1996–97 OHL season

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The 1996–97 OHL season was the 17th season of the Ontario Hockey League. The Niagara Falls Thunder move to Erie becoming the Erie Otters. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Oshawa Generals won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Ottawa 67's.

Relocation[edit]

Niagara Falls Thunder to Erie Otters[edit]

The Niagara Falls Thunder relocated to Erie, and renamed their club to the Erie Otters, becoming the second team in the Ontario Hockey League to be based in the United States and the first OHL team in the state of Pennsylvania. The Thunder played in Niagara Falls from 1988-96, reaching the post-season in seven of their eight seasons. Niagara Falls went to the J. Ross Robertson Cup one time in their eight seasons, in their first season in 1988-89, where they lost to the Peterborough Petes in the final round.

The Otters new home arena was the Erie Civic Center. The club would remain in the Central Division.

New Arena[edit]

Detroit Whalers[edit]

After splitting the 1995-96 season between the Palace of Auburn Hills and Oak Park Ice Arena, the Detroit Whalers moved into their new home, the Compuware Sports Arena, based in Plymouth, Michigan.

Teams[edit]

Regular season[edit]

Final standings[edit]

Note: DIV = Division; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = earned first round bye

East Division[edit]

Rank Team GP W L T PTS GF GA
1 z-Ottawa 67's 66 49 11 6 104 320 177
2 x-Oshawa Generals 66 41 18 7 89 287 202
3 x-Peterborough Petes 66 39 25 2 80 251 238
4 x-Kingston Frontenacs 66 25 35 6 56 257 277
5 x-Belleville Bulls 66 22 37 7 51 235 278
6 North Bay Centennials 66 14 44 8 36 214 337

Central Division[edit]

Rank Team GP W L T PTS GF GA
1 z-Kitchener Rangers 66 34 22 10 78 274 235
2 x-Guelph Storm 66 35 25 6 76 300 251
3 x-Barrie Colts 66 33 23 10 76 272 236
4 x-Owen Sound Platers 66 27 37 2 56 258 318
5 x-Erie Otters 66 23 36 7 53 240 260
6 Sudbury Wolves 66 21 37 8 50 251 302

West Division[edit]

Rank Team GP W L T PTS GF GA
1 y-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 66 39 17 10 88 309 220
2 x-Sarnia Sting 66 35 24 7 77 286 251
3 x-Windsor Spitfires 66 29 29 8 66 303 285
4 x-Detroit Whalers 66 26 34 6 58 230 270
5 London Knights 66 13 51 2 28 215 365

Scoring leaders[edit]

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Marc Savard Oshawa Generals 64 43 87 130 94
Joe Thornton Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 59 41 81 122 123
Alyn McCauley Ottawa 67's 50 56 56 112 16
Richard Uniacke Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 66 44 66 110 36
Trevor Letowski Sarnia Sting 55 35 73 108 51
Todd Norman Guelph Storm 66 47 68 105 41
Joe Seroski Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 61 54 49 103 14
Jan Bulis Barrie Colts 64 42 61 103 42
Jonathan Sim Sarnia Sting 64 56 39 95 109
Matt Cooke Windsor Spitfires 65 45 50 95 146

Playoffs[edit]

The 67's waived their right to a first-round bye, having lost in the second round the previous season after accepting a first-round bye.

Division quarterfinals Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
            
E2 Oshawa bye
E2 Oshawa 4
E3 Peterborough 2
E3 Peterborough 4
E4 Kingston 1
E2 Oshawa 4
C1 Kitchener 2
C1 Kitchener bye
C1 Kitchener 4
W2 Sarnia 3
W2 Sarnia 4
W3 Windsor 1
E2 Oshawa 4
E1 Ottawa 2
E1 Ottawa 4
E5 Belleville 2
E1 Ottawa 4
C3 Barrie 1
C3 Barrie 4
C4 Owen Sound 0
E1 Ottawa 4
C2 Guelph 3
W1 S.S. Marie 4
W4 Detroit 1
W1 S.S. Marie 2
C2 Guelph 4
C2 Guelph 4
C5 Erie 1

