1996–97 OHL season

The 1996–97 OHL season was the 17th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Oshawa Generals won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Ottawa 67's. The Niagara Falls Thunder move to Erie becoming the Erie Otters.

Contents

Regular season

Final standings

East Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
z-Ottawa 67's 66 49 11 6 104 320 177
x-Oshawa Generals 66 41 18 7 89 287 202
x-Peterborough Petes 66 39 25 2 80 251 238
x-Kingston Frontenacs 66 25 35 6 56 257 277
x-Belleville Bulls 66 22 37 7 51 235 278
North Bay Centennials 66 14 44 8 36 214 337
Central Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
z-Kitchener Rangers 66 34 22 10 78 274 235
x-Guelph Storm 66 35 25 6 76 300 251
x-Barrie Colts 66 33 23 10 76 272 236
x-Owen Sound Platers 66 27 37 2 56 258 318
x-Erie Otters 66 23 36 7 53 240 260
Sudbury Wolves 66 21 37 8 50 251 302
West Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
y-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 66 39 17 10 88 309 220
x-Sarnia Sting 66 35 24 7 77 286 251
x-Windsor Spitfires 66 29 29 8 66 303 285
x-Detroit Whalers 66 26 34 6 58 230 270
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

OHL 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.

  Division Quarter-Finals Quarter-Finals Semi-Finals Finals
                                     
E2  Oshawa bye  
        
  E2  Oshawa 4  
    E3  Peterborough 2  
E3  Peterborough 4
E4  Kingston 1  
  E2  Oshawa 4  
  C1  Kitchener 2  
C1  Kitchener bye  
        
  C1  Kitchener 4
    W2  Sarnia 3  
W2  Sarnia 4
W3  Windsor 1  
  E2  Oshawa 4
  E1  Ottawa 2
E1  Ottawa 4  
E5  Belleville 2  
  E1  Ottawa 4
    C3  Barrie 1  
C3  Barrie 4
C4  Owen Sound 0  
  E1  Ottawa 4
  C2  Guelph 3  
W1  S.S. Marie 4  
W4  Detroit 1  
  W1  S.S. Marie 2
    C2  Guelph 4  
C2  Guelph 4
C5  Erie 1  

OHL awards

J. Ross Robertson Cup: Oshawa Generals
Hamilton Spectator Trophy: Ottawa 67's
Red Tilson Trophy: Alyn McCauley, Ottawa 67's
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy: Marc Savard, Oshawa Generals
Matt Leyden Trophy: Brian Kilrea, Ottawa 67's
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy: Joe Seroski, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Max Kaminsky Trophy: Sean Blanchard, Ottawa 67's
OHL Goaltender of the Year: Zac Bierk, Peterborough Petes
Jack Ferguson Award: Charlie Stephens, Toronto St. Michael's Majors
Dave Pinkney Trophy: Tim Keyes and Craig Hillier, Ottawa 67's
OHL Executive of the Year: Ed Rowe, Peterborough Petes
Emms Family Award: Peter Sarno, Windsor Spitfires
F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy: Shawn Degagne, Kitchener Rangers
Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy: Mike Martone, Peterborough Petes
William Hanley Trophy: Alyn McCauley, Ottawa 67's
Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy: Zac Bierk, Peterborough Petes
Bobby Smith Trophy: Jake McCracken, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

See also

References

Preceded by
1995–96 OHL season		 OHL seasons Succeeded by
1997–98 OHL season
East Division
Central Division
Midwest Division
West Division
Defunct teams