The 1988–89 OHL season was the ninth season of the
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League (OHL; french: Ligue de hockey de l'Ontario (LHO)) is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 16–19. There are exceptions for overa ...
. The
Hamilton Steelhawks move to
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the U.S. state, state ...
becoming the
Niagara Falls Thunder. The
Kingston Canadians rename themselves to the
Kingston Raiders
The Kingston Raiders was a short-lived name used by a Kingston, Ontario, Canada-based major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League for the 1988–89 season only. The team played out of the Kingston Memorial Centre.
Team history
When ...
. The OHL awards the inaugural
Bill Long Award
The Bill Long Award is presented in recognition and appreciation of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution, and distinguished service to the Ontario Hockey League. The recipient must be or have been actively engaged in junior hockey ...
for distinguished service to the OHL. Fifteen teams each played 66 games. The
Peterborough Petes
The Peterborough Petes are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The team has played at the Peterborough Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, since 1956, and is the oldest continuously operating team in the league.
...
won the
J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the
Niagara Falls Thunder.
Relocation/Team Name Change
Hamilton Steelhawks to Niagara Falls Thunder
The
Hamilton Steelhawks relocated their franchise to the city of
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls () is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the Canada–United States border, border between the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Ontario in Canada and the U.S. state, state ...
after four seasons in
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilto ...
. The club was renamed as the
Niagara Falls Thunder and would play out of the
Niagara Falls Memorial Arena
The Niagara Falls Memorial Arena is a former arena located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Built in 1950, the arena was home to various ice hockey teams in the past, including the Niagara Falls Thunder and the Niagara Falls Flyers. It also ...
. The Thunder would remain in the Emms Division.
This would be the first club since the
Niagara Falls Flyers
The Niagara Falls Flyers were two junior ice hockey franchises that played in the top tier in the Ontario Hockey Association. The first, a Junior "A" team existed from 1960 until 1972, and the second in Tier I Junior "A" from 1976 until 1982.
...
, 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
The Kingston Raiders was a short-lived name used by a Kingston, Ontario, Canada-based major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League for the 1988–89 season only. The team played out of the Kingston Memorial Centre.
Team history
When ...
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.
Regular season
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
Emms Division
Scoring leaders
Playoffs
Division quarter-finals
Leyden Division
=(1) Peterborough Petes vs. (6) Belleville Bulls
=
=(2) Oshawa Generals vs. (5) Ottawa 67's
=
=(3) Toronto Marlboros vs. (4) Cornwall Royals
=
Emms Division
=(1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (6) North Bay Centennials
=
=(2) Niagara Falls Thunder vs. (5) Windsor Compuware Spitfires
=
=(3) London Knights vs. (4) Guelph Platers
=
Division semi-finals
Leyden Division
=(4) Cornwall Royals vs. (5) Ottawa 67's
=
Emms Division
=(3) London Knights vs. (6) North Bay Centennials
=
Division finals
Leyden Division
=(1) Peterborough Petes vs. (4) Cornwall Royals
=
Emms Division
=(2) Niagara Falls Thunder vs. (3) London Knights
=
J. Ross Robertson Cup
(L1) Peterborough Petes vs. (E2) Niagara Falls Thunder
Awards
1989 OHL Priority Selection
The
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (often shortened to Soo Greyhounds) are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. The Greyhounds play home games at the GFL Memorial Gardens. The present team was founded in 1962 as a team in th ...
held the first overall pick in the 1989 Ontario Priority Selection and selected
Eric Lindros
Eric Bryan Lindros (; born February 28, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Lindros was born in London, Ontario, but grew up in Toronto. He played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) for the Oshawa Generals pr ...
from the St. Michael's Buzzers. Lindros was awarded the
Jack Ferguson Award
The Jack Ferguson Award is awarded each year to the top draft pick in the Ontario Hockey League priority selection draft. The trophy is named in honour of Jack Ferguson, a former director of OHL Central Scouting.
Winners
List of OHL first overall ...
, 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.
See also
*
List of OHA Junior A standings
This is a list of OHA standings and season-by-season summaries of the Ontario Hockey Association's Junior A division from 1933 to 1972, and its Tier I division from 1972 to 1974.
;Legend
* GP = games played
* W = wins
* L = losses
* T = ties
* P ...
*
List of OHL seasons
This is a list of Ontario Hockey League seasons since inception of the league, as well as a list of seasons for its precursor leagues, the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL), and the Ontario Hockey Association Junior A League (OHA).
OHA se ...
*
1989 Memorial Cup
The 1989 Memorial Cup occurred May 6–13 at the brand new Saskatchewan Place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It was the 71st annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). ...
*
1989 NHL Entry Draft
The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was the 27th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 17 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Detroit Red Wings' 1989 draft has been noted as exceptionally successful, with 5,955 total NHL games played by the ...
*
1988 in sports
1988 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
Alpine skiing
* Alpine Skiing World Cup
** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland
** Women's overall season champion: Michela Figini, Switzerland
American footb ...
*
1989 in sports
1989 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
Alpine skiing
* Alpine Skiing World Cup
** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg
** Women's overall season champion: Vreni Schneider, Switzerland
American football ...
References
HockeyDB
{{DEFAULTSORT:1988-89 OHL season
Ontario Hockey League seasons
OHL