Ontario Hockey League
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| Ontario Hockey League | |
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| 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 |
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.
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[edit] History
- See: Main article Ontario Hockey League history
The 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."
[edit] Member teams
- Eastern Conference
- East Division
The Barrie Colts applying pressure at the Brampton Battalion net, while visiting the Powerade Centre.
- Central Division
- Western Conference
- Midwest Division
- West Division
- Plymouth Whalers (MI)
- Saginaw Spirit (MI)
- Sarnia Sting
- Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
- Windsor Spitfires
[edit] Schedule
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 per cent (90%) of OHL games are scheduled between Thursday and Sunday to minimize the number of school days missed for its players. Ninety-five per cent (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.
[edit] 2006-07 OHL season
- See: Main Article 2006-07 OHL season
The current OHL season commenced on September 21, 2006. The OHL announced on the same day, a new rule entitled Checking to the Head effective immediately. [1]. Also announced, the recently adopted National Hockey League rule on stick curvature will not be implemented until next season.
[edit] Bell OHL All-Star Classic
- See: Main Article History of the OHL All-Star Classic
This year's Bell-OHL All-Star Classic will be played on January 30th, 2007, in Saginaw, Michigan. The Eastern Conference plays the Western Conference . The night before, the Eastern Conference plays the Western Conference in the Skills Competition. The 2008 game will be hosted at the Steelback Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.
[edit] 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 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-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. This year's tournament is hosted by the Vancouver Giants of the WHL.
[edit] Memorial Cup champions
The Memorial Cup has been captured 12 times by OHL/OHA teams since the tournament went to a 3-league format in 1972:
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The Cup was also won 16 times by OHA teams in the period between 1945 and 1971:
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[edit] Priority Selection
The Priority Selection was first conducted the summer before the 1974-75 OMJHL season. It has been conducted annually since then. It is a selection of players aged 16 and 17 years old who are resident in the province of Ontario, Michigan and Pennsylvania and other designated U.S. states.
Prior to 2002, the OHL held the Priority Selection in a public forum, such as an arena. Drafts were attened by many players and family members. In 2003 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.
- See 2006-07 OHL season for the complete first round list.
[edit] Trophies and Awards
- 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
[edit] See also
- 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
[edit] External links
- 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
| Ontario Hockey League |
|---|
| Current Teams : Barrie Colts | Belleville Bulls | Brampton Battalion | Erie Otters | Guelph Storm | Kingston Frontenacs | Kitchener Rangers | London Knights | Mississauga IceDogs | Oshawa Generals | Ottawa 67's | Owen Sound Attack | Peterborough Petes | Plymouth Whalers | Saginaw Spirit | Sarnia Sting | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Sudbury Wolves | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Windsor Spitfires |
| Defunct Teams : Brantford Alexanders | Cornwall Royals | Detroit Compuware Ambassadors | Detroit Junior Red Wings | Detroit Whalers | Guelph Platers | Hamilton Dukes | Hamilton Steelhawks | Kingston Canadians | Kingston Raiders | Newmarket Royals | Niagara Falls Thunder | North Bay Centennials | Owen Sound Platers | Toronto Marlboros |
| CHL | Memorial Cup | WHL | QMJHL | OHL | OHL History | OHL Standings | J. Ross Robertson Cup |
| Current arenas in the Ontario Hockey League |
||
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference | |
|---|---|---|
| Barrie Molson Centre | General Motors Centre | Hershey Centre | Kingston Memorial Centre | Ottawa Civic Centre | Peterborough Memorial Centre | Powerade Centre | St. Michael's College School Arena | Sudbury Arena | Yardmen Arena | Bayshore Community Centre | Compuware Sports Arena | Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre | John Labatt Centre | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | Louis J. Tullio Arena | Sarnia Sports and Entertainment Centre | Steelback Centre | The Dow Event Center | Windsor Arena | |
