1995–96 OHL season

On May 6, 1994, The Barrie Colts were approved as an expansion team in the Ontario Hockey League beginning in the 1995-96 season. The Colts began their inaugural season playing in the Barrie Arena, however, on December 31, 1995, the Colts moved into their new home, the Barrie Molson Centre. The Colts joined the Central Division.

At the conclusion of the 1994-95, the Detroit Junior Red Wings severed all ties with the National Hockey League Detroit Red Wings, as Peter Karmanos renamed the franchise the Detroit Whalers.

The Whalers moved out of Joe Louis Arena and into the Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association and the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League. The Whalers would play 21 of their 33 home games in the regular season at the Palace of Auburn Hills while playing their remaining 12 home games at Oak Park Ice Arena. The Whalers played all of their home playoff games at the Oak Park Ice Arena.

The club remained in the West Division.

Note: DIV = Division; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = earned first round bye

{{Cite web |title=1995-96 OHL Playoff Results at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php?league=ohl1989&season=1996&leaguenm=OHL |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=www.hockeydb.com}}

{{4RoundBracket-Byes | RD1= Division quarterfinals

| RD2= Quarterfinals

| RD3= Semifinals

| RD4= Finals

| RD1-seed01= C1

| RD1-team01= Guelph

| RD1-score01= bye

| RD1-seed03= C3

| RD1-team03= Niagara Falls

| RD1-score03= 4

| RD1-seed04= C4

| RD1-team04= Owen Sound

| RD1-score04= 2

| RD1-seed05= E1

| RD1-team05= Ottawa

| RD1-score05= bye

| RD1-seed07= E3

| RD1-team07= Belleville

| RD1-score07= 4

| RD1-seed08= E4

| RD1-team08= Oshawa

| RD1-score08= 1

| RD1-seed09= E2

| RD1-team09= Peterborough

| RD1-score09= 4

| RD1-seed10= E5

| RD1-team10= Kingston

| RD1-score10= 1

| RD1-seed11= W2

| RD1-team11= Sarnia

| RD1-score11= 4

| RD1-seed12= W3

| RD1-team12= S.S. Marie

| RD1-score12= 0

| RD1-seed13= C2

| RD1-team13= Kitchener

| RD1-score13= 4

| RD1-seed14= C5

| RD1-team14= Barrie

| RD1-score14= 3

| RD1-seed15= W4

| RD1-team15= Windsor

| RD1-score15= 3

| RD1-seed16= W1

| RD1-team16= Detroit

| RD1-score16= 4

| RD2-seed01= C1

| RD2-team01= Guelph

| RD2-score01= 4

| RD2-seed02= C3

| RD2-team02= Niagara Falls

| RD2-score02= 0

| RD2-seed03= E1

| RD2-team03= Ottawa

| RD2-score03= 0

| RD2-seed04= E3

| RD2-team04= Belleville

| RD2-score04= 4

| RD2-seed05= E2

| RD2-team05= Peterborough

| RD2-score05= 4

| RD2-seed06= W2

| RD2-team06= Sarnia

| RD2-score06= 2

| RD2-seed07= C2

| RD2-team07= Kitchener

| RD2-score07= 1

| RD2-seed08= W1

| RD2-team08= Detroit

| RD2-score08= 4

| RD3-seed01= C1

| RD3-team01= Guelph

| RD3-score01= 4

| RD3-seed02= E3

| RD3-team02= Belleville

| RD3-score02= 1

| RD3-seed03= E2

| RD3-team03= Peterborough

| RD3-score03= 4

| RD3-seed04= W1

| RD3-team04= Detroit

| RD3-score04= 1

| RD4-seed01= C1

| RD4-team01= Guelph

| RD4-score01= 3

| RD4-seed02= E2

| RD4-team02= Peterborough

| RD4-score02= 4

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Peterborough Petes

|team2 = Kingston Frontenacs

|stadium1 = Peterborough Memorial Centre

|stadium2 = Kingston Memorial Centre

|homeright = yes

|date1 = March 17

|score1 = 4 – 5

|ot1 = 1

|home1 = 2

|won1 = 2

|date2 = March 19

|score2 = 1 – 9

|home2 = 1

|won2 = 1

|date3 = March 21

|score3 = 4 – 3

|ot3 = 1

|home3 = 1

|won3 = 2

|date4 = March 22

|score4 = 3 – 1

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 1

|date5 = March 24

|score5 = 3 – 6

|home5 = 1

|won5 = 1

|date6 = March 26

|score6 = 4 – 3

|home6 = 2

|won6 = 1

|series =Peterborough wins series 4 – 2

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Belleville Bulls

|team2 = Oshawa Generals

|stadium1 = Yardmen Arena

|stadium2 = Oshawa Civic Auditorium

|homeright = yes

|date1 = March 16

|score1 = 3 – 6

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 1

|date2 = March 17

|score2 = 1 – 4

|home2 = 2

|won2 = 2

|date3 = March 19

|score3 = 3 – 4

|ot3 = 1

|home3 = 1

|won3 = 1

|date4 = March 21

|score4 = 6 – 5

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 1

|date5 = March 23

|score5 = 1 – 6

|home5 = 1

|won5 = 1