Division quarter-finals[edit]

East Division[edit]

(1) Ottawa 67's vs. (5) Belleville Bulls[edit]
March 16 Belleville Bulls 2 – 6 Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
March 18 Ottawa 67's 2 – 4 Belleville Bulls Yardmen Arena
March 21 Belleville Bulls 3 – 5 Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
March 22 Ottawa 67's 4 – 5 Belleville Bulls Yardmen Arena
March 23 Belleville Bulls 4 – 5 Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
March 25 Ottawa 67's 6 – 3 Belleville Bulls Yardmen Arena
Ottawa wins series 4 – 2


(3) Peterborough Petes vs. (4) Kingston Frontenacs[edit]
March 16 Peterborough Petes 4 – 5 Kingston Frontenacs Kingston Memorial Centre
March 18 Kingston Frontenacs 2 – 6 Peterborough Petes Peterborough Memorial Centre
March 20 Kingston Frontenacs 1 – 9 Peterborough Petes Peterborough Memorial Centre
March 21 Peterborough Petes 3 – 2 OT Kingston Frontenacs Kingston Memorial Centre
March 23 Kingston Frontenacs 3 – 6 Peterborough Petes Peterborough Memorial Centre
Peterborough wins series 4 – 1


Central Division[edit]

(2) Guelph Storm vs. (5) Erie Otters[edit]
March 16 Erie Otters 4 – 2 Guelph Storm Guelph Memorial Gardens
March 19 Guelph Storm 4 – 1 Erie Otters Erie Civic Center
March 21 Guelph Storm 6 – 5 OT Erie Otters Erie Civic Center
March 22 Erie Otters 3 – 5 Guelph Storm Guelph Memorial Gardens
March 24 Erie Otters 1 – 2 Guelph Storm Guelph Memorial Gardens
Guelph wins series 4 – 1


(3) Barrie Colts vs. (4) Owen Sound Platers[edit]
March 16 Owen Sound Platers 3 – 8 Barrie Colts Barrie Molson Centre
March 18 Barrie Colts 5 – 4 OT Owen Sound Platers Bayshore Community Centre
March 20 Owen Sound Platers 4 – 6 Barrie Colts Barrie Molson Centre
March 22 Barrie Colts 6 – 2 Owen Sound Platers Bayshore Community Centre
Barrie wins series 4 – 0


West Division[edit]

(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (4) Detroit Whalers[edit]
March 16 Detroit Whalers 3 – 4 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Memorial Gardens
March 17 Detroit Whalers 0 – 3 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Memorial Gardens
March 21 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 8 – 3 Detroit Whalers Compuware Sports Arena
March 22 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 3 – 4 OT Detroit Whalers Compuware Sports Arena
March 24 Detroit Whalers 1 – 4 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Memorial Gardens
Sault Ste. Marie wins series 4 – 1


(2) Sarnia Sting vs. (3) Windsor Spitfires[edit]
March 16 Windsor Spitfires 5 – 6 Sarnia Sting Sarnia Arena
March 17 Sarnia Sting 5 – 3 Windsor Spitfires Windsor Arena
March 19 Windsor Spitfires 4 – 7 Sarnia Sting Sarnia Arena
March 20 Sarnia Sting 3 – 6 Windsor Spitfires Windsor Arena
March 23 Windsor Spitfires 3 – 8 Sarnia Sting Sarnia Arena
Sarnia wins series 4 – 1


OHL quarter-finals[edit]

(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (C3) Barrie Colts[edit]

March 29 Ottawa 67's 4 – 3 Barrie Colts Barrie Molson Centre
April 1 Barrie Colts 2 – 7 Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
April 3 Barrie Colts 2 – 7 Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
April 5 Ottawa 67's 3 – 5 Barrie Colts Barrie Molson Centre
April 7 Barrie Colts 2 – 5 Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
Ottawa wins series 4 – 1


