# 1996–97 OHL season

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

## Relocation
### Niagara Falls Thunder to Erie Otters

The Niagara Falls Thunder relocated to Erie, and renamed their club to the Erie Otters, becoming the second team in the Ontario Hockey League to be based in the United States and the first OHL team in the state of Pennsylvania. The Thunder played in Niagara Falls from 1988-96, reaching the post-season in seven of their eight seasons. Niagara Falls went to the J. Ross Robertson Cup one time in their eight seasons, in their first season in 1988-89, where they lost to the Peterborough Petes in the final round.
The Otters new home arena was the Erie Civic Center. The club would remain in the Central Division.

## New Arena
### Detroit Whalers

After splitting the 1995-96 season between the Palace of Auburn Hills and Oak Park Ice Arena, the Detroit Whalers moved into their new home, the Compuware Sports Arena, based in Plymouth, Michigan.

## 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 |
| 1 | z-Ottawa 67's | 66 | 49 | 11 | 6 | 104 | 320 | 177 |
| 2 | x-Oshawa Generals | 66 | 41 | 18 | 7 | 89 | 287 | 202 |
| 3 | x-Peterborough Petes | 66 | 39 | 25 | 2 | 80 | 251 | 238 |
| 4 | x-Kingston Frontenacs | 66 | 25 | 35 | 6 | 56 | 257 | 277 |
| 5 | x-Belleville Bulls | 66 | 22 | 37 | 7 | 51 | 235 | 278 |
| 6 | North Bay Centennials | 66 | 14 | 44 | 8 | 36 | 214 | 337 |

### Central Division

| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
| 1 | z-Kitchener Rangers | 66 | 34 | 22 | 10 | 78 | 274 | 235 |
| 2 | x-Guelph Storm | 66 | 35 | 25 | 6 | 76 | 300 | 251 |
| 3 | x-Barrie Colts | 66 | 33 | 23 | 10 | 76 | 272 | 236 |
| 4 | x-Owen Sound Platers | 66 | 27 | 37 | 2 | 56 | 258 | 318 |
| 5 | x-Erie Otters | 66 | 23 | 36 | 7 | 53 | 240 | 260 |
| 6 | Sudbury Wolves | 66 | 21 | 37 | 8 | 50 | 251 | 302 |

### West Division

| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
| 1 | y-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 66 | 39 | 17 | 10 | 88 | 309 | 220 |
| 2 | x-Sarnia Sting | 66 | 35 | 24 | 7 | 77 | 286 | 251 |
| 3 | x-Windsor Spitfires | 66 | 29 | 29 | 8 | 66 | 303 | 285 |
| 4 | x-Detroit Whalers | 66 | 26 | 34 | 6 | 58 | 230 | 270 |
| 5 | 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 |

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

### Division quarter-finals
#### East Division
##### (1) Ottawa 67's vs. (5) Belleville Bulls

* Ottawa wins series 4 – 2

##### (3) Peterborough Petes vs. (4) Kingston Frontenacs

* Peterborough wins series 4 – 1

#### Central Division
##### (2) Guelph Storm vs. (5) Erie Otters

* Guelph wins series 4 – 1

##### (3) Barrie Colts vs. (4) Owen Sound Platers

* Barrie wins series 4 – 0

#### West Division
##### (1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (4) Detroit Whalers

* Sault Ste. Marie wins series 4 – 1

##### (2) Sarnia Sting vs. (3) Windsor Spitfires

* Sarnia wins series 4 – 1

### OHL quarter-finals
#### (E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (C3) Barrie Colts

* Ottawa wins series 4 – 1

#### (W1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (C2) Guelph Storm

* Guelph wins series 4 – 2

#### (C1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (W2) Sarnia Sting

* Kitchener wins series 4 – 3

#### (E2) Oshawa Generals vs. (E3) Peterborough Petes

* Oshawa wins series 4 – 2

### OHL semi-finals
#### (E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (C2) Guelph Storm

* Ottawa wins series 4 – 3

#### (C1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (E2) Oshawa Generals

* Oshawa wins series 4 – 2

### J. Ross Robertson Cup
#### (E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (E2) Oshawa Generals

* Oshawa wins series 4 – 2

## All-Star teams
### First team

* Alyn McCauley, Centre, Ottawa 67's
* Daniel Cleary, Left Wing, Belleville Bulls
* Cameron Mann, Right Wing, Peterborough Petes
* Sean Blanchard, Defence, Ottawa 67's
* Andy Delmore, Defence, Sarnia Sting
* Zac Bierk, Goaltender, Peterborough Petes
* Brian Kilrea, Coach, Ottawa 67's

