David Branch (November 27, 1948 – January 4, 2026) was a Canadian ice hockey administrator. His lengthy involvement in junior ice hockey includes serving as commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League from 1979 to 2024, and as president of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) from 1996 to 2019. He received the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2016, and the CHL Player of the Year award was renamed in his honour in 2019.
Early life[]
David Branch was born on November 27, 1948, in Bathurst, New Brunswick.[1][2] He played NCAA hockey while attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst on a scholarship.[2][3][4] After graduating, he moved to Whitby, Ontario, and became involved in coaching minor ice hockey with the Whitby Wildcats organization,[2] and hockey camps run by Wren Blair and Jim Gregory.[5]
Executive career[]
Branch served as secretary-manager of the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from 1973 to 1977, succeeding Bill Hanley.[5][6] Originally the only paid OHA staff in 1973, he was joined in 1975 by Brent Ladds who then succeeded Branch in 1977.[5] Hired by Gord Renwick in 1977, Branch became the new executive director of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association for the retiring Gordon Juckes.[7] He served in that role until 1979.[2]
Branch played a role in the founding of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), by negotiating with Brent Ladds to split the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL) from the OHA. He became commissioner of the OMJHL in 1979, and the independent OHL in 1980.[8] He became president of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) in 1996.[2] He helped develop a scholarship program that affords all players one year of post-secondary education per season played in the league.[4][9] He advocated for player safety, anti-violence, and mental health.[2] He implemented rules to reduce fighting in the OHL.[10][11] Branch was part of introducing a blindside hit rule in the OHL,[10] and aimed to have all members of the CHL introduce similar rules.[11] He supported mental health initiatives for players, and helped create Hockey Canada's Program of Excellence allowing junior players to compete in international events.[12] In 2005, he implemented the exceptional player status clause, allowing a 14-year-old John Tavares to be drafted one year sooner than normal.[12]
Dan MacKenzie succeeded Branch as the CHL president in September 2019, while Branch continued as the OHL commissioner.[13][14][15] Branch continued as OHL commissioner until his retirement on August 6, 2024, when he was succeeded by Golf Canada executive Bryan Crawford.[16]
Personal life and death[]
Branch had three sons including Barclay, Kyle and Wade, and a partner named Patsy.[1] Barclay served as a general manager in the OHL,[2][17] and was an assistant coach with the Oshawa Generals.[18] Kyle was drafted by the Mississauga IceDogs in 1999.[19] Wade briefly played in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League with the Bowmanville Eagles.[20]
Branch was involved in hockey twelve months per year, and became a recreational golfer later in life.[12] He was a long-time resident of Whitby, Ontario. He died on January 4, 2026, at age 77.[3][12]
Honours and legacy[]
Branch was a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame selection committee.[2][3] He was honoured with the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2016,[2][9] and he was inducted into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame as a builder in 2017.[3][4] After retiring as CHL president in 2019, the CHL Player of the Year Award was renamed for Branch.[21] In 2025, the OHL established the David Branch Leader of the Year Award to recognize a team executive.[22] National Hockey League (NHL) commissioner Gary Bettman credited Branch with "growing hockey at all levels" and "modernization for the leagues that have long been the greatest source of players who make the NHL".[1]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rossi, Bob. "David Branch, influential Canadian junior hockey executive, dies at 77", The New York Times, January 5, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 David Branch: 2016 Order of Hockey in Canada Honouree (2016).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Tovell, Jonathan. "David Branch, Former Longtime OHL Commissioner, CHL President, Dies At 77", The Hockey News, January 5, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 David Branch.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Young 1989, p. 255.
- ↑ OHA History: The Administration and Development of the OHA (August 29, 2022).
- ↑ "Branch new CAHA director", Lethbridge Herald, June 29, 1977, p. 40.
- ↑ Young 1989, p. 293.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sweetland, Josh (June 20, 2016). David Branch honoured with the Order of Hockey in Canada.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Russon, Randy. "OHL a safer place thanks to David Branch", Sault This Week, October 11, 2016.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Mirtle, James. "CHL president on fighting in junior hockey: 'We don't need it'", The Globe and Mail, March 24, 2017.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 Lautens, Kristjan. "David Branch, dead at 77, built the foundation of Ontario junior hockey", Toronto Star, January 5, 2026.
- ↑ Beneteau, Josh. "CHL hires NBA executive Dan MacKenzie to be first full-time president", Sportsnet, July 30, 2019.
- ↑ Zwolinski, Mark. "Dan MacKenzie named CHL's first full-time president", Toronto Star, July 30, 2019.
- ↑ Harrigan, Scott. "CHL Names Dan MacKenzie First Full-Time President", Independent Sports News, July 30, 2019.
- ↑ "Golf Canada executive and ex-Argo Bryan Crawford named OHL commissioner", Sportsnet, June 12, 2024.
- ↑ Brophy, Mike. "Wolves GM Branch following example set by his dad", Sudbury Star, November 4, 2015.
- ↑ Barclay Branch Hockey Stats and Profile.
- ↑ Kyle Branch–Stats, Contract, Salary & More.
- ↑ Wade Branch Hockey Stats and Profile.
- ↑ CHL Awards.
- ↑ Greyhounds President and Governor Tim Lukenda Recognized with Inaugural David Branch Leader of the Year Award (August 15, 2025).
Bibliography[]
- Young, Scott (1989). 100 Years of Dropping the Puck. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: McClelland & Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-9093-5.
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