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
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.
New Arena
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.
Teams
Regular season
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
East Division
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
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
East Division
(1) Ottawa 67's vs. (5) Belleville Bulls
| 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
| 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
(2) Guelph Storm vs. (5) Erie Otters
| 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
| 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
(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (4) Detroit Whalers
| 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
| 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
(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (C3) Barrie Colts
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (C2) Guelph Storm
| 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
| 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
(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (E2) Oshawa Generals
| 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
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
Awards
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. [1]
| # | Player | Nationality | OHL Team | Hometown | Minor Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlie Stephens (C) | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Canada |
Toronto St. Michael's Majors | London, Ontario | Leamington Flyers |
| 2 | John Erskine (D) | Canada |
London Knights | Kingston, Ontario | Quinte Hawks |
| 3 | Brett Angel (D) | Canada |
North Bay Centennials | Kingston, Ontario | Kingston Voyageurs |
| 4 | Taylor Pyatt (LW) | Canada |
Sudbury Wolves | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Thunder Bay Kings |
| 5 | Jonathan Cheechoo (RW) | Canada |
Belleville Bulls | Moose Factory, Ontario | Kitchener Dutchmen |
| 6 | Tim Connolly (C) |  United States |
Erie Otters | Syracuse, New York | Syracuse Jr. Crunch |
| 7 | Jamie Young (LW) | Canada |
Kingston Frontenacs | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Thunder Bay Kings |
| 8 | Dave Stephenson (D) | Canada |
Owen Sound Platers | Woodstock, Ontario | Cambridge Winter Hawks |
| 9 | David Legwand (C) | United States |
Plymouth Whalers | Detroit, Michigan | Compuware Ambassadors |
| 10 | Mike Rupp (C) | United States |
Windsor Spitfires | Cleveland, Ohio | Cleveland Barons |
| 11 | Adam DeLeeuw (LW) | Canada |
Barrie Colts | Brampton, Ontario | Brampton Capitals |
| 12 | Dusty Jamieson (LW) | Canada |
Guelph Storm | Forest, Ontario | St. Thomas Stars |
| 13 | Robb Palahnuk (LW) | Canada |
Sarnia Sting | Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario | Elmira Sugar Kings |
| 14 | Barry Graham (D) | Canada |
Kitchener Rangers | Murillo, Ontario | Thunder Bay Kings |
| 15 | Preston Mizzi (C) | Canada |
Peterborough Petes | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Newmarket Hurricanes |
| 16 | Cory Pecker (RW) | Canada |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Montreal, Quebec | Lac St-Louis Lions |
| 17 | Brad Ralph (C) | Canada |
Oshawa Generals | Richmond Hill, Ontario | Kanata Valley Lasers |
| 18 | Jonathan Zion (D) | Canada |
Ottawa 67's | Nepean, Ontario | Nepean Raiders |
See also
References
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