Orixtal Hockey League: Difference between revisions
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| [[IstrenSport]] | | [[IstrenSport]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
| champion = [[ | | champion = [[Telohakee Wheatmen]] (1st title) | ||
| most_champs = [[Qabór Phoenix]] (35 titles) | | most_champs = [[Qabór Phoenix]] (35 titles) | ||
| folded = | | folded = | ||
| confed_cup = [[Cronan Hockey Cup]] | | confed_cup = [[Cronan Hockey Cup]] | ||
| related_comps = | | related_comps = | ||
| website = http://www.ohl. | | website = http://www.ohl.ti | ||
| president = [[Nicholas Taihana]] | | president = [[Nicholas Taihana]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
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The OHL is an active member of the Tierradorian Hockey Administration (THA), which is recognized by the [[World Association of Hockey Federations|WAHF]] as the national governing body for hockey in Tierrador. The league's several international as well as individual team offices are directed out of its head offices in Central Square in Taisgol, while its OHL Entertainment and OHL TV studios are directed out of offices located in [[Qabór]], [[Las Rozas]]. In Tierrador, the OHL is the second wealthiest professional sport league after the [[Premiership (Tierrador)|Premiership]], and one of the top ice hockey leagues in the world, directly rivaling the [[Boreal Hockey League]]. | The OHL is an active member of the Tierradorian Hockey Administration (THA), which is recognized by the [[World Association of Hockey Federations|WAHF]] as the national governing body for hockey in Tierrador. The league's several international as well as individual team offices are directed out of its head offices in Central Square in Taisgol, while its OHL Entertainment and OHL TV studios are directed out of offices located in [[Qabór]], [[Las Rozas]]. In Tierrador, the OHL is the second wealthiest professional sport league after the [[Premiership (Tierrador)|Premiership]], and one of the top ice hockey leagues in the world, directly rivaling the [[Boreal Hockey League]]. | ||
The OHL's regular season is typically held from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. Following the conclusion of the regular season, 16 teams advance to the Watson Cup playoffs, a four-round tournament that runs into June to determine the league champion. Since the OHL's incorporation in 1951, the Qabór Phoenix have won the most outright OHL titles with 35; 26 pre-merger OHL championship series before the league took full exclusivity of the Watson Cup in 1972, and 9 Watson Cups afterwards. The reigning league champions are the [[ | The OHL's regular season is typically held from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. Following the conclusion of the regular season, 16 teams advance to the Watson Cup playoffs, a four-round tournament that runs into June to determine the league champion. Since the OHL's incorporation in 1951, the Qabór Phoenix have won the most outright OHL titles with 35; 26 pre-merger OHL championship series before the league took full exclusivity of the Watson Cup in 1972, and 9 Watson Cups afterwards. The reigning league champions are the [[Telohakee Wheatmen]], winning their first Watson Cup over the [[Auqali Shockers]] in the [[2036 Watson Cup Finals]]. | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
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===The "Golden Era" of hockey=== | ===The "Golden Era" of hockey=== | ||
The increasing modernization of the OHL and WHL would earn the nickname "Golden Era of Hockey" for the 1970s and 80s. In 1969, the OHL would sign its first ever television broadcasting contract with [[Qabóri Broadcasting Company]], the public broadcaster in Tierrador. Before the contract was signed, people were only able to listen to hockey games through the radio, or by reading their local newspaper the following day. The OHL, now featuring teams in much more popular markets, had accumulated nearly double the revenue of its counterpart, the WHL, in the 1969–70 season. This would begin the downfall of the WHL. On January 9, 1970, the OHL announced it would be adding an expansion team to [[Alstin (City)|Alstin City]] for the 1970–71 season. The new team, nicknamed the [[Alstin Sentinels]], had created a brand new market in the [[Alstin|United Republic]]. The OHL had also signed a second media deal with Alstinian broadcaster [[ABS Corporation|ABS]], who agreed to broadcast all OHL matches in Alstin, though mostly favoring the Sentinels. The following year, the OHL would add the [[ | The increasing modernization of the OHL and WHL would earn the nickname "Golden Era of Hockey" for the 1970s and 80s. In 1969, the OHL would sign its first ever television broadcasting contract with [[Qabóri Broadcasting Company]], the public broadcaster in Tierrador. Before the contract was signed, people were only able to listen to hockey games through the radio, or by reading their local newspaper the following day. The OHL, now featuring teams in much more popular markets, had accumulated nearly double the revenue of its counterpart, the WHL, in the 1969–70 season. This would begin the downfall of the WHL. On January 9, 1970, the OHL announced it would be adding an expansion team to [[Alstin (City)|Alstin City]] for the 1970–71 season. The new team, nicknamed the [[Alstin Sentinels]], had created a brand new market in the [[Alstin|United Republic]]. The OHL had also signed a second media deal with Alstinian broadcaster [[ABS Corporation|ABS]], who agreed to broadcast all OHL matches in Alstin, though mostly favoring the Sentinels. The following year, the OHL would add the [[Suqovia Phantoms]] and a second team in Taisgol, the [[Taisgol Marksmen|Marksmen]]. Before the start of the 1971–72 season, the Taisgol Spires had filed a lawsuit against both the Marksmen and the OHL, claiming that the league had violated its own collective bargaining agreement by allowing the Marksmen to play in [[Hacienda, Taisgol]], a neighborhood of the city which was directly in the Spires' market. Eventually, the [[Imperial Court of Tierrador|Imperial Court]] sided with the Spires, ordering the Marksmen to pay massive indemnities to the Spires. This would kickstart a fierce rivalry between the two, known now as the [[Cross-River Classic]]. The Marksmen would eventually move to [[Eastern Bend, Taisgol|Eastern Bend]], 25 miles from [[Woderq, Taisgol|Woderq]], where the Spires played. | ||
Before the end of the 1971–72 season, commissioner [[Alhunô Gourdinaí]] of the WHL, which had incurred heavy revenue losses due to the moves made by the OHL, announced that the WHL would cancel its 1972–73 season. While Gourdinaí had hoped for the league to return to play in late 1973, [[Tulangia Centurions]] owner [[Michael Sutton]] angrily stormed out of the press conference, shouting "We're not coming back!" One week later, on May 9, 1972, the Centurions applied to join the OHL for the 1972–73 season, and were accepted on the same day. Four more teams, the [[Topaqoí Wahoo]], [[Miccubo Heartlanders]], [[Alcosky Prairie Dogs]], and [[Pacuí Mammoth]], followed suit on May 11, 1972. The [[Ominasky Outlaws]] and [[Qazrogzo Wheatmen]] had originally planned to stay in the WHL, but were offered entry into the OHL on June 9, 1972, which they accepted. Due to their entry being four hours before the [[1972 OHL Draft]], both the Outlaws and Wheatmen were ineligible for participation. The remaining four WHL clubs, the [[Concordia Warriors]], [[Yarmouth Kings]], [[Winnecomac Marksmen]], and [[Naqili Hornets (1964–1972)|Naqili Hornets]], folded on October 17, 1972, thus ending the WHL. | Before the end of the 1971–72 season, commissioner [[Alhunô Gourdinaí]] of the WHL, which had incurred heavy revenue losses due to the moves made by the OHL, announced that the WHL would cancel its 1972–73 season. While Gourdinaí had hoped for the league to return to play in late 1973, [[Tulangia Centurions]] owner [[Michael Sutton]] angrily stormed out of the press conference, shouting "We're not coming back!" One week later, on May 9, 1972, the Centurions applied to join the OHL for the 1972–73 season, and were accepted on the same day. Four more teams, the [[Topaqoí Wahoo]], [[Miccubo Heartlanders]], [[Alcosky Prairie Dogs]], and [[Pacuí Mammoth]], followed suit on May 11, 1972. The [[Ominasky Outlaws]] and [[Qazrogzo Wheatmen]] had originally planned to stay in the WHL, but were offered entry into the OHL on June 9, 1972, which they accepted. Due to their entry being four hours before the [[1972 OHL Draft]], both the Outlaws and Wheatmen were ineligible for participation. The remaining four WHL clubs, the [[Concordia Warriors]], [[Yarmouth Kings]], [[Winnecomac Marksmen]], and [[Naqili Hornets (1964–1972)|Naqili Hornets]], folded on October 17, 1972, thus ending the WHL. | ||
