The 2006–07 OHL season was the 27th season of the Ontario Hockey League. Twenty teams each played 68 games. The season commenced on September 21, 2006. The Plymouth Whalers won the J. Ross Robertson Cup defeating the Sudbury Wolves in the championship series.
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds moved from Sault Memorial Gardens (demolished in May 2006) into the new Steelback Centre, which opened October 11, 2006. The Oshawa Generals moved mid-season from the Oshawa Civic Auditorium to the General Motors Centre, on November 3, 2006.
The OHL announced, a new rule titled "Checking to the Head," effective for this season. . Also announced, the recently adopted National Hockey League rule on stick curvature was not implemented until 2007-08.
Standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against; PTS = Points;
- Eastern Conference
- Western Conference
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes
Leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games Played; Mins = Minutes Played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime Losses; SL = Shootout Losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average
Canada-Russia Challenge
The 2006 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge between the OHL and the Russian team was hosted by the Sarnia Sting on November 23, 2006, and by the Oshawa Generals on November 27, 2006. The OHL won the first game 5–0, and the second game 4–3.
All-Star Classic
The All-Star Classic was played on January 31, 2007, at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Michigan. The Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 13–9 in the game attended by 5,527 spectators. The top scorers were Hunter Tremblay (Barrie Colts) and Sam Gagner (London Knights), each with five points. The Eastern Conference also prevailed 15–13 in the skills competition held the night before.
Playoffs
Complete playoffs results available at www.ontariohockeyleague.com.
Conference Quarterfinals
Eastern Conference
| Barrie vs. Brampton |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Brampton 2 | 4 Barrie |
| March 25 | Barrie 3 | 2 Brampton | 2OT |
| March 27 | Brampton 1 | 4 Barrie |
| March 29 | Barrie 5 | 4 Brampton | OT |
|
| Barrie wins 4–0 |
|
| Belleville vs. Ottawa |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 26 | Ottawa 4 | 3 Belleville | OT |
| March 27 | Belleville 5 | 4 Ottawa |
| March 29 | Ottawa 0 | 3 Belleville |
| March 30 | Belleville 4 | 2 Ottawa |
| April 1 | Ottawa 3 | 4 Belleville | OT |
|
| Belleville wins 4–1 |
|
| Mississauga vs. Sudbury |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 23 | Sudbury 5 | 4 Mississauga |
| March 25 | Sudbury 3 | 4 Mississauga |
| March 27 | Mississauga 1 | 3 Sudbury |
| March 29 | Mississauga 3 | 6 Sudbury |
| April 1 | Sudbury 6 | 5 Mississauga |
|
| Sudbury wins 4–1 |
|
| Oshawa vs. Kingston |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 23 | Kingston 2 | 3 Oshawa | OT |
| March 25 | Oshawa 7 | 6 Kingston | OT |
| March 27 | Kingston 4 | 7 Oshawa |
| March 29 | Oshawa 2 | 8 Kingston |
| March 30 | Kingston 2 | 4 Oshawa |
|
| Oshawa wins 4–1 |
|
Western Conference
| London vs. Owen Sound |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 23 | Owen Sound5 | 2 London |
| March 24 | London 1 | 2 Owen Sound | OT |
| March 27 | Owen Sound 5 | 1 London |
| March 29 | 'London 4 | 5 Owen Sound |
|
| London wins 4–0 |
|
| Plymouth vs. Guelph |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 24 | Guelph 2 | 3 Plymouth | OT |
| March 25 | Plymouth 5 | 3 Guelph |
| March 27 | Guelph 1 | 7 Plymouth |
| March 29 | Plymouth 3 | 2 Guelph |
|
| Plymouth wins 4–0 |
|
| Kitchener vs. Sarnia |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 22 | Sarnia 4 | 6 Kitchener |
| March 23 | Kitchener 4 | 3 Sarnia |
| March 25 | Sarnia 2 | 3 Kitchener |
| March 27 | Kitchener 7 | 5 Sarnia |
|
| Kitchener wins 4–0 |
