The 2014–15 OHL season was the 35th season of the Ontario Hockey League, in which twenty teams played 68 games each according to the regular season schedule, from September 24, 2014 to March 22, 2015. The Niagara IceDogs began play at their new arena, the Meridian Centre. The Ottawa 67's returned to TD Place Arena after a two-year hiatus due to a renovation. Brian Kilrea returned to coach the Ottawa 67's for one game on October 17, becoming the oldest coach in league history.
The Oshawa Generals won the J. Ross Robertson Cup for the 13th time in franchise history, as they defeated the Erie Otters in five games in the final round of the playoffs. The Generals qualified for the 2015 Memorial Cup held at Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City. Oshawa defeated the Kelowna Rockets 2–1 in overtime in the final game, winning the Memorial Cup for the fifth time in franchise history.
Near the end of the regular season, the Plymouth Whalers were sold, and the franchise moved to Flint, Michigan, becoming the Flint Firebirds. Also near the end of the regular season, the Belleville Bulls were sold and the franchise moved to Hamilton, Ontario, becoming the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Regular season
Final standings Note: DIV = Division; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title; z = clinched conference title
Eastern conference Rank TeamDIV GP W L OTL SL PTS GF GA 1 z-Oshawa Generals East 68 51 11 2 4 108 292 157 2 y-Barrie Colts Central 68 41 24 1 2 85 278 227 3 x-North Bay Battalion Central 68 37 20 6 5 85 237 195 4 x-Ottawa 67's East 68 38 25 4 1 81 239 220 5 x-Niagara IceDogs Central 68 37 27 2 2 78 274 237 6 x-Kingston Frontenacs East 68 32 28 5 3 72 196 197 7 x-Belleville Bulls East 68 27 33 3 5 62 203 246 8 x-Peterborough Petes East 68 26 36 1 5 58 203 268 9 Mississauga Steelheads Central 68 25 40 2 1 53 178 265 10 Sudbury Wolves Central 68 12 54 1 1 26 149 323
Western conference Rank TeamDIV GP W L OTL SL PTS GF GA 1 z-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds West 68 54 12 0 2 110 342 196 2 y-Erie Otters Midwest 68 50 14 2 2 104 331 212 3 x-London Knights Midwest 68 40 24 1 3 84 289 260 4 x-Guelph Storm Midwest 68 38 26 2 2 80 237 237 5 x-Owen Sound Attack Midwest 68 35 24 2 7 79 240 211 6 x-Kitchener Rangers Midwest 68 32 26 3 7 74 216 221 7 x-Sarnia Sting West 68 29 32 4 3 65 232 263 8 x-Saginaw Spirit West 68 29 36 2 1 61 212 271 9 Plymouth Whalers West 68 23 38 5 2 53 195 255 10 Windsor Spitfires West 68 24 40 2 2 52 223 305
Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIMDylan StromeErie Otters 68 45 84 129 32Mitch MarnerLondon Knights 63 44 82 126 53Connor McDavidErie Otters 47 44 76 120 48Joseph BlandisiBarrie Colts 68 52 60 112 126Christian DvorakLondon Knights 66 41 68 109 24Kevin LabancBarrie Colts 68 31 76 107 55Alex DeBrincatErie Otters 68 51 53 104 73Andrew MangiapaneBarrie Colts 68 43 61 104 54Max DomiLondon Knights 57 32 70 102 66Tyler BertuzziGuelph Storm 68 43 55 98 91
Leading goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Player Team GP Mins W L OTL SL GA SO Sv% GAAKen ApplebyOshawa Generals 50 2935 38 7 0 4 102 6 0.924 2.08Lucas PeressiniKingston Frontenacs 59 3413 30 20 3 3 132 5 0.922 2.32Brandon HalversonSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 50 2784 40 5 0 2 122 6 0.913 2.63Liam HerbstOttawa 67's 39 2170 24 8 3 1 100 3 0.901 2.76Jacob SmithNorth Bay Battalion 56 3305 28 18 5 5 153 4 0.896 2.78
Playoffs
Conference quarterfinals
Eastern conference quarterfinals
(1) Oshawa Generals vs. (8) Peterborough Petes
(2) Barrie Colts vs. (7) Belleville Bulls
(3) North Bay Battalion vs. (6) Kingston Frontenacs
(4) Ottawa 67's vs. (5) Niagara IceDogs
Western Conference quarterfinals
(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (8) Saginaw Spirit
(2) Erie Otters vs. (7) Sarnia Sting
(3) London Knights vs. (6) Kitchener Rangers
(4) Guelph Storm vs. (5) Owen Sound Attack
Conference semifinals
Eastern conference semifinals
