The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; ) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overage players of 20 years of age. There are currently 20 teams in the OHL; seventeen in Ontario, two in Michigan, and one in Pennsylvania.
The league was founded in 1980 when its predecessor, the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, formally split away from the Ontario Hockey Association, joining the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League and its direct affiliation with Hockey Canada. The OHL traces its history of Junior A hockey back to 1933 with the partition of Junior A and B. In 1970, the OHA Junior A League was one of five Junior A leagues operating in Ontario. The OHA was promoted to Tier I Junior A for the 1970–71 season and took up the name Ontario Major Junior Hockey League. Since 1980 the league has grown rapidly into a high-profile marketable product, with many games broadcast on television and radio.
In March 2005, the league announced the launch of OHL Live Stream, resulting in OHL games being broadcast live on a pay-per-view (PPV) broadband basis.
History
Leagues for ice hockey in Ontario were first organized in 1890 by the newly created Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). In 1892 the OHA recognized junior hockey - referring to skill rather than age. In 1896 the OHA moved to the modern age-limited junior hockey concept, distinct from senior and intermediate divisions. Since then the evolution to the Ontario Hockey League has developed through four distinct eras of junior-aged non-professional hockey in Ontario. In 1933, the junior division was divided into two levels, Junior A and Junior B. In 1970 the Junior A level was divided into two levels, Tier I (or Major Junior A) and Tier II (or Minor Junior A). In 1974 the Tier I/Major Junior A group separated from the OHA and became the independent Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL). In 1980, the OMJHL became the Ontario Hockey League.
The OHL split from the OHA in July 1982. The OHA and OHL disagreed on financial terms of affiliation, then the OHL decided to handle its own administration. The OHA and the OHL later reached an interim affiliation agreement, which allowed the OHL to compete at the Memorial Cup.
Commissioners
OMJHL and OHL Commissioners (years in office) Tubby Schmalz (September 23, 1974December 15, 1978) Bill Beagan (December 15, 1978January 1979) Sherwood Bassin (interim; JanuarySeptember 1979) David Branch (September 17, 1979present)
Member teams
Former teams
Cornwall Royals 1981–1992, moved to Newmarket
Newmarket Royals 1992–1994, moved to Sarnia
Niagara Falls Flyers 1980–1982, moved to North Bay
North Bay Centennials 1982–2002, moved to Saginaw
Brantford Alexanders 1980–1984, moved to Hamilton
Hamilton Steelhawks 1984–1988, moved to Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls Thunder 1988–1996, moved to Erie
Guelph Platers 1980–1989, moved to Owen Sound
Toronto Marlboros 1980–1989, moved to Hamilton
Dukes of Hamilton 1989–1991, moved to Guelph
Detroit Junior Red Wings 1992–1995, became the Detroit Whalers
Detroit Whalers 1995–1997, moved to Plymouth
Plymouth Whalers 1997–2015, moved to Flint
Brampton Battalion 1998–2013, moved to North Bay
Mississauga IceDogs 1998–2007, moved to St. Catharines
Toronto St. Michael's Majors 1996–2007, played in Mississauga until 2012
Belleville Bulls 1981–2015, moved to Hamilton
Timeline of franchises (since 1980) Note: The 12 original OHL franchises were all previously members of the OMJHL. Some other franchises played in different junior leagues prior to joining the OHL.
Schedule
The 20 OHL clubs play a 68-game unbalanced schedule, which starts in the third full week of September, running until the third week of March. Ninety percent (90%) of OHL games are scheduled between Thursday and Sunday to minimize the number of school days missed for its players.
Approximately 20% of players on active rosters in the National Hockey League (NHL) have come from the OHL, and about 54% of NHL players are alumni of the Canadian Hockey League.
OHL playoffs and Memorial Cup
The J. Ross Robertson Cup is awarded annually to the winner of the Championship Series. The Cup is named for John Ross Robertson, who was president of the Ontario Hockey Association from 1901 to 1905.