1997–98 OHL season

The 1997–98 OHL season was the 18th season of the Ontario Hockey League. The Toronto St. Michael's Majors name was reactivated when they are awarded a franchise, to play in the east division. The Detroit Whalers became the Plymouth Whalers. Eighteen teams each played 66 games. The Guelph Storm won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Ottawa 67's.

Expansion

Toronto St. Michael's Majors

On August 15, 1996, the Ontario Hockey League announced that the Toronto St. Michael's Majors would join the league as an expansion team, beginning in the 1997-98 season. The Majors would play their home games at Maple Leaf Gardens, in which they shared the arena with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. The Majors would join the East Division.

Previously, the Toronto St. Michael's Majors were a junior hockey franchise from 1906-1962, as they ceased operations at the conclusion of the 1961-62 season. The Majors won the Memorial Cup in 1934, 1945, 1947 and 1961.

The Majors were the first OHL franchise based out of Toronto in eight years, as their previous franchise, the Toronto Marlboros, relocated to Hamilton following the 1988-89 season.

Rebranding

Detroit Whalers to Plymouth Whalers

The Detroit Whalers rebranded their team as the Plymouth Whalers during the summer of 1997. The Whalers franchise moved to the Compuware Sports Arena in 1996-97, which is located in Plymouth. The team would retain their current team name and uniforms.

Realignment

The newest Ontario Hockey League club, the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, joined the East Division. Due to the Majors joining the East, the OHL moved the North Bay Centennials from the East Division to the Central Division, while the Erie Otters moved from the Central Division to the West Division. This created three six-team divisions in the 18 team league.

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
1z-Ottawa 67's664017989286172
2x-Belleville Bulls664122385315239
3x-Kingston Frontenacs663527474330275
4x-Oshawa Generals662632860214247
5x-Peterborough Petes6620361050212273
6Toronto St. Michael's Majors661542939154265

Central Division

Rank Team GP W L T PTS GF GA
1z-Guelph Storm664218690263189
2x-Barrie Colts663823581236215
3x-Kitchener Rangers6627291064224239
4x-Owen Sound Platers662734559270312
5x-Sudbury Wolves662534757257268
6North Bay Centennials661545636213291

West Division

Rank Team GP W L T PTS GF GA
1y-London Knights664021585301238
2x-Plymouth Whalers663722781279223
3x-Sarnia Sting6632211377253227
4x-Erie Otters663328571261252
5Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds662039747232296
6Windsor Spitfires661942543261340

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes [1]

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Peter Sarno Windsor Spitfires 64338812118
Jeremy Adduono Sudbury Wolves 66376910640
David Legwand Plymouth Whalers 59545110556
Maxim Spiridonov London Knights 6654449852
Colin Chaulk Kingston Frontenacs 60345296118
Rob Mailloux Kingston Frontenacs 6555409553
Jay Legault London Knights 6139569587
Chris Allen Kingston Frontenacs 6638579591
Jon Sim Sarnia Sting 5944509495
Justin Papineau Belleville Bulls 6641539434

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games Played; Mins = Minutes Played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime Losses;
SL = Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average
[2]

Player Team GP Mins W L T GA SO Sv% GAA
Craig Hillier Ottawa 67's 4625872712410850.9132.50
Chris Madden Guelph Storm 5129063311313240.9172.73
Robert Esche Plymouth Whalers 4828102913413530.9062.88
Mike Gorman Kitchener Rangers 4221361513510410.9242.92
Brian Finley Barrie Colts 4121542314110530.9172.92

Playoffs

  Division quarterfinals Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                                     
C1 Guelph bye  
       
  C1 Guelph 4  
    C5 Sudbury 0  
C2 Barrie 2
C5 Sudbury 4  
  C1 Guelph 4  
  W2 Plymouth 0  
E2 Belleville 4  
E5 Peterborough 0  
  E2 Belleville 2
    W2 Plymouth 4  
W2 Plymouth 4
W3 Sarnia 1  
  C1 Guelph 4
  E1 Ottawa 1
E1 Ottawa bye  
       
  E1 Ottawa 4
    C4 Owen Sound 1  
C3 Kitchener 2
C4 Owen Sound 4  
  E1 Ottawa 4
  W1 London 0  
W1 London 4  
W4 Erie 3  
  W1 London 4
    E3 Kingston 1  
E3 Kingston 4
E4 Oshawa 3  
(2) Belleville Bulls vs. (5) Peterborough Petes
Belleville wins series 4 – 0
(3) Kingston Frontenacs vs. (4) Oshawa Generals
Kingston wins series 4 – 3
(2) Barrie Colts vs. (5) Sudbury Wolves
Sudbury wins series 4 – 2
(3) Kitchener Rangers vs. (4) Owen Sound Platers
Owen Sound wins series 4 – 2
(1) London Knights vs. (4) Erie Otters
London wins series 4 – 3
(2) Plymouth Whalers vs. (3) Sarnia Sting
Plymouth wins series 4 – 1

(C1) Guelph Storm vs. (C5) Sudbury Wolves

Guelph wins series 4 – 0

(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (C4) Owen Sound Platers

Ottawa wins series 4 – 1

(W1) London Knights vs. (E3) Kingston Frontenacs

London wins series 4 – 1

(E2) Belleville Bulls vs. (W2) Plymouth Whalers

Plymouth wins series 4 – 2

(C1) Guelph Storm vs. (W2) Plymouth Whalers

Guelph wins series 4 – 0

(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (W1) London Knights

Ottawa wins series 4 – 0

(C1) Guelph Storm vs. (E1) Ottawa 67's

Guelph wins series 4 – 1

Playoff scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes [3]

