The 2017–18 OHL season was the 38th season of the Ontario Hockey League, in which twenty teams played 68 games each according to the regular season schedule, from September 21, 2017 to March 18, 2018. The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds accomplished a streak of 23 consecutive wins between October 27, 2017 and January 4, 2018.
The Hamilton Bulldogs won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as they defeated the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in six games to represent the Ontario Hockey League at the 2018 Memorial Cup, which was hosted by the Regina Pats of the WHL at the Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan from May 18–27, 2018.
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-Hamilton Bulldogs East 68 43 18 4 3 93 252 207 2 y-Barrie Colts Central 68 42 21 4 1 89 297 229 3 x-Kingston Frontenacs East 68 36 23 6 3 81 243 202 4 x-Niagara IceDogs Central 68 35 23 7 3 80 240 235 5 x-Oshawa Generals East 68 36 29 3 0 75 250 243 6 x-North Bay Battalion Central 68 30 28 7 3 70 213 237 7 x-Mississauga Steelheads Central 68 33 32 1 2 69 251 250 8 x-Ottawa 67's East 68 30 29 7 2 69 225 260 9 Peterborough Petes East 68 23 39 3 3 52 222 283 10 Sudbury Wolves Central 68 17 42 9 0 43 197 291
Western conference Rank TeamDIV GP W L OTL SL PTS GF GA 1 z-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds West 68 55 7 3 3 116 317 186 2 y-Kitchener Rangers Midwest 68 43 21 3 1 90 246 218 3 x-Sarnia Sting West 68 46 17 4 1 97 299 213 4 x-Owen Sound Attack Midwest 68 38 22 3 5 84 289 247 5 x-London Knights Midwest 68 39 25 2 2 82 233 212 6 x-Windsor Spitfires West 68 32 30 4 2 70 214 224 7 x-Guelph Storm Midwest 68 30 29 5 4 69 228 263 8 x-Saginaw Spirit West 68 29 30 9 0 67 196 238 9 Erie Otters Midwest 68 23 35 7 3 56 220 270 10 Flint Firebirds West 68 20 43 3 2 45 194 316
Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
+ Player Team GP G A Pts PIMAaron LuchukWindsor/Barrie 68 50 65 115 8Morgan FrostSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 67 42 70 112 56Jordan KyrouSarnia Sting 56 39 70 109 22Nick SuzukiOwen Sound Attack 64 42 58 100 18Dmitri SokolovSudbury/Barrie 64 50 46 96 18Sam MileticLondon/Niagara 63 36 56 92 24Jason RobertsonKingston Frontenacs 68 41 46 87 36Evan BouchardLondon Knights 67 25 62 87 56Adam MascherinKitchener Rangers 67 40 46 86 20Boris KatchoukSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 58 42 43 85 30Linus NymanKingston Frontenacs 67 39 46 85 12
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% GAAMatt VillaltaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 49 2904 40 5 2 2 125 3 0.908 2.58Jeremy HelvigKingston Frontenacs 56 3318 31 16 6 3 148 2 0.916 2.68Michael DiPietroWindsor Spitfires 56 3267 29 21 3 1 152 7 0.910 2.79Christian ProppBarrie/North Bay 35 2052 19 10 3 3 96 1 0.910 2.81Joseph RaaymakersLondon Knights 46 2623 29 13 1 1 124 3 0.910 2.84
Playoffs
Conference quarterfinals
Eastern conference quarterfinals
(1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (8) Ottawa 67's
(2) Barrie Colts vs. (7) Mississauga Steelheads
(3) Kingston Frontenacs vs. (6) North Bay Battalion
*Note: Game 3 has been moved to Sudbury Community Arena, because the North Bay Memorial Gardens hasn't been ready in time after hosting the 2018 Ford World Women's Curling Championship.
