1995–96 OHL season

Junior ice hockey season The 1995–96 OHL season was the 16th season of the Ontario Hockey League. The league expanded as the Barrie Colts entered into the central division. The Detroit Junior Red Wings become the Detroit Whalers. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Guelph Storm. Expansion Barrie Colts On May 6, 1994, The Barrie Colts were approved as an expansion team in the Ontario Hockey League beginning in the 1995-96 season. The Colts began their inaugural season playing in the Barrie Arena, however, on December 31, 1995, the Colts moved into their new home, the Barrie Molson Centre. The Colts joined the Central Division. Rebranding Detroit Junior Red Wings to Detroit Whalers At the conclusion of the 1994-95, the Detroit Junior Red Wings severed all ties with the National Hockey League Detroit Red Wings, as Peter Karmanos renamed the franchise the Detroit Whalers. The Whalers moved out of Joe Louis Arena and into the Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association and the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League. The Whalers would play 21 of their 33 home games in the regular season at the Palace of Auburn Hills while playing their remaining 12 home games at Oak Park Ice Arena. The Whalers played all of their home playoff games at the Oak Park Ice Arena. The club remained in the West Division. 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 39 22 5 83 258 200 2 x-Peterborough Petes 66 35 22 9 79 289 235 3 x-Belleville Bulls 66 35 26 5 75 300 250 4 x-Oshawa Generals 66 30 28 8 68 248 238 5 x-Kingston Frontenacs 66 29 31 6 64 266 267 6 North Bay Centennials 66 14 45 7 35 242 360 Central Division Rank Team GP W L T PTS GF GA 1 z-Guelph Storm 66 45 16 5 95 297 186 2 x-Kitchener Rangers 66 35 28 3 73 253 230 3 x-Niagara Falls Thunder 66 29 30 7 65 248 238 4 x-Owen Sound Platers 66 29 32 5 63 274 313 5 x-Barrie Colts 66 28 31 7 63 258 266 6 Sudbury Wolves 66 27 36 3 59 262 288 West Division Rank Team GP W L T PTS GF GA 1 y-Detroit Whalers 66 40 22 4 84 319 243 2 x-Sarnia Sting 66 39 23 4 82 330 276 3 x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 66 38 23 5 81 312 254 4 x-Windsor Spitfires 66 21 41 4 46 256 312 5 London Knights 66 3 60 3 9 179 435 Scoring leaders Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Aaron Brand Sarnia Sting 66 46 73 119 110 Daniel Cleary Belleville Bulls 64 53 62 115 74 Sean Haggerty Detroit Whalers 66 60 51 111 78 Trevor Gallant North Bay Centennials 63 47 58 105 36 Richard Uniacke Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 66 48 54 102 38 Cameron Mann Peterborough Petes 66 42 60 102 108 Jonathan Sim Sarnia Sting 63 56 45 101 130 Trevor Letowski Sarnia Sting 66 36 63 99 66 Lee Jinman North Bay Centennials//Detroit Whalers 64 29 68 97 49 Rob Shearer Windsor Spitfires 63 40 53 93 74 Playoffs 1995-96 OHL Playoff Results at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php?league=ohl1989&season=1996&leaguenm=OHL 2022-12-07 www.hockeydb.com Division quarterfinals Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals C1 Guelph bye C3 Niagara Falls 4 C4 Owen Sound 2 E1 Ottawa bye E3 Belleville 4 E4 Oshawa 1 E2 Peterborough 4 E5 Kingston 1 W2 Sarnia 4 W3 S.S. Marie 0 C2 Kitchener 4 C5 Barrie 3 W4 Windsor 3 W1 Detroit 4 C1 Guelph 4 C3 Niagara Falls 0 E1 Ottawa 0 E3 Belleville 4 E2 Peterborough 4 W2 Sarnia 2 C2 Kitchener 1 W1 Detroit 4 C1 Guelph 4 E3 Belleville 1 E2 Peterborough 4 W1 Detroit 1 C1 Guelph 3 E2 Peterborough 4 Division quarter-finals East Division (2) Peterborough Petes vs. (5) Kingston Frontenacs Peterborough Petes Kingston Frontenacs Peterborough Memorial Centre Kingston Memorial Centre yes March 17 4 – 5 1 2 2 March 19 1 – 9 1 1 March 21 4 – 3 1 1 2 March 22 3 – 1 2 1 March 24 3 – 6 1 1 March 26 