### Second team

* Joe Thornton, Centre, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
* Dave Duerden, Left Wing, Peterborough Petes
* Alexandre Volchkov, Right Wing, Barrie Colts
* D.J. Smith, Defence, Windsor Spitfires
* Marty Wilford, Defence, Oshawa Generals
* Kory Cooper, Goaltender, Belleville Bulls
* Bill Stewart, Coach, Oshawa Generals

### Third team

* Jan Bulis, Centre, Barrie Colts
* Dwayne Hay, Left Wing, Guelph Storm
* Joel Trottier, Right Wing, Ottawa 67's
* Nick Boynton, Defence, Ottawa 67's
* Chris Hajt, Defence, Guelph Storm
* Robert Esche, Goaltender, Detroit Whalers
* Peter DeBoer, Coach, Detroit Whalers

## Awards

| J. Ross Robertson Cup: | Oshawa Generals |
| Hamilton Spectator Trophy: | Ottawa 67's |
| Leyden Trophy: | Ottawa 67's |
| Emms Trophy: | Kitchener Rangers |
| Bumbacco Trophy: | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| 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 |
| Bill Long Award: | Wren Blair, Kingston Frontenacs & Frank Bonello, Ontario Hockey League |
| Emms Family Award: | Peter Sarno, Windsor Spitfires |
| F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy: | Shawn Degagne, Kitchener Rangers |
| OHL Humanitarian of the Year: | 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 |

## 1997 OHL Priority Selection

On June 7, 1997, the OHL conducted the 1997 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario. The expansion team Toronto St. Michael's Majors, who were set to begin play during the 1997-98 season, held the first overall pick in the draft, and selected Charlie Stephens from the Leamington Flyers. Stephens was awarded the Jack Ferguson Award, awarded to the top pick in the draft.
Below are the players who were selected in the first round of the 1997 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
| # | Player | Nationality | OHL Team | Hometown | Minor Team |
| 1 | Charlie Stephens (C) | Canada | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | London, Ontario | Leamington Flyers |
| 2 | John Erskine (D) | Canada | London Knights | Kingston, Ontario | Quinte Hawks |
| 3 | Brett Angel (D) | Canada | North Bay Centennials | Kingston, Ontario | Kingston Voyageurs |
| 4 | Taylor Pyatt (LW) | Canada | Sudbury Wolves | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Thunder Bay Kings |
| 5 | Jonathan Cheechoo (RW) | Canada | Belleville Bulls | Moose Factory, Ontario | Kitchener Dutchmen |
| 6 | Tim Connolly (C) | United States | Erie Otters | Syracuse, New York | Syracuse Jr. Crunch |
| 7 | Jamie Young (LW) | Canada | Kingston Frontenacs | Thunder Bay, Ontario | Thunder Bay Kings |
| 8 | Dave Stephenson (D) | Canada | Owen Sound Platers | Woodstock, Ontario | Cambridge Winter Hawks |
| 9 | David Legwand (C) | United States | Plymouth Whalers | Detroit, Michigan | Compuware Ambassadors |
| 10 | Mike Rupp (C) | United States | Windsor Spitfires | Cleveland, Ohio | Cleveland Barons |
| 11 | Adam DeLeeuw (LW) | Canada | Barrie Colts | Brampton, Ontario | Brampton Capitals |
| 12 | Dusty Jamieson (LW) | Canada | Guelph Storm | Forest, Ontario | St. Thomas Stars |
| 13 | Robb Palahnuk (LW) | Canada | Sarnia Sting | Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario | Elmira Sugar Kings |
| 14 | Barry Graham (D) | Canada | Kitchener Rangers | Murillo, Ontario | Thunder Bay Kings |
| 15 | Preston Mizzi (C) | Canada | Peterborough Petes | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Newmarket Hurricanes |
| 16 | Cory Pecker (RW) | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Montreal, Quebec | Lac St-Louis Lions |
| 17 | Brad Ralph (C) | Canada | Oshawa Generals | Richmond Hill, Ontario | Kanata Valley Lasers |
| 18 | Jonathan Zion (D) | Canada | Ottawa 67's | Nepean, Ontario | Nepean Raiders |