(1) Oshawa Generals vs. (5) Niagara IceDogs
(2) Barrie Colts vs. (3) North Bay Battalion
Western conference semifinals
(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (4) Guelph Storm
(2) Erie Otters vs. (3) London Knights
Conference finals
Eastern conference finals
(1) Oshawa Generals vs. (3) North Bay Battalion
Western conference finals
(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (2) Erie Otters
J. Ross Robertson Cup
(E1) Oshawa Generals vs. (W2) Erie Otters
J. Ross Robertson Cup champions roster 2014-15 Oshawa Generals Goaltenders
Defencemen
– C
Wingers
– A
– A Centres
– A
Coach: D. J. Smith General Manager: Roger Hunt
Playoff scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIMConnor McDavidErie Otters 20 21 28 49 12Cole CasselsOshawa Generals 21 10 21 31 14Michael Dal ColleOshawa Generals 21 8 23 31 2Nick RitchieSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 14 13 13 26 28Remi ElieErie Otters 20 4 20 24 20Nicholas BaptisteErie Otters 20 12 11 23 10Dylan StromeErie Otters 20 10 12 22 12Tobias LindbergOshawa Generals 21 7 12 19 8Michael McCarronOshawa Generals 21 9 9 18 33Hunter SmithOshawa Generals 21 9 9 18 38
Playoff leading goaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
Player Team GP Mins W L GA SO Sv% GAAJacob SmithNorth Bay Battalion 15 931 10 5 31 1 0.927 2.00Ken ApplebyOshawa Generals 21 1259 16 5 47 2 0.922 2.24Jack FlinnOwen Sound Attack 5 305 1 4 13 0 0.915 2.56Mackenzie BlackwoodBarrie Colts 9 562 5 4 27 0 0.922 2.88Brandon HalversonSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 14 796 10 4 39 1 0.893 2.94
Awards J. Ross Robertson Cup (OHL Champions): Oshawa GeneralsHamilton Spectator Trophy (best regualer season record): Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsBobby Orr Trophy (Eastern conference playoffs champion): Oshawa GeneralsWayne Gretzky Trophy (Western conference playoffs champion): Erie OttersEmms Trophy (regular season champion Central division): Barrie ColtsLeyden Trophy (regular season champion East division): Oshawa GeneralsHolody Trophy (regular season champion MidWest division): Erie OttersBumbacco Trophy (regular season champion West division): Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsRed Tilson Trophy (MVP): Connor McDavid, Erie OttersEddie Powers Memorial Trophy (most points): Dylan Strome, Erie OttersMatt Leyden Trophy (coach of the year): Sheldon Keefe, Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsJim Mahon Memorial Trophy (Right Winger with the most points): Mitch Marner, London KnightsMax Kaminsky Trophy (most outstanding defenceman): Tony DeAngelo, Sarnia Sting & Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsOHL Goaltender of the Year: Lucas Peressini, Kingston FrontenacsJack Ferguson Award (number 1 pick in OHL draft): David Levin, Sudbury WolvesDave Pinkney Trophy (goaltenders with lowest goals against average): Ken Appleby & Jeremy Brodeur, Oshawa GeneralsOHL Executive of the Year: Emms Family Award (Rookie of the Year): Alex DeBrincat, Erie OttersF. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy (first-year goaltender with the best goals against average): Michael McNiven, Owen Sound AttackDan Snyder Memorial Trophy (positive role model): Nick Paul, North Bay BattalionWilliam Hanley Trophy (most sportsmanlike player): Dylan Strome, Erie OttersLeo Lalonde Memorial Trophy (best overage player): Joseph Blandisi, Barrie ColtsBobby Smith Trophy (Scholastic Player of the Year): Connor McDavid, Erie OttersRoger Neilson Memorial Award (top academic post-secondary school player): Justin Nichols, Guelph StormIvan Tennant Memorial Award (top academic high school player): Stephen Dhillon, Niagara IceDogsMickey Renaud Captain's Trophy (best OHL team captain): Max Domi, London KnightsTim Adams Memorial Trophy (most valuable player of the OHL Cup): Ryan McLeod, Toronto MarlborosWayne Gretzky 99 Award (MVP in the playoffs): Connor McDavid, Erie Otters
All-Star teams The OHL All-Star Teams were selected by the OHL's General Managers.
