Ontario Hockey League: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is professional and is for players aged 15-20.

Most of the teams are based in Ontario, Canada, but some are from Michigan or Pennsylvania.

Member teams

Eastern Conference

Eastern Division

• Belleville Bulls
• Kingston Frontenacs
• Oshawa Generals
• Ottawa 67's
• Peterborough Petes

Central Division

• Barrie Colts
• Brampton Battalion
• Mississauga Ice Dogs
• St. Michael's Majors (Toronto)
• Sudbury Wolves

Western Conference

Midwestern Division

• Erie Otters (PA)
• Guelph Storm
• Kitchener Rangers
• Owen Sound Attack
• London Knights

Western Division

• Plymouth Whalers (MI)
• Saginaw Spirit (MI)
• Sarnia Sting
• Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds
• Windsor Spitfires

• 2002 The North Bay Centennials were relocated to Saginaw. Brampton is moved to the central division, and London is moved to the midwest. Saginaw would play in the western division.
• 2000 The Owen Sound Platers become the Owen Sound Attack.
• 1998 The OHL has a new 4-division, 2-conference format. Belleville, Kingston, Oshawa, Ottawa and Peterborough in the east, Barrie, Mississauga, North Bay, St. Michaels, and Sudbury in the central (making up the Eastern Conference). Brampton, Erie, Guelph, Kitchener, and Owen Sound in the midwest, and London, Plymouth, Sault Ste. Marie, Sarnia and Windsor in the west (making up the Western Conference). This comes after Brampton and Mississauga are awarded franchises.
• 1997 The St. Michales Majors (playing in Toronto) are awarded a franchise, they would play in the Eastern Division. The Detroit Whalers become the Plymouth Whalers.
• 1996 The Niagara Falls Thunder are relocated to Erie.
• 1995 The Barrie Colts are awarded a franchise. They would play in the Central Division. The Detroit Jr. Red Wings become the Detroit Whalers.
• 1994 The OHL has a new 3-division format. Guelph, Sudbury, Owen Sound, Niagara Falls, and Kitchener play in the central; Kingston, Oshawa, North Bay, Belleville, Peterborough and Ottawa play in the east; Detroit, Windsor, Sarnia, London and Sault Ste. Marie play in the west. The Newmarket Royals are relocated to Sarnia.
• 1992 The Cornwall Royals are relocated to Newmarket. The Detroit Compuware Ambassadors become the Detroit Jr. Red Wings.
• 1991 The Hamilton Dukes are relocated to Guelph.
• 1990 The Detroit Compuware Ambassadors are awarded a franchise. They would play in the Emms Division. North Bay and Sudbury move to the Leyden Division to accommodate this change.
• 1989 The Toronto Marlboros are relocated to Hamilton. The Guelph Platers are relocated to Owen Sound. The Kingston Raiders become the Kingston Frontenacs, and the Windsor Compuware Spitfires become the Windsor Spitfires.
• 1988 The Hamilton Steelhawks are relocated to Niagara Falls. The Kingston Canadians become the Kingston Raiders.
• 1984 The Brantford Alexanders are relocated to Hamilton. The Windsor Spitfires become the Windsor Compuware Spitfires.
• 1982 The Niagara Falls Flyers are relocated to Guelph and North Bay.
• 1981 The Cornwall Royals are awarded a franchise, they would play in the Leyden Division. The Belleville Bulls are awarded a franchise, they would play in the Leyden Division. Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie move to the Emms Division to compensatem while Toronto moves to the Leyden.
• 1980 The Ontario Hockey Association become the Ontario Hockey League.
• 1978 The Hamilton Fincups are relocated to Brantford.
• 1977 The St. Catharines Fincups are relocated to Hamilton.
• 1976 The St. Catharines Black Hawks are relocated to Niagara Falls. The Hamilton Fincups are relocated to St. Catharines.
• 1975 The OHA is divided into a 2-division format. The Emms Division would consist of Kitchener, Hamilton, Windsor, Toronto, St. Catharines and London while the Leyden Division would consist of Sault Ste. Marie, Ottawa, Kingston, Oshawa, Peterborough and Sudbury. The Windsor Spitfires are granted a franchise.
• 1974 The Hamilton Red Wings become the Hamilton Fincups.
• 1973 The Kingston Canadians are granted a franchise.
• 1972 The Montreal Junior Canadiens and the Niagara Falls Flyers are relocated to Sault Ste. Marie, and Sudbury
• 1971 The London Nationals become the London Knights.
• 1970 The London Knights become the London Nationals.
• 1968 The London Nationals become the London Kinghts.
• 1967 The Ottawa 67's are granted a franchise.
• 1965 The London Nationals are granted a franchise.
• 1951 The OHA (Ontario Hockey Associatio) is born with Windsor Spitfires. Waterloo Hurricanes. Toronto St. Michael's Majors, St. Catharines Teepees, Toronto Marlboros, Oshawa Generals, Kitchener Greenshirts, Guelph Biltmores, Galt Black Hawks, and Barrie Flyers

