Ontario Hockey League History
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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 of junior A hockey was divided into two more levels, tier I and II. In 1974, the "Major Junior A Tier I" portion of the OHA became the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League and began to operate independently of the OHA. Finally in 1980, the OMJHL became the Ontario Hockey League.
- 1 Ontario Hockey Association History
- 1.1 OHA Junior (1896-1933)
- 1.2 OHA Junior 'A' (1933-1972)
- 1.2.1 A divided league (1961-63)
- 1.2.2 Re-unified league (1963-67)
- 1.2.3 Beginning of NHL Amateur Draft
- 1.2.4 End of NHL Sponsorship
- 1.3 OHA Major Junior 'A' (1972 - 1974)
- 1.4 OHA Timeline of teams
- 2 Ontario Major Junior Hockey League History
- 3 Ontario Hockey League History
- 4 Commissioners
- 5 Standings
- 6 All-Star Games
- 7 See also
Ontario Hockey Association History
Hockey started as a challenge series in the winter of 1889 when a team from Ottawa challenged teams from Lindsay and Toronto. A year later the Ontario Hockey Association was formed on November 27, 1890 in Toronto at the Queen's Hotel. Two years later, junior hockey was first played in 1892 without enforced age limits.OHA Junior (1896-1933)
Junior hockey in Ontario was first age limited in 1896. Players must have been 20 years of age or younger by January 1st of the season being played. Out of its modest beginnings at the turn of the century, junior hockey quickly grew into an organized and entertaining brand of hockey. The end of World War I marked the beginning of the Memorial Cup, the symbol of junior hockey supremacy in Canada. Teams from all across the province participated in provincial playoffs in the hope of winning the George Richardson Memorial Trophy and representing Eastern Canada in the Memorial Cup finals. As each year passed, the number of communities participating in junior hockey grew and the calibre of play increased.OHA Junior 'A' (1933-1972)
For the 1933-34 season, junior hockey was split into 'A' and 'B' divisions. Two new championship trophies were created at the same time. The 'A' level teams competing for the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHA champions and the Memorial Cup as national champions. The 'B' level teams competed for the Sutherland Cup, which is still Ontario's Junior B championship trophy.The 1930's gave birth to noted teams such as the Oshawa Generals, St. Michael's Majors and the Toronto Marlboros. Other notable teams of that era where the Toronto Young Rangers, Toronto Native Sons, and the Stratford Midgets.
The 1940's welcomed new communities to the limelight such as the Barrie Flyers, Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters, Stratford Kroehlers and the St. Catharines Teepees. The first version of the Windsor Spitfires also appeared in the 1940's only to fade away in the early 50's.
The OHA awarded its first individual player trophies in 1945. The Red Tilson Trophy was awarded to the player voted "Most Outstanding" in the league. The Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy was awarded to the league's top scorer.
The 1950's saw other cities join in. The Kitchener Greenshirts entered the league only to move on to become the Peterborough Petes. Hamilton also joined as the Tiger Cubs (later the Red Wings). The 1950's also saw inter-league play with Quebec-based teams.
A divided league (1961-63)
Stafford Smythe, owner the of Toronto Maple Leafs, started the Metro Junior A League in an attempt to rival the OHA. The Toronto Marlboros, who were owned by the Leafs, were withdrawn from the OHA and placed in a league with promoted Junior B teams including the Whitby Mohawks, the Brampton 7ups, and the Unionville Seaforths. The other member of the league was the former St. Michael's Majors franchise, who would be later transferred to Neil McNeil High School in Scarborough, Ontario. Father David Bauer, the legendary coach and St. Michael's teacher, had decided to withdraw the private school from participation following their Memorial Cup win in 1961.In response, the OHA managed to convince Sam Pollock's Montreal Jr. Canadiens to join. The league that year consisted of the Guelph Royals, Hamilton Red Wings, St. Catharines Black Hawks, Peterborough T.P.T's (aka Petes), Montreal Jr. Canadiens, and the Niagara Falls Flyers.
The rival league was a failure on and off the ice, and it effectively became a second division. Although it was independent from the OHA, the champions of the OHA and the Metro Junior A would play each other in the playoffs each year on the road to the Memorial Cup.