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The 1973–74 saw the debut of [[Volonia|Volonian]] [[Fyodor Koshchev]], who had been drafted by the Alstin Sentinels. Koshchev would eventually become a household name in the OHL, leading his team to the [[1974 Watson Cup Finals]], where they lost in 7 games to the Qabór Phoenix. After two years of semifinals appearances, Koshchev's Sentinels would return to the Finals in 1977, where they would get their revenge on the Phoenix, beating them in six games. For the 1977–78 season, the OHL would add two more clubs: the [[Vernaza Titans]] and [[Tansher Spirit]]. The Spirit, having earned the first overall pick in the 1977 OHL Draft, used it to draft [[Saukhin Islands|Saukhin]] crown prince and heir to the [[King of Tapkoii|Saukhin throne]], [[King Apaha'enia|Prince Apaha'enia]]. To commemorate Apaha'enia being drafted, then-King of Tapkoii [[King Upta'helini'ia|Upta'helini'ia]] donated a golden trophy to the OHL, which became the [[King of Tapkoii Trophy]]. In Apaha'enia's rookie year, he and Fyodor Koshchev regularly battled for the top scoring spot, and many pundits correctly predicted the Spirit and Sentinels to meet in the Watson Cup Finals for that year. The seven-game war that was the [[1978 Watson Cup Finals]] became the most-viewed Finals in history, almost doubling the view count from the previous year. It is also the highest-scoring Finals to date, with 90 goals scored in all seven games. Fyodor Koshchev's series-winning goal in Game 7's overtime nail-biter triggered one of the loudest crowd reactions in OHL history, with the Alstin crowd even causing a small earthquake around the [[Alstin City Sports Palace]] after their team won their second Watson Cup in a row. | The 1973–74 saw the debut of [[Volonia|Volonian]] [[Fyodor Koshchev]], who had been drafted by the Alstin Sentinels. Koshchev would eventually become a household name in the OHL, leading his team to the [[1974 Watson Cup Finals]], where they lost in 7 games to the Qabór Phoenix. After two years of semifinals appearances, Koshchev's Sentinels would return to the Finals in 1977, where they would get their revenge on the Phoenix, beating them in six games. For the 1977–78 season, the OHL would add two more clubs: the [[Vernaza Titans]] and [[Tansher Spirit]]. The Spirit, having earned the first overall pick in the 1977 OHL Draft, used it to draft [[Saukhin Islands|Saukhin]] crown prince and heir to the [[King of Tapkoii|Saukhin throne]], [[King Apaha'enia|Prince Apaha'enia]]. To commemorate Apaha'enia being drafted, then-King of Tapkoii [[King Upta'helini'ia|Upta'helini'ia]] donated a golden trophy to the OHL, which became the [[King of Tapkoii Trophy]]. In Apaha'enia's rookie year, he and Fyodor Koshchev regularly battled for the top scoring spot, and many pundits correctly predicted the Spirit and Sentinels to meet in the Watson Cup Finals for that year. The seven-game war that was the [[1978 Watson Cup Finals]] became the most-viewed Finals in history, almost doubling the view count from the previous year. It is also the highest-scoring Finals to date, with 90 goals scored in all seven games. Fyodor Koshchev's series-winning goal in Game 7's overtime nail-biter triggered one of the loudest crowd reactions in OHL history, with the Alstin crowd even causing a small earthquake around the [[Alstin City Sports Palace]] after their team won their second Watson Cup in a row. | ||
The player rivalry between Apaha'enia and Koshchev and the subsequent team rivalry between the Spirit and Sentinels lasted until 1990, and while the Sentinels would go on to win two more Watson Cups in 1980 and 1981, Apaha'enia would not win a Watson Cup while on the Spirit. In 1980, the OHL added the [[Anloiya Blizzard]], though due to construction issues with the team's arena, they did not begin play until the following season. On March 4, 1983, [[Adin Aibas]] stepped down as commissioner, and was replaced by [[Jon Attakaw]]. That same year, the OHL would add a second Ceylonian club, the [[East Sachia Tubarões]]. Attakaw would also overhaul the league's collective bargaining structure, introducing a [[w:Salary cap|salary cap]] of $4.2 million, and a new [[w:Collective bargaining agreement|CBA]] which introduced revenue-sharing amongst the 22 clubs, and also introduced two new geographic conferences; the [[Patrick Wilson Conference]] in the west, and the [[King of Tapkoii]] in the east. While this move was more popular with the smaller market clubs, many of the larger clubs, including the Taisgol Spires, Qabór Phoenix, Ominasky Outlaws, and the Alstin Sentinels, fiercely opposed the new CBA, and attempted to pressure the OHL's Board of Governors to veto Attakaw's advances. However, the Board of Governors approved the move, following a lopsided 17–5 vote between the member clubs. | The player rivalry between Apaha'enia and Koshchev and the subsequent team rivalry between the Spirit and Sentinels lasted until 1990, and while the Sentinels would go on to win two more Watson Cups in 1980 and 1981, Apaha'enia would not win a Watson Cup while on the Spirit. In 1980, the OHL added the [[Anloiya Blizzard]], though due to construction issues with the team's arena, they did not begin play until the following season. On March 4, 1983, [[Adin Aibas]] stepped down as commissioner, and was replaced by [[Jon Attakaw]], and former OHLer [[Keppett Burns]] and host of QBC's ''[[South Crona Tonight]]'' became the official play-by-play announcer for OHL broadcasts on QBC. That same year, the OHL would add a second Ceylonian club, the [[East Sachia Tubarões]]. Attakaw would also overhaul the league's collective bargaining structure, introducing a [[w:Salary cap|salary cap]] of $4.2 million, and a new [[w:Collective bargaining agreement|CBA]] which introduced revenue-sharing amongst the 22 clubs, and also introduced two new geographic conferences; the [[Patrick Wilson Conference]] in the west, and the [[King of Tapkoii]] in the east. While this move was more popular with the smaller market clubs, many of the larger clubs, including the Taisgol Spires, Qabór Phoenix, Ominasky Outlaws, and the Alstin Sentinels, fiercely opposed the new CBA, and attempted to pressure the OHL's Board of Governors to veto Attakaw's advances. However, the Board of Governors approved the move, following a lopsided 17–5 vote between the member clubs. | ||
The league added a new regular season award in 1984; the [[Woqali's Trophy]]. This was awarded to the team with the most regular season points. The Tansher Spirit would win the first three trophies from 1984 to 1986. In 1985, the Qabór Phoenix became the first team to win three straight Watson Cups, following a Game 6 overtime goal by [[Tyséan Darunavir]] against the Anloiya Blizzard. That following offseason, the OHL would add a second Alstinian club, the [[Utopia Rouges]]. The new club immediately made itself known after a blockbuster trade with the Tansher Spirit, where the Rouges acquired Apaha'enia, who had also became King of Tapkoii that same offseason, and a fourth-round draft, in exchange for [[Kil Faxanen]], [[Isak Katalin]], and $900,000 in cash. The 1985–86 season saw a highly-anticipated matchup for the Patrick Wilson Conference semifinals, between Apaha'enia's Rouges and Fyodor Koshchev's Alstin Sentinels. The Rouges won that series in six games and would go on to win the Watson Cup over the Tansher Spirit, Apaha'enia's former team. King Apaha'enia would would two more Watson Cups with Utopia, in 1988 and 1989, with the 1988 team also winning the Woqali's Trophy and breaking the league record for wins, with a regular season record of 70–10–4, and winning twelve straight playoff wins en route to their Cup victory. | The league added a new regular season award in 1984; the [[Woqali's Trophy]]. This was awarded to the team with the most regular season points. The Tansher Spirit would win the first three trophies from 1984 to 1986. In 1985, the Qabór Phoenix became the first team to win three straight Watson Cups, following a Game 6 overtime goal by [[Tyséan Darunavir]] against the Anloiya Blizzard. That following offseason, the OHL would add a second Alstinian club, the [[Utopia Rouges]]. The new club immediately made itself known after a blockbuster trade with the Tansher Spirit, where the Rouges acquired Apaha'enia, who had also became King of Tapkoii that same offseason, and a fourth-round draft, in exchange for [[Kil Faxanen]], [[Isak Katalin]], and $900,000 in cash. The 1985–86 season saw a highly-anticipated matchup for the Patrick Wilson Conference semifinals, between Apaha'enia's Rouges and Fyodor Koshchev's Alstin Sentinels. The Rouges won that series in six games and would go on to win the Watson Cup over the Tansher Spirit, Apaha'enia's former team. King Apaha'enia would would two more Watson Cups with Utopia, in 1988 and 1989, with the 1988 team also winning the Woqali's Trophy and breaking the league record for wins, with a regular season record of 70–10–4, and winning twelve straight playoff wins en route to their Cup victory. | ||
