Relocation/Team Name Change
Hamilton Steelhawks to Niagara Falls Thunder The Hamilton Steelhawks relocated their franchise to the city of Niagara Falls after four seasons in Hamilton . The club was renamed as the Niagara Falls Thunder and would play out of the Niagara Falls Memorial Arena . The Thunder would remain in the Emms Division.
This would be the first club since the Niagara Falls Flyers , who relocated to North Bay in 1982, to be based out of the city.
Kingston Canadians to Kingston Raiders The Kingston Canadians were rebranded as the Kingston Raiders for the 1988-89 season. Kingston had used the Canadians name since they were announced as an expansion club in 1973. The club changed their colour scheme from red, blue and white to black, silver and white, effectively stealing the NFL's Los Angeles Raiders' name and color scheme.
Teams
Regular season
Final standings Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; PTS = Points; x = clinched playoff berth; y = clinched division title
Leyden Division
Emms Division
Scoring leaders
Playoffs [1]
Division quarter-finals
Leyden Division
(1) Peterborough Petes vs. (6) Belleville Bulls Peterborough wins series 4 – 1
(2) Oshawa Generals vs. (5) Ottawa 67's
(3) Toronto Marlboros vs. (4) Cornwall Royals Cornwall wins series 4 – 2
Emms Division
(1) Kitchener Rangers vs. (6) North Bay Centennials North Bay wins series 4 – 1
(2) Niagara Falls Thunder vs. (5) Windsor Compuware Spitfires March 21 Niagara Falls Thunder 7 – 6 Windsor Compuware Spitfires Windsor Arena
March 24 Niagara Falls Thunder 6 – 3 Windsor Compuware Spitfires Windsor Arena
Niagara Falls wins series 4 – 0
(3) London Knights vs. (4) Guelph Platers
Division semi-finals
Leyden Division
(4) Cornwall Royals vs. (5) Ottawa 67's Cornwall wins series 4 – 2
Emms Division
(3) London Knights vs. (6) North Bay Centennials
Division finals
Leyden Division
(1) Peterborough Petes vs. (4) Cornwall Royals Peterborough wins series 4 – 2
Emms Division
(2) Niagara Falls Thunder vs. (3) London Knights Niagara Falls wins series 4 – 3
J. Ross Robertson Cup
(L1) Peterborough Petes vs. (E2) Niagara Falls Thunder Peterborough wins series 4 – 2
Awards J. Ross Robertson Cup :Peterborough Petes Hamilton Spectator Trophy :Kitchener Rangers Leyden Trophy :Peterborough Petes Emms Trophy :Kitchener Rangers Red Tilson Trophy :Bryan Fogarty , Niagara Falls Thunder Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy :Bryan Fogarty , Niagara Falls Thunder Matt Leyden Trophy :Joe McDonell, Kitchener Rangers Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy :Stan Drulia , Niagara Falls Thunder Max Kaminsky Trophy :Bryan Fogarty , Niagara Falls Thunder OHL Goaltender of the Year :Gus Morschauser, Kitchener Rangers Jack Ferguson Award :Eric Lindros , Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Dave Pinkney Trophy :John Tanner and Todd Bojcun, Peterborough Petes Emms Family Award :Owen Nolan , Cornwall Royals F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy :Jeff Wilson, Kingston Raiders William Hanley Trophy :Kevin Miehm , Oshawa Generals Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy :Stan Drulia , Niagara Falls Thunder Bobby Smith Trophy :Brian Collinson, Toronto Marlboros Bill Long Award :Alec Campagnaro, Guelph Platers & Earl Montagano, Ottawa 67's
1989 OHL Priority Selection The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds held the first overall pick in the 1989 Ontario Priority Selection and selected Eric Lindros from the St. Michael's Buzzers. Lindros 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 1989 Ontario Hockey League Priority Selection. [2]
# Player Nationality OHL Team Hometown Minor Team 1 Eric Lindros (C ) CanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds London, Ontario St. Michael's Buzzers 2 Jamie Matthews (C ) CanadaSudbury Wolves Amherst, Nova Scotia Amherst Ramblers 3 Dave Stewart (D ) CanadaKingston Frontenacs Norwood, Ontario Waterloo Siskins 4 Jamie Caruso (RW ) CanadaNorth Bay Centennials Bramalea, Ontario Bramalea Blues 5 Ryan Merritt (LW ) CanadaWindsor Spitfires Cottam, Ontario Waterloo Siskins 6 Brent Gretzky (C ) CanadaBelleville Bulls Brantford, Ontario Brantford Classics 7 Trent Cull (D ) CanadaGuelph Platers Georgetown, Ontario Georgetown Gemini 8 Ryan Kuwabara (RW ) CanadaOttawa 67's Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton Kilty B's 9 Rod Pasma (D ) CanadaCornwall Royals Georgetown, Ontario Georgetown Gemini 10 Alek Stojanov (RW ) CanadaHamilton Dukes Windsor, Ontario Windsor Midgets 11 Wade Simpson (D ) CanadaOshawa Generals Navan, Ontario Nepean Raiders 12 Greg Ryan (D ) CanadaLondon Knights Burlington, Ontario Burlington Cougars 13 Ken Ruddick (RW ) CanadaNiagara Falls Thunder Hamilton, Ontario Hamilton Huskies 14 Dale McTavish (C ) CanadaPeterborough Petes Eganville, Ontario Pembroke Lumber Kings 15 Jack Williams (RW ) United StatesKitchener Rangers Greensburg, Pennsylvania Chicago Young Americans
See also
References