4 – 3 2 1 Peterborough wins series 4 – 2 (3) Belleville Bulls vs. (4) Oshawa Generals Belleville Bulls Oshawa Generals Yardmen Arena Oshawa Civic Auditorium yes March 16 3 – 6 1 1 March 17 1 – 4 2 2 March 19 3 – 4 1 1 1 March 21 6 – 5 2 1 March 23 1 – 6 1 1 Belleville wins series 4 – 1 Central Division (2) Kitchener Rangers vs. (5) Barrie Colts Kitchener Rangers Barrie Colts Kitchener Memorial Auditorium Barrie Molson Centre yes March 17 2 – 1 1 2 March 19 1 – 2 1 2 2 March 21 1 – 6 1 1 March 23 1 – 2 1 2 2 March 24 4 – 7 1 1 March 26 4 – 1 2 1 March 27 3 – 4 1 1 Kitchener wins series 4 – 3 (3) Niagara Falls Thunder vs. (4) Owen Sound Platers Niagara Falls Thunder Owen Sound Platers Niagara Falls Memorial Arena Bayshore Community Centre yes March 17 3 – 6 1 1 March 20 4 – 7 2 2 March 22 3 – 7 1 1 March 23 2 – 3 2 2 March 25 1 – 6 1 1 March 27 4 – 3 1 2 1 Niagara Falls wins series 4 – 2 West Division (1) Detroit Whalers vs. (4) Windsor Spitfires Detroit Whalers Windsor Spitfires Oak Park Ice Arena Windsor Arena yes March 17 3 – 5 1 1 March 18 5 – 2 2 1 March 20 4 – 6 1 1 March 22 1 – 4 2 2 March 24 5 – 1 1 2 March 25 3 – 6 2 2 March 27 2 – 9 1 1 Detroit wins series 4 – 3 (2) Sarnia Sting vs. (3) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sarnia Sting Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sarnia Arena Sault Memorial Gardens yes March 17 1 – 5 1 1 March 18 2 – 6 1 1 March 20 4 – 1 2 1 March 21 3 – 1 2 1 Sarnia wins series 4 – 0 OHL quarter-finals (C1) Guelph Storm vs. (C3) Niagara Falls Thunder Guelph Storm Niagara Falls Thunder Guelph Memorial Gardens Niagara Falls Memorial Arena yes March 29 4 – 5 1 1 1 March 31 4 – 3 2 1 April 2 2 – 4 1 1 April 5 5 – 2 2 1 Guelph wins series 4 – 0 (W1) Detroit Whalers vs. (C2) Kitchener Rangers Detroit Whalers Kitchener Rangers Oak Park Ice Arena Kitchener Memorial Auditorium yes March 30 2 – 6 1 1 March 31 2 – 5 2 2 April 3 3 – 5 1 1 April 5 5 – 0 2 1 April 6 1 – 9 1 1 Detroit wins series 4 – 1 (E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (E3) Belleville Bulls Ottawa 67's Belleville Bulls Ottawa Civic Centre Yardmen Arena yes March 29 7 – 4 1 2 March 30 3 – 6 2 2 April 2 8 – 2 1 2 April 4 2 – 5 2 2 Belleville wins series 4 – 0 (W2) Sarnia Sting vs. (E2) Peterborough Petes Sarnia Sting Peterborough Petes Sarnia Arena Peterborough Memorial Centre yes March 31 1 – 7 1 1 April 1 7 – 4 1 2 April 4 1 – 5 2 2 April 5 5 – 1 2 1 April 7 7 – 6 1 1 2 April 9 4 – 7 2 2 Peterborough wins series 4 – 2 OHL semi-finals (C1) Guelph Storm vs. (E3) Belleville Bulls Guelph Storm Belleville Bulls Guelph Memorial Gardens Yardmen Arena yes April 12 0 – 7 1 1 April 15 5 – 3 2 1 April 17 1 – 3 1 1 April 19 5 – 7 2 2 April 21 2 – 6 1 1 Guelph wins series 4 – 1 (W1) Detroit Whalers vs. (E2) Peterborough Petes Detroit Whalers Peterborough Petes Oak Park Ice Arena Peterborough Memorial Centre yes April 13 7 – 4 1 2 April 14 4 – 3 1 1 2 April 17 3 – 4 1 2 2 April 18 8 – 4 2 1 April 20 3 – 2 1 2 Peterborough wins series 4 – 1 J. Ross Robertson Cup (C1) Guelph Storm vs. (E2) Peterborough Petes Guelph Storm Peterborough Petes Guelph Memorial Gardens Peterborough Memorial Centre yes April 25 3 – 0 2 1 April 26 6 – 5 1 1 2 April 28 3 – 2 1 2 April 30 5 – 3 2 1 May 2 5 – 3 1 2 May 4 4 – 3 2 1 May 6 8 – 7 1 1 2 Peterborough wins series 4 – 3 All-Star teams First team Alyn McCauley, Centre, Ottawa 67's Daniel Cleary, Left Wing, Belleville Bulls Cameron Mann, Right Wing, Peterborough Petes Bryan Berard, Defence, Detroit Whalers Kevin Bolibruck, Defence, Peterborough Petes Craig Hillier, Goaltender, Ottawa 67's Brian Kilrea, Coach, Ottawa 67's Second team Aaron Brand, Centre, Sarnia Sting Sean Haggerty, Left Wing, Detroit Whalers Jeff Johnstone, Right Wing, Niagara Falls Thunder Sean Brown, Defence, Sarnia