1996–97 MetJHL season
Introduction The '''1996–97 MetJHL season''' is the 6th 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 Aurora Tigers, could not move into national playdowns as the Metro was not a member of the Ontario Hockey Association.
Milestones On February 21, 1997, the Muskoka Bears' Ryan Venturelli became the first known goaltender in hockey history to score two goals (both empty net) in a hockey game against the Durham Huskies during the Metro Junior A Hockey League 1996-97 regular season.
Changes *League switches from 2 divisions to 3, adding Central Division*Durham Huskies, Quinte Hawks, Syracuse Jr. Crunch, and Port Hope Buzzards join the MetJHL*Shelburne Hornets become Shelburne Wolves
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  38  7  5  285  185  81 Thornhill Islanders  50  29  17  4  279  195  62 Markham Waxers  50  27  19  4  246  221  58 Niagara Scenic  50  17  26  7  230  262  41 North York Rangers  50  12  33  5  248  341  29'''Eastern Division''''''Team'''	'''GP'''  '''W'''  '''L'''  '''T'''  '''GF'''  '''GA'''  '''P''' Pickering Panthers  50  34  12  4  232  163  72 Quinte Hawks  50  34  13  3  280  143  71 Wellington Dukes  50  21  26  3  212  224  45 Oshawa Legionaires  50  20  30  0  231  292  40 Port Hope Buzzards  50  13  35  2  162  269  28 Syracuse Jr. Crunch  50  10  37  3  220  358  23'''Western Division''''''Team'''	'''GP'''  '''W'''  '''L'''  '''T'''  '''GF'''  '''GA'''  '''P'''	 Aurora Tigers  50  42  5  3  342  138  87 Caledon Canadians  50  41  7  2  318  145  84 Muskoka Bears  50  14  34  2  200  298  30 Durham Huskies  50  13  37  0  201  317  26 Shelburne Wolves  50  10  37  3  213  348  23
1996-97 MetJHL Playoffs '''''Division Semi-final''''':'''Wexford Raiders''' defeated Niagara Scenics ''4-games-to-none'':'''Thornhill Islanders''' defeated Markham Waxers ''4-games-to-3'':'''Pickering Panthers''' defeated Oshawa Legionaires ''4-games-to-2'':'''Quinte Hawks''' defeated Wellington Dukes ''4-games-to-1'':'''Aurora Tigers''' defeated Durham Huskies ''4-games-to-none'':'''Caledon Canadians''' defeated Muskoka Bears ''4-games-to-none'''''''Interdivision Round Robin'''''  '''Team'''	'''W'''  '''L'''  '''T'''  '''GF'''  '''GA'''  '''P'''x-Wexford Raiders         420    39   31  8x-Aurora Tigers           420    23   18  8x-Quinte Hawks            420    29   22  8x-Caledon Canadians       321    37   18  7Thornhill Islanders     240    24   31  4Pickering Panthers      051    14   46  1'''''Semi-final''''':'''Caledon Canadians''' defeated Wexford Raiders ''4-games-to-none'':'''Aurora Tigers''' defeated Quinte Hawks ''4-games-to-2'''''''Final''''':'''Aurora Tigers''' defeated Caledon Canadians ''4-games-to-none''
Scoring leaders ''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes''  Player Team GP G A Pts PIMPeter BournazakisAurora Tigers		49    52   80   132    112Brian Gionta	Niagara Scenic    	50    57   70   127    101John RumeoWexford Raiders   	50    52   62   Brad Tapper	Wexford Raiders   	50    42   70   Matt Murley	Syracuse Jr. Crunch	48    52   58   Tim Connolly	Syracuse Jr. Crunch	50    42   62   104    34Sean KlaverAurora Tigers     	48    41   63   104    51Ian LaroqueQuinte Hawks		44    45   55   Andy KorzenNiagara Scenic    	45    41   58   99     22David InmanWexford Raiders   	43    32   56
Leading goaltenders Starting goaltenders only (1000 minutes or over). ''Note: GP = Games played; Mins = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses: OTL = Overtime losses; SL = Shootout losses; GA = Goals Allowed; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average''  Player Team GP Mins GA SO GAAJeff MoundAurora Tigers		29    1731    72    5    2.50Jason FlickQuinte Hawks		30    1774    81    1    2.74Lyle ZulakCaledon Canadians 	27    1380    65    2    2.83Daniel JacquesPickering Panthers	28    1481    70    1    2.84Corey BattenQuinte Hawks		19    1125    55    2    2.93
See also * 1997 Royal Bank Cup* Dudley Hewitt Cup* List of Ontario Hockey Association Junior A seasons* Ontario Junior A Hockey League* Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League* 1996 in ice hockey* 1997 in ice hockey
References
External links *  Official website of the Ontario Junior Hockey League*  Official website of the Canadian Junior Hockey League