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The 1995–96 OHL season was the 16th season of the Ontario Hockey League. The league expanded as the Barrie Colts entered into the central division. The Detroit Junior Red Wings become the Detroit Whalers. Seventeen teams each played 66 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Guelph Storm.
Barrie Colts
On May 6, 1994, The Barrie Colts were approved as an expansion team in the Ontario Hockey League beginning in the 1995-96 season. The Colts began their inaugural season playing in the Barrie Arena, however, on December 31, 1995, the Colts moved into their new home, the Barrie Molson Centre. The Colts joined the Central Division.
Detroit Junior Red Wings to Detroit Whalers
At the conclusion of the 1994-95, the Detroit Junior Red Wings severed all ties with the National Hockey League Detroit Red Wings, as Peter Karmanos renamed the franchise the Detroit Whalers.
The Whalers moved out of Joe Louis Arena and into the Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association and the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League. The Whalers would play 21 of their 33 home games in the regular season at the Palace of Auburn Hills while playing their remaining 12 home games at Oak Park Ice Arena. The Whalers played all of their home playoff games at the Oak Park Ice Arena.
The club remained in the West Division.
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Final standings
Note: DIV = Division; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = earned first round bye
East Division
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | z-Ottawa 67's | 66 | 39 | 22 | 5 | 83 | 258 | 200 |
| 2 | x-Peterborough Petes | 66 | 35 | 22 | 9 | 79 | 289 | 235 |
| 3 | x-Belleville Bulls | 66 | 35 | 26 | 5 | 75 | 300 | 250 |
| 4 | x-Oshawa Generals | 66 | 30 | 28 | 8 | 68 | 248 | 238 |
| 5 | x-Kingston Frontenacs | 66 | 29 | 31 | 6 | 64 | 266 | 267 |
| 6 | North Bay Centennials | 66 | 14 | 45 | 7 | 35 | 242 | 360 |
Central Division
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | z-Guelph Storm | 66 | 45 | 16 | 5 | 95 | 297 | 186 |
| 2 | x-Kitchener Rangers | 66 | 35 | 28 | 3 | 73 | 253 | 230 |
| 3 | x-Niagara Falls Thunder | 66 | 29 | 30 | 7 | 65 | 248 | 238 |
| 4 | x-Owen Sound Platers | 66 | 29 | 32 | 5 | 63 | 274 | 313 |
| 5 | x-Barrie Colts | 66 | 28 | 31 | 7 | 63 | 258 | 266 |
| 6 | Sudbury Wolves | 66 | 27 | 36 | 3 | 59 | 262 | 288 |
West Division
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | y-Detroit Whalers | 66 | 40 | 22 | 4 | 84 | 319 | 243 |
| 2 | x-Sarnia Sting | 66 | 39 | 23 | 4 | 82 | 330 | 276 |
| 3 | x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 66 | 38 | 23 | 5 | 81 | 312 | 254 |
| 4 | x-Windsor Spitfires | 66 | 21 | 41 | 4 | 46 | 256 | 312 |
| 5 | London Knights | 66 | 3 | 60 | 3 | 9 | 179 | 435 |
Scoring leaders
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Brand | Sarnia Sting | 66 | 46 | 73 | 119 | 110 |
| Daniel Cleary | Belleville Bulls | 64 | 53 | 62 | 115 | 74 |
| Sean Haggerty | Detroit Whalers | 66 | 60 | 51 | 111 | 78 |
| Trevor Gallant | North Bay Centennials | 63 | 47 | 58 | 105 | 36 |
| Richard Uniacke | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 66 | 48 | 54 | 102 | 38 |
| Cameron Mann | Peterborough Petes | 66 | 42 | 60 | 102 | 108 |
| Jonathan Sim | Sarnia Sting | 63 | 56 | 45 | 101 | 130 |
| Trevor Letowski | Sarnia Sting | 66 | 36 | 63 | 99 | 66 |
| Lee Jinman | North Bay Centennials//Detroit Whalers | 64 | 29 | 68 | 97 | 49 |
| Rob Shearer | Windsor Spitfires | 63 | 40 | 53 | 93 | 74 |
| Division quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Guelph | bye | |||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Guelph | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| C3 | Niagara Falls | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| C3 | Niagara Falls | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| C4 | Owen Sound | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Guelph | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Belleville | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Ottawa | bye | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Ottawa | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Belleville | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Belleville | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E4 | Oshawa | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| C1 | Guelph | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Peterborough | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Peterborough | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E5 | Kingston | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Peterborough | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Sarnia | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Sarnia | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | S.S. Marie | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Peterborough | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Detroit | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Kitchener | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| C5 | Barrie | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| C2 | Kitchener | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Windsor | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Detroit | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
