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Canberra Knights
Canberra Knights Logo
City: Canberra
League: AIHL
Founded: 1981 (1981)
Home Arena: Phillip Swimming & Ice Skating Centre
Colors: Teal, black, silver and white
Head Coach: Mike Harrow
General Manager: Harry Moon
John Raut (owner)


The Canberra Knights are a semi-professional ice hockey team in the Australian Ice Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the Phillip Swimming & Ice Skating Centre in Phillip, a suburb of Australia's capital city, Canberra.

The Knights have only been premiers once, in 1998, in the now defunct ECSL, and have not made the finals since the formation of the AIHL.

History[]

1980-1993[]

The Phillip Ice Skating and Swimming Centre opened in 1980, and in 1981 the Canberra Knights were formed by a group of former hockey players, many who had not played in years, and they played in various exhibition matches against international and Australian teams. In 1982 the Knights were a founding member of the New South Wales Superleague, which was a Sydney based competition, taking on some of the best teams in Australia. In this first year the Knights were coached by Stuart Wright, and although it was unsuccessful for the Canberra Knights, they gained invaluable experience.

In 1983, the Canberra Knights were again entered into the NSW Superleague. Chuck Naish and Jim Fuyarchuk, formerly of the Macquarie Bears and the now defunct Warringah Bombers respectively, had been brought in as player/coaches. This was a big year and the combined talents soon became evident as the Canberra Knights proved they were a winning team. Ably assisted by some promising young players and the proven skills of the imported players, the Canberra Knights finished a close second to the Warringah Bombers in the playoffs.

1984 continued with the same team lineup, with the addition of two players, Dean Pollock (from the Macquarie Bears), and Canadian import Bill Rose.

Canb Knights 1992 Team photo

1992 Canberra Knights

The 1992 Knights featured Jason Elliott, a 16 year old Canadian goalie who migrated to Australia with his parents a year before. Jason, after representing Australia internationally in both senior and junior categories would later return to Canada to play Junior A Tier II hockey with Kimberley of the RMJHL. Jason was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings 205th overall in 1994 directly from the RMJHL, and then went on to star for Cornell in NCAA Division 1 hockey. After a brief stint with Detroit in 2002 where he was third string goalie in the Red Wing's Stanley Cup victory, Jason went on to a long minor league career in both the USA and Europe before retiring following the 2006-07 season.

Mike Harrow

Mike Harrow, Canberra Knights head coach

1994-1999[]

While lasting for thirteen seasons, the NSW Superleague struggled to gain stability and could not continue. The league was reborn in 1994, as the East Coast Super League. It continued with the same number of teams but was still largely based in the NSW area. Canberra's maiden ECSL championship came in 1998 when they won the premiership for the first time ever. The East Coast Super League has since been reformed as a junior (under 23) competition which serves as a bridge between local league hockey and the national level.

2000-2007[]

The Canberra Knights, along with the Sydney Bears and Adelaide Avalanche, founded the AIHL as a three-team competition following the disbanding of the ECSL in 2000. 2002 saw the introduction of the Melbourne Ice, the Newcastle Northstars and the West Sydney Ice Dogs, increasing the number of teams in the league to 6. The team finished just above the Melbourne Ice in 5th place, ending the season with 12 points and a fourth placed goaltender, Brad Hunt. In 2003 David Lewis, and import Saku Martakainen were both top scorers, but the Knights did not perform very well, ending the season in last place, not winning a single game. Since a playoff format was introduced to the AIHL in 2003 (prior to this, minor premiers were champions), the Knights have not made the postseason.

In 2005, with new imports, such as Canadian goaltender Dylan Smart, the Knights were able to enter the 5th AIHL season stronger than ever, and nearly made the play-offs. With two new teams joining the league, the Brisbane Blue Tongues and Central Coast Rhinos, the Knights were one of the stronger and more stable teams of the league, winning 11 of 24 games and finishing in 5th place with 35 points. Coached by former player Laing Harrow, 2005 has been the strongest Canberra Knights AIHL season ever.

