Ontario Hockey League
Encyclopedia : O : ON : ONT : 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 |
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.
History
- See: Main article Ontario Hockey League History
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."
Member teams
- Eastern Conference
- East Division
- Central Division
- West Division
Schedule
The 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 Classic
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.
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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Priority Selection
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.
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
- Matt Leyden Trophy - OHL Coach of the Year
- OHL Executive of the Year
- Bill Long Award - Lifetime Distinguished Service
- 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
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
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 |
| Canadian Hockey League>CHL: | Memorial Cup | OHL | QMJHL | WHL |
| Current arenas in the Ontario Hockey League | ||
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference | |
|---|---|---|
| Barrie Molson Centre | Hershey Centre | Kingston Memorial Centre | Oshawa Civic Auditorium | 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 | |
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