On a night when the London Knights and their fans honoured the "team of the century", the current team ran its winning streak to 10 games.
A ceremony was held before Thursday night's game between the Knights and Mississauga to honour the 2004-2005 Knights team, which won the Memorial Cup and was named the Canadian Hockey League team of the century. Then, the Knights went out and beat the Steelheads 7-4.
Among the former players who attended the ceremony and the game was former captain Danny Syvret.
"It's a big honour," said Syvret. "I knew we were a special team when we were playing and then, obviously, to be voted team of the century is a tremendous honour for all of us that were involved with the organization."
Corey Perry, who is currently out of the Anaheim Ducks lineup with a leg injury, said he was glad to have been able to attend.
"It's pretty special," he said. "I was saying earlier that there's some guys in that room that I haven't seen since that 2004-2005 year. It's kind of like a reunion and it's pretty special to be named team of the century. It's a pretty big honour and I'm happy I can be here. It's unfortunate with the injury but I'm happy to be here and happy to celebrate with these guys."
The Steelheads scored 27 seconds into the game to take a quick lead, but Paul Cotter, Nathan Dunkley and Adam Boqvist all scored back-to-back goals in the first half of the first period to give London a 3-1 lead. Mississauga scored toe more goals to continue the action-packed first frame to tie the game, but Boqvist scored his second of the night to retake the lead for the Knights.
Evan Bouchard and Billy Moskal scored the only goals of the second period to bring London's lead to 6-3.
Alex Formenton scored 10:41 into the third to give the Knights their seventh goal of the night. The Steelheads were able to get one more goal before the end of the game but weren't able to regain any more ground on London.
London goalie Joseph Raaymakers made 33 saves out of 37 shots on net.
The Knights will take on the Owens Sound Attack next on Friday. The puck drops in London at 7:30 p.m.
-With files from Kirk Dickinson
