2023–24 OEHL season

The 2023–24 OEHL season was the first season of the Ontario Elite Hockey League. The league played a 20-game regular season which began in October 2023 and concluded in February 2024. The post-season began in February 2024 and concluded in March 2024.

2023–24 OEHL season
LeagueOntario Elite Hockey League
SportHockey
DurationRegular season
October 6, 2023 – February 4, 2024
Playoffs
February 9, 2024 – March 30, 2024
Number of teams11
Finals championsOEHL Cup - Minto 81's
McLean Cup - Georgian Bay Applekings

The Minto 81's won the OEHL Cup Championship, defeating the Tavistock Royals in the final round of the playoffs.[1]

Formation of OEHL

The Ontario Elite Hockey League (OEHL) was established on August 17, 2023, by the Ontario Hockey Association. The league took ten members of the WOAA Senior AA Hockey League, plus one pending expansion team, as well as another team as being formed in the announcement for the formation of a new league.[2]

The ten former WOAA teams were the Creemore Coyotes, Durham Thundercats, Lucknow Lancers, Milverton Four Wheel Drives, Minto 81's, Ripley Wolves, Saugeen Shores Winterhawks, Seaforth Centenaires, Shelburne Muskies and Tavistock Royals. The expansion team brought from the WOAA was the Georgian Bay Applekings. The Erin Outlaws were also announced as a new team to the league.[3]

The Shelburne Muskies took a leave of absence for the 2023–24 season.[4]

Teams

OEHL Teams
2023-24 Ontario Elite Hockey League
TeamCityArena
Creemore Coyotes Creemore, Ontario Creemore & District Recreation Centre
Durham Thundercats Durham, Ontario Durham & District Community Centre
Erin Outlaws Erin, Ontario Erin Community Centre
Georgian Bay Applekings Thornbury, Ontario Beaver Valley Community Centre
Lucknow Lancers Lucknow, Ontario Lucknow Arena
Milverton Four Wheel Drives Milverton, Ontario Perth East Recreational Complex
Minto 81's Palmerston, Ontario Palmerston & District Community Centre
Ripley Wolves Ripley, Ontario Ripley-Huron Community Centre Arena
Saugeen Shores Winterhawks Saugeen Shores, Ontario Port Elgin Plex
Seaforth Centenaires Seaforth, Ontario Seaforth & District Community Centre
Tavistock Royals Tavistock, Ontario Tavistock & District Recreation Centre

Regular season

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot
[5]

Rank Ontario Elite Hockey League GP W L OTL Pts GF GA
1Ripley Wolves2016133510753
2Creemore Coyotes201451299966
3Minto 81's201361279769
4Tavistock Royals201370268769
5Durham Thundercats201271258373
6Seaforth Centenaires201280248252
7Saugeen Shores Winterhawks201181237854
8Erin Outlaws2061311371104
9Georgian Bay Applekings2051321259108
10Milverton Four Wheel Drives2051411166105
11Lucknow Lancers203161742118

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes[6]

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Garrett Meurs Ripley Wolves 1917274436
Luke Richardson Durham Thundercats 201425390
Kyler Nixon Durham Thundercats 191326392
JD Falconer Creemore Coyotes 191128396
Ben Hughes Creemore Coyotes 201817356
Kaden Hoggarth Ripley Wolves 1911172846
Sean Kienapple Tavistock Royals 1714132714
Dennis Dewar Milverton Four Wheel Drives 191610262
Dan Nicoloff Ripley Wolves 1613132628
Caleb Warren Minto 81's 1911152616

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
[7]

Player Team GP MINS W L OTL GA SO Sv% GAA
Alex Hutcheson Seaforth Centenaires 105575401800.8971.94
Clayton Fritsch Saugeen Shores Winterhawks 74004201510.8992.25
Josh Hamilton Ripley Wolves 18109414314640.9092.52
Daniel DeKoening Minto 81's 84806202110.8792.63
Malcolm Young Durham Thundercats 63615101600.9202.66

Playoffs

OEHL Cup playoffs

The top eight teams qualify for the OEHL Cup playoffs. Each series is a best-of-seven.

