2021-22 OHL season



This is the 2020-21 Ontario Hockey League season. This is the league's 52nd season dating back to its' founding as the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League.

There are currently 20 teams in the OHL; 17 are based in the Canadian province of Ontario, 2 teams in the American state of Michigan and 1 team in the American state of Pennsylvania. Out of the 17 teams based in Ontario, 14 teams are in Southern Ontario, and 3 teams are in Northern Ontario.

The 20 OHL clubs play a 68 game unbalanced schedule, which usually starts in the third full week of September, running until the third week of March. Ninety per cent (90%) of OHL games are scheduled between Thursday and Sunday to minimize the number of school days missed for its players. Ninety-five per cent (95%) of the players in the league are attending high school or college.

2021-22 Season outline

 * OHL Priority Selection held June 4-5, 2021
 * 680 (68 games per team) regular season schedule
 * Training camps open September 4th
 * Regular season begins October 7th
 * Regular season ends April 3rd
 * Playoffs begin April 7th and end by May 30th
 * 2022 Memorial Cup will be held June 2-12 hosted by a QMJHL team to be determined
 * All 20 teams are expected to return to play

COVID-19 related team shutdowns
On December 26th the Ontario Hockey League announce the next three regular season games for the Sarnia Sting would be postponed. On December 23rd the league would also cancel a December 28th game with the Oshawa Generals visiting the Ottawa 67's due to COVID-19 protocols involving the 67's The Niagara IceDogs, Flint Firebirds , Owen Sound Attack , Kingston Frontenacs , and Erie Otters all were shutdown by the league earlier in the month of December. The Sudbury Wolves were shutdown on November 30th. These cancellations would cause more than 20 games to have to be rescheduled from December 1st to January 2nd. On December 28th the league postponed the games of the Barrie Colts and Peterborough Petes. The Oshawa Generals would have 2 games cancelled by the league on December 29th. The Windsor Spitfires would have games cancelled December 30 & 31. In short order the Kitchener Rangers, Guelph Storm Niagara IceDogs , and London Knights would all be added to cancellations upon return from the Christmas break.

Franchise changes
none

Standings
Season cancelled

2022 J. Ross Robertson Cup Playoffs
The J. Ross Robertson Cup playoffs consist of 16 teams, the top 8 from each conference. The teams play a best-of-seven game series, and the winner of each series advances to the next round. The Eastern Conference champion is awarded the Bobby Orr Trophy and the Western Conference champion is awarded the Wayne Gretzky Trophy. The two conference champions compete for the J. Ross Robertson Cup and a berth in the 2022 Memorial Cup.