Sting Jay McKee, Defence, Niagara Falls Thunder Dan Cloutier, Goaltender, Guelph Storm Bert Templeton, Coach, Barrie Colts Third team Sean Venedam, Centre, Sudbury Wolves Jamie Wright, Left Wing, Guelph Storm David Nemirovski, Right Wing, Sarnia Sting Marc Moro, Defence, Kingston Frontenacs Ryan Risidore, Defence, Guelph Storm David Belitski, Goaltender, Kitchener Rangers Travis Scott, Goaltender, Oshawa Generals Mark Hunter, Coach, Sarnia Sting Awards J. Ross Robertson Cup: Peterborough PetesHamilton Spectator Trophy: Guelph StormLeyden Trophy: Ottawa 67'sEmms Trophy: Guelph StormBumbacco Trophy: Detroit WhalersRed Tilson Trophy: Alyn McCauley, Ottawa 67'sEddie Powers Memorial Trophy: Aaron Brand, Sarnia Sting Matt Leyden Trophy: Brian Kilrea, Ottawa 67'sJim Mahon Memorial Trophy: Cameron Mann, Peterborough PetesMax Kaminsky Trophy: Bryan Berard, Detroit WhalersOHL Goaltender of the Year: Craig Hillier, Ottawa 67'sJack Ferguson Award: Rico Fata, London KnightsDave Pinkney Trophy: Dan Cloutier and Brett Thompson, Guelph Storm OHL Executive of the Year: Bert Templeton, Barrie ColtsEmms Family Award: Joe Thornton, Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsF.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy: Brett Thompson, Guelph StormOHL Humanitarian of the Year: Craig Mills, Belleville BullsWilliam Hanley Trophy: Jeff Williams, Guelph Storm Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy: Aaron Brand, Sarnia StingBobby Smith Trophy: Boyd Devereaux, Kitchener Rangers 1996 OHL Priority Selection On June 1, 1996, the OHL conducted the 1996 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, Ontario. The London Knights held the first overall pick in the draft and selected Rico Fata from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Fata 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 1996 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1996/ohl/96omain.htm 1996 Ontario Hockey League Draft # Player Nationality OHL Team Hometown Minor Team 1 Rico Fata (C) Canada Canada London Knights Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 2 Tyler Rennette (C) Canada Canada North Bay Centennials Powassan, Ontario Waterloo Siskins 3 Norm Milley (RW) Canada Canada Sudbury Wolves North York, Ontario Toronto Red Wings 4 Kip Brennan (D) Canada Canada Windsor Spitfires Toronto, Ontario St. Michael's Buzzers 5 Mike Henrich (RW) Canada Canada Barrie Colts Thornhill, Ontario Wexford Midgets 6 Wes Goldie (RW) Canada Canada Owen Sound Platers London, Ontario St. Thomas Stars 7 Kevin Grimes (D) Canada Canada Kingston Frontenacs Metcalfe, Ontario Cumberland Grads 8 Brett Gibson (C) Canada Canada Erie Otters Gananoque, Ontario Kingston Voyageurs 9 Bryan Allen (D) Canada Canada Oshawa Generals Glenburnie, Ontario Ernestown Jets 10 Wes Jarvis (D) Canada Canada Kitchener Rangers Ottawa, Ontario Gloucester Rangers 11 Justin Papineau (C) Canada Canada Belleville Bulls Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa Jr. Senators 12 Pat Kavanagh (RW) Canada Canada Peterborough Petes Richmond, Ontario Kanata Valley Lasers 13 Nick Robinson (D) Canada Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Cavan, Ontario Lindsay Muskies 14 Abe Herbst (D) Canada Canada Sarnia Sting Harriston, Ontario Listowel Cyclones 15 Mark Bell (C) Canada Canada Ottawa 67's St. Paul's, Ontario Stratford Cullitons 16 Harold Druken (LW) Canada Canada Detroit Whalers St. John's, Newfoundland Noble & Greenough Bulldogs 17 Manny Malhotra (C) Canada Canada Guelph Storm Mississauga, Ontario Mississauga Reps See also List of OHA Junior A standings List of OHL seasons 1996 Memorial Cup 1996 NHL entry draft 1995 in sports 1996 in sports References HockeyDB 1994–95 OHL season 1996–97 OHL season OHL seasons Category:Ontario Hockey League seasons OHL