(W1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (C2) Guelph Storm[edit]

March 29 Guelph Storm 4 – 3 OT Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Memorial Gardens
March 30 Guelph Storm 4 – 3 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Memorial Gardens
April 3 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 7 – 3 Guelph Storm Guelph Memorial Gardens
April 4 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 9 – 3 Guelph Storm Guelph Memorial Gardens
April 6 Guelph Storm 5 – 2 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sault Memorial Gardens
April 8 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 – 9 Guelph Storm Guelph Memorial Gardens
Guelph wins series 4 – 2


(C1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (W2) Sarnia Sting[edit]

March 28 Sarnia Sting 0 – 5 Kitchener Rangers Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
March 30 Kitchener Rangers 4 – 1 Sarnia Sting Sarnia Arena
April 2 Sarnia Sting 4 – 0 Kitchener Rangers Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
April 5 Kitchener Rangers 5 – 2 Sarnia Sting Sarnia Arena
April 7 Sarnia Sting 7 – 6 Kitchener Rangers Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
April 8 Kitchener Rangers 1 – 3 Sarnia Sting Sarnia Arena
April 10 Sarnia Sting 3 – 7 Kitchener Rangers Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
Kitchener wins series 4 – 3


(E2) Oshawa Generals vs. (E3) Peterborough Petes[edit]

March 30 Peterborough Petes 1 – 4 Oshawa Generals Oshawa Civic Auditorium
April 1 Oshawa Generals 4 – 0 Peterborough Petes Peterborough Memorial Centre
April 3 Peterborough Petes 1 – 3 Oshawa Generals Oshawa Civic Auditorium
April 5 Oshawa Generals 3 – 5 Peterborough Petes Peterborough Memorial Centre
April 6 Peterborough Petes 4 – 3 Oshawa Generals Oshawa Civic Auditorium
April 8 Oshawa Generals 5 – 3 Peterborough Petes Peterborough Memorial Centre
Oshawa wins series 4 – 2


OHL semi-finals[edit]

(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (C2) Guelph Storm[edit]

April 11 Guelph Storm 4 – 5 OT Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
April 13 Ottawa 67's 6 – 4 Guelph Storm Guelph Memorial Gardens
April 16 Guelph Storm 3 – 4 Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
April 18 Ottawa 67's 0 – 4 Guelph Storm Guelph Memorial Gardens
April 20 Guelph Storm 4 – 3 Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
April 22 Ottawa 67's 2 – 3 OT Guelph Storm Guelph Memorial Gardens
April 23 Guelph Storm 3 – 6 Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
Ottawa wins series 4 – 3


(C1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (E2) Oshawa Generals[edit]

April 12 Oshawa Generals 5 – 3 Kitchener Rangers Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
April 13 Kitchener Rangers 2 – 5 Oshawa Generals Oshawa Civic Auditorium
April 15 Oshawa Generals 3 – 4 OT Kitchener Rangers Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
April 16 Kitchener Rangers 1 – 4 Oshawa Generals Oshawa Civic Auditorium
April 17 Oshawa Generals 4 – 5 Kitchener Rangers Kitchener Memorial Auditorium
April 21 Kitchener Rangers 1 – 6 Oshawa Generals Oshawa Civic Auditorium
Oshawa wins series 4 – 2


J. Ross Robertson Cup[edit]

(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (E2) Oshawa Generals[edit]

April 26 Oshawa Generals 4 – 5 OT Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
April 28 Ottawa 67's 4 – 5 Oshawa Generals Oshawa Civic Auditorium
April 30 Oshawa Generals 3 – 4 OT Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
May 2 Ottawa 67's 2 – 4 Oshawa Generals Oshawa Civic Auditorium
May 4 Oshawa Generals 4 – 3 Ottawa 67's Ottawa Civic Centre
May 6 Ottawa 67's 4 – 5 OT Oshawa Generals Oshawa Civic Auditorium
Oshawa wins series 4 – 2


All-Star teams[edit]

First team[edit]

Second team[edit]

