OHL Expansion

[ScoutLife4]

It’s 100% necessary to limit travel due to costs and most importantly some of them are finishing high school.

 

[Otto]

IF Youngstown and Muskegon join the OHL... and it's still a big IF... Youngstown will go in the Midwest and Muskegon will go in the West. They won't look at any division realignment until the 23rd & 24th teams are added. No point in doubt anything right away until you know what the final expansion plans are.

 

[Otto]

 

[Kingpin794]

Nothing a big truck of money can't fix probably. Help ease the pain.

 

[Nanabijou]

*IF* OHL expanded to Youngstown and Muskegon - how many of their current ushl rosters would anyone predict would be on the team next year in the OHL?

 

[Kingpin794]

*IF* OHL expanded to Youngstown and Muskegon - how many of their current ushl rosters would anyone predict would be on the team next year in the OHL?

Of the guys on those teams that won't be OA's next year, are from OHL territory states, and aren't already some other teams' prospects, there are 5 OHL quality players between them that might be worth FA spots IMO. And there's no guarantee they'd stay with Muskegon or Youngstown. They might each keep one by chance but almost the entirety of their roster would be new players.

 

[Newbie Observer]

There has been rumblings about the City of Peterborough wanting to get out of owning a hockey team and find a private owner.
With that said it was mentioned they have a long list of conditions like building a new arena and keeping the team safe from relocation.
I doubt any owner is going to agree to fund a new arena at a couple hundred million + price tag and spend 15M on a hockey team though.

City of Peterborough doesnt own the team. Its a private organization that owns it, run by Board of Directors. Only city owned team is Kitchener,

 

[donjohnson]

I still don't get why the OHL would want to expand and apparently no one else does because it's been crickets on my questions.

The OHL is the #1 junior hockey system for 16-19yo in this region. The NCAA/CHL ruling means that the talent pool will rise making it an even better level of hockey. If those two things are true, why do you need to move into the Muskegon or Youngstown markets???

There's no TV/Media markets to grab on to like when the Big10 added Maryland and Rutgers and the combined average attendance between the two arenas is like 3000-4000 people.

It's fun to debate new towns and realignment but I just don't get why the OHL all of a sudden wants to add 2 teams when they haven't added any in 25 years.

 

[Nanabijou]

I still don't get why the OHL would want to expand and apparently no one else does because it's been crickets on my questions.

The OHL is the #1 junior hockey system for 16-19yo in this region. The NCAA/CHL ruling means that the talent pool will rise making it an even better level of hockey. If those two things are true, why do you need to move into the Muskegon or Youngstown markets???

There's no TV/Media markets to grab on to like when the Big10 added Maryland and Rutgers and the combined average attendance between the two arenas is like 3000-4000 people.

It's fun to debate new towns and realignment but I just don't get why the OHL all of a sudden wants to add 2 teams when they haven't added any in 25 years.

Feels like one reason is that they are the current hot ticket for NCAA scouts, and they want to use this opportunity to crush the BCHL and widen the gap between the CHL and USHL.

 

[Otto]

I still don't get why the OHL would want to expand and apparently no one else does because it's been crickets on my questions.

The OHL is the #1 junior hockey system for 16-19yo in this region. The NCAA/CHL ruling means that the talent pool will rise making it an even better level of hockey. If those two things are true, why do you need to move into the Muskegon or Youngstown markets???

There's no TV/Media markets to grab on to like when the Big10 added Maryland and Rutgers and the combined average attendance between the two arenas is like 3000-4000 people.

It's fun to debate new towns and realignment but I just don't get why the OHL all of a sudden wants to add 2 teams when they haven't added any in 25 years.

OHL Popularity has never been higher. League is setting attendance records and two teams have shown interest in joining the league. They'd be stupid to not explore the possibility of expansion now.

 

[OMG67]

I still don't get why the OHL would want to expand and apparently no one else does because it's been crickets on my questions.

The OHL is the #1 junior hockey system for 16-19yo in this region. The NCAA/CHL ruling means that the talent pool will rise making it an even better level of hockey. If those two things are true, why do you need to move into the Muskegon or Youngstown markets???

There's no TV/Media markets to grab on to like when the Big10 added Maryland and Rutgers and the combined average attendance between the two arenas is like 3000-4000 people.

It's fun to debate new towns and realignment but I just don't get why the OHL all of a sudden wants to add 2 teams when they haven't added any in 25 years.

It is “suitable arena” based. If the suitable arenas are outside Ontario and it is viable for these two communities to join the league then it makes sense.

