The Peterborough Petes hoisted the Robertson Cup as OHL champions this past May, but OHL hockey will be back again soon! Here are some important dates to circle for the 2023-24 season.
The 2023-24 regular season schedule was unveiled last Tuesday with 680 games leading up to the 2024 OHL Playoffs.
1. #OHLOpeningWeek kicks off September 28 in Barrie and Peterborough
The puck drops on the 2023-24 OHL season on Thursday September 28 in Barrie as the North Bay Battalion visit the Central Division rival Colts, while the Kingston Frontenacs head to the Peterborough Memorial Centre to face off against the 2023 OHL champion Peterborough Petes who will raise their OHL Championship banner prior to puck drop. The games kick off a 21-game weekend schedule that includes 20 home openers.
2. Bulldogs drop puck in Brantford on October 7
The OHL returns to Brantford for the first time in nearly 40 years on Saturday, October 7 as the Bulldogs enter a new chapter when they drop the puck for their home opener against the Oshawa Generals at the Civic Centre. Game time is 7:00pm.
3. Greyhounds, Attack, Spitfires and Battalion clash on Thanksgiving Monday
OHL fans can be thankful for hockey this Thanksgiving holiday as the Soo Greyhounds visit the Windsor Spitfires and the Owen Sound Attack travel to North Bay as they hit the ice for 2:00pm matinees on Monday October 9.
4. Knights, Petes square off in Championship rematch on October 12
After a highly competitive six-game matchup in the OHL Championship Series last spring, the London Knights and champion Peterborough Petes will meet again on Saturday October 12 in Peterborough. The Knights will look to bounce back with their core group of returning players as they face off against a team of fresh-faced Petes.
5. Otters host annual Thanksgiving clash
The Erie Otters have long held their annual U.S. Thanksgiving contest, and this year’s opponent will be the Soo Greyhounds on Thursday, November 23.
6. Six School Day games on the schedule
Beginning Wednesday November 15, a series of six School Day games are scattered throughout the OHL schedule featuring morning start times. The Ottawa 67’s will host the Kingston Frontenacs at 10:30am on the 15th before swapping places, as the 67’s visit the Frontenacs at 10:30am on Wednesday November 29. The Guelph Storm and Mississauga Steelheads also face-off on the 29th, with the puck dropping at 11am in Mississauga. The Erie Otters play host to the Guelph Storm at 11:00am Thursday February 1, while the Steelheads host the Brantford Bulldogs in their second school day game with an 11am start on Wednesday March 6. Tuesday March 12 sees the Ottawa 67’s host the Barrie Colts at 2:00pm in the final School Day game of the season.
7. Second half starts with jam-packed Thursday
Teams return from the Christmas break and hit the ground running with 18 teams in action on Thursday December 28, kicking-off a 19-game weekend to close out 2023.
8. Busy New Year’s Eve schedule
Eight teams will play at home on New Year’s Eve to close out the 2023 calendar, including the North Bay Battalion (vs. Oshawa at 1:00pm), Peterborough Petes (vs. Mississauga at 2:05pm), Windsor Spitfires (vs. Sarnia at 2:05pm), Soo Greyhounds (vs. Saginaw at 2:07pm), Erie Otters (vs. Brantford at 4:00pm), London Knights (vs. Flint at 4:00pm), Niagara IceDogs (vs. Guelph at 6:00pm) and Barrie Colts (vs. Owen Sound at 7:30pm).
9. Kitchener, Oshawa, Ottawa, Kingston open up the New Year
The Oshawa Generals host the Kitchener Rangers at 2:05pm, while the Ottawa 67’s visit the Kingston Frontenacs at 4:00pm on Monday January 1 in New Years Day clashes to kick off 2024!
10. OHL trade deadline set for January 10
The trade deadline for the 2023-24 OHL season is set for Wednesday, June 10 at 12:00pm.
11. Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Moncton
Top prospects eligible for the 2024 NHL Draft will converge on Moncton, New Brunswick on Wednesday, January 24. The annual showcase will be played at the Avenir Centre, home of the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats. The Avenir Centre opened in 2018, and seats approximately 8,800 spectators.
12. YourTV Hockey Day in the OHL set for February 4
Circle your calendar for a broadcast triple-header of OHL hockey on Sunday February 4 as YourTV hosts the 11th annual Hockey Day in the OHL. The action begins at 1:00pm when the Peterborough Petes visit the Kingston Frontenacs followed by another game at 4:00pm pitting the Niagara IceDogs and visiting North Bay Battalion. The nightcap sees the Sarnia Sting host the Windsor Spitfires at 7:00pm.
13. Full Family Day schedule on February 19
It’ll be a jam-packed Family Day afternoon on Monday, February 19 as nine different teams host matchups including the Brantford Bulldogs (vs. Erie), Kingston Frontenacs (vs. Barrie), Ottawa 67’s (vs. North Bay), Mississauga Steelheads (vs. Owen Sound), Guelph Storm (vs. Sudbury), London Knights (vs. Windsor), Oshawa Generals (vs. Niagara), Peterborough Petes (vs. Kitchener), Sarnia Sting (vs. Sault Ste. Marie).
14. Season wraps up March 24
The 2023-24 OHL season concludes on Sunday March 24 with a five-game schedule as the Soo Greyhounds host the Saginaw Spirit and the Peterborough Petes travel to North Bay, while the Brantford Bulldogs visit the Ottawa 67’s in 2:00pm matinees. The Guelph Storm travel to London, while the Oshawa Generals close out the regular season as they host the Sudbury Wolves in their 6:05pm Sunday spot.
15. Memorial Cup comes to Saginaw
The Saginaw Spirit will host the 2024 Memorial Cup, becoming the first American-based OHL team to ever do so. The Memorial Cup returns to the United States for the first time since 1998 as the Spirit, who feature reigning OHL Rookie of the Year Michael Misa, have the CHL’s top prize in their sights. The puck drops on the CHL’s national championship on May 24 and runs through June 2, 2024.
