OHL Set to Launch 2009-10 Regular Season

September 15, 2009

Toronto, ON – The Ontario Hockey League today held a telephone press conference to officially launch the 2009-10 regular season schedule which begins this Thursday September 17, 2009.

OHL Commissioner David Branch discussed highlights from the 2008-09 campaign and was joined on the conference call by Windsor Spitfires President and Head Coach Bob Boughner, and Brampton Battalion General Manager and Head Coach Stan Butler.

“We are extremely excited entering the 2009-10 OHL season” said Branch.  “The league is coming off arguably its best season ever.  Congratulations to the Windsor Spitfires for capturing the J. Ross Robertson Trophy as OHL Champions and for an incredible comeback in capturing the MasterCard Memorial Cup, and to the Brampton Battalion for having their most successful year in franchise history in capturing the Bobby Orr Trophy as Eastern Conference Champions.”

Among the items discussed included an overview of several changes for the 2009-10 season:

Playing Rule:
Following in line with the NHL, the OHL will no longer enforce a 10-minute misconduct for players receiving a penalty for diving.  The infraction will only consist of a 2-minute minor penalty.

Definition of an OHL Rookie:
In order to be considered a rookie in the Ontario Hockey League, a player must begin their first season of play in their seventeenth (17th) birth year or younger.  Second year players that are in their seventeenth (17th) birth year or younger would also receive rookie status if they played in less than a quarter of the regular season the previous year.

OHL Priority Selection:
All players who are properly registered and playing for an Ontario-based Minor Midget AAA hockey team or Minor Midget aged players properly registered and playing for a team in the Great North Midget League shall automatically be deemed eligible to be claimed in the OHL Priority Selection Process.

“We hope through that process to relieve some of the anxiety and concerns for players and families that can develop throughout a playing season around the OHL Priority Selection and eligibility list” said Branch.

OHL Special Events:
• Subway Super Series – Molson Centre, Barrie, ON - November 19, 2009
• Subway Super Series – WFCU Centre, Windsor, ON – November 23, 2009
• OHL All-Star Classic – K-Rock Centre, Kingston, ON – February 2-3, 2010
• OHL Cup Showcase Tournament – Hershey Centre, Mississauga, ON – March 17-21, 2010

In addition to the Special Events calendar, the bid process for the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup will begin in February with the host centre announcement being made in early May following the 2010 OHL Priority Selection.

“This is always an exciting time as already we can feel the interest among our teams in vying for the opportunity to host this most prestigious event” said Branch.

OHL Highlights:
• 45 OHL players were selected at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft including seven in the first round.
• OHL players contributed to Canadian success in international competition with gold medals at the Under-20 World Junior Hockey Championships, the Under-18 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka, and Team Ontario at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
• 70% of regular season games in 2009-10 will be officiated using the two-referee system.
• Seven new referees and 13 new linesmen have been hired for the 2009-10 season.
• OHL players successfully completed 97% of high school courses during the 2008-09 season.
• Of the 54 overage players that competed in the league during the 2008-09 season, 24 have signed professional hockey contracts while 29 have accessed their academic scholarships to play CIS hockey in 2009-10.
• OHL teams contributed just under $2 million in 2008-09 towards scholarships for current and graduate players.

The 680-game OHL regular season schedule begins Thursday September 17, 2009, with four games including the defending OHL and Memorial Cup Champions the Windsor Spitfires hosting the Plymouth Whalers at 7:05 pm. 

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