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1996–97 OHL season
Junior ice hockey season
Junior ice hockey season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| title | 1996-97 OHL season |
| color | #003277 |
| color_text | #FFFFFF |
| league | Ontario Hockey League |
| sport | Hockey |
| duration | **Regular season** |
| Sept 1996 – Mar 1997 | |
| **Playoffs** | |
| March – April 1997 | |
| playoffs | Playoffs |
| finals_champ | Oshawa Generals (12) |
| finals_runner-up | Ottawa 67's |
| no_of_teams | 23 |
| draft | Draft |
| top_pick | Rico Fata |
| picked_by | London Knights |
| season | Regular season |
| season_champ_name | Hamilton Spectator Trophy |
| season_champs | Ottawa 67's (3) |
| MVP_link | Red Tilson Trophy |
| MVP | Alyn McCauley (Ottawa 67's) |
| top_scorer_link | Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy |
| top_scorer | Marc Savard (Oshawa Generals) |
| seasonslistnames | OHL |
| prevseason_year | [1995–96](1995-96-ohl-season) |
| nextseason_year | [1997–98](1997-98-ohl-season) |
Sept 1996 – Mar 1997 Playoffs March – April 1997 | finals_runner-up = Ottawa 67's Sept. 20, 1996 – Mar. 14, 1997 OHL Sept. 1996 – Mar. 1997 WHL Sept. 1996 – Mar. 1997 | finals_runner-up = Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
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.
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.
| RD1-seed01= E2 | RD1-team01= Oshawa | RD1-score01= bye
| RD1-seed03= E3 | RD1-team03= Peterborough | RD1-score03= 4 | RD1-seed04= E4 | RD1-team04= Kingston | RD1-score04= 1
| RD1-seed05= C1 | RD1-team05= Kitchener | RD1-score05= bye
| RD1-seed07= W2 | RD1-team07= Sarnia | RD1-score07= 4 | RD1-seed08= W3 | RD1-team08= Windsor | RD1-score08= 1
| RD1-seed09= E1 | RD1-team09= Ottawa | RD1-score09= 4 | RD1-seed10= E5 | RD1-team10= Belleville | RD1-score10= 2
| RD1-seed11= C3 | RD1-team11= Barrie | RD1-score11= 4 | RD1-seed12= C4 | RD1-team12= Owen Sound | RD1-score12= 0
| RD1-seed13= W1 | RD1-team13= S.S. Marie | RD1-score13= 4 | RD1-seed14= W4 | RD1-team14= Detroit | RD1-score14= 1
| RD1-seed15= C2 | RD1-team15= Guelph | RD1-score15= 4 | RD1-seed16= C5 | RD1-team16= Erie | RD1-score16= 1
| RD2-seed01= E2 | RD2-team01= Oshawa | RD2-score01= 4 | RD2-seed02= E3 | RD2-team02= Peterborough | RD2-score02= 2
| RD2-seed03= C1 | RD2-team03= Kitchener | RD2-score03= 4 | RD2-seed04= W2 | RD2-team04= Sarnia | RD2-score04= 3
| RD2-seed05= E1 | RD2-team05= Ottawa | RD2-score05= 4 | RD2-seed06= C3 | RD2-team06= Barrie | RD2-score06= 1
| RD2-seed07= W1 | RD2-team07= S.S. Marie | RD2-score07= 2 | RD2-seed08= C2 | RD2-team08= Guelph | RD2-score08= 4
| RD3-seed01= E2 | RD3-team01= Oshawa | RD3-score01= 4 | RD3-seed02= C1 | RD3-team02= Kitchener | RD3-score02= 2
| RD3-seed03= E1 | RD3-team03= Ottawa | RD3-score03= 4 | RD3-seed04= C2 | RD3-team04= Guelph | RD3-score04= 3
| RD4-seed01= E2 | RD4-team01= Oshawa | RD4-score01= 4 | RD4-seed02= E1 | RD4-team02= Ottawa | RD4-score02= 2
Division quarter-finals
East Division
(1) Ottawa 67's vs. (5) Belleville Bulls
(3) Peterborough Petes vs. (4) Kingston Frontenacs
Central Division
(2) Guelph Storm vs. (5) Erie Otters
(3) Barrie Colts vs. (4) Owen Sound Platers
West Division
(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (4) Detroit Whalers
(2) Sarnia Sting vs. (3) Windsor Spitfires
OHL quarter-finals
(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (C3) Barrie Colts
(W1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (C2) Guelph Storm
(C1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (W2) Sarnia Sting
(E2) Oshawa Generals vs. (E3) Peterborough Petes
OHL semi-finals
(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (C2) Guelph Storm
(C1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (E2) Oshawa Generals
J. Ross Robertson Cup
(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (E2) Oshawa Generals
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
| Bobby Smith Trophy: | Jake McCracken, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
|---|
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.
| # | Player | Nationality | OHL Team | Hometown | Minor Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Stephens (C) | Canada Canada | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | London, Ontario | Leamington Flyers | |||||||||||||||||||
| John Erskine (D) | Canada Canada | London Knights | Kingston, Ontario | Quinte Hawks | |||||||||||||||||||
| Brett Angel (D) | Canada Canada | North Bay Centennials | Kingston, Ontario | Kingston Voyageurs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Taylor Pyatt (LW) | Canada Canada | Sudbury Wolves | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Thunder Bay Kings | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jonathan Cheechoo (RW) | Canada Canada | Belleville Bulls | Moose Factory, Ontario | Kitchener Dutchmen | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tim Connolly (C) | United States United States | Erie Otters | Syracuse, New York | Syracuse Jr. Crunch | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jamie Young (LW) | Canada Canada | Kingston Frontenacs | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Thunder Bay Kings | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dave Stephenson (D) | Canada Canada | Owen Sound Platers | Woodstock, Ontario | Cambridge Winter Hawks | |||||||||||||||||||
| David Legwand (C) | United States United States | Plymouth Whalers | Detroit, Michigan | Compuware Ambassadors | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mike Rupp (C) | United States United States | Windsor Spitfires | Cleveland, Ohio | Cleveland Barons | |||||||||||||||||||
| Adam DeLeeuw (LW) | Canada Canada | Barrie Colts | Brampton, Ontario | Brampton Capitals | |||||||||||||||||||
| Dusty Jamieson (LW) | Canada Canada | Guelph Storm | Forest, Ontario | St. Thomas Stars | |||||||||||||||||||
| Robb Palahnuk (LW) | Canada Canada | Sarnia Sting | Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario | Elmira Sugar Kings | |||||||||||||||||||
| Barry Graham (D) | Canada Canada | Kitchener Rangers | Murillo, Ontario | Thunder Bay Kings | |||||||||||||||||||
| Preston Mizzi (C) | Canada Canada | Peterborough Petes | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Newmarket Hurricanes | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cory Pecker (RW) | Canada Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Montreal, Quebec | Lac St-Louis Lions | |||||||||||||||||||
| Brad Ralph (C) | Canada Canada | Oshawa Generals | Richmond Hill, Ontario | Kanata Valley Lasers | |||||||||||||||||||
| Jonathan Zion (D) | Canada Canada | Ottawa 67's | Nepean, Ontario | Nepean Raiders |
References
References
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
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