornhill Rattlers
2004-2005: Thornhill Thunderbirds
2005-2006: Toronto Thunderbirds
2007-Pres: Villanova Knights
alternate =
arena = Canlan Ice Sports York
city = North York, Ontario
team_colors = Blue, silver, and white
head_coach = Justin Peca
general_manager = Justin Peca
affiliates = "Don Mills Flyers"
rbcs = none
dhcs = 2001
bucklands = 2001
metro_cup =
sutherland_cup = 1983
schmalz_cup = The Villanova Knights are a Tier II junior 'A' ice hockey team based in North York, Ontario, Canada. They play in the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League. The team is an affiliate of St. Thomas of Villanova College in King City, Ontario.

History

Henry Carr

The Villanova Knights lineage traces back to the Henry Carr Crusaders. Like the Toronto St. Michael's Majors and St. Michael's Buzzers, the Crusaders were a secondary school based Junior hockey team. The team's affiliation was with the Father Henry Carr Secondary School of the Toronto Catholic District School Board. In 1980 they took their high school team and joined the Metro Junior "B" Hockey League, where they played until 1991, even after the league left the Ontario Hockey Association in 1989. The team was famous for its first undefeated Metro season in 1983 (34-0-2), when they won the All-Ontario Jr. B Championship, the Sutherland Cup. In 1991, when the Metro league declared itself Tier II Junior "A", they transferred the franchise to the Weston Dukes. Henry Carr still fields a team to this day, but again at the High School Hockey level.

Thornhill

In 1993 the Weston Dukes folded and their franchise was moved to Thornhill and became the Thornhill Islanders. In 1997 they were renamed the Thornhill Rattlers until 2004, when they again assumed the Thunderbirds name.

After playing in multiple league, for many years, even competing for the 2001 Royal Bank Cup. In Summer 2006, the players of the team started to get let go or traded for cash to any interested team. The team has been for sale for the better part of six months, but with no serious offers.

Villanova College Knights

In 2007 local businessman David Arsenault (Governor/Owner) along with St. Thomas of Villanova College revived the team bringing it back into the OPJHL under the Villanova College name.

The Villanova Knights were announced officially on May 15, 2007 [http://www.villanovahockey.com/files/Villanova%20Press%20release%20May%2015%20FINAL.pdf] . The team will be in the same vein as the St. Michael's Buzzers or Henry Carr Crusaders, a Junior hockey team sponsored by a Catholic high school. The school is based in King City, Ontario, but the team will be playing their home games at York University's Canlan Ice Gardens.

eason-by-season standings

Sutherland Cup appearances

:"1983": Henry Carr Crusaders defeated Stratford Cullitons "4-games-to-none"

Notable alumni

*Bob Essensa
*Patrick Flatley
*Manny Legace
*Steve Moore
*Dominic Moore
*Jeff O'Neill
*Raffi Torres
*Mike York

External links

* [http://www.villanovahockey.com/ Villanova Knights webpage]
* [http://www.villanovacollege.org/ Villanova College webpage]