1996–97 MetJHL season

1996–97 MetJHL season #007AC2 #FFFFFF Metro Junior A Hockey League Hockey Regular season 1996-09 – 1997-02 Playoffs 1997-02 – 1997-05 Aurora Tigers 16 MetJHL 1995–96 1997–98 The 1996–97 MetJHL season is the 6th season of the Metro Junior A Hockey League (MetJHL). The 16 teams of the Central, Eastern, and Western Divisions competed in a 50-game schedule. The top 12 teams made the playoffs. The winner of the MetJHL playoffs, the Aurora Tigers, could not move into national playdowns as the Metro was not a member of the Ontario Hockey Association. Milestones On February 21, 1997, the Muskoka Bears' Ryan Venturelli became the first known goaltender in hockey history to score two goals (both empty net) in a hockey game against the Durham Huskies during the Metro Junior A Hockey League 1996-97 regular season.Iovino Jim 1997-03-18 LCS Guide to Hockey http://www.lcshockey.com/issues/LCS65.txt www.lcshockey.com Changes League switches from 2 divisions to 3, adding Central Division Durham Huskies, Quinte Hawks, Syracuse Jr. Crunch, and Port Hope Buzzards join the MetJHL Shelburne Hornets become Shelburne Wolves Final standings Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched conference title Central Division Team GP W L T GF GA P Wexford Raiders 50 38 7 5 285 185 81 Thornhill Islanders 50 29 17 4 279 195 62 Markham Waxers 50 27 19 4 246 221 58 Niagara Scenic 50 17 26 7 230 262 41 North York Rangers 50 12 33 5 248 341 29Eastern Division Team GP W L T GF GA P Pickering Panthers 50 34 12 4 232 163 72 Quinte Hawks 50 34 13 3 280 143 71 Wellington Dukes 50 21 26 3 212 224 45 Oshawa Legionaires 50 20 30 0 231 292 40 Port Hope Buzzards 50 13 35 2 162 269 28 Syracuse Jr. Crunch 50 10 37 3 220 358 23Western Division Team GP W L T GF GA P Aurora Tigers 50 42 5 3 342 138 87 Caledon Canadians 50 41 7 2 318 145 84 Muskoka Bears 50 14 34 2 200 298 30 Durham Huskies 50 13 37 0 201 317 26 Shelburne Wolves 50 10 37 3 213 348 23 1996-97 MetJHL Playoffs Division Semi-final Wexford Raiders defeated Niagara Scenics 4-games-to-none Thornhill Islanders defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-3 Pickering Panthers defeated Oshawa Legionaires 4-games-to-2 Quinte Hawks defeated Wellington Dukes 4-games-to-1 Aurora Tigers defeated Durham Huskies 4-games-to-none Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-none Interdivision Round Robin Team W L T GF GA Px-Wexford Raiders 420 39 31 8x-Aurora Tigers 420 23 18 8x-Quinte Hawks 420 29 22 8x-Caledon Canadians 321 37 18 7Thornhill Islanders 240 24 31 4Pickering Panthers 051 14 46 1 Semi-final Caledon Canadians defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-none Aurora Tigers defeated Quinte Hawks 4-games-to-2 Final Aurora Tigers defeated Caledon Canadians 4-games-to-none Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIMPeter BournazakisAurora Tigers 49 52 80 132 112Brian Gionta Niagara Scenic 50 57 70 127 101John RumeoWexford Raiders 50 52 62 114 --Brad Tapper Wexford Raiders 50 42 70 112 --Matt Murley Syracuse Jr. Crunch 48 52 58 110 --Tim Connolly Syracuse Jr. Crunch 50 42 62 104 34Sean KlaverAurora Tigers 48 41 63 104 51Ian LaroqueQuinte Hawks 44 45 55 100 --Andy KorzenNiagara Scenic 45 41 58 99 22David InmanWexford Raiders 43 32 56 88 -- Leading goaltenders Starting goaltenders only (1000 minutes or over). 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 Player Team GP Mins GA SO GAAJeff MoundAurora Tigers 29 1731 72 5 2.50Jason FlickQuinte Hawks 30 1774 81 1 2.74Lyle ZulakCaledon Canadians 27 1380 65 2 2.83Daniel JacquesPickering Panthers 28 1481 70 1 2.84Corey BattenQuinte Hawks 19 1125 55 2 2.93 See also 1997 Royal Bank Cup Dudley Hewitt Cup List of Ontario Hockey Association Junior A seasons Ontario Junior A Hockey League Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League 1996 in ice hockey 1997 in ice hockey References External links Official website of the Ontario Junior Hockey League Official website of the Canadian Junior Hockey League 1995–96 MetJHL season 1997–98 MetJHL season Ontario Hockey AssociationJunior A seasons Category:Metro Junior A Hockey League seasons MetJHL