(4) Niagara IceDogs vs. (5) Oshawa Generals
Western conference quarterfinals
(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (8) Saginaw Spirit
(2) Kitchener Rangers vs. (7) Guelph Storm
(3) Sarnia Sting vs. (6) Windsor Spitfires
(4) Owen Sound Attack vs. (5) London Knights
Conference semifinals
Eastern conference semifinals
(1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (4) Niagara IceDogs
(2) Barrie Colts vs. (3) Kingston Frontenacs
Western conference semifinals
(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (4) Owen Sound Attack
(2) Kitchener Rangers vs. (3) Sarnia Sting
Conference finals
Eastern conference finals
(1) Hamilton Bulldogs vs. (3) Kingston Frontenacs
Western conference finals
(1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (2) Kitchener Rangers
J. Ross Robertson Cup
(W1) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (E1) Hamilton Bulldogs
J. Ross Robertson Cup Champions Roster 2017-18 Hamilton Bulldogs Goaltenders
Defencemen
– C
Wingers
Centres
Coach: John Gruden General Manager: Steve Staios
Playoff scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIMBoris KatchoukSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 24 19 18 37 8Taylor RaddyshSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 24 13 21 34 14Robert ThomasHamilton Bulldogs 21 12 20 32 14Morgan FrostSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 24 10 19 29 26Logan BrownKitchener Rangers 19 5 22 27 6Kole SherwoodKitchener Rangers 19 14 12 26 30Ryan MooreHamilton Bulldogs 21 8 18 26 30Brandon SaigeonHamilton Bulldogs 21 18 7 25 10Adam MascherinKitchener Rangers 19 9 15 24 16Gabriel VilardiKingston Frontenacs 16 11 11 22 14
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% GAAKaden FulcherHamilton Bulldogs 21 1290 16 5 58 0 0.905 2.70Mario CulinaKitchener Rangers 19 1161 11 6 54 1 0.917 2.79Stephen DhillonNiagara IceDogs 10 621 5 5 29 0 0.924 2.80Michael DiPietroWindsor Spitfires 6 342 2 4 16 0 0.934 2.81Justin FazioSarnia Sting 12 729 6 6 37 0 0.890 3.04
Awards Playoffs trophies Trophy name Recognition Recipient J. Ross Robertson Cup OHL Finals champion Hamilton Bulldogs Bobby Orr Trophy Eastern Conference champion Hamilton Bulldogs Wayne Gretzky Trophy Western Conference champion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Wayne Gretzky 99 Award Playoffs MVP Robert Thomas, Hamilton BulldogsRegular season — Team trophies Trophy name Recognition Recipient Hamilton Spectator Trophy Team with best record Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Leyden Trophy East division champion Hamilton Bulldogs Emms Trophy Central division champion Barrie Colts Bumbacco Trophy West division champion Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Holody Trophy Midwest division champion Kitchener RangersRegular season — Executive awards Trophy name Recognition Recipient Matt Leyden Trophy Coach of the year Drew Bannister, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Bill Long Award Lifetime achievement – OHL Executive of the Year Executive of the Year –Regular season — Player awards Trophy name Recognition Recipient Red Tilson Trophy Most outstanding player Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia Sting Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy Top scorer Aaron Luchuk, Windsor/Barrie Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest team goals against M. Villalta & T. Johnson, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Max Kaminsky Trophy Most outstanding defenceman Nicolas Hague, Mississauga Steelheads Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy Top scoring right winger Jordan Kyrou, Sarnia Sting Emms Family Award Rookie of the year Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie Colts William Hanley Trophy Most sportsmanlike player Nick Suzuki, Owen Sound Attack F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy Best rookie GAA Jordan Kooy, London Knights Bobby Smith Trophy Scholastic player of the year Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy Overage player of the year Aaron Luchuk, Windsor/Barrie OHL Goaltender of the Year Goaltender of the year Michael DiPietro, Windsor Spitfires Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy Humanitarian of the year Garrett McFadden, Guelph Storm Roger Neilson Memorial Award Top academic college/university player Stephen Gibson, Mississauga Steelheads Ivan Tennant Memorial Award Top academic high school player Mack Guzda, Owen Sound Attack Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy Team captain that best exemplifies character and commitment Justin Lemcke, Hamilton BulldogsProspect player awards Trophy name Recognition Recipient Jack Ferguson Award First overall pick in priority selection Quinton Byfield, Sudbury Wolves Tim Adams Memorial Trophy OHL Cup MVP Dylan Robinson, Toronto Jr. Canadiens
All-Star teams The OHL All-Star Teams were selected by the OHL's General Managers.
