JUNIOR HOCKEY FEATURE - CANADA OHL

The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is regarded as one of the top player development Leagues in the world. It continues to be a leading supplier of talent to both the National Hockey League and Canada’s National teams at all levels, as well as U SPORTS (Canadian University) Hockey.

The OHL consists of 20 member teams, including 17 in the province of Ontario as well as three in the United States, with two in the state of Michigan and one in the state of Pennsylvania. OHL member teams compete for the J. Ross Robertson Cup, a trophy dedicated to the legacy of former OHA president, Canadian newspaper publisher, politician, and philanthropist John Ross Robertson, that was first awarded in 1934.

The OHL is a proud member of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the world’s largest development Hockey league, comprising 60 teams across nine Canadian provinces and four American states. In addition to the OHL, the CHL comprises the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and the Western Hockey League (WHL). After each league’s playoffs, the CHL hosts the Memorial Cup, a National Championship tournament involving the champions of each of the three leagues and the tournament host. The winner is awarded the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s most prestigious prize, the Memorial Cup, which was first awarded in 1919.

The OHL strives to develop players both on and off the ice as they pursue their professional and academic goals. The OHL Scholarship provides players graduating from the League with the opportunity to attend a post-secondary institution or a career-enhancing program of their choice with a minimum of one year’s tuition, books, and compulsory fees for each season played. The OHL Centrally Administered Scholarship Program facilitated scholarships for 329 OHL graduates attending post-secondary institutions across North America for the 2024-25 academic year, with a total contribution by teams of over $42 million over the past 15 years.

In addition to dedicated academic advisors supporting players on each of the League’s 20 member teams, the OHL player experience also includes comprehensive support programs such as the Talk Today program in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association as well as the OHL ONSIDE program in collaboration with the Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres (OCRCC). The League also features 2019 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award recipient Rico Phillips as its Director of Culture and Community.

The OHL is committed to remaining a world leader in developing players, coaches, and officials for the NHL, U SPORTS, and Hockey Canada, while also embarking on new development pathways into the NCAA. The league continues to offer the finest player experience and academic opportunities. The OHL also continues to be recognized for a high standard of competition, fair play, and integrity while playing an active role in communities, minor Hockey programs, and local charitable initiatives.