Ontario Hockey League

Leagues for ice hockey in Ontario were first organized in 1890 by the newly created Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). In 1892 the OHA recognized junior hockey - referring to skill rather than age. In 1896 the OHA moved to the modern age-limited junior hockey concept, distinct from senior and intermediate divisions. Since then the evolution to the Ontario Hockey League has developed through four distinct eras of junior-aged non-professional hockey in Ontario. In 1933, the junior division was divided into two levels, Junior A and Junior B. In 1970 the Junior A level was divided into two levels, Tier I (or Major Junior A) and Tier II (or Minor Junior A). In 1974 the Tier I/Major Junior A group separated from the OHA and became the independent Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL). In 1980, the OMJHL became the Ontario Hockey League.

The OHL split from the OHA in July 1982.^[2] The OHA and OHL disagreed on financial terms of affiliation, then the OHL decided to handle its own administration.^[2][3] The OHA and the OHL later reached an interim affiliation agreement, which allowed the OHL to compete at the Memorial Cup.^[4]

In March 2005, the league announced the launch of OHL Live Stream, resulting in OHL games being broadcast live on a pay-per-view (PPV) broadband basis.^[5]

OMJHL and OHL Commissioners (years in office)^[6]

• Tubby Schmalz (September 23, 1974 – December 15, 1978)
• Bill Beagan (December 15, 1978 – January 1979)
• Sherwood Bassin (interim; January–September 1979)
• David Branch (September 17, 1979 – August 6, 2024)
• Bryan Crawford (August 6, 2024-present)^[7]

Ontario Hockey League Eastern Conference Division Team City Arena East Brantford Bulldogs Brantford, Ontario Brantford Civic Centre Kingston Frontenacs Kingston, Ontario Slush Puppie Place Oshawa Generals Oshawa, Ontario Tribute Communities Centre Ottawa 67's Ottawa, Ontario TD Place Arena Peterborough Petes Peterborough, Ontario Peterborough Memorial Centre Central Barrie Colts Barrie, Ontario Sadlon Arena Brampton Steelheads Brampton, Ontario CAA Centre Niagara IceDogs St. Catharines, Ontario Meridian Centre North Bay Battalion North Bay, Ontario North Bay Memorial Gardens Sudbury Wolves Greater Sudbury, Ontario Sudbury Community Arena Western Conference Division Team City Arena Midwest Erie Otters Erie, Pennsylvania Erie Insurance Arena Guelph Storm Guelph, Ontario Sleeman Centre Kitchener Rangers Kitchener, Ontario Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Complex London Knights London, Ontario Canada Life Place Owen Sound Attack Owen Sound, Ontario Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre West Flint Firebirds Flint, Michigan Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center Saginaw Spirit Saginaw, Michigan Dow Event Center Sarnia Sting Sarnia, Ontario Progressive Auto Sales Arena Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario GFL Memorial Gardens Windsor Spitfires Windsor, Ontario WFCU Centre

Brantford   Kingston   Oshawa   Ottawa   Peterborough   Barrie   Brampton   Niagara   North Bay   Sudbury   Erie   Guelph   Kitchener   London   Owen Sound   Flint   Saginaw   Sarnia   Sault Ste. Marie   Windsor class=notpageimage|   West Division   Midwest Division   Central Division   East Division

• Cornwall Royals 1981–1992, moved to Newmarket
  • Newmarket Royals 1992–1994, moved to Sarnia
• Niagara Falls Flyers 1980–1982, moved to North Bay
  • North Bay Centennials 1982–2002, moved to Saginaw
• Brantford Alexanders 1980–1984, moved to Hamilton
  • Hamilton Steelhawks 1984–1988, moved to Niagara Falls
  • Niagara Falls Thunder 1988–1996, moved to Erie
• Guelph Platers 1982–1989, moved to Owen Sound ^[8]
• Toronto Marlboros 1980–1989, moved to Hamilton
  • Dukes of Hamilton 1989–1991, moved to Guelph
• Detroit Junior Red Wings 1992–1995, became the Detroit Whalers
  • Detroit Whalers 1995–1997, moved to Plymouth
  • Plymouth Whalers 1997–2015, moved to Flint
• Brampton Battalion 1998–2013, moved to North Bay
• Mississauga IceDogs 1998–2007, moved to St. Catharines
• Toronto St. Michael's Majors 1996–2007
  • Mississauga St. Michael's Majors 2007–2012, became the Mississauga Steelheads
  • Mississauga Steelheads 2012–2024, moved to Brampton
• Belleville Bulls 1981–2015, moved to Hamilton
  • Hamilton Bulldogs 2015–2023, moved to Brantford

Note: The 12 original OHL franchises were all previously members of the OMJHL. Some other franchises played in different junior leagues prior to joining the OHL.

Current teams are listed in blue. Gold stars denote J. Ross Robertson Cup (League championship) winners

The 20 OHL clubs play a 68-game unbalanced schedule, which starts in the third full week of September, running until the third week of March. Ninety percent (90%) of OHL games are scheduled between Thursday and Sunday to minimize the number of school days missed for its players.

Approximately 20% of players on active rosters in the National Hockey League (NHL) have come from the OHL, and about 54% of NHL players are alumni of the Canadian Hockey League.

The J. Ross Robertson Cup is awarded annually to the winner of the Championship Series. The Cup is named for John 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-seven 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 Maritimes 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 most recent OHL team to win the Memorial Cup was the Saginaw Spirit in 2024.^[9]

The Memorial Cup has been captured 18 times by OHL/OHA teams since the tournament went to a three-league format in 1972:

The Cup was also won 16 times by OHA teams in the period between 1945 and 1971:

The OHL's predecessor, the OHA, had a midget and juvenile draft dating back to the 50s, until voted out in 1962. In 1966 it was resumed, though not publicized. Starting in the 1970s the draft went through several changes. Originally the draft was for 17-year-old midgets not already associated with teams through their sponsored youth programs. In 1971 the league first allowed "underage" midgets to be picked in the first three rounds. In 1972 disagreements about the Toronto team's rights to its "Marlie" players (and Greg Neeld) and claims to American player Mark Howe led to a revised system. In 1973 each team was permitted to protect eight midget area players (Toronto was allowed to protect 10 players from its midget sponsored teams). In 1975 the league phased out the area protections, and the 1976 OHA midget draft was the first in which all midget players were eligible. In 1999 the league changed the draft to a bantam age (15 and 16 year old). It is a selection of players who are residents of the province of Ontario, the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and New York, and other designated U.S. states east of the Mississippi River plus Missouri.

Prior to 2001, the OHL held the Priority Selection in a public forum, such as an arena. Drafts were attended by many players and family members. In 2001, the OHL decided to hold the "draft" via the internet, greatly reducing the costs the league and its member teams incurred in hosting a public draft. This move reduced the stress and pressure that prospective players faced with a large crowd present.

The Jack Ferguson Award is presented annually to the first overall selection. The award was named in honour of long time OHL scout and former Director of Central Scouting Jack Ferguson.

List of trophies and awards in the Ontario Hockey League.^[10]

• List of OHL seasons
• List of OHA Junior A standings

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ontario Hockey League.

• Official website
• Canadian Hockey League Official website
• Internet Hockey Database archive of standings and statistics