First team Connor McDavid, Centre, Erie Otters Max Domi, Left Wing, London Knights Mitch Marner, Right Wing, London Knights Tony DeAngelo, Defence, Sarnia & Sault Ste. Marie Chris Bigras, Defence, Owen Sound Attack Lucas Peressini, Goaltender, Kingston Frontenacs Sheldon Keefe, Coach, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Second team Dylan Strome, Centre, Erie Otters Tyler Bertuzzi, Left Wing, Guelph Storm Alex DeBrincat, Right Wing, Erie Otters Darnell Nurse, Defence, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Rasmus Andersson, Defence, Barrie Colts Ken Appleby, Goaltender, Oshawa Generals Jeff Brown, Coach, Ottawa 67's
Third team Joseph Blandisi, Centre, Barrie Colts Michael Dal Colle, Left Wing, Oshawa Generals Sergey Tolchinsky, Right Wing, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Jakob Chychrun, Defence, Sarnia Sting Jordan Subban, Defence, Belleville Bulls Alex Nedeljkovic, Goaltender, Plymouth Whalers D. J. Smith, Coach, Oshawa Generals
2015 OHL priority selection On April 11, 2015, the OHL conducted the 2015 Ontario Hockey League priority selection. The Sudbury Wolves held the first overall pick in the draft, and selected David Levin from the Don Mills Flyers of the GTHL. Levin 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 2015 Ontario Hockey League priority selection.
# Player Nationality OHL team Hometown Minor team 1 David Levin (RW) Israel Sudbury Wolves North York, Ontario Don Mills Flyers 2 Gabriel Vilardi (C) Canada Windsor Spitfires Kingston, Ontario CIH Academy 3 Ryan McLeod (C) Canada Flint Firebirds Mississauga, Ontario Toronto Marlboros 4 Owen Tippett (RW) Canada Mississauga Steelheads Peterborough, Ontario Toronto Red Wings 5 Zach Gallant (C) Canada Peterborough Petes Oakville, Ontario Mississauga Rebels 6 Brady Gilmour (C) Canada Saginaw Spirit Grafton, Ontario Quinte Red Devils 7 Ben Jones (C) Canada Niagara IceDogs Waterloo, Ontario Toronto Marlboros 8 Matthew Strome (LW) Canada Hamilton Bulldogs Mississauga, Ontario Toronto Marlboros 9 Markus Phillips (D) Canada Owen Sound Attack Toronto, Ontario Toronto Titans 10 Sasha Chmelevski (C) United States Sarnia Sting Northville, Michigan Detroit HoneyBaked 16U 11 Robbie Burt (RW) Canada Kingston Frontenacs Erin, Ontario Mississauga Rebels 12 Greg Meireles (C) Canada Kitchener Rangers Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa Jr. 67's 13 Hayden Davis (D) Canada Niagara IceDogs Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton Huskies 14 Nick Suzuki (C) Canada Owen Sound Attack London, Ontario London Jr. Knights 15 Isaac Ratcliffe (LW) Canada Guelph Storm London, Ontario London Jr. Knights 16 Austen Keating (C) Canada Ottawa 67's Guelph, Ontario Guelph Gryphons 17 Evan Bouchard (D) Canada London Knights Burlington, Ontario Oakville Rangers 18 Brady Lyle (D) Canada North Bay Battalion North Bay, Ontario Shattuck-St. Mary's 16U 19 Jacob Tortora (LW) United States Barrie Colts Victor, New York Don Mills Flyers 20 Ivan Lodnia (RW) United States Erie Otters Novi, Michigan Detroit HoneyBaked 16U 21 Jack Studnicka (C) Canada Oshawa Generals Northville, Michigan Detroit Belle Tire 16U 22 Liam Hawel (C) Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Arnprior, Ontario Ottawa Valley Titans
2015 NHL entry draft On June 26–27, 2015, the National Hockey League conducted the 2015 NHL entry draft held at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. In total, 31 players from the Ontario Hockey League were selected in the draft. Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters was the first player from the OHL to be selected, as he was taken with the first overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers.
Below are the players selected from OHL teams at the NHL Entry Draft.