| J. Ross Robertson Cup | |
| Sport: | Ice hockey |
| League: | Ontario Hockey League |
| Givenfor: | Playoffs champion |
| Country: | Canada |
| First: | 1910–11 |
| Firstwinner: | Kingston Frontenacs |
| Mostwins: | Oshawa Generals (13) |
| Mostrecent: | London Knights (5) |
The J. Ross Robertson Cup is a Canadian ice hockey trophy. It is awarded annually in junior ice hockey to the champion of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. It was donated by John Ross Robertson to the Ontario Hockey Association in 1910, and is the third of three similarly named trophies he established. His other eponymous trophies for the OHA include, the J. Ross Robertson Cup awarded to the annual champions of Allan Cup Hockey, and the J. Ross Robertson Cup which was awarded to the annual champions of the discontinued intermediate division.
The J. Ross Robertson Cup has continuously been awarded as the playoffs championship trophy for the top tier of junior hockey in Ontario. The cup transitioned from the Ontario Hockey Association to the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League in 1974, and has been the championship trophy of the Ontario Hockey League since 1980. The winner of the J. Ross Robertson Cup has been eligible to compete for the Memorial Cup as the junior hockey champion of Canada since 1919.
The J. Ross Robertson Cup was donated by John Ross Robertson on November 19, 1910, to be awarded annually to the champion of the junior ice hockey division in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA). Robertson served as president of the OHA from 1899 to 1905, had founded the Toronto Evening Telegram in 1876, helped establish The Hospital for Sick Children, and was a member of the House of Commons of Canada for Toronto East.[1] He was against professionalism in sports, and felt that "sport should be pursued for its own sake, for when professionalism begins, true sport ends".[2]
The OHA first established a junior hockey division for the 1892–93 season, and the J. Ross Robertson Cup was first awarded during the 1910–11 season.[3] The cup is a sterling silver bowl 18.5inches tall, engraved with a hockey-playing scene and interlaced maple leaves in bas-relief. The cup is the third of three similarly named trophies Robertson donated to the OHA, which included the J. Ross Robertson Cup for the annual champions of the senior division, and the J. Ross Robertson Cup for the annual champions of intermediate division.[4]
The Memorial Cup was founded in 1919, which gave the opportunity for each season's J. Ross Robertson Cup winner to partake in national playoffs arranged by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association for the junior hockey championship of Canada.[5] The national playoffs culminated in an east-versus-west final, and the Eastern Canada junior champion was also awarded the George Richardson Memorial Trophy from 1932 to 1971.[6] In 1972, the Memorial Cup format changed to a round-robin tournament and the J. Ross Robertson Cup winner received an automatic berth in the tournament along with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League champions.[5]
The OHA split junior hockey into A and B levels for the 1933–34 season. The junior-A level competed for the J. Ross Robertson Cup, and the junior-B level competed for the newly established Sutherland Cup.[7] The J. Ross Robertson Cup remained the playoffs championship trophy for the top tier of junior hockey in the OHA. The cup was awarded to the OHA Major Junior A Series champion from 1972 to 1974, the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League champion from 1974 to 1980, and has been the championship trophy of the Ontario Hockey League since 1980.[8]
The Ontario Hockey League established the Bobby Orr Trophy and the Wayne Gretzky Trophy in 1999, for the respective Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions which compete for the J. Ross Robertson Cup.[9] The Wayne Gretzky 99 Award was established in 1999, and is given to the most valuable player of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs at the conclusion of the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals.[10]
The OHA's J. Ross Robertson Cup champion was determined by a total-goals series from 1911 to 1932. The number of games played varied by season from one to three games.[11] [12]
List of winning teams and finalists from 1911 to 1932.
| Season | Champion | Total goals | Finalist | OHA Champion's subsequent Memorial Cup result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1910–11 | 21–11 | Orillia Hockey Club | not applicable | ||
| 1911–12 | 16–7 | Orillia Hockey Club | |||
| 1912–13 | Orillia Hockey Club | 14–8 | Woodstock Juniors | ||
| 1913–14 | Orillia Hockey Club | 13–7 | University of Toronto Schools | ||
| 1914–15 | University of Toronto Schools | 16–11 | Berlin Union Jacks | ||
| 1915–16 | 6–4 | Berlin Union Jacks | |||
| 1916–17 | Toronto Aura Lee | 18–5 | Kitchener Union Jacks | ||
| 1917–18 | 10–8 | Barrie Canoe Club | |||
| 1918–19 | University of Toronto Schools | 8–7 | Woodstock Juniors | 1919 Memorial Cup champion | |
| 1919–20 | Toronto Canoe Club Paddlers | 15–8 | 1920 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| 1920–21 | Stratford Midgets | 7–3 | 1921 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| 1921–22 | Toronto Aura Lee | 6–4 | Toronto St. Mary's | Eastern Canada finalist | |
| 1922–23 | 7–4 | University of Toronto Schools | 1923 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| 1923–24 | 12–7 | Kitchener Colts | 1924 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| 1924–25 | Toronto Aura Lee | 14–11 | Owen Sound Greys | 1925 Memorial Cup finalist | |
| 1925–26 | Queen's University | 7–4 | Owen Sound Greys | 1926 Memorial Cup finalist | |
| 1926–27 | Owen Sound Greys | 7–3 | Newmarket Redmen | 1927 Memorial Cup champion | |
| 1927–28 | 4–3 | Newmarket Redmen | Eastern Canada finalist | ||
| 1928–29 | Toronto Marlboros | 4–3 | 1929 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| 1929–30 | 11–9 | Niagara Falls Cataracts | 1930 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| 1930–31 | Niagara Falls Cataracts | 12–7 | West Toronto Nationals | Eastern Canada finalist | |
| 1931–32 | Toronto Marlboros | 4–1 | Newmarket Redmen | Eastern Canada quarter-finalist |
Since 1933, the J. Ross Robertson Cup champion has been determined by either the most wins in total-games series, or the most points earned in a series.