|
| Saginaw vs. Sault Ste. Marie |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| March 23 | S.S. Marie 3 | 4 Saginaw |
| March 24 | S.S. Marie 5 | 1 Saginaw |
| March 27 | Saginaw 1 | 2 S.S. Marie |
| March 28 | Saginaw 3 | 5 S.S. Marie |
| March 30 | S.S. Marie 1 | 7 Saginaw |
| April 1 | Saginaw 3 | 4 S.S. Marie | OT |
|
| S.S. Marie wins 4–2 |
|
Conference semifinals
| Eastern Conference |
|---|
| Barrie vs. Sudbury |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 5 | Sudbury 4 | 3 Barrie | OT |
| April 7 | Barrie 3 | 4 Sudbury | OT2 |
| April 9 | Sudbury 3 | 2 Barrie | OT |
| April 11 | Barrie 2 | 4 Sudbury |
|
| Sudbury wins 4–0 |
|
| Belleville vs. Oshawa |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 6 | Oshawa 5 | 7 Belleville |
| April 8 | Belleville 5 | 2 Oshawa |
| April 10 | Oshawa 4 | 6 Belleville |
| April 11 | Belleville 5 | 2 Oshawa |
|
| Belleville wins 4–0 |
|
| Western Conference |
|---|
| London vs. Sault Ste. Marie |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 5 | S.S. Marie 1 | 3 London |
| April 6 | S.S. Marie 1 | 4 London |
| April 9 | London 6 | 5 S.S. Marie | OT |
| April 10 | London 0 | 3 S.S. Marie |
| April 13 | S.S. Marie 5 | 2 London |
| April 15 | London 4 | 5 S.S. Marie |
| April 16 | S.S. Marie 4 | 8 London |
| London wins 4–3 |
|
| Plymouth vs. Kitchener |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 6 | Kitchener 5 | 6 Plymouth | OT |
| April 8 | Plymouth 3 | 2 Kitchener |
| April 10 | Kitchener 4 | 5 Plymouth | OT |
| April 11 | Plymouth 2 | 4 Kitchener |
| April 13 | Kitchener 1 | 4 Plymouth |
| Plymouth wins 4–1 |
|
Conference finals
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|
| Belleville vs. Sudbury |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 18 | Sudbury 2 | 3 Belleville |
| April 19 | Sudbury 3 | 2 Belleville | OT |
| April 22 | Belleville 2 | 1 Sudbury | OT |
| April 23 | Belleville 2 | 3 Sudbury | OT |
| April 25 | Sudbury 4 | 1 Belleville |
| April 27 | Belleville 3 | 4 Sudbury | OT3 |
| Sudbury wins 4–2 |
|
| London vs. Plymouth |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| April 19 | Plymouth 5 | 1 London |
| April 20 | London 1 | 5 Plymouth |
| April 23 | Plymouth 5 | 2 London |
| April 24 | London 5 | 2 Plymouth |
| April 26 | Plymouth 4 | 1 London |
| Plymouth wins 4–1 |
|
OHL Championship
| Plymouth vs. Sudbury |
|---|
| Date | Away | Home |
| May 4 | Sudbury 1 | 4 Plymouth |
| May 6 | Sudbury 7 | 3 Plymouth |
| May 8 | Plymouth 4 | 5 Sudbury | OT |
| May 9 | Plymouth 3 | 1 Sudbury |
| May 11 | Sudbury 3 | Plymouth 4 | OT |
| May 13 | Plymouth 3 | Sudbury 2 | OT |
| Plymouth wins 4–2 |
|
All-Star teams
First team
- John Tavares, Centre, Oshawa Generals
- James Neal, Left Wing, Plymouth Whalers
- Patrick Kane, Right Wing, London Knights
- Marc Staal, Defence, Sudbury Wolves
- Drew Doughty, Defence, Guelph Storm
- Steve Mason, Goaltender, London Knights
- Mike Vellucci, Coach, Plymouth Whalers
Second team
- Bryan Little, Centre, Barrie Colts
- Brett MacLean, Left Wing, Oshawa Generals
- Tyler Donati, Right Wing, Belleville Bulls
- Jakub Kindl, Defence, Kitchener Rangers
- Ryan Parent, Defence, Guelph Storm
- Michal Neuvirth, Goaltender, Plymouth Whalers
- Mike Kelly, Coach, Mississauga IceDogs
Third team
- Sam Gagner, Centre, London Knights
- Jamie McGinn, Left Wing, Ottawa 67's
- Sergei Kostitsyn, Right Wing, London Knights
- Alex Pietrangelo, Defence, Mississauga IceDogs
- Patrick McNeill, Defence, Saginaw Spirit
- Thomas McCollum, Goaltender, Guelph Storm
- Dave Barr, Coach, Guelph Storm
OHL Priority Selection
The OHL conducted its annual draft, known as the OHL Priority Selection, starting at 9:00 AM on Saturday May 6, 2006 via internet.
The Sarnia Sting announced on the Friday night before the draft, that Steven Stamkos of the Markham Waxers would be chosen first overall, being the recipient of the 2006 Jack Ferguson Award.
