1997–98 OPJHL season

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The 1997–98 OPJHL season is the fifth season of the Ontario Provincial Junior A Hockey League (OPJHL). The twenty-two teams of the MacKenzie, MacKinnon, Phillips, and Ruddock Divisions competed in a 51-game schedule. The top 4 teams of each division make the playoffs.

The winner of the OPJHL playoffs, the Milton Merchants, won the 1998 Buckland Cup as OHA Champions and the Dudley Hewitt Cup as Central Canadian Champions, but failed to win the 1998 Royal Bank Cup.^[1]

• Aurora Tigers join OPJHL from MetJHL.
• Orillia Terriers move to Rama, Ontario and become Couchiching Terriers.
• Newmarket 87's become Newmarket Hurricanes.
• Peterborough Jr. Petes become Peterborough Bees.
• St. Michael's Buzzers take leave of absence.

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

Division Semi-final

Milton Merchants defeated Mississauga Chargers 4-games-to-none

Hamilton Kiltys defeated Brampton Capitals 4-games-to-1

Bramalea Blues defeated Streetsville Derbys 4-games-to-2

Oakville Blades defeated Burlington Cougars 4-games-to-2

Couchiching Terriers defeated Collingwood Blues 4-games-to-2

Peterborough Bees defeated Kingston Voyageurs 3-games-to-2

Trenton Sting defeated Bowmanville Eagles 4-games-to-1

Newmarket Hurricanes defeated Aurora Tigers 4-games-to-1

Division Final

Milton Merchants defeated Oakville Blades 4-games-to-2

Hamilton Kiltys defeated Bramalea Blues 4-games-to-2

Couchiching Terriers defeated Newmarket Hurricanes 4-games-to-1

Trenton Sting defeated Peterborough Bees 3-games-to-2

Semi-final

Milton Merchants defeated Hamilton Kiltys 4-games-to-none

Trenton Sting defeated Couchiching Terriers 4-games-to-1

Final

Milton Merchants defeated Trenton Sting 4-games-to-none

Best-of-7 series

Milton Merchants defeated Wexford Raiders (MetJHL) 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

Best-of-7 series

Milton Merchants defeated Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats (NOJHL) 4-games-to-2

Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats 4 - Milton Merchants 1

Milton Merchants 5 - Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats 2

Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats 4 - Milton Merchants 1

Milton Merchants 5 - Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats 4 3OT

Milton Merchants 2 - Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats 1 OT

Milton Merchants 3 - Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats 1

The 1998 Royal Bank Cup was hosted by the Nanaimo Clippers of Nanaimo, British Columbia. The Milton Merchants were defeated in the semi-final.

Round Robin

Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) defeated Milton Merchants 6-2

South Surrey Eagles (BCHL) defeated Milton Merchants 3-0

Milton Merchants defeated Brockville Braves (CJHL) 5-2

Weyburn Red Wings (SJHL) defeated Milton Merchants 6-2

Semi-final

South Surrey Eagles (BCHL) defeated Milton Merchants 6-2

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

• 1998 Royal Bank Cup
• Dudley Hewitt Cup
• List of OJHL seasons
• Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League
• Superior International Junior Hockey League
• Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League

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