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The 1990s saw an increase in the amount of players from [[Kiravia]] and [[Audonia]]. [[Joey Abdelkawy]], who was born in [[Tapakdore]] and immigrated to Tierrador in 1986 to play hockey at the [[University of Aracadó]], was drafted 11th overall in 1990 by the [[Hugo Hitmen]]. Abdelkawy, along with Kiravian-born 1992 3rd and 22nd-overall selections [[Ivūlar Sotyktuv]], [[Kárav Katūtiren]], and 1994 33rd overall pick [[Apius Áukśav]], would form the "Hitmen Big Four." The Hitmen would win five Watson Cups with this core, and at least two of the four players appeared in the top-five highest scoring lists. In 1993, the OHL resurrected the [[Naqili Hornets]], and in 1998, the league expanded to [[Istrenya]], with the [[Karaba Mountaineers]]. The move to Karaba was marred with controversy in the team's early years, as the main financer for the team was Arco-Istrenytan petroleum drilling company [[Istrenco]], which had been the center of many non-hockey related issues. In 2002, the OHL forced Istrenco to sell the Mountaineers. In what was a nine-month ordeal which almost saw the Mountaineers being moved to [[Veraise|Gastineau, Veraise]], the team was sold to Istrenyan entrepreneurs [[U'kati Ashkyn]] and [[Askun Utovl]]. The OHL would also add two more teams in Alstin; the [[Sedem Regni Thrones]] and the [[Alstin Sentinels]]. | The 1990s saw an increase in the amount of players from [[Kiravia]] and [[Audonia]]. [[Joey Abdelkawy]], who was born in [[Tapakdore]] and immigrated to Tierrador in 1986 to play hockey at the [[University of Aracadó]], was drafted 11th overall in 1990 by the [[Hugo Hitmen]]. Abdelkawy, along with Kiravian-born 1992 3rd and 22nd-overall selections [[Ivūlar Sotyktuv]], [[Kárav Katūtiren]], and 1994 33rd overall pick [[Apius Áukśav]], would form the "Hitmen Big Four." The Hitmen would win five Watson Cups with this core, and at least two of the four players appeared in the top-five highest scoring lists. In 1993, the OHL resurrected the [[Naqili Hornets]], and in 1998, the league expanded to [[Istrenya]], with the [[Karaba Mountaineers]]. The move to Karaba was marred with controversy in the team's early years, as the main financer for the team was Arco-Istrenytan petroleum drilling company [[Istrenco]], which had been the center of many non-hockey related issues. In 2002, the OHL forced Istrenco to sell the Mountaineers. In what was a nine-month ordeal which almost saw the Mountaineers being moved to [[Veraise|Gastineau, Veraise]], the team was sold to Istrenyan entrepreneurs [[U'kati Ashkyn]] and [[Askun Utovl]]. The OHL would also add two more teams in Alstin; the [[Sedem Regni Thrones]] and the [[Alstin Sentinels]]. | ||
The late 90s saw the rise of former Rouges and Spirit star Kil Faxanen as head coach along with rookie sensation [[Marcus Kahemki]], with both leading the [[Agualaría Bluewave]] to win the Watson Cup in 2000. In 2005, the OHL's collective bargaining agreement had expired, and the OHLPA announced their refusal to sign the new CBA unless the salary cap had been increased. This began a six-month long stalemate which had delayed the start of the 2005–06 season. On December 9, 2005, the OHL and OHLPA finally came to an agreement, where the salary cap would be raised from $46 million to $50 million, the largest increase in the cap's history. The season began on December 25, 2005, and was shortened to 62 games. In the draft, the Auqali Shockers used their third-overall pick to select [[Andrew Slavachuk]], a center from Volonia. Slavachuk won rookie of the year in the 2005–06 season and ignited a very physical rivalry with Marcus Kahemki and the Hitmen Big Four. The next year, Slavachuk led the Shockers to the Southeast Division title, but they were swept in the first round by the Taisgol Spires. In 2007, the league's television contract with QBC had ended, and they elected not to renew it, instead signing a deal with [[Ambaqwe]]-based [[Televisión Cinco]]. That same year, Kil Faxanen and Marcus Kahemki would lead the Bluewave to another Watson Cup. Slavachuk would not see his first Cup until 2011, when the Shockers, led by Slavachuk, [[Anton Stralburg]], [[Aphío Antonov]], [[Jarmo Kapanen]], and rookie [[Antti Santanen]], led a dominant playoff campaign, which saw the heavily lopsided five-game upset of the Hugo Hitmen, who had shattered many OHL records and led the | The late 90s saw the rise of former Rouges and Spirit star Kil Faxanen as head coach along with rookie sensation [[Marcus Kahemki]], with both leading the [[Agualaría Bluewave]] to win the Watson Cup in 2000. In 2005, the OHL's collective bargaining agreement had expired, and the OHLPA announced their refusal to sign the new CBA unless the salary cap had been increased. This began a six-month long stalemate which had delayed the start of the 2005–06 season. On December 9, 2005, the OHL and OHLPA finally came to an agreement, where the salary cap would be raised from $46 million to $50 million, the largest increase in the cap's history. The season began on December 25, 2005, and was shortened to 62 games. In the draft, the Auqali Shockers used their third-overall pick to select [[Andrew Slavachuk]], a center from Volonia. Slavachuk won rookie of the year in the 2005–06 season and ignited a very physical rivalry with Marcus Kahemki and the Hitmen Big Four. The next year, Slavachuk led the Shockers to the Southeast Division title, but they were swept in the first round by the Taisgol Spires. In 2007, the league's television contract with QBC had ended, and they elected not to renew it, instead signing a deal with [[Ambaqwe]]-based [[Televisión Cinco]]. That same year, Kil Faxanen and Marcus Kahemki would lead the Bluewave to another Watson Cup. Slavachuk would not see his first Cup until 2011, when the Shockers, led by Slavachuk, [[Anton Stralburg]], [[Aphío Antonov]], [[Jarmo Kapanen]], and rookie [[Antti Santanen]], led a dominant playoff campaign, which saw the heavily lopsided five-game upset of the Hugo Hitmen, who had shattered many OHL records and led the league in nearly every category that year, and the Vernaza Titans in six games, who were heavily favored by nearly every sportswriter entering the Finals. | ||
The next year, the [[Veraise Raiders]] would begin play as the fifth Alstinian team. The Santa Maria Blazers became the first non-Tierradorian team to win the Watson Cup since the Utopia Rouges in 1989, ironically doing so in seven games over the Rouges. The early 2010s saw the end of the Hitmen Big Four and the intensification of the player rivalry between Marcus Kahemki and Andrew Slavachuk. The OHL once again shortened its season for the 2013–14 edition, as a six-month long players' strike. The season began on January 17, 2014 and was shortened to 56 games. The Vernaza Titans won their second-straight Watson Cup over the Qabór Phoenix. In 2015, the Bluewave won the Watson Cup over the Naqili Hornets. This was the final season for Kil Faxanen as a head coach, as he announced his retirement at the Bluewave's championship parade in [[Holčaq]]. One month later, Kahemki announced he would be signing with the Alcosky Prairie Dogs. In his first two years, the Prairie Dogs won two Watson Cups over the East Sachia Tubarões and Auqali Shockers in two of the most controversial Finals series’s in OHL history. In 2016, the OHL added its 32nd and final expansion team, the [[Cuzco Beserkers]], and had also replaced TBS as its | The next year, the [[Veraise Raiders]] would begin play as the fifth Alstinian team. The Santa Maria Blazers became the first