Third team[edit]

Awards[edit]

J. Ross Robertson Cup: Oshawa Generals
Hamilton Spectator Trophy: Ottawa 67's
Leyden Trophy: Ottawa 67's
Emms Trophy: Kitchener Rangers
Bumbacco Trophy: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Red Tilson Trophy: Alyn McCauley, Ottawa 67's
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy: Marc Savard, Oshawa Generals
Matt Leyden Trophy: Brian Kilrea, Ottawa 67's
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy: Joe Seroski, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Max Kaminsky Trophy: Sean Blanchard, Ottawa 67's
OHL Goaltender of the Year: Zac Bierk, Peterborough Petes
Jack Ferguson Award: Charlie Stephens, Toronto St. Michael's Majors
Dave Pinkney Trophy: Tim Keyes and Craig Hillier, Ottawa 67's
OHL Executive of the Year: Ed Rowe, Peterborough Petes
Bill Long Award: Wren Blair, Kingston Frontenacs & Frank Bonello, Ontario Hockey League
Emms Family Award: Peter Sarno, Windsor Spitfires
F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy: Shawn Degagne, Kitchener Rangers
OHL Humanitarian of the Year: Mike Martone, Peterborough Petes
William Hanley Trophy: Alyn McCauley, Ottawa 67's
Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy: Zac Bierk, Peterborough Petes
Bobby Smith Trophy: Jake McCracken, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

1997 OHL Priority Selection[edit]

On June 7, 1997, the OHL conducted the 1997 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The expansion team Toronto St. Michael's Majors, who were set to begin play during the 1997-98 season, held the first overall pick in the draft, and selected Charlie Stephens from the Leamington Flyers. Stephens was awarded the Jack Ferguson Award, awarded to the top pick in the draft.

Below are the players who were selected in the first round of the 1997 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. [1]

# Player Nationality OHL Team Hometown Minor Team
1 Charlie Stephens (C) Canada Canada Toronto St. Michael's Majors London, Ontario Leamington Flyers
2 John Erskine (D) Canada Canada London Knights Kingston, Ontario Quinte Hawks
3 Brett Angel (D) Canada Canada North Bay Centennials Kingston, Ontario Kingston Voyageurs
4 Taylor Pyatt (LW) Canada Canada Sudbury Wolves Thunder Bay, Ontario Thunder Bay Kings
5 Jonathan Cheechoo (RW) Canada Canada Belleville Bulls Moose Factory, Ontario Kitchener Dutchmen
6 Tim Connolly (C) United States United States Erie Otters Syracuse, New York Syracuse Jr. Crunch
7 Jamie Young (LW) Canada Canada Kingston Frontenacs Thunder Bay, Ontario Thunder Bay Kings
8 Dave Stephenson (D) Canada Canada Owen Sound Platers Woodstock, Ontario Cambridge Winter Hawks
9 David Legwand (C) United States United States Plymouth Whalers Detroit, Michigan Compuware Ambassadors
10 Mike Rupp (C) United States United States Windsor Spitfires Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Barons
11 Adam DeLeeuw (LW) Canada Canada Barrie Colts Brampton, Ontario Brampton Capitals
12 Dusty Jamieson (LW) Canada Canada Guelph Storm Forest, Ontario St. Thomas Stars
13 Robb Palahnuk (LW) Canada Canada Sarnia Sting Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Elmira Sugar Kings
14 Barry Graham (D) Canada Canada Kitchener Rangers Murillo, Ontario Thunder Bay Kings
15 Preston Mizzi (C) Canada Canada Peterborough Petes Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Newmarket Hurricanes
16 Cory Pecker (RW) Canada Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Montreal, Quebec Lac St-Louis Lions
17 Brad Ralph (C) Canada Canada Oshawa Generals Richmond Hill, Ontario Kanata Valley Lasers
18 Jonathan Zion (D) Canada Canada Ottawa 67's Nepean, Ontario Nepean Raiders

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Elite Prospects - OHL Priority Selection 1997".
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