London Knights Head Coach Dale Hunter (Luke Durda/OHL Images)London Knights' Head Coach Dale Hunter knows a thing or two about what it takes to win in the Ontario Hockey League. His extensive winning resume speaks for itself. And it just got even prettier.
On Friday night, Mar. 7, the Knights hosted the Kingston Frontenacs in a matchup featuring two teams who could see each other down the road in the OHL finals.
Edmonton Oilers' 2024 first-rounder Sam O'Reilly scored the game's opening goal and set up London's two goals in the second period to help propel the Knights 3-2 over the Frontenacs.
Bookmark The Hockey News OHL site to never miss news, interviews, and any updates around the league.
As the clock hit zero, London's victory was the 1,000th career win in Dale Hunter's coaching career. He joined Brian Kilrea as the only other coach in CHL history to record 1,000 wins.
The London players mauled Hunter on the bench in celebration as the game ended.
The celebration continued into the locker room, where the players waited for their coach, chanting, "We want Dale!"
Related OHL Stories
Halfway through the 2001-02 season, Hunter replaced Lindsay Hofford behind the bench for London, and has been the Knights' head coach ever since then.
Hunter did leave the team briefly during the 2011-12 season to replace Bruce Boudreau behind the bench for the Washington Capitals in the NHL. However, Hunter returned the following season.
Hunter led the Knights to four OHL championships: 2005, 2013, 2016, and 2024. He also led them to two Memorial Cup championships in 2005 and 2016.
Kilrea owns the record for most wins by a CHL coach with 1,194. He was the GM and Head Coach for the Ottawa 67's for 33 years, dating back to 1974.
Kilrea won the Matt Leyden Trophy for the OHL Coach of the Year five times throughout his monumental career and the Memorial Cup twice in 1984 and 1999.
Kilrea was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builders category in 2003. He has an award named after him now, which is awarded annually to the CHL Head Coach of the Year.
Dale Hunter is on track to surpass Kilrea in wins and could potentially add another J. Ross Robertson Cup title to his resume this year.