OEHL quarter-finals OEHL semi-finals OEHL finals
         
1 Ripley 4
8 Erin 0
1 Ripley 2
4 Tavistock 4
4 Tavistock 4
5 Durham 1
4 Tavistock 0
3 Minto 4
2 Creemore 4
7 Saugeen Shores 3
2 Creemore 1
3 Minto 4
3 Minto 4
6 Seaforth 2
(1) Ripley Wolves vs. (8) Erin Outlaws
February 9 Erin Outlaws 3 – 7 Ripley Wolves Ripley-Huron Arena Recap
February 10 Ripley Wolves 5 – 3 Erin Outlaws Erin Community Centre Recap
February 16 Erin Outlaws 1 – 6 Ripley Wolves Ripley-Huron Arena Recap
February 17 Ripley Wolves 11 – 2 Erin Outlaws Erin Community Centre Recap
Ripley wins series 4 – 0
(2) Creemore Coyotes vs. (7) Saugeen Shores Winterhawks

Note: Game seven was played at the Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex in Shelburne, Ontario.

February 9 Creemore Coyotes 1 – 6 Saugeen Shores Winterhawks Port Elgin Plex Recap
February 10 Saugeen Shores Winterhawks 2 – 1 OT Creemore Coyotes Creemore Recreation Centre Recap
February 16 Creemore Coyotes 6 – 4 Saugeen Shores Winterhawks Port Elgin Plex Recap
February 17 Saugeen Shores Winterhawks 1 – 3 Creemore Coyotes Creemore Recreation Centre Recap
February 18 Saugeen Shores Winterhawks 2 – 5 Creemore Coyotes Creemore Recreation Centre Recap
February 23 Creemore Coyotes 2 – 6 Saugeen Shores Winterhawks Port Elgin Plex Recap
February 24 Saugeen Shores Winterhawks 2 – 6 Creemore Coyotes Creemore Recreation Centre Recap
Creemore wins series 4 – 3
(3) Minto 81's vs. (6) Seaforth Centenaires
February 9 Seaforth Centenaires 3 – 5 Minto 81's Palmerston Community Centre Recap
February 10 Minto 81's 5 – 4 OT Seaforth Centenaires Seaforth Community Centre Recap
February 17 Seaforth Centenaires 3 – 6 Minto 81's Palmerston Community Centre Recap
February 18 Minto 81's 2 – 5 Seaforth Centenaires Seaforth Community Centre Recap
February 19 Seaforth Centenaires 4 – 3 Minto 81's Palmerston Community Centre Recap
February 24 Minto 81's 4 – 3 Seaforth Centenaires Seaforth Community Centre Recap
Minto wins series 4 – 2
(4) Tavistock Royals vs. (5) Durham Thundercats
February 9 Tavistock Royals 3 – 2 Durham Thundercats Durham Community Centre Recap
February 11 Durham Thundercats 3 – 2 OT Tavistock Royals Tavistock Recreation Centre Recap
February 16 Tavistock Royals 4 – 0 Durham Thundercats Durham Community Centre Recap
February 17 Durham Thundercats 2 – 7 Tavistock Royals Tavistock Recreation Centre Recap
February 23 Durham Thundercats 3 – 5 Tavistock Royals Tavistock Recreation Centre Recap
Tavistock wins series 4 – 1
(1) Ripley Wolves vs. (4) Tavistock Royals
March 2 Tavistock Royals 4 – 3 OT Ripley Wolves Ripley-Huron Arena Recap
March 3 Ripley Wolves 5 – 9 Tavistock Royals Tavistock Recreation Centre Recap
March 9 Tavistock Royals 8 – 4 Ripley Wolves Ripley-Huron Arena Recap
March 10 Ripley Wolves 3 – 1 Tavistock Royals Tavistock Recreation Centre Recap
March 16 Tavistock Royals 5 – 6 2OT Ripley Wolves Ripley-Huron Arena Recap
March 17 Ripley Wolves 2 – 5 Tavistock Royals Tavistock Recreation Centre Recap
Tavistock wins series 4 – 2
(2) Creemore Coyotes vs. (3) Minto 81's
March 2 Minto 81's 3 – 0 Creemore Coyotes Creemore Recreation Centre Recap
March 9 Minto 81's 2 – 6 Creemore Coyotes Creemore Recreation Centre Recap
March 10 Creemore Coyotes 2 – 10 Minto 81's Palmerston Community Centre Recap
March 15 Creemore Coyotes 1 – 6 Minto 81's Palmerston Community Centre Recap
March 16 Minto 81's 7 – 1 Creemore Coyotes Creemore Recreation Centre Recap
Minto wins series 4 – 1
(3) Minto 81's vs. (4) Tavistock Royals
March 23 Minto 81's 3 – 1 Tavistock Royals Tavistock Recreation Centre Recap
March 24 Tavistock Royals 5 – 6 Minto 81's Palmerston Community Centre Recap
March 29 Tavistock Royals 3 – 4 OT Minto 81's Palmerston Community Centre Recap
March 30 Minto 81's 5 – 2 Tavistock Royals Tavistock Recreation Centre Recap
Minto wins series 4 – 0

