# 1996–97 WOAA Senior League season

The 1996–97 WOAA Senior League season was the 7th season of the WOAA Senior AA Hockey League. The league played a regular season schedule which began in October 1996 and concluded in February 1997. The post-season began in February 1997 and concluded in April 1997.
The Durham Thundercats won the Sr. "AA" championship, defeating the Wellesley Merchants in six games. The Goderich Pirates won the Sr. "A" championship and the Lucknow Lancers won the Sr. "B" championship.

## Team changes

* The Lakeshore Winterhawks fold.
* The Shelburne Muskies moved from the Senior "AA" division to Senior "A".
* The Goderich Pirates join the league as an expansion team and will play in the Senior "A" division.

## Senior "AA"
### Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched "AA" playoff spot
| Rank | Senior "AA" Standings | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| 1 | Wellesley Merchants | 24 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 34 | 127 | 99 |
| 2 | Durham Thundercats | 24 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 143 | 105 |
| 3 | Tavistock Royals | 24 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 123 | 107 |
| 4 | Milverton Four Wheel Drives | 24 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 87 | 105 |
| 5 | Elora Rocks | 24 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 85 | 149 |

### Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Darren Snyder | Wellesley Merchants | 22 | 31 | 29 | 60 | 14 |
| Jason Mervyn | Wellesley Merchants | 16 | 24 | 21 | 45 | 31 |
| Dean Huber | Wellesley Merchants | 20 | 12 | 31 | 43 | 2 |
| Greg Snyder | Tavistock Royals | 24 | 23 | 14 | 37 | 39 |
| Todd Stoddart | Durham Thundercats | 21 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 30 |
| Terry Hoelscher | Elora Rocks | 23 | 18 | 15 | 33 | 18 |
| Keith MacMillan | Durham Thundercats | 17 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 18 |
| Randy Coverdale | Elora Rocks | 22 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 52 |
| Joe Scherer | Tavistock Royals | 14 | 15 | 17 | 32 | 8 |
| Rob LeBlanc | Durham Thundercats | 18 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 78 |

### Sr. "AA" playoff bracket

| Sr. "AA" preliminary | Sr. "AA" preliminary | Sr. "AA" preliminary | Sr. "AA" semi-finals | Sr. "AA" semi-finals | Sr. "AA" semi-finals | Sr. "AA" finals | Sr. "AA" finals | Sr. "AA" finals |
| 1 | Wellesley | bye | | | | | | |
| | | | 1 | Wellesley | 4 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Milverton | 1 | | | |
| 4 | Milverton | 3 | 4 | Milverton | 1 | | | |
| 5 | Elora | 2 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Elora | 2 | | | | 1 | Wellesley | 2 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Durham | 4 |
| 2 | Durham | bye | | | | | | | 2 | Durham | 4 |
| | | | 2 | Durham | 4 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Tavistock | 1 | | | |
| 3 | Tavistock | bye | 3 | Tavistock | 1 | | | |

#### WOAA Sr. "AA" preliminary round
##### (4) Milverton Four Wheel Drives vs. (5) Elora Rocks

* Milverton wins series 3 – 2

#### WOAA Sr. "AA" semi-finals
##### (1) Wellesley Merchants vs. (4) Milverton Four Wheel Drives

* Wellesley wins series 4 – 1

##### (2) Durham Thundercats vs. (3) Tavistock Royals

* Durham wins series 4 – 1

#### WOAA Sr. "AA" Championship
##### (1) Wellesley Merchants vs. (2) Durham Thundercats

* Durham wins series 4 – 2

## Senior "A"
### Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched "A" playoff spot
| Rank | Senior "A" Standings | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| 1 | Shelburne Muskies | 22 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 35 | 164 | 102 |
| 2 | Wiarton Redmen | 24 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 155 | 116 |
| 3 | Goderich Pirates | 24 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 129 | 115 |
| 4 | Palmerston 81's | 24 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 146 | 124 |
| 5 | Ripley Wolves | 23 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 27 | 111 | 104 |
| 6 | Arthur Tigers | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 25 | 159 | 151 |
| 7 | Brussels Crusaders | 24 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 112 | 121 |
| 8 | Clinton Radar | 24 | 5 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 98 | 150 |
| 9 | Drayton Comets | 24 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 82 | 166 |

### Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Tim Harrison | Goderich Pirates | 23 | 35 | 26 | 61 | 45 |
| Kevin Greco | Shelburne Muskies | 21 | 21 | 39 | 60 | 12 |
| Keith Davis | Shelburne Muskies | 20 | 32 | 23 | 55 | 94 |
| Scott Vader | Palmerston 81's | 20 | 24 | 29 | 53 | 42 |
| Ryan Thompson | Wiarton Redmen | 20 | 26 | 20 | 46 | 2 |
| Don Richardson | Wiarton Redmen | 24 | 14 | 29 | 43 | 39 |
| Jason Hackett | Shelburne Muskies | 21 | 16 | 26 | 42 | 96 |
| Darryl Durnin | Goderich Pirates | 23 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 35 |
| Tom McDonald | Brussels Crusaders | 24 | 21 | 19 | 40 | 9 |
| Greg McNevan | Drayton Comets | 22 | 22 | 17 | 39 | 60 |

