1997–98 MetJHL season
# 1997–98 MetJHL season

The 1997–98 MetJHL season is the 7th and final 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 Wexford Raiders, failed to defeat the Milton Merchants of the OPJHL for the OHA's Buckland Cup.

## Changes

* MetJHL rejoins the Ontario Hockey Association.
* Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins join MetJHL.
* Muskoka Bears become Huntsville Wildcats.
* Thornhill Islanders become Thornhill Rattlers.
* Aurora Tigers leave MetJHL for OPJHL.
* At the end of the season, league closes doors and teams merge with OPJHL.

## 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 | 39 | 7 | 4 | 196 | 167 | 82 |
| Thornhill Rattlers | 50 | 29 | 18 | 3 | 216 | 172 | 61 |
| Markham Waxers | 50 | 24 | 19 | 7 | 247 | 192 | 55 |
| Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins | 50 | 21 | 26 | 3 | 168 | 240 | 45 |
| North York Rangers | 50 | 8 | 33 | 9 | 165 | 244 | 25 |
| Eastern Division |||||||||||
| Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | P |
| Oshawa Legionaires | 50 | 34 | 15 | 1 | 266 | 183 | 69 |
| Syracuse Jr. Crunch | 49 | 29 | 16 | 4 | 273 | 219 | 62 |
| Wellington Dukes | 50 | 23 | 22 | 5 | 223 | 213 | 51 |
| Quinte Hawks | 49 | 23 | 24 | 2 | 213 | 222 | 48 |
| Port Hope Buzzards | 50 | 19 | 28 | 3 | 190 | 226 | 41 |
| Pickering Panthers | 50 | 16 | 27 | 7 | 173 | 213 | 39 |
| Western Division |||||||||||
| Team | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | P |
| Caledon Canadians | 50 | 40 | 4 | 6 | 319 | 123 | 86 |
| Durham Huskies | 50 | 19 | 29 | 2 | 194 | 232 | 40 |
| Huntsville Wildcats | 50 | 18 | 28 | 4 | 157 | 209 | 40 |
| Shelburne Wolves | 50 | 12 | 34 | 4 | 189 | 287 | 28 |
| Niagara Scenic | 50 | 12 | 36 | 2 | 115 | 257 | 26 |

## 1997-98 MetJHL Playoffs

Preliminary

    Oshawa Legionaires defeated Shelburne Wolves 3-games-to-none
    Syracuse Jr. Crunch defeated Pickering Panthers 3-games-to-2
    Thornhill Rattlers defeated Huntsville Wildcats 3-games-to-1
    Durham Huskies defeated Markham Waxers 3-games-to-1

Quarter-final

    Caledon Canadians defeated Durham Huskies 3-games-to-none
    Wexford Raiders defeated Quinte Hawks 3-games-to-none
    Oshawa Legionaires defeated Wellington Dukes 3-games-to-2
    Syracuse Jr. Crunch defeated Thornhill Rattlers 3-games-to-1

Semi-final

    Caledon Canadians defeated Syracuse Jr. Crunch 4-games-to-3
    Wexford Raiders defeated Oshawa Legionaires 4-games-to-2

Final

    Wexford Raiders defeated Caledon Canadians 4-games-to-3

## OHA Buckland Cup Championship

Best-of-7 series

    Milton Merchants (OPJHL) defeated Wexford Raiders 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