• 1933-34 St. Michael's Majors
• 1934-35 Kitchener
• 1935-36 West Toronto Redmen
• 1936-37 St. Michael's Majors
• 1937-38 Oshawa Generals
• 1938-39 Oshawa Generals
• 1939-40 Oshawa Generals
• 1940-41 Oshawa Generals
• 1941-42 Oshawa Generals
• 1942-43 Oshawa Generals
• 1943-44 Oshawa Generals
• 1944-45 St. Michael's Majors
• 1945-46 St. Michael's Majors
• 1946-47 St. Michael's Majors
• 1947-48 Barrie Flyers
• 1948-49 Barrie Flyers
• 1949-50 Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters
• 1950-51 Barrie Flyers
• 1951-52 Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters
• 1952-53 Barrie Flyers
• 1953-54 St Catharines Tee Pees
• 1954-55 Toronto Marlboros
• 1955-56 Toronto Marlboros
• 1956-57 Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters
• 1957-58 Toronto Marlboros
• 1958-59 Peterborough TPT Petes
• 1959-60 St. Catharines Tee Pees
• 1960-61 St. Michael's Majors
• 1961-62 Hamilton Red Wings
• 1962-63 Niagara Falls Flyers
• 1963-64 Toronto Marlboros
• 1964-65 Niagara Falls Flyers
• 1965-66 Oshawa Generals
• 1966-67 Toronto Marlboros
• 1967-68 Niagara Falls Flyers
• 1968-69 Montreal Junior Canadiens
• 1969-70 Montreal Junior Canadiens
• 1970-71 St. Catharines Black Hawks
• 1971-72 Peterborough Petes
• 1972-73 Toronto Marlboros
• 1973-74 St Catharines Black Hawks
• 1974-75 Toronto Marlboros
• 1975-76 Hamilton Fincups
• 1976-77 Ottawa 67's
• 1977-78 Peterborough Petes
• 1978-79 Peterborough Petes
• 1979-80 Peterborough Petes
• 1980-81 Kitchener Rangers
• 1981-82 Kitchener Rangers
• 1982-83 Oshawa Generals
• 1983-84 Ottawa 67's
• 1984-85 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
• 1985-86 Guelph Platers
• 1986-87 Oshawa Generals
• 1987-88 Windsor Spitfires
• 1988-89 Peterborough Petes
• 1989-90 Oshawa Generals
• 1990-91 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
• 1991-92 Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
• 1992-93 Peterborough Petes
• 1993-94 North Bay Centennials
• 1994-95 Detroit Junior Red Wings
• 1995-96 Peterborough Petes
• 1996-97 Oshawa Generals
• 1997-98 Guelph Storm
• 1998-99 Belleville Bulls
• 1999-00 Barrie Colts
• 2000-01 Ottawa 67's
• 2001-02 Erie Otters
• 2002-03 Kitchener Rangers
• 2003-04 Guelph Storm

See also: List of ice hockey leagues