1997–98 MetJHL season

Sports season

1997–98 MetJHL season
League	Metro Junior A Hockey League
Sport	Hockey
Duration	Regular season 1997-09 – 1998-02 Playoffs 1998-02 – 1998-04
Number of teams	16
Finals champions	Wexford Raiders
MetJHL seasons
← 1996–97 1998–99 OPJHL →

The 1997–98 MetJHL season is the 7th and final season of the Metro Junior A Hockey League (MetJHL). The 16 teams of the Central, Eastern, and Western Divisions competed in a 50-game schedule. The top 12 teams made the playoffs.

The winner of the MetJHL playoffs, the Wexford Raiders, failed to defeat the Milton Merchants of the OPJHL for the OHA's Buckland Cup.

Changes

MetJHL rejoins the Ontario Hockey Association.
Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins join MetJHL.
Muskoka Bears become Huntsville Wildcats.
Thornhill Islanders become Thornhill Rattlers.
Aurora Tigers leave MetJHL for OPJHL.
At the end of the season, league closes doors and teams merge with OPJHL.

Final standings

Note: 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

Central Division
Team	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	P
Wexford Raiders	50	39	7	4	196	167	82
Thornhill Rattlers	50	29	18	3	216	172	61
Markham Waxers	50	24	19	7	247	192	55
Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins	50	21	26	3	168	240	45
North York Rangers	50	8	33	9	165	244	25
Eastern Division
Team	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	P
Oshawa Legionaires	50	34	15	1	266	183	69
Syracuse Jr. Crunch	49	29	16	4	273	219	62
Wellington Dukes	50	23	22	5	223	213	51
Quinte Hawks	49	23	24	2	213	222	48
Port Hope Buzzards	50	19	28	3	190	226	41
Pickering Panthers	50	16	27	7	173	213	39
Western Division
Team	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	P
Caledon Canadians	50	40	4	6	319	123	86
Durham Huskies	50	19	29	2	194	232	40
Huntsville Wildcats	50	18	28	4	157	209	40
Shelburne Wolves	50	12	34	4	189	287	28
Niagara Scenic	50	12	36	2	115	257	26

1997-98 MetJHL Playoffs

Preliminary

Oshawa Legionaires defeated Shelburne Wolves 3-games-to-none

Syracuse Jr. Crunch defeated Pickering Panthers 3-games-to-2

Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats 3-games-to-1

Durham Huskies defeated Markham Waxers 3-games-to-1

Quarter-final

Caledon Canadians defeated Durham Huskies 3-games-to-none

Wexford Raiders defeated Quinte Hawks 3-games-to-none

Oshawa Legionaires defeated Wellington Dukes 3-games-to-2

Syracuse Jr. Crunch defeated Thornhill Rattlers 3-games-to-1

Semi-final

Caledon Canadians defeated Syracuse Jr. Crunch 4-games-to-3

Wexford Raiders defeated Oshawa Legionaires 4-games-to-2

Final

Wexford Raiders defeated Caledon Canadians 4-games-to-3

OHA Buckland Cup Championship

Best-of-7 series

Milton Merchants (OPJHL) defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-1

Milton Merchants 11 - Wexford Raiders 2

Milton Merchants 3 - Wexford Raiders 2 2OT

Milton Merchants 6 - Wexford Raiders 1

Wexford Raiders 4 - Milton Merchants 3 OT

Milton Merchants 6 - Wexford Raiders 1

References

External links

Official website of the Ontario Junior Hockey League
Official website of the Canadian Junior Hockey League

Preceded by

1996–97 MetJHL season

Ontario Hockey Association
Junior A seasons

Succeeded by

1998–99 OPJHL season

Ontario Hockey Association Junior A Hockey

Current Leagues & Teams
Ontario Junior Hockey League Aurora Tigers Brantford 99ers Buffalo Jr. Sabres Burlington Cougars Caledon Admirals Cobourg Cougars Collingwood Blues Georgetown Raiders Haliburton County Huskies Leamington Flyers Lindsay Muskies Markham Royals Milton Menace Mississauga Chargers Niagara Falls Canucks North York Rangers Oakville Blades Pickering Panthers St. Michael's Buzzers Stouffville Spirit Toronto Jr. Canadiens Toronto Patriots Trenton Golden Hawks Wellington Dukes

Current Leagues & Teams

Ontario Junior Hockey League: Aurora Tigers; Brantford 99ers; Buffalo Jr. Sabres; Burlington Cougars; Caledon Admirals; Cobourg Cougars; Collingwood Blues; Georgetown Raiders; Haliburton County Huskies; Leamington Flyers; Lindsay Muskies; Markham Royals; Milton Menace; Mississauga Chargers; Niagara Falls Canucks; North York Rangers; Oakville Blades; Pickering Panthers; St. Michael's Buzzers; Stouffville Spirit; Toronto Jr. Canadiens; Toronto Patriots; Trenton Golden Hawks; Wellington Dukes