Division quarter-finals
East Division
(2) Peterborough Petes vs. (5) Kingston Frontenacs
| March 17 | Peterborough Petes | 4 – 5 | OT | Kingston Frontenacs | Kingston Memorial Centre | |||
| March 19 | Kingston Frontenacs | 1 – 9 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| March 21 | Kingston Frontenacs | 4 – 3 | OT | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | |||
| March 22 | Peterborough Petes | 3 – 1 | Kingston Frontenacs | Kingston Memorial Centre | ||||
| March 24 | Kingston Frontenacs | 3 – 6 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| March 26 | Peterborough Petes | 4 – 3 | Kingston Frontenacs | Kingston Memorial Centre | ||||
| Peterborough wins series 4 – 2 | |
(3) Belleville Bulls vs. (4) Oshawa Generals
| March 16 | Oshawa Generals | 3 – 6 | Belleville Bulls | Yardmen Arena | ||||
| March 17 | Belleville Bulls | 1 – 4 | Oshawa Generals | Oshawa Civic Auditorium | ||||
| March 19 | Oshawa Generals | 3 – 4 | OT | Belleville Bulls | Yardmen Arena | |||
| March 21 | Belleville Bulls | 6 – 5 | Oshawa Generals | Oshawa Civic Auditorium | ||||
| March 23 | Oshawa Generals | 1 – 6 | Belleville Bulls | Yardmen Arena | ||||
| Belleville wins series 4 – 1 | |
Central Division
(2) Kitchener Rangers vs. (5) Barrie Colts
| March 17 | Barrie Colts | 2 – 1 | Kitchener Rangers | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | ||||
| March 19 | Kitchener Rangers | 1 – 2 | OT | Barrie Colts | Barrie Molson Centre | |||
| March 21 | Barrie Colts | 1 – 6 | Kitchener Rangers | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | ||||
| March 23 | Kitchener Rangers | 1 – 2 | OT | Barrie Colts | Barrie Molson Centre | |||
| March 24 | Barrie Colts | 4 – 7 | Kitchener Rangers | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | ||||
| March 26 | Kitchener Rangers | 4 – 1 | Barrie Colts | Barrie Molson Centre | ||||
| March 27 | Barrie Colts | 3 – 4 | Kitchener Rangers | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | ||||
| Kitchener wins series 4 – 3 | |
(3) Niagara Falls Thunder vs. (4) Owen Sound Platers
| March 17 | Owen Sound Platers | 3 – 6 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| March 20 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 4 – 7 | Owen Sound Platers | Bayshore Community Centre | ||||
| March 22 | Owen Sound Platers | 3 – 7 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| March 23 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 2 – 3 | Owen Sound Platers | Bayshore Community Centre | ||||
| March 25 | Owen Sound Platers | 1 – 6 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| March 27 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 4 – 3 | OT | Owen Sound Platers | Bayshore Community Centre | |||
| Niagara Falls wins series 4 – 2 | |
West Division
(1) Detroit Whalers vs. (4) Windsor Spitfires
| March 17 | Windsor Spitfires | 3 – 5 | Detroit Whalers | Oak Park Ice Arena | ||||
| March 18 | Detroit Whalers | 5 – 2 | Windsor Spitfires | Windsor Arena | ||||
| March 20 | Windsor Spitfires | 4 – 6 | Detroit Whalers | Oak Park Ice Arena | ||||
| March 22 | Detroit Whalers | 1 – 4 | Windsor Spitfires | Windsor Arena | ||||
| March 24 | Windsor Spitfires | 5 – 1 | Detroit Whalers | Oak Park Ice Arena | ||||
| March 25 | Detroit Whalers | 3 – 6 | Windsor Spitfires | Windsor Arena | ||||
| March 27 | Windsor Spitfires | 2 – 9 | Detroit Whalers | Oak Park Ice Arena | ||||
| Detroit wins series 4 – 3 | |
(2) Sarnia Sting vs. (3) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
| March 17 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 1 – 5 | Sarnia Sting | Sarnia Arena | ||||
| March 18 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 2 – 6 | Sarnia Sting | Sarnia Arena | ||||
| March 20 | Sarnia Sting | 4 – 1 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Sault Memorial Gardens | ||||
| March 21 | Sarnia Sting | 3 – 1 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Sault Memorial Gardens | ||||
| Sarnia wins series 4 – 0 | |
OHL quarter-finals
(C1) Guelph Storm vs. (C3) Niagara Falls Thunder
| March 29 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 4 – 5 | OT | Guelph Storm | Guelph Memorial Gardens | |||
| March 31 | Guelph Storm | 4 – 3 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| April 2 | Niagara Falls Thunder | 2 – 4 | Guelph Storm | Guelph Memorial Gardens | ||||