If Burlington, Cornwall, Chatham, and Cambridge all built new rinks suitable for OHL hockey opening in September 2025, you best bet there would be expansion. The only thing holding back expansion is suitable infrastructure in small to medium sized communities.

I think when the Senators move downtown from Kanata, I think the OHL could expand with a 2nd team in Ottawa out of Kanata if they were to demolish the existing rink and build a new 5000 seat arena. But, there wouldn’t be an appetite to build that rink. So, no new team in Ottawa. Same in the Durham Region. Oshawa holds a grip on that region but it is really just OShawa and Whitby. Ajax or Pickering could support a team as well but, again, no suitable rink.

I think under its current exposure, the OHL could support 24 teams. If the new NCAA deal does create a significant influx of players, that number could expand to 28 or even 30.

 

[ScoutLife4]

This is what hockey in Belleville looks like right now.

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

This is what hockey in Belleville looks like right now.

That doesn’t surprise me, nobody watches AHL

 

[SFC]

I still don't get why the OHL would want to expand and apparently no one else does because it's been crickets on my questions.

I do think some of it has to do with having a new commissioner who's exploring every available opportunity to grow the product. Hopefully the OHL doesn't expand simply for the sake of expansion.

 

[Kingpin794]

That doesn’t surprise me, nobody watches AHL

it ain't fun hockey that's for sure.

 

[ScoutLife4]

That doesn’t surprise me, nobody watches AHL

Depends on the market.
Go to Laval and tell me no one watches it.
Better atmosphere then London.

 

[Logosarejusttargets]

This is what hockey in Belleville looks like right now.

I've been to a number of games there when the Marlies are in town and it's always been 75-80% full if not more.

 

[ScoutLife4]

I've been to a number of games there when the Marlies are in town and it's always been 75-80% full if not more.

Usually 3,000-3,300 or so out of the 4,400 when Toronto or Laval is in town.
They are doing a "Bulls night" this Saturday waring the Black and Gold Bulls jerseys it will proably be the best crowd of the season.
It's the only time they get a decent crowd as its a Habs / Leafs fan dominated area imo.

 

[OMG67]

Usually 3,000-3,300 or so out of the 4,400 when Toronto or Laval is in town.
They are doing a "Bulls night" this Saturday waring the Black and Gold Bulls jerseys it will proably be the best crowd of the season.
It's the only time they get a decent crowd as its a Habs / Leafs fan dominated area imo.

I wonder if it makes sense once the Senators are moved to the new Downtown arena whether it would be good to build a 4000 seat rink for the Baby Sens in Kanata. I wonder if Kanata would support the AHL franchise if the Sense leave.

I’ve also stated that the attendance in Kanata for the 67’s when they moved out there wasn’t great but it was better than I thought it would be considering the atmosphere in such a large rink was horrible. I was thinking that Kanata could potentially have its own OHL franchise provided they had a suitable rink. Ottawa is getting to the pont where people in certain geographical locales don’t typically travel outside them too often. West Ottawa including Kanata, West end of Nepean, Barrhaven, Carp, Carleton Place, Almonte and Arnprior are all within a reasonable catchment zone for Major Junior Hockey centred in Kanata around same location as the CTC is now. It is an area that continues to grow outward West.

 

[ScoutLife4]

I wonder if it makes sense once the Senators are moved to the new Downtown arena whether it would be good to build a 4000 seat rink for the Baby Sens in Kanata. I wonder if Kanata would support the AHL franchise if the Sense leave.

I’ve also stated that the attendance in Kanata for the 67’s when they moved out there wasn’t great but it was better than I thought it would be considering the atmosphere in such a large rink was horrible. I was thinking that Kanata could potentially have its own OHL franchise provided they had a suitable rink. Ottawa is getting to the pont where people in certain geographical locales don’t typically travel outside them too often. West Ottawa including Kanata, West end of Nepean, Barrhaven, Carp, Carleton Place, Almonte and Arnprior are all within a reasonable catchment zone for Major Junior Hockey centred in Kanata around same location as the CTC is now. It is an area that continues to grow outward West.

I don't see it happening in all honesty.
I truly believe that Belleville is committed to moving to Hamilton for the 2027-2028 season and the talks / rumor's are only going to heat up until Andlauer announces it.
I think it speaks volumes how quiet he is on this topic seeing how media friendly he seems to be.

I'm honestly shocked the Marlies didn't go this route instead of resigning for 10 years at the Coca Cola but when the PWHL signed there I think it helped bring the Marlies costs down to extend/ continue their lease.

I live in Belleville and can truly say its 100% on the community when the city loses this team.
The team has done ALOT to get involved with the community and it hasn't helped attendance.