OJHL Hall of Fame Class of 2024

OJHL Hall of Fame Class of 2024 Enshrinement Ceremony

January 6, 2025 — Congratulations to the inaugural Class of 2024!

On May 6, 2024, the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) proudly announced the OJHL Hall of Fame launch, honouring five exceptional inductees in its first class. This milestone celebrates the OJHL’s rich history and commitment to excellence as the Official Hall of Fame was unveiled.

Baron® is honoured to have designed and crafted the custom Hall of Fame Rings for these distinguished inductees. We celebrate their incredible accomplishments and the legacy they bring to the Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on this well-deserved recognition and your custom Hall of Fame Rings—you’ve truly earned your place in history!

• Baron® Announcing extended Partnership with OJHL

The OJHL Hall of Fame Class of 2024 ceremony took place on May 10, 2024, during the Centennial Cup National Junior A Championships at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville.

The OJHL (Ontario Junior Hockey League) has established its Hall of Fame to celebrate and preserve the history of remarkable athletes, coaches, and contributors who have significantly shaped the league.

Honouring both the Original Era (1972-1987) and the Modern Era (1993-present), the Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in the OJHL and beyond.

The Ontario Junior Hockey League Hall of Fame‘s website provides information about inductees, selection criteria, and timelines, while also highlighting the league’s origins, statistical leaders, award winners, and Championship history.

It aims to preserve the rich legacy of Provincial Junior A Hockey in Ontario.

Paul Coffey, a Hockey Hall of Famer, played for the North York Rangers in the 1977-78 season of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, scoring 47 points in 50 games as a 16-year-old defenseman.

His remarkable NHL career includes four Stanley Cup Championships, two Canada Cup titles, and an impressive 1,531 points in 1,409 regular season games, along with 196 points in 194 playoff games. Coffey earned three Norris Trophies and was named a First or Second-Team All-Star eight times.

Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004, he also coached the Pickering Panthers in 2014-15 and is currently an assistant coach with the Edmonton Oilers.

Adam Oates was a prolific scorer with the Markham Waxers in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League, setting a league record with 159 points, including 54 goals, as team captain in the 1981-82 season.

The previous year, he tallied 89 points in 43 games. Over his 20-season NHL career, Oates scored 341 goals and recorded 1,079 assists for 1,420 points in 1,337 games, along with 156 points in 163 playoff games.

Known as one of the best passers in NHL history, Oates led the league in assists three times and ranked second only to Wayne Gretzky in assists during the 1990s. A five-time NHL All-Star, he also coached in the NHL, including a stint as head coach of the Washington Capitals.

Steve Thomas had a standout two seasons with his hometown Markham Waxers, notably teaming up with future NHL star Adam Oates in 1981-82.

Thomas scored 68 goals that season, the fourth-highest total in league history, finishing with 125 points. After two seasons in the OHL, the undrafted Thomas signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1984, launching an NHL career that spanned 1,235 games with the Leafs, Blackhawks, Ducks, Islanders, Devils, and Red Wings.

He tallied 421 goals and 512 assists. Thomas also had a coaching career, including a stint with the OJHL’s St. Michael’s Buzzers and coaching roles with the Tampa Bay Lightning and St. Louis Blues. His number 16 was retired by the Waxers.

Bob Hooper served as commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Jr. A Hockey League (OPJAHL), the forerunner to the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL).

After selling his successful meat import/export business, Hooper became the only unsalaried league commissioner in Canada. He played a pivotal role in expanding the league from a struggling 10-team Jr. B loop to a 35-team, $7-million-per-year OJHL by 2006.

Hooper was recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Ontario Hockey Association’s Gold Stick Award (2010) and the Ontario Hockey Federation’s inaugural Junior Hockey Award (2002).

A lifelong hockey advocate, he also played, coached, and served as an executive in Georgetown, leading the Intermediate A Raiders to the 1982 Hardy Cup and helping coordinate the 2005 Dudley Hewitt Cup tournament.

Josh Soares had a successful five-season tenure with his hometown Hamilton Kilty B’s from 1998 to 2003, earning selections to four league all-star games and one future stars game.

He was named the West Division MVP, led the nation in scoring, and was a finalist for the Canadian Junior Hockey League Player of the Year. Soares continued his career at the University of Maine, where he played in four NCAA tournaments and reached the Frozen Four three times, accumulating 112 points and earning All-New England honours and a spot on the Hockey East Second All-Star Team during his senior year.

After graduating in 2007, he signed a one-year free-agent contract with the St. Louis Blues and went on to play seven seasons of professional hockey in North America and Europe.

OJHL Hall of Fame Class of 2024