First team Morgan Frost, Centre, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Boris Katchouk, Left Wing, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Jordan Kyrou, Right Wing, Sarnia Sting Nicolas Hague, Defence, Mississauga Steelheads Evan Bouchard, Defence, London Knights Michael DiPietro, Goaltender, Windsor Spitfires Drew Bannister, Coach, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Second team Aaron Luchuk, Centre, Windsor Spitfires/Barrie Colts Sam Miletic, Left Wing, London Knights/Niagara IceDogs Taylor Raddysh, Right Wing, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sean Durzi, Defence, Owen Sound Attack Conor Timmins, Defence, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Jeremy Helvig, Goaltender, Kingston Frontenacs Dale Hawerchuk, Coach, Barrie Colts
Third team Gabriel Vilardi, Centre, Kingston Frontenacs Adam Mascherin, Left Wing, Kitchener Rangers Jason Robertson, Right Wing, Kingston Frontenacs Cam Dineen, Defence, Sarnia Sting Joey Keane, Defence, Barrie Colts Matt Villalta, Goaltender, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Trevor Letowski, Coach, Windsor Spitfires
2018 OHL Priority Selection On April 7, 2018, the OHL conducted the 2018 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. The Sudbury Wolves held the first overall pick in the draft, and selected Quinton Byfield from the York-Simcoe Express of the OMHA. Byfield 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 2018 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection.
# Player Nationality OHL team Hometown Minor team 1 Quinton Byfield (C) Canada Sudbury Wolves Newmarket, Ontario York-Simcoe Express (OMHA-EHL) 2 Evan Vierling (C) Canada Flint Firebirds Aurora, Ontario York-Simcoe Express (OMHA-EHL) 3 William Cuylle (LW) Canada Peterborough Petes Toronto, Ontario Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) 4 Jamie Drysdale (D) Canada Erie Otters Toronto, Ontario Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) 5 Cole Perfetti (C) Canada Saginaw Spirit Whitby, Ontario Vaughan Kings (GTHL) 6 Cameron Tolnai (C) Canada Ottawa 67's Oakville, Ontario Oakville Rangers (OMHA-SCTA) 7 Daniil Chayka (D) Russia Guelph Storm Moscow, Russia Toronto Jr. Canadiens (GTHL) 8 James Hardie (LW) Canada Mississauga Steelheads Innisfil, Ontario Barrie Jr. Colts (OMHA-EHL) 9 Pacey Schlueting (D) Canada North Bay Battalion North Bay, Ontario North Bay Trappers (NOHA) 10 Jean-Luc Foudy (C) Canada Windsor Spitfires Toronto, Ontario Toronto Titans (GTHL) 11 Tyler Tullio (C) / Canada/USA Oshawa Generals Lakeshore, Ontario Vaughan Kings (GTHL) 12 Lleyton Moore (D) Canada Niagara IceDogs Woodbridge, Ontario Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) 13 Jake Murray (D) Canada Kingston Frontenacs Oakville, Ontario Oakville Rangers (OMHA-SCTA) 14 Luke Evangelista (RW) Canada London Knights Oakville, Ontario Oakville Rangers (OMHA-SCTA) 15 Nolan Seed (D) Canada Owen Sound Attack Newboro, Ontario Smiths Falls Bears (HEO Midget) 16 Riley Piercey (RW) Canada Barrie Colts Mississauga, Ontario Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) 17 Reid Valade (RW) Canada Kitchener Rangers Caledon, Ontario Toronto Marlboros (GTHL) 18 Logan Morrison (C) Canada Hamilton Bulldogs Guelph, Ontario Guelph Gryphons (OMHA-SCTA) 19 Jacob Perreault (C) / Canada/USA Sarnia Sting Hinsdale, Illinois Chicago Mission 16u (HPHL) 20 Ryan O'Rourke (D) Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Pickering, Ontario Vaughan Kings (GTHL)
2018 NHL entry draft