The 2023–24 OHL season was the 44th season of operation (43rd season of play) of the Ontario Hockey League. The league played a 68-game regular season which began on September 28, 2023 and concluded on March 24, 2024. The post-season began on March 28, 2024 and concluded on May 15, 2024.
The London Knights won the J. Ross Robertson Cup and represented the Ontario Hockey League at the 2024 Memorial Cup. The Saginaw Spirit hosted 2024 Memorial Cup, which was held at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan. Saginaw and London faced each other in the Memorial Cup Final, with Saginaw winning 4–3 to win their first Memorial Cup in franchise history, as well as becoming only the third American team to win the Memorial Cup.
Off-season
Relocation
On February 7, 2023, the Hamilton Bulldogs announced that the club would be moving to Brantford, Ontario, for three seasons due to renovations and the long-term closure of First Ontario Centre beginning this season. The team also announced that the team would be known as the Brantford Bulldogs and play at the Brantford Civic Centre.
Pre-season
On July 7, 2023, the OHL announced the preseason schedule for the 2023–24 season. In total, there were 48 preseason games which began on September 1 and concluded on September 23.
Neutral site games will be played in Ayr, Beamsville, Cornwall, Hanover, Millbrook, Norwood, Ohsweken, Port Hope and St. Thomas.
OHL training camps began in late August in preparation of the 2023-24 season, which began on September 28, 2023.
Regular season
Relocation
On January 31, 2024, the Mississauga Steelheads announced plans for the club to relocate to Brampton, Ontario for the 2024-25 OHL season. The team plans to play at the CAA Centre and will be known as the Brampton Steelheads. Previously, Brampton hosted the Brampton Battalion in the OHL from 1998-2013 until the franchise relocated to North Bay, Ontario.
On June 13, 2024, the OHL Board of Governors approved the relocation and officially announced the team will be known as the Brampton Steelheads.
Final standings
Note: DIV = Division; 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
Standings as of March 24, 2024
Eastern conference
Western conference
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Leading goaltenders
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
Attendance
Playoffs
Conference quarterfinals
Eastern conference quarterfinals
(1) Oshawa Generals vs. (8) Barrie Colts
(2) North Bay Battalion vs. (7) Kingston Frontenacs
(3) Brantford Bulldogs vs. (6) Ottawa 67's
(4) Mississauga Steelheads vs. (5) Sudbury Wolves
Western conference quarterfinals
(1) London Knights vs. (8) Flint Firebirds
(2) Saginaw Spirit vs. (7) Owen Sound Attack
(3) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (6) Guelph Storm
(4) Kitchener Rangers vs. (5) Erie Otters
Conference semifinals
Eastern conference semifinals
(1) Oshawa Generals vs. (6) Ottawa 67's
(2) North Bay Battalion vs. (5) Sudbury Wolves
Western conference semifinals
(1) London Knights vs. (4) Kitchener Rangers
(2) Saginaw Spirit vs. (3) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Conference finals
Eastern conference finals
(1) Oshawa Generals vs. (2) North Bay Battalion
Western conference finals
(1) London Knights vs. (2) Saginaw Spirit
J. Ross Robertson Cup finals
(W1) London Knights vs. (E1) Oshawa Generals
J. Ross Robertson Cup Champions Roster
Playoff scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Playoff leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Awards
All-Star teams
The OHL All-Star and All-Rookie Teams were selected by the OHL's general managers.
First team
- Dalibor Dvorský, Centre, Sudbury Wolves
- Quentin Musty, Left Wing, Sudbury Wolves
- Easton Cowan, Right Wing, London Knights
- Zayne Parekh, Defence, Saginaw Spirit
- Oliver Bonk, Defence, London Knights
- Jacob Oster, Goaltender, Oshawa Generals
- Derek Laxdal, Coach, Oshawa Generals
Second team
- Calum Ritchie, Centre, Oshawa Generals
- Denver Barkey, Left Wing, London Knights
- Anthony Romani, Right Wing, North Bay Battalion
- Hunter Brzustewicz, Defence, Kitchener Rangers
- Sam Dickinson, Defence, London Knights
- Michael Simpson, Goaltender, London Knights
- Dale Hunter, Coach, London Knights
Third team
- Owen Beck, Centre, Peterborough Petes/Saginaw Spirit
- Liam Greentree, Left Wing, Windsor Spitfires
- David Goyette, Right Wing, Sudbury Wolves
- Ty Nelson, Defence, North Bay Battalion
- Michael Buchinger, Defence, Guelph Storm
- Carter George, Goaltender, Owen Sound Attack
- Ryan Oulahen, Coach, North Bay Battalion
First All-Rookie team
- Jake O'Brien, Centre, Brantford Bulldogs
- Ryan Roobroeck, Left Wing, Niagara IceDogs
- Travis Hayes, Right Wing, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
- Matthew Schaefer, Defence, Erie Otters
- Cameron Reid, Defence, Kitchener Rangers
- Carter George, Goaltender, Owen Sound Attack
Second All-Rookie team
- Sam O'Reilly, Centre, London Knights
- Cole Davis, Left Wing, Windsor Spitfires
- Tanner Lam, Right Wing, Kitchener Rangers
- Jakub Fibigr, Defence, Mississauga Steelheads
- Carson Cameron, Defence, Peterborough Petes
- Jack Ivankovic, Goaltender, Mississauga Steelheads
2024 OHL Priority Selection
On March 27, 2024, the league announced the results of the Ontario Hockey League Priory Selection Lottery. Each of the four non-playoff participated in the lottery, as the 20th place Niagara IceDogs had a 40% chance of winning, the 19th place Windsor Spitfires had a 30% chance of winning, the 18th place Peterborough Petes had a 20% chance of winning, and the 17th place Sarnia Sting had a 10% chance of winning. The Windsor Spitfires won the lottery and selected first overall and selected Ethan Belchetz from the Oakville Rangers with their selection. The entirety of the OHL Priority Selection Draft took place over two days, as rounds 1-3 took on April 12, while rounds 4-15 was on April 13.
These are the results for the first round of the draft:
2024 CHL Import Draft
On July 3, 2024, the Canadian Hockey League conducted the 2024 CHL Import Draft, in which teams in all three CHL leagues participate in. The Windsor Spitfires held the first pick in the draft by a team in the OHL. The Spitfires selected Ilya Protas from Belarus with the OHL's first selection in the draft.
Below are the players who were selected in the first round by Ontario Hockey League teams in the 2024 CHL Import Draft.
2024 NHL Entry Draft
On June 28–29, 2024, the National Hockey League conducted the 2024 NHL Entry Draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. Beckett Sennecke of the Oshawa Generals was the highest player from the OHL to be selected, as he was taken with the 3rd overall pick by the Anaheim Ducks. A total of 39 OHL players were selected in the draft.
Below are the players selected from OHL teams at the NHL Entry Draft.
References
External links
- www.chl.ca/ohl/