non-Tierradorian team to win the Watson Cup since the Utopia Rouges in 1989, ironically doing so in seven games over the Rouges. The early 2010s saw the end of the Hitmen Big Four and the intensification of the player rivalry between Marcus Kahemki and Andrew Slavachuk. The OHL once again shortened its season for the 2013–14 edition, as a six-month long players' strike. The season began on January 17, 2014 and was shortened to 56 games. The Vernaza Titans won their second-straight Watson Cup over the Qabór Phoenix. In 2015, the Bluewave won the Watson Cup over the Naqili Hornets. This was the final season for Kil Faxanen as a head coach, as he announced his retirement at the Bluewave's championship parade in [[Holčaq]]. One month later, Kahemki announced he would be signing with the Alcosky Prairie Dogs. In his first two years, the Prairie Dogs won two Watson Cups over the East Sachia Tubarões and Auqali Shockers in two of the most controversial Finals series’s in OHL history. In 2016, the OHL added its 32nd and final expansion team, the [[Cuzco Beserkers]], and had also replaced TBS as its secondary television broadcaster with [[Televisión Cinco]]. The Beserkers advanced to the 2018 Watson Cup Finals in their second year of existence, however they were taken down by the Karaba Mountaineers in six games. The next year, the Tawakee Hurricanes, who had seen little to no success since their inception in 1986, shocked the world by winning the Watson Cup in 2019 over the Vernaza Titans. [[Jason Saunders]], who previously coached the Titans and led them to back-to-back Watson Cups in 2013 and 2014 before being abruptly terminated by the club in 2016, led the Hurricanes to the victory. | ||
In 2021, the OHL brought back TBS as a | In 2021, the OHL brought back TBS as a tertiary broadcaster. The early 2020s saw a massive gap in talent between a select few clubs and everyone else. In 2021, the Tansher Spirit drafted [[Ranger Roberts]] with the 4th overall pick. His talent and popularity propelled the club back on the global stage, making the King of Tapkoii Finals that same year. Also occurring in 2022, the Taisgol Spires finished the regular season with an impressive 64–13–5 record, and went 16–4 in the postseason en route to a Watson Cup Finals victory over the Tulangia Centurions. The next year, the Prisamarina Mystics would win their first Watson Cup since 1968, defeating the Tansher Spirit in five games. From 2024–2028, the Auqali Shockers, led by former player turned coach [[Aphío Antonov]], would lead a very successful dynasty, shattering many records, along with winning three Watson Cups, including back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025, and two back-to-back Woqali's Trophies in those same years. The Shockers also became the first OHL club to win more than 70 total games in back-to-back seasons, winning 78 in 2024 and 81 in 2025. The Tulangia Centurions also led a dynasty under the helm of coach [[Barry Adriza]], winning five Watson Cups from 2026 to 2034. Other successful teams in the 2020s-2030s include the Suqovia Phantoms, Sedem Regni Thrones, Naqili Hornets, and Sačia Tropics. | ||
== Season structure == | == Season structure == | ||
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| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 1986 | | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" | 1986 | ||
|- | |- | ||
|scope="row"| '''[[ | |scope="row"| '''[[Suqovia Phantoms]]''' | ||
| [[ | | [[Suqovia|Suqovia, Las Rozas]] | ||
| [[Sardan Arena]] | | [[Sardan Arena]] | ||
| align=center | 18,120 | | align=center | 18,120 | ||
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{| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" | {| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" | ||
! Year !! Winning team !! Coach !! class="unsortable"|Games !! Losing team !! Coach | ! Year !! Winning team !! Coach !! class="unsortable"|Games !! Losing team !! Coach | ||
|- | |||
|align="center"| 2036 || Telohakee Wheatmen {{small|(46–23–13)}} || [[Maté Utnalat]] || align=center|4–3 || Auqali Shockers {{small|(48–28–6)}} || [[Aphío Antonov]] | |||
|- | |- | ||
|align="center"| 2035 || Veraise Raiders {{small|(50–23–9)}} || [[Tim Terrie]] || align=center|4–3 || Taisgol Spires {{small|(49–27–6)}} || [[Petr Tolakov]] | |align="center"| 2035 || Veraise Raiders {{small|(50–23–9)}} || [[Tim Terrie]] || align=center|4–3 || Taisgol Spires {{small|(49–27–6)}} || [[Petr Tolakov]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|align="center"| 2034 || Tulangia Centurions {{small|(46–28–8)}} || [[Barry Adriza]] || align=center|4–3 || | |align="center"| 2034 || Tulangia Centurions {{small|(46–28–8)}} || [[Barry Adriza]] || align=center|4–3 || Suqovia Phantoms {{small|(45–28–9)}} || [[Levar Xirótin]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|align="center"| 2033 || Tulangia Centurions {{small|(47–27–8)}} || [[Barry Adriza]] || align=center|4–2 || Taisgol Spires {{small|(52–21–9)}} || [[Petr Tolakov]] | |align="center"| 2033 || Tulangia Centurions {{small|(47–27–8)}} || [[Barry Adriza]] || align=center|4–2 || Taisgol Spires {{small|(52–21–9)}} || [[Petr Tolakov]] | ||
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|align="center"| 2031 || Sedem Regni Thrones {{small|(48–20–14)}} || [[Jean-Charles Carre dePerrier]] || align=center|4–3 || Taisgol Spires {{small|(47–29–6)}} || [[Petr Tolakov]] | |align="center"| 2031 || Sedem Regni Thrones {{small|(48–20–14)}} || [[Jean-Charles Carre dePerrier]] || align=center|4–3 || Taisgol Spires {{small|(47–29–6)}} || [[Petr Tolakov]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|align="center"| 2030 || | |align="center"| 2030 || Suqovia Phantoms {{small|(54–20–8)}} || [[Levar Xirótin]] || align=center|4–2 || Sedem Regni Thrones {{small|(51–22–9)}} || [[Jean-Charles Carre dePerrier]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|align="center"| 2029 || Tulangia Centurions {{small|(58–15–9)}} || [[Barry Adriza]] || align=center|4–2 || Qabór Phoenix {{small|(50–23–9)}} || [[Qasperi Santonai]] | |align="center"| 2029 || Tulangia Centurions {{small|(58–15–9)}} || [[Barry Adriza]] || align=center|4–2 || Qabór Phoenix {{small|(50–23–9)}} || [[Qasperi Santonai]] | ||
Line 354: | Line 356: | ||
|align="center"| 2027 || Naqili Hornets {{small|(39–27–16)}} || [[Jean-Yves Lazard leMonde]] || align=center|4–0 || Tawakee Hurricanes {{small|(48–28–6)}} || [[Francisco Asonakee]] | |align="center"| 2027 || Naqili Hornets {{small|(39–27–16)}} || [[Jean-Yves Lazard leMonde]] || align=center|4–0 || Tawakee Hurricanes {{small|(48–28–6)}} || [[Francisco Asonakee]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|align="center"| 2026 || Tulangia Centurions {{small|(62–13–7)}} || [[Barry Adriza]] || align=center|4–2 || Auqali Shockers {{small|( | |align="center"| 2026 || Tulangia Centurions {{small|(62–13–7)}} || [[Barry Adriza]] || align=center|4–2 || Auqali Shockers {{small|(53–21–8)}} || [[Aphío Antonov]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|align="center"| 2025 || Auqali Shockers {{small|(65–12–5)}} || [[Aphío Antonov]] || align=center|4–2 || Veraise Raiders {{small|(51–23–8)}} || [[Satolo Aikala]] | |align="center"| 2025 || Auqali Shockers {{small|(65–12–5)}} || [[Aphío Antonov]] || align=center|4–2 || Veraise Raiders {{small|(51–23–8)}} || [[Satolo Aikala]] | ||
Line 475: | Line 477: | ||
[[Category:Tierrador]] | [[Category:Tierrador]] | ||
[[Category:Sports]] | [[Category:Sports]] | ||
[[Category: Organizations]] | [[Category:Organizations]] | ||
[[Category:Ice Hockey]] |
Latest revision as of 15:49, 7 November 2024
Current season, competition or edition: 2034–25 OHL season | |
Sport | Ice hockey |
---|---|
Founded | 1951 |
Inaugural season | 1951–52 |
President | Nicholas Taihana |
No. of teams | 32 |
Country | Tierrador (21 teams) Alstin (6 teams) Ceylonia (2 teams) Porlos (2 teams) Istrenya (1 team) |
Most recent champion(s) | Telohakee Wheatmen (1st title) |
Most titles | Qabór Phoenix (35 titles) |
TV partner(s) |
|
International cup(s) | Cronan Hockey Cup |
Official website | http://www.ohl.ti |
The Orixtal Hockey League (Qabóri: Orihtóc Lataisâ le Hoceî, OLH) is a professional ice hockey league in South Crona founded in 1951. It currently comprises of 32 teams; 21 in Tierrador, 6 in Alstin, 2 each in Ceylonia and Porlos, and 1 in Istrenya. It is one of the most popular sports leagues in Crona, with league and playoff matches being broadcasted in every Cronan country, along with many countries around the world.
