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The 1988–89 OHL season was the ninth season of the Ontario Hockey League. The Hamilton Steelhawks move to Niagara Falls becoming the Niagara Falls Thunder. The Kingston Canadians rename themselves to the Kingston Raiders. The OHL awards the inaugural Bill Long Award for distinguished service to the OHL. Fifteen teams each played 66 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Niagara Falls Thunder.
Hamilton Steelhawks to Niagara Falls Thunder
The Hamilton Steelhawks relocated their franchise to the city of Niagara Falls after four seasons in Hamilton. The club was renamed as the Niagara Falls Thunder and would play out of the Niagara Falls Memorial Arena. The Thunder would remain in the Emms Division.
This would be the first club since the Niagara Falls Flyers, who relocated to North Bay in 1982, to be based out of the city.
Kingston Canadians to Kingston Raiders
The Kingston Canadians were rebranded as the Kingston Raiders for the 1988-89 season. Kingston had used the Canadians name since they were announced as an expansion club in 1973. The club changed their colour scheme from red, blue and white to black, silver and white, effectively stealing the NFL's Los Angeles Raiders' name and color scheme.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title
Leyden Division
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | y-Peterborough Petes | 66 | 42 | 22 | 2 | 86 | 302 | 235 |
| 2 | x-Oshawa Generals | 66 | 36 | 24 | 6 | 78 | 337 | 286 |
| 3 | x-Toronto Marlboros | 66 | 32 | 31 | 3 | 67 | 319 | 332 |
| 4 | x-Cornwall Royals | 66 | 31 | 30 | 5 | 67 | 350 | 308 |
| 5 | x-Ottawa 67's | 66 | 30 | 32 | 4 | 64 | 295 | 301 |
| 6 | x-Belleville Bulls | 66 | 27 | 35 | 4 | 58 | 292 | 322 |
| 7 | Kingston Raiders | 66 | 25 | 36 | 5 | 55 | 278 | 313 |
Emms Division
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | y-Kitchener Rangers | 66 | 41 | 19 | 6 | 88 | 318 | 251 |
| 2 | x-Niagara Falls Thunder | 66 | 41 | 23 | 2 | 84 | 410 | 319 |
| 3 | x-London Knights | 66 | 37 | 25 | 4 | 78 | 311 | 264 |
| 4 | x-Guelph Platers | 66 | 26 | 32 | 8 | 60 | 257 | 288 |
| 5 | x-Windsor Compuware Spitfires | 66 | 25 | 37 | 4 | 54 | 272 | 321 |
| 6 | x-North Bay Centennials | 66 | 24 | 36 | 6 | 54 | 282 | 334 |
| 7 | Sudbury Wolves | 66 | 23 | 36 | 7 | 53 | 262 | 334 |
| 8 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 66 | 21 | 43 | 2 | 44 | 227 | 304 |
Scoring leaders
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan Fogarty | Niagara Falls Thunder | 60 | 47 | 108 | 155 | 88 |
| Stan Drulia | Niagara Falls Thunder | 47 | 52 | 93 | 145 | 59 |
| Andrew Cassels | Ottawa 67's | 56 | 37 | 97 | 134 | 66 |
| Steve Maltais | Cornwall Royals | 58 | 53 | 70 | 123 | 67 |
| Kevin Miehm | Oshawa Generals | 63 | 43 | 79 | 122 | 19 |
| Tim Taylor | London Knights | 61 | 34 | 80 | 114 | 93 |
| Rob Zamuner | Guelph Platers | 66 | 46 | 65 | 111 | 38 |
| Keith Osborne | North Bay Centennials//Niagara Falls Thunder | 65 | 45 | 64 | 109 | 57 |
| Jamie Leach | Niagara Falls Thunder | 58 | 45 | 62 | 107 | 47 |
| Mike Ricci | Peterborough Petes | 60 | 54 | 52 | 106 | 43 |
| Division quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| L1 | Peterborough | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| L6 | Belleville | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| L1 | Peterborough | bye | |||||||||||||||||
| L1 | Peterborough | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| L4 | Cornwall | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| L3 | Toronto | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| L4 | Cornwall | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| L4 | Cornwall | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| L5 | Ottawa | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| L2 | Oshawa | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| L5 | Ottawa | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| L1 | Peterborough | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Niagara Falls | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Niagara Falls | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | Windsor | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Niagara Falls | bye | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Niagara Falls | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | London | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | London | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Guelph | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | London | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | North Bay | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Kitchener | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E6 | North Bay | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Division quarter-finals