The Oshawa Generals followed up by selecting defenceman Michael Del Zotto also of the Waxers. It was the first time in history that the first two picks in the OHL Priority Selection came from the same team.
CHL Import Draft
The 2006 CHL Import Draft was held via the internet, starting at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, June 28, 2006. Teams from the OHL, QMJHL, and WHL drafted players in reverse order of their finish in the combined CHL standings. All CHL teams are awarded one draft pick in each of the two rounds, although not all CHL teams use both picks. Some teams chose not to participate in the draft.
This list includes drafts picks made by OHL teams in the 2006 draft.
| No. | OHL Team | Player | Previous Team / Country |
| 3 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Kaspars Daugavins | Riga, Latvia |
| 6 | Owen Sound Attack | Tomas Kana | HC Vitkovice, Czech Republic |
| 9 | Peterborough Petes | Branislav Rehus | Ostrava, Czech Republic |
| 12 | Erie Otters | Stanislav Polodna | HC Ceske Budejovice Jr., Czech Republic |
| 15 | Kitchener Rangers | Yannick Weber | SC Bern, Switzerland |
| 18 | Windsor Spitfires | Marek Biro | HK Trnava, Slovakia |
| 21 | Ottawa 67's | Lukas Flueler | Kloten Flyers, Switzerland |
| 24 | Oshawa Generals | Ziga Pance | Olimpija Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| 27 | Plymouth Whalers | Michal Neuvirth | Sparta Praha, Czech Republic |
| 30 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | Kriss Grundmanis | HK Riga 2000, Latvia |
| 33 | Saginaw Spirit | Jan Mursak | HC Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic |
| 36 | Saginaw Spirit | Tomas Zaborsky | Dukla Trencin, Slovakia |
| 39 | Plymouth Whalers | Jozef Sladok | HKm Zvolen, Slovakia |
| 42 | Kingston Frontenacs | Robert Nyholm | HIFK Jr., Finland |
| 45 | Guelph Storm | Arturs Ozolins | Saga, Latvia |
| 48 | Peterborough Petes | Arturs Kulda | Ceska, Latvia |
| 51 | Sudbury Wolves | Patrik Lusnak | HK 36 Skalica, Slovakia |
| 56 | Mississauga IceDogs | Aleksander Ilyin | MVD Tver, Russia |
| 58 | London Knights | Adam Hasani | HC Fribourg-Gotteron Jr., Switzerland |
| 69 | Belleville Bulls | Michal Gazur | HKm Zvolen Jr., Slovakia |
| 70 | Sudbury Wolves | Jakub Korinek | HC Plzen, Czech Republic |
Awards
| J. Ross Robertson Cup: | Plymouth Whalers |
| Hamilton Spectator Trophy: | London Knights |
| Bobby Orr Trophy: | Sudbury Wolves |
| Wayne Gretzky Trophy: | Plymouth Whalers |
| Emms Trophy: | Barrie Colts |
| Leyden Trophy: | Belleville Bulls |
| Holody Trophy: | London Knights |
| Bumbacco Trophy: | Plymouth Whalers |
| Red Tilson Trophy: | John Tavares, Oshawa Generals |
| Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy: | Patrick Kane, London Knights |
| Matt Leyden Trophy: | Mike Vellucci, Plymouth Whalers |
| Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy: | Patrick Kane, London Knights |
| Max Kaminsky Trophy: | Marc Staal, Sudbury Wolves |
| OHL Goaltender of the Year: | Steve Mason, London Knights |
| Jack Ferguson Award: | Ryan O’Reilly, Erie Otters |
| Dave Pinkney Trophy: | Michal Neuvirth & Jeremy Smith, Plymouth Whalers |
| OHL Executive of the Year: | Craig Goslin, Saginaw Spirit |
| Emms Family Award: | Patrick Kane, London Knights |
| F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy: | Michal Neuvirth, Plymouth Whalers |
| Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy: | Andrew Gibbons, Belleville Bulls |
| William Hanley Trophy: | Tom Pyatt, Saginaw Spirit |
| Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy: | Tyler Donati, Belleville Bulls |
| Bobby Smith Trophy: | Steven Stamkos, Sarnia Sting |
| Roger Neilson Memorial Award: | Derrick Bagshaw, Erie Otters |
| Ivan Tennant Memorial Award: | Andrew Shorkey, Owen Sound Attack |
| Tim Adams Memorial Trophy: | Casey Cizikas, Mississauga IceDogs |
| Wayne Gretzky 99 Award: | Marc Staal, Sudbury Wolves |
See also
References