Former Leagues & Teams
Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League Brantford Foresters Brantford Majors Buffalo-Glencoe Tondas Chatham Maroons Detroit Jr. Red Wings Guelph CMC's Guelph Imperials Michigan Americans Niagara Falls Flyers St. Thomas Elgins Sarnia Bees Sarnia Legionnaires Welland Sabres Windsor Spitfires Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League Ajax Merchants Belleville Bulls Brampton Warriors Cambridge Winterhawks Dixie Beehives Guelph Platers Hamilton Mountain A's Kingston Frontenacs North Bay Trappers Owen Sound Greys Royal York Royals Toronto Nationals Weston Dodgers Whitby Lawmen Metro Junior A Hockey League Mimico Monarchs Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins Ontario Junior Hockey League Ajax Attack Barrie Colts Bowmanville Eagles Bramalea Blues Brampton Capitals Caledon Canadians Collingwood Blues Couchiching Terriers Dixie Beehives Durham Huskies Huntsville Otters Kingston Voyageurs Markham Waxers Milton Icehawks Newmarket Hurricanes Orangeville Crushers Parry Sound Shamrocks Peterborough Stars Seguin Bruins Shelburne Wolves Streetsville Derbys Syracuse Jr. Crunch Trenton Sting Vaughan Vipers

Former Leagues & Teams

Southern Ontario Junior A Hockey League: Brantford Foresters; Brantford Majors; Buffalo-Glencoe Tondas; Chatham Maroons; Detroit Jr. Red Wings; Guelph CMC's; Guelph Imperials; Michigan Americans; Niagara Falls Flyers; St. Thomas Elgins; Sarnia Bees; Sarnia Legionnaires; Welland Sabres; Windsor Spitfires

Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League: Ajax Merchants; Belleville Bulls; Brampton Warriors; Cambridge Winterhawks; Dixie Beehives; Guelph Platers; Hamilton Mountain A's; Kingston Frontenacs; North Bay Trappers; Owen Sound Greys; Royal York Royals; Toronto Nationals; Weston Dodgers; Whitby Lawmen

Metro Junior A Hockey League: Mimico Monarchs; Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins

Ontario Junior Hockey League: Ajax Attack; Barrie Colts; Bowmanville Eagles; Bramalea Blues; Brampton Capitals; Caledon Canadians; Collingwood Blues; Couchiching Terriers; Dixie Beehives; Durham Huskies; Huntsville Otters; Kingston Voyageurs; Markham Waxers; Milton Icehawks; Newmarket Hurricanes; Orangeville Crushers; Parry Sound Shamrocks; Peterborough Stars; Seguin Bruins; Shelburne Wolves; Streetsville Derbys; Syracuse Jr. Crunch; Trenton Sting; Vaughan Vipers

Seasons
Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 Metro Junior A Hockey League 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 Ontario Junior Hockey League 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–00 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009-10 CC/OJ 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019-20 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24

Seasons

Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League: 1972–73; 1973–74; 1974–75; 1975–76; 1976–77; 1977–78; 1978–79; 1979–80; 1980–81; 1981–82; 1982–83; 1983–84; 1984–85; 1985–86; 1986–87

Metro Junior A Hockey League: 1991–92; 1992–93; 1993–94; 1994–95; 1995–96; 1996–97; 1997–98

Ontario Junior Hockey League: 1992–93; 1993–94; 1994–95; 1995–96; 1996–97; 1997–98; 1998–99; 1999–00; 2000–01; 2001–02; 2002–03; 2003–04; 2004–05; 2005–06; 2006–07; 2007–08; 2008–09; 2009-10 CC/OJ; 2010–11; 2011–12; 2012–13; 2013–14; 2014–15; 2015–16; 2016–17; 2017–18; 2018–19; 2019-20; 2021-22; 2022-23; 2023-24

Championships
CJHL Central Canada Cup Challenge Dudley Hewitt Cup Centennial Cup

v t e Members and championships of the Canadian Junior Hockey League
ANAVET Cup	Manitoba Junior Hockey League Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League
Doyle Cup	Alberta Junior Hockey League
Dudley Hewitt Cup	Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League Ontario Junior Hockey League Superior International Junior Hockey League
Fred Page Cup	Central Canada Hockey League Maritime Junior A Hockey League Quebec Junior Hockey League
Centennial Cup	1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 ~~2020~~ ~~2021~~ 2022 2023
History	Abbott Cup Callaghan Cup Western Canada Cup Thunder Bay Flyers BCHL EJAHL IJHL MetJHL Original MJAHL NBJHL NJAHL NJHL NOJHA OPJHL PJHL QJAHL RMJHL SJJHL SOJHL TBJHL
Administrators	Rick Morocco (executive director, 2014–2016) Brent Ladds (president, 2016–2022)
Hockey Canada World Junior A Challenge World U-17 Hockey Challenge Eastern Canada Cup Challenge