### Sr. "A" playoff bracket

| Sr. "A" preliminary round | Sr. "A" preliminary round | Sr. "A" preliminary round | Sr. "A" semi-finals | Sr. "A" semi-finals | Sr. "A" semi-finals | Sr. "A" finals | Sr. "A" finals | Sr. "A" finals |
| 1 | Shelburne | 4 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Clinton | 2 | | | | | | |
| 8 | Clinton | 2 | 1 | Shelburne | 3 | | | |
| | | | 5 | Ripley | 4 | | | |
| 4 | Palmerston | 2 | 5 | Ripley | 4 | | | |
| 5 | Ripley | 4 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Ripley | 4 | | | | 5 | Ripley | 3 |
| | | | | | | 3 | Goderich | 4 |
| 2 | Wiarton | 4 | | | | | | | 3 | Goderich | 4 |
| 7 | Brussels | 0 | | | | | | |
| 7 | Brussels | 0 | 2 | Wiarton | 3 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Goderich | 4 | | | |
| 3 | Goderich | 4 | 3 | Goderich | 4 | | | |
| 6 | Arthur | 3 | | | | | | |

#### WOAA Sr. "A" quarter-finals
##### (1) Shelburne Muskies vs. (8) Clinton Radar

* Shelburne wins series 4 – 2

##### (2) Wiarton Redmen vs. (7) Brussels Crusaders

* Wiarton wins series 4 – 0

##### (3) Goderich Pirates vs. (6) Arthur Tigers

* Goderich wins series 4 – 3

##### (4) Palmerston 81's vs. (5) Ripley Wolves

Note: Games three and five were played in Harriston, Ontario.
* Ripley wins series 4 – 2

#### WOAA Sr. "A" semi-finals
##### (1) Shelburne Muskies vs. (5) Ripley Wolves

* Ripley wins series 4 – 3

##### (2) Wiarton Redmen vs. (3) Goderich Pirates

* Goderich wins series 4 – 3

#### WOAA Sr. "A" Championship
##### (3) Goderich Pirates vs. (5) Ripley Wolves

* Goderich wins series 4 – 3

## Senior "B"
### Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched "B" playoff spot
| Rank | Senior "B" Standings | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
| 1 | Dundalk Flyers | 24 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 160 | 93 |
| 2 | Lucknow Lancers | 24 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 157 | 91 |
| 3 | Mildmay Monarchs | 23 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 28 | 102 | 92 |
| 4 | Teeswater Falcons | 24 | 4 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 88 | 186 |
| 5 | Grand Valley Tornadoes | 23 | 4 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 108 | 153 |

### Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Brad Priestap | Lucknow Lancers | 22 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 61 |
| Justin Murray | Lucknow Lancers | 21 | 26 | 24 | 50 | 37 |
| Dave Vanalstine | Dundalk Flyers | 21 | 21 | 22 | 43 | 21 |
| Kyle Wheeler | Lucknow Lancers | 21 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 25 |
| Todd Davis | Dundalk Flyers | 19 | 20 | 19 | 39 | 74 |
| Lou Bellwood | Dundalk Flyers | 20 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 32 |
| Troy Fischer | Teeswater Falcons | 23 | 20 | 17 | 37 | 55 |
| Brad Murray | Lucknow Lancers | 20 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 47 |
| Shawn Miller | Dundalk Flyers | 17 | 24 | 11 | 35 | 59 |
| Greg Bratton | Grand Valley Tornadoes | 20 | 8 | 27 | 35 | 33 |

### Sr. "B" playoff bracket

| Sr. "B" preliminary round | Sr. "B" preliminary round | Sr. "B" preliminary round | Sr. "B" semi-finals | Sr. "B" semi-finals | Sr. "B" semi-finals | Sr. "B" finals | Sr. "B" finals | Sr. "B" finals |
| 1 | Dundalk | bye | | | | | | |
| | | | 1 | Dundalk | 3 | | | |
| | | | 4 | Teeswater | 0 | | | |
| 4 | Teeswater | 2 | 4 | Teeswater | 0 | | | |
| 5 | Grand Valley | 1 | | | | | | |
| 5 | Grand Valley | 1 | | | | 1 | Dundalk | 1 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Lucknow | 4 |
| 2 | Lucknow | bye | | | | | | | 2 | Lucknow | 4 |
| | | | 2 | Lucknow | 4 | | | |
| | | | 3 | Mildmay | 0 | | | |
| 3 | Mildmay | bye | 3 | Mildmay | 0 | | | |

#### WOAA Sr. "B" preliminary round
##### (4) Teeswater Falcons vs. (5) Grand Valley Tornadoes

* Teeswater wins series 2 – 1

#### WOAA Sr. "B" semi-finals
##### (1) Dundalk Flyers vs. (4) Teeswater Falcons

* Dundalk wins series 3 – 0

##### (2) Lucknow Lancers vs. (3) Mildmay Monarchs

* Lucknow wins series 4 – 0

#### WOAA Sr. "B" Championship
##### (1) Dundalk Flyers vs. (2) Lucknow Lancers

* Lucknow wins series 4 – 1