Leyden Division
(1) Peterborough Petes vs. (6) Belleville Bulls
| March 20 | Belleville Bulls | 3 – 2 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| March 22 | Peterborough Petes | 3 – 1 | Belleville Bulls | Yardmen Arena | ||||
| March 23 | Belleville Bulls | 3 – 9 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| March 25 | Peterborough Petes | 5 – 4 | Belleville Bulls | Yardmen Arena | ||||
| March 26 | Belleville Bulls | 4 – 6 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| Peterborough wins series 4 – 1 | |
(2) Oshawa Generals vs. (5) Ottawa 67's
| March 19 | Ottawa 67's | 4 – 2 | Oshawa Generals | Oshawa Civic Auditorium | ||||
| March 21 | Oshawa Generals | 4 – 5 | Ottawa 67's | Ottawa Civic Centre | ||||
| March 22 | Oshawa Generals | 3 – 4 | Ottawa 67's | Ottawa Civic Centre | ||||
| March 24 | Ottawa 67's | 0 – 4 | Oshawa Generals | Oshawa Civic Auditorium | ||||
| March 26 | Ottawa 67's | 4 – 5 | OT | Oshawa Generals | Oshawa Civic Auditorium | |||
| March 28 | Oshawa Generals | 5 – 6 | OT | Ottawa 67's | Ottawa Civic Centre | |||
| Ottawa wins series 4 – 2 | |
(3) Toronto Marlboros vs. (4) Cornwall Royals
| March 19 | Cornwall Royals | 6 – 2 | Toronto Marlboros | Maple Leaf Gardens | ||||
| March 21 | Cornwall Royals | 3 – 4 | Toronto Marlboros | Maple Leaf Gardens | ||||
| March 23 | Toronto Marlboros | 4 – 5 | Cornwall Royals | Cornwall Civic Complex | ||||
| March 24 | Toronto Marlboros | 6 – 4 | Cornwall Royals | Cornwall Civic Complex | ||||
| March 26 | Cornwall Royals | 8 – 5 | Toronto Marlboros | Maple Leaf Gardens | ||||
| March 27 | Toronto Marlboros | 3 – 12 | Cornwall Royals | Cornwall Civic Complex | ||||
| Cornwall wins series 4 – 2 | |
Emms Division
(1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (6) North Bay Centennials
| March 19 | North Bay Centennials | 2 – 3 | Kitchener Rangers | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | ||||
| March 21 | Kitchener Rangers | 1 – 12 | North Bay Centennials | North Bay Memorial Gardens | ||||
| March 24 | North Bay Centennials | 5 – 4 | OT | Kitchener Rangers | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | |||
| March 25 | Kitchener Rangers | 2 – 4 | North Bay Centennials | North Bay Memorial Gardens | ||||
| March 26 | North Bay Centennials | 3 – 2 | Kitchener Rangers | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | ||||
| North Bay wins series 4 – 1 | |
(2) Niagara Falls Thunder vs. (5) Windsor Compuware Spitfires
| March 19 | Windsor Compuware Spitfires | 5 – 8 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| March 21 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 7 – 6 | Windsor Compuware Spitfires | Windsor Arena | ||||
| March 23 | Windsor Compuware Spitfires | 3 – 9 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| March 24 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 6 – 3 | Windsor Compuware Spitfires | Windsor Arena | ||||
| Niagara Falls wins series 4 – 0 | |
(3) London Knights vs. (4) Guelph Platers
| March 19 | Guelph Platers | 2 – 4 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| March 20 | London Knights | 6 – 5 | OT | Guelph Platers | Guelph Memorial Gardens | |||
| March 22 | Guelph Platers | 2 – 5 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| March 23 | London Knights | 4 – 11 | Guelph Platers | Guelph Memorial Gardens | ||||
| March 26 | Guelph Platers | 7 – 5 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| March 28 | London Knights | 2 – 4 | Guelph Platers | Guelph Memorial Gardens | ||||
| March 29 | Guelph Platers | 1 – 5 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| London wins series 4 – 3 | |
Division semi-finals
Leyden Division
(4) Cornwall Royals vs. (5) Ottawa 67's
| March 30 | Ottawa 67's | 0 – 7 | Cornwall Royals | Cornwall Civic Complex | ||||
| March 31 | Cornwall Royals | 3 – 4 | Ottawa 67's | Ottawa Civic Centre | ||||
| April 3 | Ottawa 67's | 4 – 8 | Cornwall Royals | Cornwall Civic Complex | ||||
| April 4 | Cornwall Royals | 2 – 4 | Ottawa 67's | Ottawa Civic Centre | ||||
| April 6 | Ottawa 67's | 2 – 4 | Cornwall Royals | Cornwall Civic Complex | ||||
| April 7 | Cornwall Royals | 5 – 3 | Ottawa 67's | Ottawa Civic Centre | ||||
| Cornwall wins series 4 – 2 | |
Emms Division
(3) London Knights vs. (6) North Bay Centennials
| March 31 | North Bay Centennials | 3 – 6 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| April 2 | London Knights | 2 – 5 | North Bay Centennials | North Bay Memorial Gardens | ||||