Canberra Knights 2006

Canberra Knights 2006 team

In 2006 the Knights acquired Finnish player/coach Tommi Suutari, and they began the season relatively strong, winning a few games, but failed to continue this streak and ended up losing 25 out of 28 regular season games, one of the wins being a miraculous triumph over the Sydney Bears later in the season, finishing them off in a shoot-out at their home venue in Phillip. Despite this the Knights still finished in last place. This was also the season where an Australian ice hockey record was set, when Canberra lost 21-2 in a game against the Newcastle Northstars.

The Knights lost head coach Tommi Suutari prior to the commencement of the 2007 season, as he had to return to Finland. Mike Harrow, who also played forward for the club, was appointed as head coach. Goaltenders were also changed, as Luke Fiveash became the Canberra Knights primary goalie, with Brad Hunt as a secondary. This season also saw the addition of Finnish imports Ari-Pekka Hakala, who went on to become the second highest scorer for the season, and Antti Teisala. During previous seasons the Knights were notorious for having very outdated and old away jerseys, but half way through the season there was a redesign, with the introduction of their current away jerseys.

The team won their opening game of the 2007 season against the Brisbane Blue Tongues, but did not follow up their performance, losing the next 3 games. On Saturday the 5th of May the Knights had a compelling 5-3 win against a strong West Sydney side. Since this win, the Knights only won four more games, including the 9th of June against the Central Coast Rhinos, defeating them 7-0. 2007 saw the Knights only winning two away games, including their last match of the season, against the Brisbane Blue Tongues, which eliminated them from the playoffs. The season also saw the exit of two veteran Knights players, long time goalie Brad Hunt, and Mike Harrow who served the team for many years in various roles, as coach and captain. The Canberra Knights finished the 2007 season on 20 points, in 7th place.

2008[]

With the loss of Brad Hunt and Mike Harrow, the 2008 season will open the doors to new imports and junior players moving up to the AIHL. With goal tender Nick Eckhardt will getting more ice time with the team, and the likely return of Finnish imports Hakala and Teisala, the Canberra Knights are set to be a strong team in the 2008 AIHL season.

Championships[]

Team Colours[]

CanberraKnightsLogo

Canberra Knights Alternative Logo found on away jerseys

[]

The Canberra Knights logo shows a teal colored Knight wielding a hockey stick. Behind him is a silver shield, with the words Canberra Knights below him, and the entire logo is outlined in white. Prior to the 2005 season, the Knights had a logo which is now used on the away jerseys. It is simply a picture of a puck, with the words "Canberra Knights" printed across the front.

Oldknightsjersey

Canberra Knights Jersey from 1994 to 2005

Jerseys[]

The teams colours are teal, silver, black and white. The home jerseys for the Canberra Knights are black, and have the logo on the front, with the old logo on the shoulder, with white numbers and names. They are based on the San Jose Sharks alternate jerseys. The away jerseys are white and have the old logo on the front, with the new logo on the shoulder, and have black numbers and names. Prior to the 2005 season the Knights wore Teal colored jerseys, with the old logo on the front, and white numbers and names.

Season-by-season record[]

Season GP W T1 SOW SOL L GF GA PTS Finish Playoff
2001 16 1 0 15 53 109 2 3rd Did not qualify
2002 16 6 0 10 42 63 12 5th Did not qualify
2003 8 0 0 0 0 8 16 64 0 6th Did not qualify
2004 20 3 1 2 0 14 53 109 14 6th Did not qualify
2005 24 11 2 0 0 13 96 102 35 5th Did not qualify
2006 28 3 1 0 24 74 185 11 8th Did not qualify
2007 28 6 0 2 20 84 124 20 7th Did not qualify
2008 28 10 1 2 15 91 107 34 5th Did not qualify
2009 24 4 1 1 18 60 120 15 6th Did not qualify
2010 24 5 0 3 16 79 131 18 6th Did not qualify
2011 28 8 0 0 20 119 167 24 7th Did not qualify
2012 24 4 4 2 14 73 116 22 4th, Bauer Did not qualify
1 As of the 2006 AIHL season, all games will have a winner.