|series =Belleville wins series 4 – 1

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Kitchener Rangers

|team2 = Barrie Colts

|stadium1 = Kitchener Memorial Auditorium

|stadium2 = Barrie Molson Centre

|homeright = yes

|date1 = March 17

|score1 = 2 – 1

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 2

|date2 = March 19

|score2 = 1 – 2

|ot2 = 1

|home2 = 2

|won2 = 2

|date3 = March 21

|score3 = 1 – 6

|home3 = 1

|won3 = 1

|date4 = March 23

|score4 = 1 – 2

|ot4 = 1

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 2

|date5 = March 24

|score5 = 4 – 7

|home5 = 1

|won5 = 1

|date6 = March 26

|score6 = 4 – 1

|home6 = 2

|won6 = 1

|date7 = March 27

|score7 = 3 – 4

|home7 = 1

|won7 = 1

|series =Kitchener wins series 4 – 3

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Niagara Falls Thunder

|team2 = Owen Sound Platers

|stadium1 = Niagara Falls Memorial Arena

|stadium2 = Bayshore Community Centre

|homeright = yes

|date1 = March 17

|score1 = 3 – 6

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 1

|date2 = March 20

|score2 = 4 – 7

|home2 = 2

|won2 = 2

|date3 = March 22

|score3 = 3 – 7

|home3 = 1

|won3 = 1

|date4 = March 23

|score4 = 2 – 3

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 2

|date5 = March 25

|score5 = 1 – 6

|home5 = 1

|won5 = 1

|date6 = March 27

|score6 = 4 – 3

|ot6 = 1

|home6 = 2

|won6 = 1

|series =Niagara Falls wins series 4 – 2

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Detroit Whalers

|team2 = Windsor Spitfires

|stadium1 = Oak Park Ice Arena

|stadium2 = Windsor Arena

|homeright = yes

|date1 = March 17

|score1 = 3 – 5

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 1

|date2 = March 18

|score2 = 5 – 2

|home2 = 2

|won2 = 1

|date3 = March 20

|score3 = 4 – 6

|home3 = 1

|won3 = 1

|date4 = March 22

|score4 = 1 – 4

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 2

|date5 = March 24

|score5 = 5 – 1

|home5 = 1

|won5 = 2

|date6 = March 25

|score6 = 3 – 6

|home6 = 2

|won6 = 2

|date7 = March 27

|score7 = 2 – 9

|home7 = 1

|won7 = 1

|series =Detroit wins series 4 – 3

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Sarnia Sting

|team2 = Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

|stadium1 = Sarnia Arena

|stadium2 = Sault Memorial Gardens

|homeright = yes

|date1 = March 17

|score1 = 1 – 5

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 1

|date2 = March 18

|score2 = 2 – 6

|home2 = 1

|won2 = 1

|date3 = March 20

|score3 = 4 – 1

|home3 = 2

|won3 = 1

|date4 = March 21

|score4 = 3 – 1

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 1

|series =Sarnia wins series 4 – 0

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Guelph Storm

|team2 = Niagara Falls Thunder

|stadium1 = Guelph Memorial Gardens

|stadium2 = Niagara Falls Memorial Arena

|homeright = yes

|date1 = March 29

|score1 = 4 – 5

|ot1 = 1

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 1

|date2 = March 31

|score2 = 4 – 3

|home2 = 2

|won2 = 1

|date3 = April 2

|score3 = 2 – 4

|home3 = 1

|won3 = 1

|date4 = April 5

|score4 = 5 – 2

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 1

|series =Guelph wins series 4 – 0

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Detroit Whalers

|team2 = Kitchener Rangers

|stadium1 = Oak Park Ice Arena

|stadium2 = Kitchener Memorial Auditorium

|homeright = yes

|date1 = March 30

|score1 = 2 – 6

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 1

|date2 = March 31

|score2 = 2 – 5

|home2 = 2

|won2 = 2

|date3 = April 3

|score3 = 3 – 5

|home3 = 1

|won3 = 1

|date4 = April 5

|score4 = 5 – 0

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 1

|date5 = April 6

|score5 = 1 – 9

|home5 = 1

|won5 = 1

|series =Detroit wins series 4 – 1

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Ottawa 67's

|team2 = Belleville Bulls

|stadium1 = Ottawa Civic Centre

|stadium2 = Yardmen Arena

|homeright = yes

|date1 = March 29

|score1 = 7 – 4

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 2

|date2 = March 30

|score2 = 3 – 6

|home2 = 2

|won2 = 2

|date3 = April 2

|score3 = 8 – 2

|home3 = 1

|won3 = 2

|date4 = April 4

|score4 = 2 – 5

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 2

|series =Belleville wins series 4 – 0

