Ontario Hockey League
| Ontario Hockey League |
| |
| Founded| 1980 |
| Head Office| Scarborough, Ontario |
| Official Web site| O.H.L. |
| Commissioner| David Branch |
| Hockey Operations| Ted Baker |
| Finances| Ray Hollowell |
| Administration| Herb Morell |
| Referee-in-Chief| Ted Baker |
| Chief Scout| Rob Kitamura |
| Publications| Aaron Bell |
|
OHL All-Star Game 2006 Opening Face Off.
Game played in Belleville's Yardmen Arena.
February 1st, 2006. |
The
Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior "A" Tier I
ice hockey leagues which constitute the
Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.
In 1980, the Ontario Hockey League was born with the renaming of the "Ontario Major Junior Hockey League." Previously the OMJHL officially separated from the
Ontario Hockey Association in 1974.
David Branch has been the only Commissioner of the OHL from this time. Since 1980 the league has grown rapidly into a high profile marketable product, with many games broadcast on
television and
radio.
There are currently 20 teams in the OHL; 17 are based in
Ontario, 2 teams in
Michigan and 1 team in
Pennsylvania.
See: Main article Ontario Hockey League historyThe Ontario Hockey League began as the Ontario Hockey Association in 1896. Since then it has undergone four major eras of distinction in levels of junior hockey.
The OHA started with a senior and a junior division in 1896. In 1933, the junior division was divided into two levels, junior A and junior B. In 1972 the upper level was divided into two more levels,
Tier I and
Tier II. In 1974 the "Major Junior A Tier I" portion of the OHA separated and became the
'Ontario Major Junior Hockey League.' In the 1980, the OMJHL became the "Ontario Hockey League."
Eastern Conference:East Division
*
Belleville Bulls*
Kingston Frontenacs *
Oshawa Generals *
Ottawa 67's*
Peterborough Petes:Central Division
*
Barrie Colts*
Brampton Battalion*
Mississauga IceDogs *
Toronto St. Michael's Majors *
Sudbury Wolves;Western Conference:Midwest Division
*
Erie Otters (PA)
*
Guelph Storm *
Kitchener Rangers*
London Knights *
Owen Sound AttackWest Division
*
Plymouth Whalers (MI)
*
Saginaw Spirit (MI)
*
Sarnia Sting*
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds*
Windsor SpitfiresThe 20 OHL clubs play a 68 game, unbalanced schedule between
September 21,
2005, and
March 19,
2006. 90% of OHL games are scheduled between Thursday and Sunday to minimize the number of school days missed for its players. 95% of the players in the league are attending high school or college.
Approximately 20% of players on active rosters in the
National Hockey League have come from the OHL, and about 54% of
NHL players are alumni of the
Canadian Hockey League.
Bell OHL All-Star Classic
See: Main Article History of the OHL All-Star ClassicThis year's Bell-OHL All-Star Classic was played on
February 1,
2006, in
Belleville, Ontario. The Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 9 to 3. The night before,
January 31,
2006, the Eastern Conference tied the Western Conference in the Skills Competition. [
1]
The 2007 All Star game is set to be played in
Saginaw, Michigan. It will be the first time the game has been hosted in the
United States.
OHL Playoffs and Memorial Cup
The
J. Ross Robertson Cup is awarded annually to the winner of the Ontario Hockey League Championship Series. The Cup is named for
J. Ross Robertson, who was president of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1901 to 1905.
The OHL playoffs consist of the top 16 teams in the league, 8 from each conference. The teams play a best-of-7 game series, and the winner of each series advances to the next round. The final two teams eventually compete for the
J. Ross Robertson Cup.
The OHL champion then competes with the winners of the
Western Hockey League, the
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and the host of the tournament to play for the
Memorial Cup, which is awarded to the junior hockey champions of Canada. The host team of the tournament is alternated between the three leagues every season.
The
Memorial Cup has been captured 12 times by OHL/OHA teams since the tournament went to a 3-league format in 1972:
The Cup was also won 16 times by OHA teams in the period between 1945 and 1971:
The OHL conducted its annual draft, known as the
OHL Priority Selection on Saturday
May 6, 2006 via internet. Steven Stamkos of the Markham Waxers was the first overall pick of the Sarnia Sting. The Oshawa Generals followed up by selecting defenceman Michael Del Zotto also of the Waxers. It's the first time in history that the first two picks in the OHL Priority Selection have come from the same team.
See 2006-07 OHL season for the complete first round list.:
Team Trophies*
J. Ross Robertson Cup - OHL Playoffs Champion
*
Bobby Orr Trophy - Eastern Conference Playoffs Champion
*
Wayne Gretzky Trophy - Western Conference Playoffs Champion
*
Hamilton Spectator Trophy - Regular Season Champion
*
Leyden Trophy - East Division Regular Season Champion
*
Emms Trophy - Central Division Regular Season Champion
*
Holody Trophy - Midwest Division Regular Season Champion
*
Bumbacco Trophy - West Division Regular Season Champion
Executive Trophies*
Matt Leyden Trophy - OHL Coach of the Year
*
OHL Executive of the Year*
Bill Long Award - Lifetime Distinguished Service
Player Trophies*
Red Tilson Trophy - Most Outstanding Player
*
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy - Scoring Champion
*
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy - Top Scoring Right Winger
*
Max Kaminsky Trophy - Most Outstanding Defenceman
*
OHL Goaltender of the Year*
Jack Ferguson Award - First Overall Priority Selection
*
Dave Pinkney Trophy - Lowest Team Goals Against
*
Emms Family Award - Rookie of the Year
*
F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy - Best Rookie GAA
*
Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy - Humanitarian of the Year
*
William Hanley Trophy - Most Sportsmanlike Player
*
Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy - Overage Player of the Year
*
Bobby Smith Trophy - Scholastic Player of the Year
*
Roger Neilson Memorial Award - Top Academic College/University Player
*
Ivan Tennant Memorial Award - Top Academic High School Player
*
Wayne Gretzky 99 Award - Playoffs Most Valuable Player
*
Ontario Hockey League History*
List of OHL seasons*
OHA Standings (1946 to 1974)
*
OMJHL Standings (1974 to 1980)
*
OHL Standings (1980 to present)
*
List of CHL franchise post-season droughts*
Sports league attendances*
Ontario Hockey League Official web site
*
Canadian Hockey League Official web site
*
The OHL Arena & Travel Guide*
OHL Photos*
OHLGraphix*
OHL Tough Guys*
NOOF - An OHL Forum*
Archive of standings and statistics - Internet Hockey Database