| April 3 | North Bay Centennials | 3 – 6 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| April 5 | London Knights | 2 – 6 | North Bay Centennials | North Bay Memorial Gardens | ||||
| April 6 | North Bay Centennials | 3 – 5 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| April 9 | London Knights | 2 – 6 | North Bay Centennials | North Bay Memorial Gardens | ||||
| April 10 | North Bay Centennials | 2 – 7 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| London wins series 4 – 3 | |
Division finals
Leyden Division
(1) Peterborough Petes vs. (4) Cornwall Royals
| April 12 | Cornwall Royals | 8 – 3 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| April 14 | Peterborough Petes | 3 – 5 | Cornwall Royals | Cornwall Civic Complex | ||||
| April 17 | Cornwall Royals | 2 – 4 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| April 18 | Peterborough Petes | 5 – 4 | Cornwall Royals | Cornwall Civic Complex | ||||
| April 20 | Cornwall Royals | 3 – 5 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| April 21 | Peterborough Petes | 5 – 3 | Cornwall Royals | Cornwall Civic Complex | ||||
| Peterborough wins series 4 – 2 | |
Emms Division
(2) Niagara Falls Thunder vs. (3) London Knights
| April 11 | London Knights | 5 – 8 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| April 14 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 5 – 8 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| April 15 | London Knights | 3 – 6 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| April 18 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 3 – 6 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| April 19 | London Knights | 5 – 2 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| April 21 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 7 – 3 | London Knights | London Gardens | ||||
| April 22 | London Knights | 4 – 5 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| Niagara Falls wins series 4 – 3 | |
J. Ross Robertson Cup
(L1) Peterborough Petes vs. (E2) Niagara Falls Thunder
| April 24 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 1 – 3 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| April 25 | Peterborough Petes | 4 – 6 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| April 27 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 3 – 11 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| April 28 | Peterborough Petes | 1 – 3 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| April 30 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 4 – 6 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| May 1 | Peterborough Petes | 8 – 2 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| Peterborough wins series 4 – 2 | |
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds held the first overall pick in the 1989 Ontario Priority Selection and selected Eric Lindros from the St. Michael's Buzzers. Lindros 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 1989 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. [2]
| # | Player | Nationality | OHL Team | Hometown | Minor Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Lindros (C) |  Canada |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | London, Ontario | St. Michael's Buzzers |
| 2 | Jamie Matthews (C) | Canada |
Sudbury Wolves | Amherst, Nova Scotia | Amherst Ramblers |
| 3 | Dave Stewart (D) | Canada |
Kingston Frontenacs | Norwood, Ontario | Waterloo Siskins |
| 4 | Jamie Caruso (RW) | Canada |
North Bay Centennials | Bramalea, Ontario | Bramalea Blues |
| 5 | Ryan Merritt (LW) | Canada |
Windsor Spitfires | Cottam, Ontario | Waterloo Siskins |
| 6 | Brent Gretzky (C) | Canada |
Belleville Bulls | Brantford, Ontario | Brantford Classics |
| 7 | Trent Cull (D) | Canada |
Guelph Platers | Georgetown, Ontario | Georgetown Gemini |
| 8 | Ryan Kuwabara (RW) | Canada |
Ottawa 67's | Hamilton, Ontario | Hamilton Kilty B's |
| 9 | Rod Pasma (D) | Canada |
Cornwall Royals | Georgetown, Ontario | Georgetown Gemini |
| 10 | Alek Stojanov (RW) | Canada |
Hamilton Dukes | Windsor, Ontario | Windsor Midgets |
| 11 | Wade Simpson (D) | Canada |
Oshawa Generals | Navan, Ontario | Nepean Raiders |
| 12 | Greg Ryan (D) | Canada |
London Knights | Burlington, Ontario | Burlington Cougars |
| 13 | Ken Ruddick (RW) | Canada |
Niagara Falls Thunder | Hamilton, Ontario | Hamilton Huskies |
| 14 | Dale McTavish (C) | Canada |
Peterborough Petes | Eganville, Ontario | Pembroke Lumber Kings |
| 15 | Jack Williams (RW) |  United States |
Kitchener Rangers | Greensburg, Pennsylvania | Chicago Young Americans |
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