The OHL was organized and founded at the Spitzer Hotel in Taisgol on November 26, 1951, after the suspension of operations of its predecessor organization, the six-team South Cronan Hockey Association (SCHA), which had been founded in 1913 in Qabór. The OHL immediately took the SCHA's place as one of the leagues that contested for the THA Cup in an annual inter-league competition consisting of the OHL, the CHL (until 1966), and the original rendition of the WHL (until they merged in 1976). A long series of league mergers and foldings left the OHL as the only league left competing for the THA Cup, which had been renamed to the Watson Cup to honor hockey legend Matt Watson in 1976.
The OHL is an active member of the Tierradorian Hockey Administration (THA), which is recognized by the WAHF as the national governing body for hockey in Tierrador. The league's several international as well as individual team offices are directed out of its head offices in Central Square in Taisgol, while its OHL Entertainment and OHL TV studios are directed out of offices located in Qabór, Las Rozas. In Tierrador, the OHL is the second wealthiest professional sport league after the Premiership, and one of the top ice hockey leagues in the world, directly rivaling the Boreal Hockey League.
The OHL's regular season is typically held from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. Following the conclusion of the regular season, 16 teams advance to the Watson Cup playoffs, a four-round tournament that runs into June to determine the league champion. Since the OHL's incorporation in 1951, the Qabór Phoenix have won the most outright OHL titles with 35; 26 pre-merger OHL championship series before the league took full exclusivity of the Watson Cup in 1972, and 9 Watson Cups afterwards. The reigning league champions are the Telohakee Wheatmen, winning their first Watson Cup over the Auqali Shockers in the 2036 Watson Cup Finals.
History
Early years
The presence of hockey in Crona, specifically the south, dates back to 1893, when Kiravian immigrants began playing the sport in Tierrador. Eventually, many organized leagues would be established in the northeastern part of the country, as the more mountainous areas consisted of the appropriate climate for that time. The Tierradorian Hockey Administration would be founded in 1910, and the first professional competition, the Tierradorian Hockey Cup, would be established three years later. The first two professional clubs, the Qabór Monarchs and the Taisgol Spires, were both established in 1913 and played the first edition of the Tierradorian Hockey Cup, with Qabór winning the best-of-five series three games to one. As the sport grew throughout the area, several short-lived clubs would be established around the Southeastern Metropolis to compete for the Cup, with league membership exceeding 35 in 1919. Despite this, many of these clubs would fold after five or so years due to a multitude of issues, the most common being from financial difficulties or lack of a permanent home rink. The THA would be reduced from 35 clubs in 1919 to just 12 around the beginning of the 1922 edition of the tournament. The THA would add three more teams—Porvaos Condors, the Naihungo Prairie Dogs, and the Caxano Titans—before the start of the 1923 season.
The 1920s and 30s were a stagnant time for the THA. Four new teams would be added from 1924 to 1933; the Prisamarina Mystics, the Arrecife Pioneers, the Ominasky Outlaws, and the Qazrogzo Wheatmen. The Tierradorian Hockey Cup would be split between Qabór and Taisgol, with the exception of 1929, where the Porvaos Condors would upset the heavily favored Phoenix in a dominant four-game sweep. In 1931, the THA would make major changes to its competition format; instead of tournament-style bracket, all of the teams competed in a quadruple round-robin, for a total of 72 games. After the regular season ended, the top eight teams would advance to a playoff round, where a team must prevail in three best-of-seven series in order to win the Tierradorian Hockey Cup. Following these changes, the league would begin to see many new champions, the most notable being the Prisamarina Mystics, who won their first three cups in 1937, 1938 and 1939. In 1940, the Caxano Titans, following many financial woes, would fold, reducing the league to just 18 teams, where it would stay at until the dissolution of the THA.
THA dissolves
The outbreak of the Second Great War in 1934 began a domino effect which would ultimately lead to the THA's demise. Despite Tierrador's neutrality in the war, many players who originated from the countries involved were called to serve their respective sides, which would end up forcing three teams to become inactive. Many of the players who left would not return for many reasons, which would cause a wave of uncertainty throughout the league during the rest of the 1940s. Eventually, many media outlets would begin to question the need for a governing body for hockey in South Crona, as the keepers of the Tierradorian Hockey Cup were considered to be the true governors of hockey. Eventually, in 1951, due to a plethora of reasons including financial woes within the organization, the Tierradorian Hockey Administration would dissolve, splitting into three member leagues; the Orixtal Hockey League, which was in eastern Tierrador, the Ceylonian Hockey League, the premier hockey league in Ceylonia, and the Western Hockey League, which encompassed all of western Tierrador, Asteria, Porlos, and for a couple of seasons, Alstin. The keepers of the Tierradorian Hockey Cup would be reorganized into the five Governors of Hockey, serving as the governing body for the three leagues.
The 1952–53 season saw only six teams competing in the OHL; the Taisgol Spires, Qabór Phoenix, Hugo Hitmen, Porvaos Condors, Arrecife Pioneers, and Prisamarina Mystics. The CHL was comprised of five; the Santa Maria Blazers, Novo Sierra Rangers, Antakee Monsters, Saqauwee Ceylonianos, and the East Sachia Sharks. The WHL had the most teams out of the three, being comprised of ten, spread across western Tierrador, Porlos, and Asteria. The WHL would remain at 10 until its merger with the OHL in 1972. The Tierradorian Hockey Cup tournament would be reorganized once again, being competed by the champion of the WHL versus the winner of a playoff series between the OHL and CHL champions. This era of hockey would be dominated by the Qabór Phoenix, where they, led by Matt Watson, the first player to score fifty goals in a singular season, would win the cup four straight years from 1951 to 1954 and six straight years from 1959 to 1964. Watson would repeat his record three more times during the Phoenix dynasty.
Despite the massive talent seen throughout the WHL, they would only account for winning two Cups throughout the league's existence; the Ominasky Outlaws in 1955–56, who finished the 72–game regular season with a W-L-T record of 61–6–5 and sweeping the WHL playoffs, and the Topaqoí Wahoo in 1964–65, led by Willy Schaefer, taking down the CHL champion Antakee Monsters in the first non-OHL Finals in Cup history. The CHL would only see one champion, the Santa Maria Blazers in 1965–66. Led by star forward Aphío Kalatoi, and goaltender Grigori Maiskiy, the Blazers would take down the Centurions in one of the greatest upsets in Cup history. In 1964, two CHL clubs; the East Sachia Sharks and the Novo Sierra Rangers, were suspended from the league for the 1964–65 season after Ceylonian state investigations found that both clubs were laundering money earned through illegal pyramid schemes. In protest, the Saqauwee Ceylonianos would sit out the second half of the season, leaving the Antakee Monsters and the Santa Maria Blazers as the remaining CHL clubs for the season. For both the 1964–65 and 1965–66 seasons, the OHL and CHL would unofficially merge. The Monsters and Blazers would still play a championship series to decide the champion of Ceylonia, with Antakee winning in 1965 in 7 games, and Santa Maria winning the next year in 5 games.
OHL-CHL merger
When it had become clear that the Sharks, Rangers, and Ceylonianos would not return to play, the only solution was to integrate the remaining CHL clubs into the OHL. This would occur prior to the start of the 1966–67 Tierradorian Hockey Cup. Lead Governor Patrick Wilson extended invites to both the Santa Maria Blazers and Antakee Monsters, however, the invite, which was sent by mail, was lost in translation and accidentally delivered to a home in rural Aracadó. Governor Wilson, confused by only receiving the Blazers' response, did not discover the blunder until halfway through the season. By the time a second invite was sent, the Monsters, believing they were excluded from the merger, had ceased operations. Following the merger, the total amount of clubs had been reduced to 17, seven in the OHL and ten in the WHL. The Tierradorian Hockey Cup would once again be reorganized into an eight-team playoff, contested by the top four teams in both leagues, as opposed to the previous format which was only contested by the top teams from each league. The Blazers would become champions of the OHL in their first official year in the league, but would immediately be stuffed in the Cup Final by the Qazrogzo Wheatmen. This would be the only Tierradorian Hockey Cup won by the Wheatmen.