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Sarnia Sting

|team2 = Peterborough Petes

|stadium1 = Sarnia Arena

|stadium2 = Peterborough Memorial Centre

|homeright = yes

|date1 = March 31

|score1 = 1 – 7

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 1

|date2 = April 1

|score2 = 7 – 4

|home2 = 1

|won2 = 2

|date3 = April 4

|score3 = 1 – 5

|home3 = 2

|won3 = 2

|date4 = April 5

|score4 = 5 – 1

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 1

|date5 = April 7

|score5 = 7 – 6

|ot5 = 1

|home5 = 1

|won5 = 2

|date6 = April 9

|score6 = 4 – 7

|home6 = 2

|won6 = 2

|series =Peterborough wins series 4 – 2

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Guelph Storm

|team2 = Belleville Bulls

|stadium1 = Guelph Memorial Gardens

|stadium2 = Yardmen Arena

|homeright = yes

|date1 = April 12

|score1 = 0 – 7

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 1

|date2 = April 15

|score2 = 5 – 3

|home2 = 2

|won2 = 1

|date3 = April 17

|score3 = 1 – 3

|home3 = 1

|won3 = 1

|date4 = April 19

|score4 = 5 – 7

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 2

|date5 = April 21

|score5 = 2 – 6

|home5 = 1

|won5 = 1

|series =Guelph wins series 4 – 1

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Detroit Whalers

|team2 = Peterborough Petes

|stadium1 = Oak Park Ice Arena

|stadium2 = Peterborough Memorial Centre

|homeright = yes

|date1 = April 13

|score1 = 7 – 4

|home1 = 1

|won1 = 2

|date2 = April 14

|score2 = 4 – 3

|ot2 = 1

|home2 = 1

|won2 = 2

|date3 = April 17

|score3 = 3 – 4

|ot3 = 1

|home3 = 2

|won3 = 2

|date4 = April 18

|score4 = 8 – 4

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 1

|date5 = April 20

|score5 = 3 – 2

|home5 = 1

|won5 = 2

|series =Peterborough wins series 4 – 1

}}

{{NHLPlayoffs

|team1 = Guelph Storm

|team2 = Peterborough Petes

|stadium1 = Guelph Memorial Gardens

|stadium2 = Peterborough Memorial Centre

|homeright = yes

|date1 = April 25

|score1 = 3 – 0

|home1 = 2

|won1 = 1

|date2 = April 26

|score2 = 6 – 5

|ot2 = 1

|home2 = 1

|won2 = 2

|date3 = April 28

|score3 = 3 – 2

|home3 = 1

|won3 = 2

|date4 = April 30

|score4 = 5 – 3

|home4 = 2

|won4 = 1

|date5 = May 2

|score5 = 5 – 3

|home5 = 1

|won5 = 2

|date6 = May 4

|score6 = 4 – 3

|home6 = 2

|won6 = 1

|date7 = May 6

|score7 = 8 – 7

|ot7 = 1

|home7 = 1

|won7 = 2

|series =Peterborough wins series 4 – 3

}}

• Alyn McCauley, Centre, Ottawa 67's
• Daniel Cleary, Left Wing, Belleville Bulls
• Cameron Mann, Right Wing, Peterborough Petes
• Bryan Berard, Defence, Detroit Whalers
• Kevin Bolibruck, Defence, Peterborough Petes
• Craig Hillier, Goaltender, Ottawa 67's
• Brian Kilrea, Coach, Ottawa 67's

• Aaron Brand, Centre, Sarnia Sting
• Sean Haggerty, Left Wing, Detroit Whalers
• Jeff Johnstone, Right Wing, Niagara Falls Thunder
• Sean Brown, Defence, Sarnia Sting
• Jay McKee, Defence, Niagara Falls Thunder
• Dan Cloutier, Goaltender, Guelph Storm
• Bert Templeton, Coach, Barrie Colts

• Sean Venedam, Centre, Sudbury Wolves
• Jamie Wright, Left Wing, Guelph Storm
• David Nemirovski, Right Wing, Sarnia Sting
• Marc Moro, Defence, Kingston Frontenacs
• Ryan Risidore, Defence, Guelph Storm
• David Belitski, Goaltender, Kitchener Rangers
• Travis Scott, Goaltender, Oshawa Generals
• Mark Hunter, Coach, Sarnia Sting

On June 1, 1996, the OHL conducted the 1996 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium in Kitchener, Ontario. The London Knights held the first overall pick in the draft and selected Rico Fata from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Fata was awarded the Jack Ferguson Award, awarded to the top pick in the draft.

Below are the players who were selected in the first round of the 1996 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1996/ohl/96omain.htm|title=1996 Ontario Hockey League Draft}}

• List of OHA Junior A standings
• List of OHL seasons
• 1996 Memorial Cup
• 1996 NHL Entry Draft
• 1995 in sports
• 1996 in sports

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/ohl19891996.html HockeyDB]

{{s-start}}

{{succession box |

before = 1994–95 OHL season |

after = 1996–97 OHL season |

title = OHL seasons |

years = |

}}

{{s-end}}

{{OHL}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1995-96 OHL season}}

Category:Ontario Hockey League seasons

OHL