1997–98 MetJHL 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

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

For the Central Canada Championship, see Dudley Hewitt Cup. For the national championship, see 1998 Royal Bank Cup.

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

See also

• 1998 Royal Bank Cup
• Dudley Hewitt Cup
• List of Ontario Hockey Association Junior A seasons
• Ontario Junior A Hockey League
• Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
• 1997 in ice hockey
• 1998 in ice hockey

External links

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