The "Golden Era" of hockey
The increasing modernization of the OHL and WHL would earn the nickname "Golden Era of Hockey" for the 1970s and 80s. In 1969, the OHL would sign its first ever television broadcasting contract with Qabóri Broadcasting Company, the public broadcaster in Tierrador. Before the contract was signed, people were only able to listen to hockey games through the radio, or by reading their local newspaper the following day. The OHL, now featuring teams in much more popular markets, had accumulated nearly double the revenue of its counterpart, the WHL, in the 1969–70 season. This would begin the downfall of the WHL. On January 9, 1970, the OHL announced it would be adding an expansion team to Alstin City for the 1970–71 season. The new team, nicknamed the Alstin Sentinels, had created a brand new market in the United Republic. The OHL had also signed a second media deal with Alstinian broadcaster ABS, who agreed to broadcast all OHL matches in Alstin, though mostly favoring the Sentinels. The following year, the OHL would add the Suqovia Phantoms and a second team in Taisgol, the Marksmen. Before the start of the 1971–72 season, the Taisgol Spires had filed a lawsuit against both the Marksmen and the OHL, claiming that the league had violated its own collective bargaining agreement by allowing the Marksmen to play in Hacienda, Taisgol, a neighborhood of the city which was directly in the Spires' market. Eventually, the Imperial Court sided with the Spires, ordering the Marksmen to pay massive indemnities to the Spires. This would kickstart a fierce rivalry between the two, known now as the Cross-River Classic. The Marksmen would eventually move to Eastern Bend, 25 miles from Woderq, where the Spires played.
Before the end of the 1971–72 season, commissioner Alhunô Gourdinaí of the WHL, which had incurred heavy revenue losses due to the moves made by the OHL, announced that the WHL would cancel its 1972–73 season. While Gourdinaí had hoped for the league to return to play in late 1973, Tulangia Centurions owner Michael Sutton angrily stormed out of the press conference, shouting "We're not coming back!" One week later, on May 9, 1972, the Centurions applied to join the OHL for the 1972–73 season, and were accepted on the same day. Four more teams, the Topaqoí Wahoo, Miccubo Heartlanders, Alcosky Prairie Dogs, and Pacuí Mammoth, followed suit on May 11, 1972. The Ominasky Outlaws and Qazrogzo Wheatmen had originally planned to stay in the WHL, but were offered entry into the OHL on June 9, 1972, which they accepted. Due to their entry being four hours before the 1972 OHL Draft, both the Outlaws and Wheatmen were ineligible for participation. The remaining four WHL clubs, the Concordia Warriors, Yarmouth Kings, Winnecomac Marksmen, and Naqili Hornets, folded on October 17, 1972, thus ending the WHL.
The 1973–74 saw the debut of Volonian Fyodor Koshchev, who had been drafted by the Alstin Sentinels. Koshchev would eventually become a household name in the OHL, leading his team to the 1974 Watson Cup Finals, where they lost in 7 games to the Qabór Phoenix. After two years of semifinals appearances, Koshchev's Sentinels would return to the Finals in 1977, where they would get their revenge on the Phoenix, beating them in six games. For the 1977–78 season, the OHL would add two more clubs: the Vernaza Titans and Tansher Spirit. The Spirit, having earned the first overall pick in the 1977 OHL Draft, used it to draft Saukhin crown prince and heir to the Saukhin throne, Prince Apaha'enia. To commemorate Apaha'enia being drafted, then-King of Tapkoii Upta'helini'ia donated a golden trophy to the OHL, which became the King of Tapkoii Trophy. In Apaha'enia's rookie year, he and Fyodor Koshchev regularly battled for the top scoring spot, and many pundits correctly predicted the Spirit and Sentinels to meet in the Watson Cup Finals for that year. The seven-game war that was the 1978 Watson Cup Finals became the most-viewed Finals in history, almost doubling the view count from the previous year. It is also the highest-scoring Finals to date, with 90 goals scored in all seven games. Fyodor Koshchev's series-winning goal in Game 7's overtime nail-biter triggered one of the loudest crowd reactions in OHL history, with the Alstin crowd even causing a small earthquake around the Alstin City Sports Palace after their team won their second Watson Cup in a row.
The player rivalry between Apaha'enia and Koshchev and the subsequent team rivalry between the Spirit and Sentinels lasted until 1990, and while the Sentinels would go on to win two more Watson Cups in 1980 and 1981, Apaha'enia would not win a Watson Cup while on the Spirit. In 1980, the OHL added the Anloiya Blizzard, though due to construction issues with the team's arena, they did not begin play until the following season. On March 4, 1983, Adin Aibas stepped down as commissioner, and was replaced by Jon Attakaw, and former OHLer Keppett Burns and host of QBC's South Crona Tonight became the official play-by-play announcer for OHL broadcasts on QBC. That same year, the OHL would add a second Ceylonian club, the East Sachia Tubarões. Attakaw would also overhaul the league's collective bargaining structure, introducing a salary cap of $4.2 million, and a new CBA which introduced revenue-sharing amongst the 22 clubs, and also introduced two new geographic conferences; the Patrick Wilson Conference in the west, and the King of Tapkoii in the east. While this move was more popular with the smaller market clubs, many of the larger clubs, including the Taisgol Spires, Qabór Phoenix, Ominasky Outlaws, and the Alstin Sentinels, fiercely opposed the new CBA, and attempted to pressure the OHL's Board of Governors to veto Attakaw's advances. However, the Board of Governors approved the move, following a lopsided 17–5 vote between the member clubs.
The league added a new regular season award in 1984; the Woqali's Trophy. This was awarded to the team with the most regular season points. The Tansher Spirit would win the first three trophies from 1984 to 1986. In 1985, the Qabór Phoenix became the first team to win three straight Watson Cups, following a Game 6 overtime goal by Tyséan Darunavir against the Anloiya Blizzard. That following offseason, the OHL would add a second Alstinian club, the Utopia Rouges. The new club immediately made itself known after a blockbuster trade with the Tansher Spirit, where the Rouges acquired Apaha'enia, who had also became King of Tapkoii that same offseason, and a fourth-round draft, in exchange for Kil Faxanen, Isak Katalin, and $900,000 in cash. The 1985–86 season saw a highly-anticipated matchup for the Patrick Wilson Conference semifinals, between Apaha'enia's Rouges and Fyodor Koshchev's Alstin Sentinels. The Rouges won that series in six games and would go on to win the Watson Cup over the Tansher Spirit, Apaha'enia's former team. King Apaha'enia would would two more Watson Cups with Utopia, in 1988 and 1989, with the 1988 team also winning the Woqali's Trophy and breaking the league record for wins, with a regular season record of 70–10–4, and winning twelve straight playoff wins en route to their Cup victory.
In 1986, the OHL added three new teams: the Auqali Shockers, Sačia Tropics, and Tawakee Hurricanes. The league also signed another television deal with TBS, and both QBC and TBS split coverage of the OHL's regular season. Both broadcasters rotated coverage of the two conferences' postseason, typically with the broadcaster that covered the King of Tapkoii half also covering the Watson Cup Finals. In 1990, both King Apaha'enia and Fyodor Koshchev announced their retirement from professional hockey. This was regarded as the end of the OHL's "golden era."
Modern era
The 1990s saw an increase in the amount of players from Kiravia and Audonia. Joey Abdelkawy, who was born in Tapakdore and immigrated to Tierrador in 1986 to play hockey at the University of Aracadó, was drafted 11th overall in 1990 by the Hugo Hitmen. Abdelkawy, along with Kiravian-born 1992 3rd and 22nd-overall selections Ivūlar Sotyktuv, Kárav Katūtiren, and 1994 33rd overall pick Apius Áukśav, would form the "Hitmen Big Four." The Hitmen would win five Watson Cups with this core, and at least two of the four players appeared in the top-five highest scoring lists. In 1993, the OHL resurrected the Naqili Hornets, and in 1998, the league expanded to Istrenya, with the Karaba Mountaineers. The move to Karaba was marred with controversy in the team's early years, as the main financer for the team was Arco-Istrenytan petroleum drilling company Istrenco, which had been the center of many non-hockey related issues. In 2002, the OHL forced Istrenco to sell the Mountaineers. In what was a nine-month ordeal which almost saw the Mountaineers being moved to Gastineau, Veraise, the team was sold to Istrenyan entrepreneurs U'kati Ashkyn and Askun Utovl. The OHL would also add two more teams in Alstin; the Sedem Regni Thrones and the Alstin Sentinels.
