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OHL Expansion

Can see Cornwall in soon.. tried to get Hamilton and missassuaga but got better arena leases from other cities .
Mayor wants team there now
 
If the OHL is looking at expanding they need to prioritize adding teams in the eastern part of the province. The majority of the teams in the OHL are in the western part of the province. Brantford and Niagara should be playing in the Western Conference. I would like see the league add teams in Markham or Burlington, Belleville (if the Senators leave), Cornwall and maybe Massena NY.
 
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Just seen Cornwall has started a renovation on the civic center!
Interesting to see if that brings OHL
 
ScoutLife4 said:
Just seen Cornwall has started a renovation on the civic center!
Interesting to see if that brings OHL
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It is the final stage of the Reno. Will the rink be OHL friendly when complete? No. They have seats to support it but no boxes, no updated amenities etc. This project is much mor eof a facelift than a renovation. I am not sure if it will be enough to attract a team without making future structural changes.
 
Otto said:
Cornwall has entered the chat...

theseeker.ca

Cornwall Civic Complex to Undergo Major Renovations Starting May 2025

The City of Cornwall is set to begin major renovations at the Cornwall Civic Complex starting May 5th, 2025, as part of a city-wide effort to improve public fac
theseeker.ca theseeker.ca
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Will see where this all shakes out.

The OHL has been kicking tires on different aspects of relocation and expansion on and off for years now.

There's been definitely some locations that have brought up for debate with Cornwall being one of them, will renovations to the Civic Centre make any kind of traction to expansion back into Cornwall who really knows? Nothing is concrete one way or the other but if Cornwall is looking at making a pitch to re-joining the OHL in the future I would imagine this would be the beginning of the pitch to the OHL.

Who knows how far or what the OHL will look like in the near future, 20 teams, 22 teams, 24 teams. Anything is possible if the right opportunity makes sense for the OHL to do so. As for the immediate future it might be awhile before we actually see anything actually happen.
 
AttackSound said:
Will see where this all shakes out.

The OHL has been kicking tires on different aspects of relocation and expansion on and off for years now.

There's been definitely some locations that have brought up for debate with Cornwall being one of them, will renovations to the Civic Centre make any kind of traction to expansion back into Cornwall who really knows? Nothing is concrete one way or the other but if Cornwall is looking at making a pitch to re-joining the OHL in the future I would imagine this would be the beginning of the pitch to the OHL.

Who knows how far or what the OHL will look like in the near future, 20 teams, 22 teams, 24 teams. Anything is possible if the right opportunity makes sense for the OHL to do so. As for the immediate future it might be awhile before we actually see anything actually happen.
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Of course it will be a while. The renovations have not started yet.Does that mean we shouldn't post information as it becomes available?
 
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Belleville and Cornwall to the East. Muskegon and Youngstown to the West please and thanks OHL!
 
frontsfan67 said:
Belleville and Cornwall to the East. Muskegon and Youngstown to the West please and thanks OHL!
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I still think you'll see a team in Burlington before you see a return to Belleville. Also, IF Youngstown joins, serious consideration needs to be put towards having them and Erie in the East.
 
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frontsfan67 said:
Belleville and Cornwall to the East. Muskegon and Youngstown to the West please and thanks OHL!
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Selfishly, as an Erie fan, I'd prefer a western NY team to Muskegon. Belleville, Cornwall and Youngstown seem ideal locations (if not ideal situations).
 
Otto said:
Of course it will be a while. The renovations have not started yet.Does that mean we shouldn't post information as it becomes available?
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In fairness, the renovations have started. This is only the final stage. They are mostly cosmetic and will only take a few months (starting in May and finishing in October). They have already performed a lot of renovations including replacing portions of the roof, replacing all the seating and some other cosmetic changes. This has been a multi-stage approach where the yard now at the finish line.
 
ZinErie said:
Selfishly, as an Erie fan, I'd prefer a western NY team to Muskegon. Belleville, Cornwall and Youngstown seem ideal locations (if not ideal situations).
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I believe the Senators have announced that they will not be leaving Belleville any time soon. So, if a OHL team were to return to Belleville, it would likely be in over ten years, not in the next iteration of expansions/relocations.

