1996–97 MetJHL season

1996–97 MetJHL season
LeagueMetro Junior A Hockey League
SportHockey
DurationRegular season
1996-09 – 1997-02
Playoffs
1997-02 – 1997-05
Number of teams16
Finals championsAurora Tigers
MetJHL seasons

The 1996–97 MetJHL season is the 6th 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 Aurora Tigers, could not move into national playdowns as the Metro was not a member of the Ontario Hockey Association.

Milestones

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On February 21, 1997, the Muskoka Bears' Ryan Venturelli became the first known goaltender in hockey history to score two goals (both empty net) in a hockey game against the Durham Huskies during the Metro Junior A Hockey League 1996-97 regular season.[1]

Changes

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Final standings

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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 38 7 5 285 185 81
Thornhill Islanders 50 29 17 4 279 195 62
Markham Waxers 50 27 19 4 246 221 58
Niagara Scenic 50 17 26 7 230 262 41
North York Rangers 50 12 33 5 248 341 29
Eastern Division
Team GP W L T GF GA P
Pickering Panthers 50 34 12 4 232 163 72
Quinte Hawks 50 34 13 3 280 143 71
Wellington Dukes 50 21 26 3 212 224 45
Oshawa Legionaires 50 20 30 0 231 292 40
Port Hope Buzzards 50 13 35 2 162 269 28
Syracuse Jr. Crunch 50 10 37 3 220 358 23
Western Division
Team GP W L T GF GA P
Aurora Tigers 50 42 5 3 342 138 87
Caledon Canadians 50 41 7 2 318 145 84
Muskoka Bears 50 14 34 2 200 298 30
Durham Huskies 50 13 37 0 201 317 26
Shelburne Wolves 50 10 37 3 213 348 23

1996-97 MetJHL Playoffs

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Division Semi-final

Wexford Raiders defeated Niagara Scenics 4-games-to-none
Thornhill Islanders defeated Markham Waxers 4-games-to-3
Pickering Panthers defeated Oshawa Legionaires 4-games-to-2
Quinte Hawks defeated Wellington Dukes 4-games-to-1
Aurora Tigers defeated Durham Huskies 4-games-to-none
Caledon Canadians defeated Muskoka Bears 4-games-to-none

Interdivision Round Robin

Team W L T GF GA P
x-Wexford Raiders 4 2 0 39 31 8
x-Aurora Tigers 4 2 0 23 18 8
x-Quinte Hawks 4 2 0 29 22 8
x-Caledon Canadians 3 2 1 37 18 7
Thornhill Islanders 2 4 0 24 31 4
Pickering Panthers 0 5 1 14 46 1

Semi-final

Caledon Canadians defeated Wexford Raiders 4-games-to-none
Aurora Tigers defeated Quinte Hawks 4-games-to-2

Final

Aurora Tigers defeated Caledon Canadians 4-games-to-none

Scoring leaders

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Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Peter Bournazakis Aurora Tigers 49 52 80 132 112
Brian Gionta Niagara Scenic 50 57 70 127 101
John Rumeo Wexford Raiders 50 52 62 114 --
Brad Tapper Wexford Raiders 50 42 70 112 --
Matt Murley Syracuse Jr. Crunch 48 52 58 110 --
Tim Connolly Syracuse Jr. Crunch 50 42 62 104 34
Sean Klaver Aurora Tigers 48 41 63 104 51
Ian Laroque Quinte Hawks 44 45 55 100 --
Andy Korzen Niagara Scenic 45 41 58 99 22
David Inman Wexford Raiders 43 32 56 88 --

Leading goaltenders

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Starting goaltenders only (1000 minutes or over).

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 GA SO GAA
Jeff Mound Aurora Tigers 29 1731 72 5 2.50
Jason Flick Quinte Hawks 30 1774 81 1 2.74
Lyle Zulak Caledon Canadians 27 1380 65 2 2.83
Daniel Jacques Pickering Panthers 28 1481 70 1 2.84
Corey Batten Quinte Hawks 19 1125 55 2 2.93

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Iovino, Jim (1997-03-18). "LCS Guide to Hockey". www.lcshockey.com.
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Preceded by Ontario Hockey Association
Junior A seasons
Succeeded by