The late 90s saw the rise of former Rouges and Spirit star Kil Faxanen as head coach along with rookie sensation Marcus Kahemki, with both leading the Agualaría Bluewave to win the Watson Cup in 2000. In 2005, the OHL's collective bargaining agreement had expired, and the OHLPA announced their refusal to sign the new CBA unless the salary cap had been increased. This began a six-month long stalemate which had delayed the start of the 2005–06 season. On December 9, 2005, the OHL and OHLPA finally came to an agreement, where the salary cap would be raised from $46 million to $50 million, the largest increase in the cap's history. The season began on December 25, 2005, and was shortened to 62 games. In the draft, the Auqali Shockers used their third-overall pick to select Andrew Slavachuk, a center from Volonia. Slavachuk won rookie of the year in the 2005–06 season and ignited a very physical rivalry with Marcus Kahemki and the Hitmen Big Four. The next year, Slavachuk led the Shockers to the Southeast Division title, but they were swept in the first round by the Taisgol Spires. In 2007, the league's television contract with QBC had ended, and they elected not to renew it, instead signing a deal with Ambaqwe-based Televisión Cinco. That same year, Kil Faxanen and Marcus Kahemki would lead the Bluewave to another Watson Cup. Slavachuk would not see his first Cup until 2011, when the Shockers, led by Slavachuk, Anton Stralburg, Aphío Antonov, Jarmo Kapanen, and rookie Antti Santanen, led a dominant playoff campaign, which saw the heavily lopsided five-game upset of the Hugo Hitmen, who had shattered many OHL records and led the league in nearly every category that year, and the Vernaza Titans in six games, who were heavily favored by nearly every sportswriter entering the Finals.
The next year, the Veraise Raiders would begin play as the fifth Alstinian team. The Santa Maria Blazers became the first non-Tierradorian team to win the Watson Cup since the Utopia Rouges in 1989, ironically doing so in seven games over the Rouges. The early 2010s saw the end of the Hitmen Big Four and the intensification of the player rivalry between Marcus Kahemki and Andrew Slavachuk. The OHL once again shortened its season for the 2013–14 edition, as a six-month long players' strike. The season began on January 17, 2014 and was shortened to 56 games. The Vernaza Titans won their second-straight Watson Cup over the Qabór Phoenix. In 2015, the Bluewave won the Watson Cup over the Naqili Hornets. This was the final season for Kil Faxanen as a head coach, as he announced his retirement at the Bluewave's championship parade in Holčaq. One month later, Kahemki announced he would be signing with the Alcosky Prairie Dogs. In his first two years, the Prairie Dogs won two Watson Cups over the East Sachia Tubarões and Auqali Shockers in two of the most controversial Finals series’s in OHL history. In 2016, the OHL added its 32nd and final expansion team, the Cuzco Beserkers, and had also replaced TBS as its secondary television broadcaster with Televisión Cinco. The Beserkers advanced to the 2018 Watson Cup Finals in their second year of existence, however they were taken down by the Karaba Mountaineers in six games. The next year, the Tawakee Hurricanes, who had seen little to no success since their inception in 1986, shocked the world by winning the Watson Cup in 2019 over the Vernaza Titans. Jason Saunders, who previously coached the Titans and led them to back-to-back Watson Cups in 2013 and 2014 before being abruptly terminated by the club in 2016, led the Hurricanes to the victory.
In 2021, the OHL brought back TBS as a tertiary broadcaster. The early 2020s saw a massive gap in talent between a select few clubs and everyone else. In 2021, the Tansher Spirit drafted Ranger Roberts with the 4th overall pick. His talent and popularity propelled the club back on the global stage, making the King of Tapkoii Finals that same year. Also occurring in 2022, the Taisgol Spires finished the regular season with an impressive 64–13–5 record, and went 16–4 in the postseason en route to a Watson Cup Finals victory over the Tulangia Centurions. The next year, the Prisamarina Mystics would win their first Watson Cup since 1968, defeating the Tansher Spirit in five games. From 2024–2028, the Auqali Shockers, led by former player turned coach Aphío Antonov, would lead a very successful dynasty, shattering many records, along with winning three Watson Cups, including back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025, and two back-to-back Woqali's Trophies in those same years. The Shockers also became the first OHL club to win more than 70 total games in back-to-back seasons, winning 78 in 2024 and 81 in 2025. The Tulangia Centurions also led a dynasty under the helm of coach Barry Adriza, winning five Watson Cups from 2026 to 2034. Other successful teams in the 2020s-2030s include the Suqovia Phantoms, Sedem Regni Thrones, Naqili Hornets, and Sačia Tropics.
Season structure
Preseason and regular season
The OHL has three phases to a season: the pre-season (which lasts from late August to early September), the regular season (lasts from early September to late March), and the postseason (the Watson Cup Playoffs, which begins in early April). Before the season starts, teams usually host training camps and summer showcases, which allow their newer prospects to prove themselves, along with non-league sanctioned prospect tournaments. Afterwards, the preseason begins, and typically coincides with the BHL’s preseason. All 32 OHL clubs play a first 2 exhibition matches against a BHL team of their choice, in a home-and-home match. Then, the clubs return to South Crona and play exhibition matches against other clubs in their respective division.
During the regular season, the schedule goes as follows since 2016: all teams play 82 games, with 41 at home and 41 on the road, 26 in their own geographical division, 24 against the members of the other division in their conference, and 32 against members of the other conference. The regular season standings of the OHL is based on the following points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 for a loss. The teams that finish with the most points in each division are awarded the title for their division. The Woqali’s Trophy is awarded to the team with the most regular season points.
Playoffs
The Watson Cup playoffs, which go from April to the beginning of June, are an elimination tournament where two teams play against each other to win a best-of-seven series in order to advance to the next round. The final remaining team is crowned the Watson Cup champion. Eight teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs: the top three teams in each division plus the two conference teams with the next highest number of points. The two conference champions proceed to the Watson Cup Finals. In all rounds, the higher-ranked team is awarded home-ice advantage, with four of the seven games played at this team's home venue. In the Watson Cup Finals, the team with the most points during the regular season has home-ice advantage.
Teams
Trophies and awards
Champions
The league champion is contested by the champions of both the King of Tapkoii and Patrick Wilson Conferences, and is awarded the Watson Cup, arguably one of the most famous sports trophy, along with being one of the most difficult to win. Below is a list of every Watson Cup champion since 1951.