Re-unified league (1963-67)
After two seasons of the Metro Junior A League, and a new unified Junior A league emerged from the failure. Unfortunately, this meant the end of Neil McNeil, Brampton, Knob Hill and Unionville. The Marlboros and the re-born Oshawa Generals re-joined the OHA in 1964. The Guelph Royals also became the Kitchener Rangers.Beginning of NHL Amateur Draft
The first NHL Amateur Draft was held in 1963 for any junior player was not already sponsored by an NHL team. When the NHL expanded in 1969, the rules of the draft were changed to allow any amateur player under the age of 20 to be chosen. The OHA ceased being a direct farm system and began to compete with other junior leagues to graduate players. Réjean Houle became the first OHA player to be drafted first overall in 1969 by the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens took advantage of a grandfather clause the gave them first right to francophone players. In 1970 that clause was revoked, and Gilbert Perreault was drafted first overall by the Buffalo Sabres. Both Réjean Houle and Gilbert Perreault played in the OHA with the Montreal Jr. Canadiens.End of NHL Sponsorship
In 1965 the London Nationals (later Knights) were added to the OHA as the last NHL-sponsored team. By 1967, direct NHL sponsorship of teams and individual players had ended. Prior to this time, all of the Original Six NHL teams had involvement in OHA teams:
| NHL Team | OHA Farm Team |
|---|---|
| Boston Bruins | Barrie Flyers (1945-1960) Niagara Falls Flyers (1960-1967) Oshawa Generals (1962-67) |
| Chicago Black Hawks | Galt Black Hawks (1949-1955) St. Catharines Black Hawks (1962-1967) |
| Detroit Red Wings | Galt Red Wings (ended 1947) Oshawa Generals (1950-1953) Hamilton Red Wings (1960-1967) |
| New York Rangers | Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters (1947-1960) Guelph Royals (1960-1963) Kitchener Rangers (1963-1967) |
| Montreal Canadiens | Montreal Jr. Canadiens (1961-1967) Peterborough Petes (1956-1967) |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto Marlboros (1927-1967) Toronto St. Michael's Majors (19??-1961) London Nationals (1965-1967) |
In 1967 the Ottawa 67's were added to the league, named after Canada's centennial anniversary. The OHA existed with ten teams until 1972, upon the creation of a new level of junior hockey, and the folding of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League.
OHA Major Junior 'A' (1972 - 1974)
For the 1972-73 season, Junior A hockey split again into Tier I and Tier II. The only Tier I league in the province became known as the OHA Major Jr. A. Its winner represented Ontario in a round-robin Memorial Cup with a team from the Western Hockey League and another team from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Tier II teams would compete for the newly created Manitoba Centennial Trophy.Communities such as Sudbury (transfer from Niagara Falls) and Sault Ste. Marie that had been part of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) prior to the Tier I/Tier II split, joined the Major Jr. A ranks to remain part of the Memorial Cup hunt. The 70's also saw the Kingston Canadians join the league and the rebirth of the Windsor Spitfires.
OHA Timeline of teams
- 1946 - The OHA (Ontario Hockey Association) consists of the Toronto St. Michael's College Majors, Oshawa Generals, Galt Red Wings, Stratford Kroehlers, Toronto Marlboros, Barrie Flyers, Windsor Spitfires, St. Catharines Falcons, Hamilton Szabos and Toronto Young Rangers.
- 1947 - Hamilton drops out of the league. Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters join the league. The Galt Red Wings become the Galt Rockets. The St. Catharines Falcons become the St. Catharines Teepees.
- 1948 - Toronto Young Rangers drop out of the league.
- 1949 - The Galt Rockets become the Galt Black Hawks.
- 1950 - The Waterloo Hurricanes join the league.
- 1951 - The Kitchener Greenshirts join the league. The Stratford Kroehlers drop out of the league.
- 1952 - The Waterloo Hurricanes disband.
- 1953 - The Windsor Spitfires drop out of the league. The Oshawa Generals drop out of the league, after a fire destroys their arena. The Hamilton Tiger Cubs join the league.
- 1954 - The Kitchener Greenshirts become the Kitchener Canucks.
- 1955 - The Galt Black Hawks drop out of the league.
- 1956 - The Kitchener Canucks become the Peterborough Petes.