Records[]

Players[]

  • Most goals in a season: Shaun Fairweather, 24 (2005)
  • Most assists in a season: Mike Harrow, 31 (2005)
  • Most points in a season: Shaun Fairweather, 46 (2005)
  • Most Penalty Minutes in a season: Trevor Ross, 189 (2005)

Team[]

  • Most points in a season: 35 (2005)
  • Most wins in a season: 11 (2005)

Current Squad[]

Team roster for the 2013 AIHL season[1][2]

# Nat Name Pos Date of Birth Acquired Birthplace
Sam Baker
23 Flag of Australia Alistair Band F/D 01989-11-05 2013 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
4 Flag of Australia David Bell D 01994-10-19 2012
10 Flag of Canada Jordan Braid F 01989-07-29 2013 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Flag of Australia Brunt, AndrewAndrew Brunt align="center"| D/F 01977-03-22 2013 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
18 Flag of Australia Harrison Byers F 01992-12-15 2010 Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
7 Flag of Australia James Byers D 01994-03-01 2012
81 Flag of Australia Blake Cameron F 01991-11-27 2012
Flag of Australia Nickolas Eckhardt G 01989-12-10 2012 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
5 Flag of Australia Michael Fairlamb D 01995-09-14 2013 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
22 Flag of the United States Ian Fulion D 01990 1990 2013
3 Flag of Australia Tim Fulton F 01993-12-09 2013
19 Flag of Australia Gavin, JordanJordan Gavin align="center"| F 01982-09-22 2006 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
44 Flag of Finland Mikko Jortikka D 01984-08-15 2013 Seinäjoki, Finland
20 Flag of Australia Brad Hunt G 01984 1984 2013
77 Flag of Australia Tom Letki F 01989-01-25 2012
25 Flag of Canada Justin Levac F 01989-04-25 2013 Garson, Ontario, Canada
Flag of Australia Lewis, DavidDavid Lewis align="center"| F 01978-07-17 2013
21 Flag of Australia Matti Luoma F 01980-01-23 2008 Helsinki, Finland
94 Flag of Australia Joey McPhail F 01994-05-26 2011
15 Flag of Australia Kai Miettinen F 01995-12-23 2011
41 Flag of Australia Stuart Philps D 01978-12-06 2005 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
32 Flag of Australia Alain Riesen F 01990-09-05 2009 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
53 Flag of Australia Ollie Rozdarz F 01984-08-29 2013 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
12 Flag of Australia Rummukainen, MarkMark Rummukainen align="center"| D 01982-02-19 2008 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
88 Flag of Australia Nick Sault F 01994-06-16 2012
50 Flag of Australia Chris Slauenwhite G 01991-09-18 2013 Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
68 Flag of France Maxime Suzzarini D/F 01991-12-07 2013 La Tronche, France
27 Flag of Australia Matt Taylor F 01995 1995 2013
91 Flag of Australia Peter Taylor D/F 01988-06-29 2005 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
29 Flag of Australia Stuart Woodall G 01983-02-14 2010 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Knights 1992 - Woods Elliot McLean

1992 Canberra Knights – Steven Woods (A), Jason Elliot (G) and Al McLean

Records[]

Players[]

  • Most goals in a season: Shaun Fairweather, 24 (2005)
  • Most assists in a season: Mike Harrow, 31 (2005)
  • Most points in a season: Shaun Fairweather, 46 (2005)
  • Most Penalty Minutes in a season: Trevor Ross, 189 (2005)

Team[]

  • Most points in a season: 35 (2005)
  • Most wins in a season: 11 (2005)



Knights 1992 - Woods Elliot McLean

1992 Canberra Knights - Steven Woods (A), Jason Elliot (G) and Al McLean


Leaders[]

Mark Persick

Mark Persick, current Canberra Knights captain

Team Captains[]

  • Laing Harrow (1991-1992)
  • Mike Harrow (2004-2006)
  • Mark Persick (2007)

Head Coaches[]

  • Stuart Wright (1982)
  • Chuck Naish, Jim Fuyarchuk (1983-1985)
  • Laing Harrow (2004-2005)
  • Tommi Suutari (2006)
  • Mike Harrow (2007)

External links[]

This page uses content from Wikipedia. The original article was at Canberra Knights. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Ice Hockey Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License 3.0 (Unported) (CC-BY-SA).


  1. Canberra Knights. Elite Prospects. Retrieved on 2013-05-11.
  2. Canberra Knights. Australian Ice Hockey League. Retrieved on 2013-05-11.
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