July 17, 2024 …. The best players and top prospects in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) will go head-to-head at a two-day event this fall in Smiths Falls, Ontario.
The ‘Battle of Ontario’ will see two all-star and two prospect teams from each Junior A league compete in a tournament event November 12-13 in Smiths Falls, Ontario.
The event is expected to draw NHL, NCAA, U SPORTS and CHL scouts to Smiths Falls and its Memorial Community Centre, the home of the CCHL’s Bears. The town of 9,500 people is located 72 kilometres southwest of Ottawa.
The all-star teams will play each other once during the round-robin, followed by a semifinal, championship final and consolation final.
The prospect teams will play two games each during their four-game round robin. Games will be played using a modified two-period format and Canadian Hockey playing rules.
“The OJHL is very excited to partner with the CCHL on the Battle of Ontario that will take place in Smiths Falls in November,” said OJHL Commissioner Marty Savoy. “Both leagues have a strong history of player advancement and the goal of this event is to promote our players to the NHL, OHL, NCAA and U SPORTS, while at the same time provide a unique player experience through a best-on-best competition.”
The “Battle of Ontario” was first held in Pembroke in 2009 featuring teams of ‘Young Stars’ and ‘All-Stars’ from the CCHL and the Central Junior Hockey League, which was a division within the OJHL. The two-game series was held again in Pembroke in 2010.
“The CCHL is very excited to be partnering with the OJHL to bring back the Battle of Ontario,” said CCHL Acting Commissioner Terry Nichols. “This event was originally run 15 years ago when it was a huge success. We feel it will once again be a premier event. The CCHL, Smiths Falls Bears and Town of Smiths Falls are hosting the event at one of the top facilities in Eastern Ontario. This event will give our top players the opportunity to highlight their skills in front of scouts from leagues such as the NHL, NCAA, major junior and U SPORTS.”
“The Town of Smiths Falls is thrilled to have been chosen by the Central Canada Hockey League as the host venue for the inaugural CCHL /OJHL Battle of Ontario,” said Stephanie Clark, Director, Community Services for the Town of Smiths Falls. “This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the exceptional talent of the Junior A hockey community and bring together fans and players from across the province. We are excited to support this event and celebrate the spirit of sportsmanship and competition.”
More details, including rosters, coaching staffs, ticket information and schedules, will be released in the coming weeks.
About the CCHL
The Central Canada Hockey League is a Hockey Canada/Hockey Eastern Ontario sanctioned Junior A league comprised of twelve member franchises across Eastern Ontario, whose mission is to develop young student/athletes between the ages of sixteen and twenty for higher levels of hockey. Players from all over North America have enjoyed success playing in the Central Canada Hockey League. For many players, the CCHL is a stepping stone to the NCAA. Every season, players accept Division 1 hockey scholarships from the CCHL and even more advance to Division 3 hockey and U SPORTS. Young players advance every year to the Ontario Hockey League and there have even been selections from the CCHL directly to the National Hockey League.
About the OJHL – “ League of Choice”
The Ontario Junior Hockey League is the largest Junior ‘A’ league operating under the auspices of the Canadian Junior Hockey League with 24 member clubs. The OJHL is the home of the 2024 Centennial Cup champion Collingwood Blues. A proud member of the CJHL and Ontario Hockey Association, the OJHL was originally named the Ontario Provincial Junior ‘A’ Hockey League and it was formed out of the Central Junior ‘B’ Hockey League in 1993-94. With a long and storied history of developing players for the next level, including U SPORTS, the NCAA, CHL, minor pro ranks and the NHL, the OJHL had more than 45 NCAA Division I scholarship commitments this season.
Go to www.ojhl.ca for additional information on the Ontario Junior Hockey League and www.thecchl.ca for more on the Central Canada Hockey League.
Reprinted with permission from the Ontario Junior Hockey League