- 1960 - The Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters become the Guelph Royals. The Barrie Flyers become the Niagara Falls Flyers. The Hamilton Tiger Cubs become the Hamilton Red Wings.
- 1961 - The Montreal Jr. Canadiens join the OHA from the Quebec Junior Hockey League. The Metro Junior A League becomes another division of the OHA. Its teams will be the St. Michael's Majors, Toronto Marlboros, Brampton 7ups, Unionville Seaforths and Whitby Mohawks.
- 1962 - The Oshawa Generals join the Metro League. The St. Michael's Majors become the Toronto Neil McNeil Maroons and the Unionville Seaforths become Toronto Knob Hill Farms. The Whitby Mohawks are renamed the Whitby Dunlops. The St. Catharines Teepees become the St. Catharines Black Hawks.
- 1963 - The Metro Junior League disbands. The Toronto Marlboros rejoin the OHA, as do the Oshawa Generals although they play their first season in Bowmanville. The other teams in the Metro Junior League cease operations. The Guelph Royals become the Kitchener Rangers.
- 1965 - The London Nationals are granted a franchise.
- 1967 - The Ottawa 67's are granted a franchise.
- 1968 - The London Nationals become the London Knights.
- 1972 - The Montreal Jr. Canadiens move to the QMJHL. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds are granted a franchise. The Niagara Falls Flyers become the Sudbury Wolves.
- 1973 - The Kingston Canadians are granted a franchise.
Ontario Major Junior Hockey League History
In 1974, the "Major Junior A Tier I" portion of the OHA became the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League and began to operate independently of the OHA. The new league opened up administration offices and appointed its own commissioner.The OMJHL instituted many rules changes to distinguish itself from Tier II, including allowing one overage player on the roster. The Central Scouting Bureau was started in 1975 to provide teams with more information about players available in the upcoming draft. The same year the league divided into a two division format. Then in 1977, the OMHJL held its first All-Star game in Sudbury, Ontario.
OMJHL Timeline of teams
- 1974 - The Ontario Hockey Association's Junior A Tier I league becomes the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League. The Hamilton Red Wings become the Hamilton Fincups.
- 1975 - The Windsor Spitfires are granted a franchise.
- 1976 - The St. Catharines Black Hawks become the Niagara Falls Flyers. The Hamilton Fincups become the St. Catharines Fincups after they are left homeless by the breakdown of ice-making equipment and subsequent demolition of their ancient arena weeks before the beginning of the season.
- 1977 - The St. Catharines Fincups revert to being the Hamilton Fincups.
- 1978 - The Hamilton Fincups become the Brantford Alexanders.
Ontario Hockey League History
In 1980 the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League sought to gain further independence and more control over its financial policies and gate receipts. The OMJHL separated itself from the Ontario Hockey Association, becoming the Ontario Hockey League.An agreement was struck between the two sides where the OHL would pay the OHA $30,000 annually in affiliation fees and the right to compete for the Memorial Cup, and the OHL teams would have complete control over finances and ticket sales. The OHA would continue to operate hockey from Junior A Tier II, and below. 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 telvision and radio.
In the 1980's the league added the Guelph Platers and Belleville Bulls, and welcomed the Cornwall Royals from the QMJHL. North Bay took in the second version of the Niagara Falls Flyers. The former Fincups franchise was recycled through Brantford as the Brantford Alexanders and back to Hamilton, and by the end of the decade it was in Niagara Falls. The end of the decade saw the end of another storied team, the Toronto Marlboros, as they relocated to become the Hamilton Dukes. It also saw the end of the Kingston Canadians name as they were renamed the Raiders, and renamed again to the Frontenacs the following year.
The 1990's saw the league expand into the USA. The first franchise the expansion Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (later Jr. Red Wings and Plymouth Whalers) and the secondly the Erie Otters, who relocated from Niagara Falls. The Otters could trace their heritage back to the Hamilton Tiger Cubs of 1953. Newmarket also briefly had the Royals before moving on to become the Sarnia Sting. The Dukes became the Guelph Storm; filling the void left when the Platers relocated to Owen Sound. Barrie rejoined the league in 1995 with the Colts and the Toronto St. Michael's Majors also rejoined the league in 1997 after a 34-year absence. The league continued to expand with 2 new teams in 1998; Don Cherry's Mississauga IceDogs and the Brampton Battalion. In 2000 The Owen Sound Platers were renamed to the Attack after being bought by local interests. In 2002 the Centennials moved to Saginaw, Michigan to become the Saginaw Spirit.