Hugh McLean Cup playoffs

The non-OEHL Cup playoff qualifiers played in a home and home round robin with the top two teams in the round robin advancing to the best-of-seven McLean Cup championship series.

Round robin

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Losses GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched championship series berth

McLean Cup round robin GP W L Pts GF GA
Georgian Bay Applekings44082814
Milverton Four Wheel Drives41322224
Lucknow Lancers41321325
Lucknow Lancers at Georgian Bay Applekings
February 9 Lucknow Lancers 2 – 7 Georgian Bay Applekings Beaver Valley Community Centre Recap
Milverton Four Wheel Drives at Georgian Bay Applekings
February 10 Milverton Four Wheel Drives 2 – 5 Georgian Bay Applekings Beaver Valley Community Centre Recap
Georgian Bay Applekings at Lucknow Lancers
February 17 Georgian Bay Applekings 5 – 3 Lucknow Lancers Lucknow Arena Recap
Georgian Bay Applekings at Milverton Four Wheel Drives
February 18 Georgian Bay Applekings 11 – 7 Milverton Four Wheel Drives Perth East Recreational Complex Recap
Milverton Four Wheel Drives at Lucknow Lancers
February 23 Milverton Four Wheel Drives 3 – 5 Lucknow Lancers Lucknow Arena Recap
Lucknow Lancers at Milverton Four Wheel Drives
February 24 Lucknow Lancers 3 – 10 Milverton Four Wheel Drives Perth East Recreational Complex Recap
(1) Georgian Bay Applekings vs. (2) Milverton Four Wheel Drives

Note: Game seven was played at the Meaford & St. Vincent Community Centre in Meaford, Ontario.

March 2 Georgian Bay Applekings 4 – 7 Milverton Four Wheel Drives Perth East Recreational Complex Recap
March 3 Milverton Four Wheel Drives 3 – 9 Georgian Bay Applekings Beaver Valley Community Centre Recap
March 9 Milverton Four Wheel Drives 1 – 3 Georgian Bay Applekings Beaver Valley Community Centre Recap
March 10 Georgian Bay Applekings 2 – 6 Milverton Four Wheel Drives Perth East Recreational Complex Recap
March 16 Milverton Four Wheel Drives 3 – 1 Georgian Bay Applekings Beaver Valley Community Centre Recap
March 17 Georgian Bay Applekings 5 – 2 Milverton Four Wheel Drives Perth East Recreational Complex Recap
March 24 Milverton Four Wheel Drives 5 – 7 Georgian Bay Applekings Beaver Valley Community Centre Recap
Georgian Bay wins series 4 – 3

References

  1. "2024 Playoffs - Ontario Elite Hockey League". OEHL. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  2. MacKinnon, Jordan. "Introducing the new Sr. AA Elite Hockey League". Saugeen Times. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  3. Beswitherwick, Nicole. "New Senior 'AA' hockey team, Erin Outlaws, coming to town". Wellington Advertiser.
  4. "Statement regarding Shelburne Muskies". OEHL. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  5. "Standings - Ontario Elite Hockey League". OEHL.com. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  6. "Ontario Elite Hockey League Statistics". Ontario Elite Hockey League. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  7. "Ontario Elite Hockey League Statistics". Ontario Elite Hockey League. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
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