OHL Exhibition Games Bring Major Junior Hockey to New Communities

Image Credit: Peterborough Petes

While the Ontario Hockey League’s exhibition schedule is about preparing for the 68-game regular season, it also brings major junior hockey to communities that normally don’t get to see that level of competition.

Arnprior, Cornwall, Fort Erie, King City, LaSalle, Leamington, Newmarket, Timmins, Watford and Woolwich are some of the communities without OHL franchises that will host preseason games.

The Saginaw Spirit will travel to Gander, Grand Falls-Windsor and Corner Brook to play the Newfoundland Regiment, while the London Knights are headed to Vancouver Island to take on the Victoria Royals as the CHL continues to promote cross-league games.

Preseason hockey is often seen as a chance to evaluate players competing for roster spots, but these types of exhibition games gives the league a chance to bring major junior hockey to other communities.

Bringing preseason games into strong minor hockey communities that don’t have major junior teams of their own, but have OJHL, GOJHL, NOJHL and PJHL franchises, gives people a chance to watch OHL hockey without having to drive.

Tiffany Luke / Kitchener Rangers

All 20 OHL franchises have worked to build strong relationships with local minor hockey associations, businesses, volunteers, billet families and fans.

These exhibition games also give new communities a chance to start building those same connections, and that might be the best reason for the OHL to continue reaching outside its traditional markets.