| April 5 | Guelph Storm | 5 – 2 | Niagara Falls Thunder | Niagara Falls Memorial Arena | ||||
| Guelph wins series 4 – 0 | |
(W1) Detroit Whalers vs. (C2) Kitchener Rangers
| March 30 | Kitchener Rangers | 2 – 6 | Detroit Whalers | Oak Park Ice Arena | ||||
| March 31 | Detroit Whalers | 2 – 5 | Kitchener Rangers | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | ||||
| April 3 | Kitchener Rangers | 3 – 5 | Detroit Whalers | Oak Park Ice Arena | ||||
| April 5 | Detroit Whalers | 5 – 0 | Kitchener Rangers | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium | ||||
| April 6 | Kitchener Rangers | 1 – 9 | Detroit Whalers | Oak Park Ice Arena | ||||
| Detroit wins series 4 – 1 | |
(E1) Ottawa 67's vs. (E3) Belleville Bulls
| March 29 | Belleville Bulls | 7 – 4 | Ottawa 67's | Ottawa Civic Centre | ||||
| March 30 | Ottawa 67's | 3 – 6 | Belleville Bulls | Yardmen Arena | ||||
| April 2 | Belleville Bulls | 8 – 2 | Ottawa 67's | Ottawa Civic Centre | ||||
| April 4 | Ottawa 67's | 2 – 5 | Belleville Bulls | Yardmen Arena | ||||
| Belleville wins series 4 – 0 | |
(W2) Sarnia Sting vs. (E2) Peterborough Petes
| March 31 | Peterborough Petes | 1 – 7 | Sarnia Sting | Sarnia Arena | ||||
| April 1 | Peterborough Petes | 7 – 4 | Sarnia Sting | Sarnia Arena | ||||
| April 4 | Sarnia Sting | 1 – 5 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| April 5 | Sarnia Sting | 5 – 1 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| April 7 | Peterborough Petes | 7 – 6 | OT | Sarnia Sting | Sarnia Arena | |||
| April 9 | Sarnia Sting | 4 – 7 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| Peterborough wins series 4 – 2 | |
OHL semi-finals
(C1) Guelph Storm vs. (E3) Belleville Bulls
| April 12 | Belleville Bulls | 0 – 7 | Guelph Storm | Guelph Memorial Gardens | ||||
| April 15 | Guelph Storm | 5 – 3 | Belleville Bulls | Yardmen Arena | ||||
| April 17 | Belleville Bulls | 1 – 3 | Guelph Storm | Guelph Memorial Gardens | ||||
| April 19 | Guelph Storm | 5 – 7 | Belleville Bulls | Yardmen Arena | ||||
| April 21 | Belleville Bulls | 2 – 6 | Guelph Storm | Guelph Memorial Gardens | ||||
| Guelph wins series 4 – 1 | |
(W1) Detroit Whalers vs. (E2) Peterborough Petes
| April 13 | Peterborough Petes | 7 – 4 | Detroit Whalers | Oak Park Ice Arena | ||||
| April 14 | Peterborough Petes | 4 – 3 | OT | Detroit Whalers | Oak Park Ice Arena | |||
| April 17 | Detroit Whalers | 3 – 4 | OT | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | |||
| April 18 | Detroit Whalers | 8 – 4 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| April 20 | Peterborough Petes | 3 – 2 | Detroit Whalers | Oak Park Ice Arena | ||||
| Peterborough wins series 4 – 1 | |
J. Ross Robertson Cup
(C1) Guelph Storm vs. (E2) Peterborough Petes
| April 25 | Guelph Storm | 3 – 0 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| April 26 | Peterborough Petes | 6 – 5 | OT | Guelph Storm | Guelph Memorial Gardens | |||
| April 28 | Peterborough Petes | 3 – 2 | Guelph Storm | Guelph Memorial Gardens | ||||
| April 30 | Guelph Storm | 5 – 3 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| May 2 | Peterborough Petes | 5 – 3 | Guelph Storm | Guelph Memorial Gardens | ||||
| May 4 | Guelph Storm | 4 – 3 | Peterborough Petes | Peterborough Memorial Centre | ||||
| May 6 | Peterborough Petes | 8 – 7 | OT | Guelph Storm | Guelph Memorial Gardens | |||
| Peterborough wins series 4 – 3 | |
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First team
- Alyn McCauley, Centre, Ottawa 67's
- Daniel Cleary, Left Wing, Belleville Bulls
- Cameron Mann, Right Wing, Peterborough Petes
- Bryan Berard, Defence, Detroit Whalers
- Kevin Bolibruck, Defence, Peterborough Petes
- Craig Hillier, Goaltender, Ottawa 67's
- Brian Kilrea, Coach, Ottawa 67's
Second team
- Aaron Brand, Centre, Sarnia Sting
- Sean Haggerty, Left Wing, Detroit Whalers
- Jeff Johnstone, Right Wing, Niagara Falls Thunder
- Sean Brown, Defence, Sarnia Sting
- Jay McKee, Defence, Niagara Falls Thunder
- Dan Cloutier, Goaltender, Guelph Storm
- Bert Templeton, Coach, Barrie Colts
Third team
- Sean Venedam, Centre, Sudbury Wolves
- Jamie Wright, Left Wing, Guelph Storm
- David Nemirovski, Right Wing, Sarnia Sting
- Marc Moro, Defence, Kingston Frontenacs
- Ryan Risidore, Defence, Guelph Storm
- David Belitski, Goaltender, Kitchener Rangers
- Travis Scott, Goaltender, Oshawa Generals
- Mark Hunter, Coach, Sarnia Sting
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On June 1, 1996, the OHL conducted the 1996 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, Ontario. The London Knights held the first overall pick in the draft and selected Rico Fata from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Fata 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 1996 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.[2]
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