There are currently 20 teams in the OHL; 17 are based in Ontario, 2 teams from Michigan and 1 team from Pennsylvania.
OHL Timeline of teams
- 1980 - The Ontario Major Junior Hockey League renames itself the Ontario Hockey League, further separating from the Ontario Hockey Association.
- 1981 - The Cornwall Royals transfer to the OHL from the QMJHL. The Belleville Bulls are granted a franchise.
- 1982 - The Guelph Platers are awarded a franchise. The Niagara Falls Flyers become the North Bay Centennials.
- 1984 - The Brantford Alexanders become the Hamilton Steelhawks. The Windsor Spitfires become the Windsor Compuware Spitfires.
- 1988 - The Hamilton Steelhawks become the Niagara Falls Thunder. The Kingston Canadians become the Kingston Raiders.
- 1989 - The Toronto Marlboros become the Dukes of Hamilton. The Guelph Platers become the Owen Sound Platers. The Kingston Raiders become the Kingston Frontenacs. The Windsor Compuware Spitfires revert to being the Windsor Spitfires.
- 1990 - The Detroit Compuware Ambassadors are awarded a franchise.
- 1991 - The Dukes of Hamilton become the Guelph Storm.
- 1992 - The Cornwall Royals become the Newmarket Royals. The Detroit Compuware Ambassadors become the Detroit Jr. Red Wings.
- 1994 - The Newmarket Royals become the Sarnia Sting.
- 1995 - The Barrie Colts are awarded a franchise. The Detroit Jr. Red Wings become the Detroit Whalers.
- 1996 - The Niagara Falls Thunder become the Erie Otters.
- 1997 - The Toronto St. Michael's Majors team is re-activated when they are awarded a franchise. The Detroit Whalers become the Plymouth Whalers.
- 1998 - The Brampton Battalion and Mississauga IceDogs are awarded franchises.
- 2000 - The Owen Sound Platers become the Owen Sound Attack.
- 2002 - The North Bay Centennials become the Saginaw Spirit.
Commissioners
- OHL Commissioners (Years in Office)
- Clarence V. (Tubby) Schmalz (1974-1978)
- William (Bill) Thomas Beagan (1978-1979)
- Sherwood (Sherry) Bassin (interim, 1979)
- David E. Branch (1979 to present)
Standings
Complete standings for the OHA, OMJHL and OHL are available from 1946 onwards. See these separate articles:
- OHA Standings 1946 to 1974
- OMJHL Standings 1974 to 1980
- OHL Standings 1980 to present
- List of OHL seasons
All-Star Games
The Ontario Hockey League All-Star Game was first played in 1977 in Sudbury with Emms Division vs the Leyden Division. The game's winner was awarded the OHL Chrysler Cup. This format continued through 1985.The OHL / QMJHL All-Star Challenge Series was held from 1986 to 1991. The game's winner was awarded the Chrysler Challenge Cup. Chrysler Canada was the corporate sponsor from 1977 to 1991.
The Canadian Hockey League created the CHL All-Star Challenge in 1992. For four seasons from 1992 to 1995, it incorporated the Western Hockey League, the Ontario Hockey League and the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League into one showcase event. The host league in this case would challenge a combined team from the other two leagues. In 1996 this was replaced with the CHL Top Prospects Game. There was no OHL All-Star game held in 1996.
The OHL All-Star Game was revived in 1997. It was played for 4 consecutive seasons until 2000. Officially it was called the OHL All-Star Classic. The games during this period had different corporate sponsors.In 2001, the three CHL leagues would play a round-robin style All-Star game named the CHL All-Star Series, the winning league being awarded the Hershey Cup. Each league made two Conference All-Star teams. One would play at home versus a Conference All-Star team from another league, and the other conference would visit another league's team. This format was played for the 2001, 2002 & 2003 seasons.
The OHL All-Star Classic game has been played every year since 2004. The game was previously sponsored by Direct Energy, the most recent corporate sponsor is Bell Canada. 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.
List of All-Star Game Hosts
|
No All-Star Game held in 1996. 1st CHL Top Prospects game was played.
|
See also
| 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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