6 London Knights Awarded The Max Kaminsky Trophy Over 30 OHL Seasons

The Max Kaminsky Trophy has been handed out to the top defenseman in the Ontario Hockey League since 1969-70. In the thirty year span from 1975-76 to 2004-05, a member of the London Knights won the award six times. To clarify, on five occasions over the thirty years, the award was given to players from the London Knights. One season, it was presented to co-winners.

Rick Green won the award in 1975-76. Green was selected first overall in the 1976 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. Rick played in the NHL from 1976-77 to 1991-92 with Washington, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders. He won the Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1986.

Two years later, the league couldn’t decide between Brad Marsh and Rob Ramage, so both were named winners of the Max Kaminsky Trophy. Marsh was drafted by the Atlanta Flames in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft, eleventh overall. He played in the NHL from 1978-79 to 1992-93 with Atlanta and moved with the team to Calgary. He also played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and Ottawa Senators. Brad’s 23 career NHL goals are the fewest by any player that has played over 1000 games.

Rob Ramage was the first overall pick in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Rockies. Rob played in the NHL from 1979-80 to 1993-94 with Colorado, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers. Ramage won two Stanley Cups over his NHL career with Calgary in 1989 and Montreal in 1993.

Bob Halkidis won the Max Kaminsky in 1984-85. Bob was a fourth round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, 81st overall. Halkidis played a sporadic NHL career from 1985-86 to 1995-96 with Buffalo, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Islanders. Bob went to Europe after his NHL career ended and played in Finland, Germany, England and Russia.

John Erskine won the Kaminsky in 1999-00 and is currently still active in the NHL with the Washington Capitals. In the same season that he won the Kaminsky, he was named an OHL and CHL First Team All-Star. John was taken in the second round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars, 39th overall. He has been in the NHL since the 2001-02 season and has played with Dallas, New York Islanders and Washington.

Danny Syvret is the latest London Knight to be awarded the Max Kaminsky Trophy. Danny was bestowed the honour in 2004-05. He was also named the Canadian Hockey League’s top defenseman that season as he led the Knights to a Memorial Cup victory. Syvret was taken in the third round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, 81st overall. To date, he has appeared in just over fifty NHL games with Edmonton, Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks. Danny is currenty in the Philadelphia Flyers organization with their AHL affiliate in Adirondack.