I think Cornwall is possible with additional renovations on top of what they have already done (or will finish doing this summer). Burlington is looking like a slam dunk. Both Youngstown and Muskegon look possible but with the NHL stepping in to help restructure the landscape, who knows whether USHL teams moving to the CHL will be possible. The NHL could subsidize certain leagues to make them more viable. Who knows?
 
OMG67 said:
I believe the Senators have announced that they will not be leaving Belleville any time soon. So, if a OHL team were to return to Belleville, it would likely be in over ten years, not in the next iteration of expansions/relocations.

I think Cornwall is possible with additional renovations on top of what they have already done (or will finish doing this summer). Burlington is looking like a slam dunk. Both Youngstown and Muskegon look possible but with the NHL stepping in to help restructure the landscape, who knows whether USHL teams moving to the CHL will be possible. The NHL could subsidize certain leagues to make them more viable. Who knows?
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They didn't announce this.
The owner said Hockey will not be leaving Belleville anytime soon. -It is not specific to the AHL or the senators. -He was VERY careful how to word it in media. - Hell maybe he meant AAA hockey for all we know. His words were very open ended.

Andlaurer just sold his OHL team and there just happens to be a renovated arena with an opening for a team in Hamilton where he has always been desperate to keep hockey teams located.

This is what i believe is about to happen post 2 more season in Belleville of AHL.
AHL Sen's Moves to Hamilton 2027-2028 season.
OHL brought back to Belleville 2027-2028 season.
I do not think Andlaurer sold his OHL team for no reason. -He didn't need the money i know that.
Last Friday Andlaurer and Cyril Leeder were in Belleville to meet with the city and sign something i'm told.
The city does not care what team plays in it they just want a lease extension signed.
 
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You’d have to imagine Brampton would be relocated to one of those markets.

Ottawa
Cornwall
Kingston
Belleville
Peterborough
Oshawa
North Bay
Sudbury
Barrie
Niagara
Erie
Youngstown

Sault Ste. Marie
Saginaw
Flint
Muskegon
Windsor
Sarnia
London
Kitchener
Owen Sound
Guelph
Brantford
Burlington


I think the OHL needs to focus on rejuvenating and enhancing the Ottawa market. I loved the idea @OMG67 had of bringing Gatineau into the OHL. The 67’s and Olympiques are 14 km apart from each other and are literally the 2 teams closest franchises throughout the entire CHL….so of course they’re in separate leagues and never place each other haha 🤦🏼‍♂️
Anyway, for a variety of reasons, I doubt this will ever happen, so I think the addition of Cornwall would be a decent consolation and I hope it’s something the OHL will really put their support behind.
 
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OSA said:
You’d have to imagine Brampton would be relocated to one of those markets.

Ottawa
Cornwall
Kingston
Belleville
Peterborough
Oshawa
North Bay
Sudbury
Barrie
Niagara
Erie
Cornwall

Sault Ste. Marie
Saginaw
Flint
Muskegon
Windsor
Sarnia
London
Kitchener
Owen Sound
Guelph
Brantford
Burlington


I think the OHL needs to focus on rejuvenating and enhancing the Ottawa market. I loved the idea @OMG67 had of bringing Gatineau into the OHL. The 67’s and Olympiques are 14 km apart from each other and are literally the 2 teams closest franchises throughout the entire CHL….so of course they’re in separate leagues and never place each other haha 🤦🏼‍♂️
Anyway, for a variety of reasons, I doubt this will ever happen, so I think the addition of Cornwall would be a decent consolation and I hope it’s something the OHL will really put their support behind.
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I think you moved Brampton to Cornwall and gave Cornwall an expansion team.
 
ZinErie said:
Selfishly, as an Erie fan, I'd prefer a western NY team to Muskegon.
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I have been thinking this for a while. Buffalo NY, Rochester NY, Syracuse NY. Geographically and population-wise this expansion would make the most sense IMO. I think there was a NY team once in the QMJHL; is NY still part of their catchment area?
 
ZinErie said:
Selfishly, as an Erie fan, I'd prefer a western NY team to Muskegon. Belleville, Cornwall and Youngstown seem ideal locations (if not ideal situations).
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I caught a Calgary Hitmen game and an Edmonton Oil King game back in February on a WHL road trip. Both teams are owned by the NHL franchises, play in the NHL arenas and are marketed collectively with the NHL team.

I think this is 100% a model the Buffalo Sabres could emulate.
 
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