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 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

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

Playoffs

Division quarter-finals

East Division

(2) Belleville Bulls vs. (5) Peterborough Petes

(3) Kingston Frontenacs vs. (4) Oshawa Generals

Central Division

(2) Barrie Colts vs. (5) Sudbury Wolves

(3) Kitchener Rangers vs. (4) Owen Sound Platers

West Division

(1) London Knights vs. (4) Erie Otters

(2) Plymouth Whalers vs. (3) Sarnia Sting

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

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

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

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

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.

See also

• List of OHA Junior A standings
• List of OHL seasons
• 1998 Memorial Cup
• 1998 NHL Entry Draft
• 1997 in sports
• 1998 in sports

References

• HockeyDB