1996–97 OPJHL season

Changes

Royal York Royals become the Vaughan Vipers.

Stouffville Clippers become the Stouffville Spirit.

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

1996-97 OPJHL Playoffs

For the Central Canada Championship, please go to the Dudley Hewitt Cup. For the National Championship, please go to the 1997 Royal Bank Cup.

Division Semi-final

Newmarket 87's defeated Bowmanville Eagles 4-games-to-2 Kingston Voyageurs defeated Ajax Axemen 4-games-to-none Peterborough Jr. Petes defeated Lindsay Muskies 4-games-to-2 Collingwood Blues defeated Orillia Terriers 4-games-to-2 Milton Merchants defeated Streetsville Derbys 4-games-to-none Brampton Capitals defeated St. Michael's Buzzers 4-games-to-2 Mississauga Chargers defeated Hamilton Kiltys 4-games-to-2

Division Final

Newmarket 87's defeated Collingwood Blues 4-games-to-none Kingston Voyageurs defeated Peterborough Jr. Petes 4-games-to-1 Milton Merchants defeated Mississauga Chargers 4-games-to-none Bramalea Blues defeated Brampton Capitals 4-games-to-2

Semi-final

Newmarket 87's defeated Kingston Voyageurs 4-games-to-1 Milton Merchants defeated Bramalea Blues 4-games-to-3

Final

Milton Merchants defeated Newmarket 87's 4-games-to-3

OHA Buckland Cup and Dudley Hewitt Cup Championship

Best-of-7

Rayside-Balfour Sabrecats (NOJHL) defeated Milton Merchants 4-games-to-1 Milton 4 - Rayside-Balfour 0 Rayside-Balfour 4 - Milton 3 OT Rayside-Balfour 5 - Milton 3 Rayside-Balfour 9 - Milton 2 Rayside-Balfour 4 - Milton 1

Scoring leaders

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