David Branch

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David E. Branch (Born November 27, 1948 in Bathurst, New Brunswick) Branch has served as the Commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League since August 11, 1979, and as the President of the Canadian Hockey League since 1996.

Branch attended the University of Massachusetts on a hockey scholarship. He has previously served as the Executive Director of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and Secretary-Manager of the Ontario Hockey Association.

Under his command, the OHL has grown from 12 teams to 20, and has become a highly marketable television commodity. Branch is also known to be a strict disciplinarian, and recently suspended coach and General Manager Moe Mantha, Jr. of the Windsor Spitfires for an entire season due to a team hazing incident.

Branch is a minor hockey coach with the Whitby Wildcats organization. His son Barclay also works with the Wildcats and is currently the Director of Player Personnel for the Belleville Bulls, and previously of the Oshawa Generals.