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Daniel Cleary Belleville Bulls 106172310
Harold Druken Plymouth Whalers 15911204
David Legwand Plymouth Whalers 158123024
Mark Cadotte London Knights 161271915
Dan Tessier Ottawa 67's 147121912
Mike Oliviera Kingston Frontenacs 12613198
Jan Bulis Kingston Frontenacs 128101812
Matt Zultek Ottawa 67's 146121820
Troy Stonier Ottawa 67's 14710178
Paul Mara Plymouth Whalers 153141730

Playoff leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games Played; Mins = Minutes Played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average [4]

Player Team GP Mins W L GA SO Sv% GAA
Chris Madden Guelph Storm 137491212300.9391.84
Steve Valiquette Erie Otters 7468341510.9441.92
Seamus Kotyk Ottawa 67's 8392331500.9252.29
Craig Hillier Ottawa 67's 9448622010.9112.68
Shawn Gallant Belleville Bulls 10602642920.9112.89

All-Star teams

First team

Second team

Third team

Awards

J. Ross Robertson Cup:Guelph Storm
Hamilton Spectator Trophy:Guelph Storm
Leyden Trophy:Ottawa 67's
Emms Trophy:Guelph Storm
Bumbacco Trophy:London Knights
Red Tilson Trophy:David Legwand, Plymouth Whalers
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy:Peter Sarno, Windsor Spitfires
Matt Leyden Trophy:Gary Agnew, London Knights
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy:Maxim Spiridonov, London Knights
Max Kaminsky Trophy:Chris Allen, Kingston Frontenacs
OHL Goaltender of the Year:Bujar Amidovski, Toronto St. Michael's Majors
Jack Ferguson Award:Jay Harrison, Brampton Battalion
Dave Pinkney Trophy:Craig Hillier and Seamus Kotyk, Ottawa 67's
OHL Executive of the Year:Paul McIntosh, London Knights
Emms Family Award:David Legwand, Plymouth Whalers
F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy:Seamus Kotyk, Ottawa 67's
OHL Humanitarian of the Year:Jason Metcalfe, London Knights
William Hanley Trophy:Matt Bradley, Kingston Frontenacs
Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy:Bujar Amidovski, Toronto St. Michael's Majors
Bobby Smith Trophy:Manny Malhotra, Guelph Storm

1998 OHL Priority Selection

On June 6, 1998, the OHL conducted the 1998 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection at the Barrie Molson Centre in Barrie, Ontario. The Brampton Battalion held the first overall pick in the draft, and selected Jay Harrison from the Oshawa Legionaires. Harrison was awarded the Jack Ferguson Award, awarded to the top pick in the draft.

The 1998 draft was the first draft for the newest OHL expansion teams, the Brampton Battalion and Mississauga IceDogs, who would begin to play during the 1998-99 season.

Below are the players who were selected in the first round of the 1998 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. [5]

# Player Nationality OHL Team Hometown Minor Team
1 Jay Harrison (D) Canada Brampton Battalion Whitby, Ontario Oshawa Legionaires
2 Lou Dickenson (LW) Canada Mississauga IceDogs Orleans, Ontario Ottawa South Canadians
3 Chris Eade (D) Canada North Bay Centennials Oshawa, Ontario Oshawa Legionaires
4 Mark Popovic (D) Canada Toronto St. Michael's Majors Stoney Creek, Ontario Mississauga Chargers
5 Dan Growden (D) Canada Windsor Spitfires Bridgenorth, Ontario Peterborough Petes Bantam
6 Derek Fox (D) Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Thunder Bay, Ontario Quinte Hawks
7 Aaron Molnar (G) Canada Peterborough Petes Dorchester, Ontario St. Thomas Stars
8 Corey Sabourin (D) Canada Sudbury Wolves Orleans, Ontario Cumberland Grads
9 Chris Minard (C) Canada Owen Sound Platers Owen Sound, Ontario Owen Sound Greys
10 Jonah Leroux (LW) Canada Oshawa Generals Williamstown, Ontario Char-Lan Rebels
11 Mike Wehrestedt (RW) Canada Kitchener Rangers Thunder Bay, Ontario Thunder Bay Kings
12 Brad Boyes (RW) Canada Erie Otters Mississauga, Ontario Mississauga Rebels
13 Brett Clouthier (RW) Canada Kingston Frontenacs Arnprior, Ontario Kanata Lasers
14 Ryan Hare (C) Canada Sarnia Sting Sarnia, Ontario Sarnia Legionnaires
15 Kristopher Vernarsky (C) United States Plymouth Whalers Warren, Michigan USA U18
16 Darryl Bootland (RW) Canada Barrie Colts Schomberg, Ontario Orangeville Crushers
17 Bobby Turner (D) Canada London Knights Stoney Creek, Ontario Quinte Hawks
18 Kris Newbury (C) Canada Belleville Bulls Brampton, Ontario Brampton Capitals
19 Luke Sellars (D) Canada Ottawa 67's Pickering, Ontario Wexford Raiders
20 Matthew Rock (D) Canada Guelph Storm Fergus, Ontario Elmira Sugar Kings

See also

References

Preceded by
1996–97 OHL season
OHL seasons Succeeded by
1998–99 OHL season
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