Year | Winning team | Coach | Games | Losing team | Coach |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2036 | Telohakee Wheatmen (46–23–13) | Maté Utnalat | 4–3 | Auqali Shockers (48–28–6) | Aphío Antonov |
2035 | Veraise Raiders (50–23–9) | Tim Terrie | 4–3 | Taisgol Spires (49–27–6) | Petr Tolakov |
2034 | Tulangia Centurions (46–28–8) | Barry Adriza | 4–3 | Suqovia Phantoms (45–28–9) | Levar Xirótin |
2033 | Tulangia Centurions (47–27–8) | Barry Adriza | 4–2 | Taisgol Spires (52–21–9) | Petr Tolakov |
2032 | Prisamarina Mystics (53–25–4) | Colin Tayyis | 4–3 | Auqali Shockers (46–30–6) | Aphío Antonov |
2031 | Sedem Regni Thrones (48–20–14) | Jean-Charles Carre dePerrier | 4–3 | Taisgol Spires (47–29–6) | Petr Tolakov |
2030 | Suqovia Phantoms (54–20–8) | Levar Xirótin | 4–2 | Sedem Regni Thrones (51–22–9) | Jean-Charles Carre dePerrier |
2029 | Tulangia Centurions (58–15–9) | Barry Adriza | 4–2 | Qabór Phoenix (50–23–9) | Qasperi Santonai |
2028 | Auqali Shockers (54–19–9) | Aphío Antonov | 4–3 | Tulangia Centurions (60–13–9) | Badry Adriza |
2027 | Naqili Hornets (39–27–16) | Jean-Yves Lazard leMonde | 4–0 | Tawakee Hurricanes (48–28–6) | Francisco Asonakee |
2026 | Tulangia Centurions (62–13–7) | Barry Adriza | 4–2 | Auqali Shockers (53–21–8) | Aphío Antonov |
2025 | Auqali Shockers (65–12–5) | Aphío Antonov | 4–2 | Veraise Raiders (51–23–8) | Satolo Aikala |
2024 | Auqali Shockers (62–16–4) | Aphío Antonov | 4–2 | Naqili Hornets (54–21–7) | Jean-Yves Lazard leMonde |
2023 | Prisamarina Mystics (50–22–10) | Colin Tayyis | 4–1 | Tansher Spirit (45–33–4) | Jerry Iostenari |
2022 | Taisgol Spires (64–13–5) | Petr Tolakov | 4–2 | Tulangia Centurions (58–17–7) | Barry Adriza |
2021 | Sačia Tropics (45–29–8) | Xavier Cristobál | 4–1 | Alstin Sentinels (40–33–9) | Mike DeSoto |
2020 | Sačia Tropics (46–31–5) | Xavier Cristobál | 4–3 | Anloiya Blizzard (40–35–7) | Hectór Qosnan |
2019 | Tawakee Hurricanes (42–32–8) | Jason Saunders | 4–2 | Vernaza Titans (49–27–6) | Hectór Qosnan |
2018 | Karaba Mountaineers (52–21–9) | Petr Tolakov | 4–2 | Cuzco Beserkers (55–20–7) | Pyotr Šalasi |
2017 | Alcosky Prairie Dogs (49–22–11) | Matthew Qabolov | 4–3 | Auqali Shockers (40–31–11) | Andrew Walls |
2016 | Alcosky Prairie Dogs (47–29–6) | Matthew Qabolov | 4–2 | East Sachia Tubarões (43–32–7) | Levar Xirótin |
2015 | Agualaría Bluewave (46–32–4) | Kil Faxanan | 4–2 | Naqili Hornets (47–27–8) | Amani Ayala |
2014 | Vernaza Titans (32–21–3) | Jason Saunders | 4–2 | Qabór Phoenix (40–10–6) | Timê Qistaanat |
2013 | Vernaza Titans (54–19–9) | Jason Saunders | 4–3 | Porvaos Condors (46–25–11) | Trevor Šalasi |
2012 | Santa Maria Blazers (54–15–13) | Aphía Nešomi | 4–3 | Utopia Rouges (52–23–7) | Austin Mays |
2011 | Auqali Shockers (50–26–6) | Phoenix Simmons | 4–2 | Vernaza Titans (53–21–8) | Jason Saunders |
2010 | Porvaos Condors (43–28–11) | Joel Laqeim | 4–3 | Pacuí Mammoth (42–32–8) | Amani Ayala |
2009 | Hugo Hitmen (56–19–7) | Atûu Alenê | 4–2 | Alcosky Prairie Dogs (59–15–8) | Levar Xirótin |
2008 | Alcosky Prairie Dogs (48–28–6) | Levar Xirótin | 4–3 | Hugo Hitmen (55–16–11) | Atûu Alenê |
2007 | Agualaría Bluewave (50–23–9) | Kil Faxanen | 4–3 | Anloiya Blizzard (48–26–8) | Phoenix Simmons |
2006 | Anloiya Blizzard (41–19–2) | Phoenix Simmons | 4–2 | Sačia Tropics (40–22–0) | Vicente Valdueza |
2005 | Taisgol Marksmen (55–18–9) | Trémur Eltrekivar | 4–2 | Tulangia Centurions (52–24–6) | Laqeim Auscanaí |
2004 | Sačia Tropics (48–26–8) | Vincente Valdueza | 4–3 | Alstin Sentinels (48–24–10) | Pyotr Časqon |
2003 | Ominasky Outlaws (47–29–6) | Pascale de San Giamo | 4–2 | Qabór Phoenix (46–23–13) | Timê Qistaanat |
2002 | Tulangia Centurions (54–23–5) | Laqeim Auscanaí | 4–3 | Agualaría Bluewave (48–25–9) | Kil Faxanen |
2001 | Hugo Hitmen (50–19–13) | Atûu Alenê | 4–1 | Tulangia Centurions (44–29–9) | Laqeim Auscanaí |
2000 | Agualaría Bluewave (48–27–7) | Kil Faxanen | 4–2 | Alcosky Prairie Dogs (42–29–11) | Julian de Cuvillier |
1999 | Moscakee Pioneers (49–29–4) | Satolo Qaldetti | 4–3 | Miccubo Heartlanders (42–26–14) | Wascoto Anteria |
1998 | Qabór Phoenix (58–22–2) | Timê Qistaanat | 4–0 | Utopia Rouges (43–24–15) | Julius Roberts |
1997 | Hugo Hitmen (65–10–7) | Atûu Alenê | 4–0 | Utopia Rouges (38–26–18) | Julius Roberts |
1996 | Hugo Hitmen (51–24–7) | Atûu Alenê | 4–0 | Tulangia Centurions (52–23–7) | Laqeim Auscanaí |
1995 | Tulangia Centurions (54–17–11) | Laqeim Auscanaí | 4–0 | Hugo Hitmen (62–15–5) | Atûu Alenê |
1994 | Hugo Hitmen (50–22–10) | Atûu Alenê | 4–1 | Alcosky Prairie Dogs (51–19–12) | Julian de Cuvillier |
1993 | Taisgol Spires (58–16–8) | Levir Aurbo'ja | 4–2 | Pacuí Mammoth (49–26–7) | Katwas Aukaasaalij |
1992 | Alcosky Prairie Dogs (41–29–12) | Julian de Cuvillier | 4–0 | Agualaría Bluewave (50–21–11) | Konomor Ethygren |
1991 | Alcosky Prairie Dogs (43–27–14) | Julian de Cuvillier | 4–2 | Taisgol Marksmen (48–26–8) | Aphío Asphanat |
1990 | Qabór Phoenix (54–21–9) | Timê Qistaanat | 4–1 | Telohakee Wheatmen (40–25–19) | Kessok Korentin |
1989 | Utopia Rouges (50–21–13) | Pavlos Depátaí | 4–2 | Qabór Phoenix (58–21–5) | Timê Qistaanat |
1988 | Utopia Rouges (70–10–4) | Pavlos Depátaí | 4–0 | Taisgol Spires (62–13–9) | Levir Aurbo’ja |
1987 | Taisgol Spires (60–15–9) | Levir Aurbo’ja | 4–0 | Utopia Rouges (65–13–6) | Pavlos Depátaí |
1986 | Utopia Rouges (49–21–14) | Pavlos Depátaí | 4–2 | Tansher Spirit (55–21–8) | Vurdhan Kelixin |
1985 | Qabór Phoenix (48–25–11) | Timê Qistaanat | 4–2 | Anloiya Blizzard (43–36–5) | Maaté Ataapesqaat |
1984 | Qabór Phoenix (50–25–9) | Timê Qistaanat | 4–0 | Prisamarina Mystics (45–32–7) | Ranger Pauliinet |
1983 | Qabór Phoenix (50–15–11) | Timê Qistaanat | 4–2 | Alstin Sentinels (36–18–22) | Chad Everette |
1982 | Taisgol Spires (40–28–8) | Levir Aurbo’ja | 4–3 | Alstin Sentinels (49–21–6) | Chad Everette |
1981 | Alstin Sentinels (50–13–9) | Chad Everette | 4–2 | Prisamarina Mystics (45–20–7) | Ranger Pauliinet |
1980 | Alstin Sentinels (39–27–6) | Chad Everette | 4–3 | Prisamarina Mystics (30–34–8) | Ranger Pauliinet |
1979 | Qabór Phoenix (40–19–13) | Timê Qistaanat | 4–0 | Alstin Sentinels (37–20–15) | Chad Everette |
1978 | Alstin Sentinels (45–19–8) | Chad Everette | 4–2 | Tansher Spirit (43–23–6) | Aphío Tachotas |
1977 | Alstin Sentinels (38–26–8) | Chad Everette | 4–2 | Qabór Phoenix (40–25–5) | Timê Qistaanat |
1976 | Pacuí Mammoth (35–27–10) | Taakui Aphtaanástiij | 4–1 | Santa Maria Blazers (43–21–6) | Antelmo Monteiro |
1975 | Pacuí Mammoth (42–22–8) | Taakui Aphtaanástiij | 4–2 | Taisgol Spires (39–29–2) | Marcúo Antonov |
1974 | Qabór Phoenix (45–20–5) | Timê Qistaanat | 4–3 | Alstin Sentinels (40–21–5) | Chad Everette |
1973 | Qabór Phoenix (37–21–12) | Timê Qistaanat | 4–2 | Taisgol Spires (41–21–8) | Larry Castaí |
1972 | Qabór Phoenix (46–21–3) | Timê Qistaanat | 4–1 | Prisamarina Mystics (50–14–6) | Taiyo Asqanat |
1971 | Porvaos Condors (40–21–11) | Yastó Aptaqis | 4–2 | Miccubo Heartlanders (46–21–5) | Quos Takaís |
1970 | Porvaos Condors (43–22–7) | Yastó Aptaqis | 4–0 | Ominasky Outlaws (40–27–5) | Aphío Muscanûs |