1997–98 OHL season
Junior ice hockey 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 to 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
Central Division
West Division
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes [ 1]
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]
Playoffs
Division quarter-finals
East Division
(2) Belleville Bulls vs. (5) Peterborough Petes
Belleville wins series 4 – 0
(3) Kingston Frontenacs vs. (4) Oshawa Generals
Kingston wins series 4 – 3
Central Division
(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
West Division
(1) London Knights vs. (4) Erie Otters
(2) Plymouth Whalers vs. (3) Sarnia Sting
Plymouth wins series 4 – 1
OHL quarter-finals
(C1) Guelph Storm vs. (C5) Sudbury Wolves
(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (C4) Owen Sound Platers
(W1) London Knights vs. (E3) Kingston Frontenacs
(E2) Belleville Bulls vs. (W2) Plymouth Whalers
Plymouth wins series 4 – 2
OHL semi-finals
(C1) Guelph Storm vs. (W2) Plymouth Whalers
(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (W1) London Knights
OHL finals
(C1) Guelph Storm vs. (E1) Ottawa 67's
Playoff scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes [ 3]
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]
All-Star teams
First team
David Legwand , Centre, Plymouth Whalers
Rob Mailloux , Left Wing, Kingston Frontenacs
Brian Willsie , Right Wing, Guelph Storm
Chris Allen , Defence, Kingston Frontenacs
Sean Blanchard , Defence, Ottawa 67's
Bujar Amidovski , Goaltender, Toronto St. Michael's Majors
Gary Agnew , Coach, London Knights
Second team
Jon Sim , Centre, Sarnia Sting
Colin Pepperall , Left Wing, Erie Otters
Maxim Spiridonov , Right Wing, London Knights
Ric Jackman , Defence, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Chris Hajt , Defence, Guelph Storm
Robert Esche , Goaltender, Plymouth Whalers
George Burnett , Coach, Guelph Storm
Third team
Peter Sarno , Centre, Windsor Spitfires
Jeremy Adduono , Left Wing, Sudbury Wolves
Matt Bradley , Right Wing, Kingston Frontenacs
Jeff Brown , Defence, London Knights
Brian Campbell , Defence, Ottawa 67's
Tyrone Garner , Goaltender, Oshawa Generals
Lou Crawford , Coach, Belleville Bulls
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
East Division Central Division Midwest Division West Division Defunct teams