1996–97 OHL season

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.

Niagara Falls Thunder to Erie Otters
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.

Detroit Whalers
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.

Final standings
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

Playoffs
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.

First team

 * Alyn McCauley, Centre, Ottawa 67's
 * Daniel Cleary, Left Wing, Belleville Bulls
 * Cameron Mann, Right Wing, Peterborough Petes
 * Sean Blanchard, Defence, Ottawa 67's
 * Andy Delmore, Defence, Sarnia Sting
 * Zac Bierk, Goaltender, Peterborough Petes
 * Brian Kilrea, Coach, Ottawa 67's

Second team

 * Joe Thornton, Centre, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
 * Dave Duerden, Left Wing, Peterborough Petes
 * Alexandre Volchkov, Right Wing, Barrie Colts
 * D.J. Smith, Defence, Windsor Spitfires
 * Marty Wilford, Defence, Oshawa Generals
 * Kory Cooper, Goaltender, Belleville Bulls
 * Bill Stewart, Coach, Oshawa Generals

Third team

 * Jan Bulis, Centre, Barrie Colts
 * Dwayne Hay, Left Wing, Guelph Storm
 * Joel Trottier, Right Wing, Ottawa 67's
 * Nick Boynton, Defence, Ottawa 67's
 * Chris Hajt, Defence, Guelph Storm
 * Robert Esche, Goaltender, Detroit Whalers
 * Peter DeBoer, Coach, Detroit Whalers

1997 OHL Priority Selection
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.