The Ontario Junior Hockey League has experienced several waves of growth, consolidation, and franchise relocation. Understanding this timeline helps explain why some programs carry deeper histories than others.
Early Junior A Era
Junior A hockey in Ontario developed through a collection of regional leagues that operated independently but shared similar competitive structures.
These leagues included organizations from:
- Central Ontario
- The Greater Toronto Area
- Eastern Ontario
- Southern Ontario
Many of today’s teams originated in these earlier regional structures.
League Consolidation (2000s)
During the early 2000s, the landscape of Junior A hockey began to consolidate as leagues worked toward a more unified competitive structure.
- This process eventually led to the creation of the modern OJHL format.
- Formation of the Modern OJHL (2009)
- The modern Ontario Junior Hockey League officially emerged through a merger of several Junior A leagues.
- The new structure created a larger and more competitive environment with standardized league operations.
This transformation strengthened:
- Scheduling consistency
- Player exposure
- League branding
- Advancement pathways
Key Information
GET YOUR OJHL CAREER STARTED NOW
Welcome to the start of your journey as an OJHL player, the League of Choice where we develop Young men through hockey.
OUR LEAGUE
The OJHL is a premier junior A hockey league in Ontario and Canada. The OJHL is a league focused on helping develop players to get to the next level and succeed in hockey and in their life. The league helps send players to the NCAA, CIS, and OHL, and onto play pro hockey in the NHL and leagues all across North America and Europe. The OJHL has more current NHL Players (38) than any other league in the CJHL. We make sure to not only support our players on the ice, but we support them off the ice with the OJHL Foundation and our 1st and 2nd Assist programs. We are a PLAYER FIRST league that cares!
THE BEST COLLEGE ROUTE
The OJHL is a key road map in getting players to the NCAA level, with 27 NCAA D1 schools within 700km of Toronto you will get exposed to NCAA schools. The OJHL provides incredible opportunities to develop as a player and get to the NCAA level and succeed. As a league we host the OJHL Showcase in Buffalo, NY every year and it is a success each year in helping players get noticed in front of over 200 NCAA and NHL scouts through the 3 days. The OJHL currently has 97 players playing NCAA D1 hockey and have a great partnership with College Hockey Inc in making sure we have great support for our players on NCAA knowledge.
As a major CJHL league, we don’t only send our players to the NCAA as the only school option, we also have great relationships with schools at the USports level and send many players the CIS route to continue their education and continue playing hockey.
OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY
With the average age in our league being 17.5 years old, you are going to get the chance to come in and play at an early age. This sets us apart from other junior A leagues because we are a very young league, compared to others that are more player-friendly. It allows for you to develop at an early age and get 3-4 years of junior A hockey before heading to play at the next level. This gives players the ability to become students of the game and make sure they are at their best when they leave after the OJHL.
League Contacts
OJHL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman: Stuart Hyman (Markham Royals)
1st Vice-Chair: Ron Sedlbauer (Burlington Cougars)
Director: Jason Tryfon (Milton Menace)
Director: Jim Thomson (Aurora Tigers)