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Franchise History
The Erie Otters have been a member of the Ontario Hockey League since the 1996-1997 season. The OHL operates under the sport governing guidelines of the Canadian Hockey League and conforms to the rules and regulations of the National Hockey League. The Canadian Hockey League consists of players between the ages of 16 and 20 and includes teams in the Western Hockey League, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey League.
The OHL features 20 teams. The Otters, Plymouth Whalers and Saginaw Spirit are the only members of the League based in the United States. Other teams in the League include the Barrie Colts, Belleville Bulls, Brampton Battalion, Guelph Storm, Kingston Frontenacs, Kitchener Rangers, London Knights, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, Niagara IceDogs, Oshawa Generals, Ottawa 67's, Owen Sound Attack, Peterborough Petes, Sarnia Sting, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Sudbury Wolves and Windsor Spitfires.
The Otters celebrate the 2002 Ontario Hockey League Championship
The Otters have enjoyed tremendous success since their inception capturing three Midwest Division titles (2000, 2001, 2002), an OHL Regular Season Championship (2001), a Western Conference Championship (2002) and an OHL Championship (2002).
Franchise Record
| Year | Team | GP | W | L | T | OTL | SOL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | Erie Otters | 66 | 23 | 36 | 7 | - | - | 53 |
| 1997-98 | Erie Otters | 66 | 33 | 28 | 5 | - | - | 71 |
| 1998-99 | Erie Otters | 68 | 31 | 33 | 4 | - | - | 66 |
| 1999-00 | Erie Otters | 68 | 33 | 28 | 4 | 3 | - | 73 |
| 2000-01 | Erie Otters | 68 | 45 | 11 | 10 | 2 | - | 102 |
| 2001-02 | Erie Otters | 68 | 41 | 22 | 4 | 1 | - | 87 |
| 2002-03 | Erie Otters | 68 | 24 | 35 | 6 | 3 | - | 57 |
| 2003-04 | Erie Otters | 68 | 29 | 26 | 6 | 7 | - | 71 |
| 2004-05 | Erie Otters | 68 | 31 | 26 | 6 | 5 | - | 73 |
| 2005-06 | Erie Otters | 68 | 26 | 35 | - | 4 | 3 | 59 |
| 2006-07 | Erie Otters | 68 | 15 | 50 | - | 1 | 2 | 33 |
| 2007-08 | Erie Otters | 68 | 18 | 46 | - | 2 | 2 | 40 |
| Otters Total | 812 | 349 | 376 | 52 | 28 | 7 | 785 | |
During the 2007-2008 season the Otters boasted nine alumni members who played in the National Hockey League plus countless others who played professionally in minor pro leagues in North America and Europe.
 Tim Connolly, Buffalo Sabres |  Mike Rupp, NJ Devils |  Chris Campoli, NY Islanders |
In addition, the Otters have had a total of 27 players selected in the National Hockey League Entry Draft including at least one first-round selection in five straight NHL Entry Drafts from 1997-2001.
A number of Otters have also been honored with OHL and CHL end-of-season awards. Brad Boyes (1998-2002) is the most decorated member of the Otters. The former Otters' captain became only the third player in OHL history to be named the Red Tilson Award winner as the League's Most Outstanding Player in back-to-back seasons (2001 and 2002) and also won the CHL Most Sportsmanlike Player (2002), the CHL Scholastic Player-of-the-Year (2000), the William Hanley Trophy as the OHL's Most Sportsmanlike Player (2001 and 2002), the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as OHL Playoff Most Valuable Player (2002) and the Bobby Smith Trophy as OHL Scholastic Player-of-the-Year (2000).
Chris Campoli, 2004 CHL Humanitarian-of-the-Year and 2004 Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy winner
Erie Otters Hockey, YOU "OTTER" BE THERE!!!!!