List of OHA (to 1979) / OHL (since 1980) winning teams and runner-up finalists since 1933.
| Season | Champion | Series | Finalist | OHA / OHL Champion's subsequent Memorial Cup result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932–33 | Newmarket Redmen | 2–1–1 | 1933 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| 2–0 | Stratford Midgets | 1934 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Default | did not participate | ||||
| 2–0 | Kitchener Greenshirts | 1936 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 3–2 | Stratford Midgets | Eastern Canada quarter-finalist | ||
| 3–0 | 1938 Memorial Cup finalist | ||||
| Oshawa Generals | 3–0 | 1939 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Oshawa Generals | 3–2 | 1940 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Oshawa Generals | 4–3 | Toronto Marlboros | Eastern Canada finalist | ||
| Oshawa Generals | 3–2 | 1942 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| Oshawa Generals | 4–1 | 1943 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| Oshawa Generals | 4–1 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 1944 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 4–0 | 1945 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 4–2 | Oshawa Generals | 1946 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 4–0 | Galt Red Wings | 1947 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| 4–2 | 1948 Memorial Cup finalist | ||||
| Barrie Flyers | 4–0 | Toronto Marlboros | Eastern Canada finalist | ||
| Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters | 4–2 | Windsor Spitfires | Eastern Canada finalist | ||
| Barrie Flyers | 4–2 | Toronto Marlboros | 1951 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters | 4–1 | 1952 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Barrie Flyers | 5–3 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 1953 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| St. Catharines Teepees | 4–3 | Toronto Marlboros | 1954 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Toronto Marlboros | 4–2 | St. Catharines Teepees | 1955 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Toronto Marlboros | 4–1 | Barrie Flyers | 1956 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Guelph Biltmore Mad Hatters | 4–2 | St. Catharines Teepees | Eastern Canada finalist | ||
| Toronto Marlboros | 4–1–1 | Eastern Canada finalist | |||
| 3–2–3 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 1959 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| St. Catharines Teepees | 4–1–1 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 1960 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 4–2–1 | 1961 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| 4–1 | Toronto St. Michael's Majors | 1962 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| 4–2 | 1963 Memorial Cup finalist | ||||
| Toronto Marlboros | 4–0–1 | 1964 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Niagara Falls Flyers | 4–1 | Toronto Marlboros | 1965 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Oshawa Generals | 4–1 | 1966 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| Toronto Marlboros | 4–0 | Hamilton Red Wings | 1967 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Niagara Falls Flyers | 4–3–1 | Kitchener Rangers | 1968 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Montreal Junior Canadiens | 4–0–2 | 1969 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Montreal Junior Canadiens | 4–2 | Toronto Marlboros | 1970 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| St. Catharines Black Hawks | 4–0 | Toronto Marlboros | Eastern Canada finalist | ||
| 3–0–2 | 1972 Memorial Cup finalist | ||||
| Toronto Marlboros | 3–2–2 | Peterborough Petes | 1973 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| St. Catharines Black Hawks | 4–0–1 | Peterborough Petes | 3rd place at 1974 Memorial Cup | ||
| Toronto Marlboros | 4–3 | 1975 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Hamilton Fincups | 4–2 | 1976 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Ottawa 67's | 4–2 | 1977 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| Peterborough Petes | 4–3 | Hamilton Fincups | 1978 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| Peterborough Petes | 4–3 | Niagara Falls Flyers | 1979 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Peterborough Petes | 4–0 | 1980 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| Kitchener Rangers | 3–0–3 | 1981 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| Kitchener Rangers | 4–0–1 | Ottawa 67's | 1982 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Oshawa Generals | 4–0 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 1983 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| Ottawa 67's | 3–1–2 | Kitchener Rangers | 1984 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Kitchener, 1984 Memorial Cup finalist | |||||
| Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 4–2–1 | Peterborough Petes | 3rd place at 1985 Memorial Cup | ||
| 3–2–2 | 1986 Memorial Cup champion | ||||
| Oshawa Generals | 4–3 | 1987 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| 4–0 | Peterborough Petes | 1988 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| Peterborough Petes | 4–2 | 3rd place at 1989 Memorial Cup | |||
| Oshawa Generals | 4–3 | Kitchener Rangers | 1990 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Kitchener 1990 Memorial Cup finalist | |||||
| Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 4–2 | Oshawa Generals | 4th place at 1991 Memorial Cup | ||
| Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 4–3 | North Bay Centennials | 1992 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| Peterborough Petes | 4–1 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | Peterborough, 1993 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| Sault Ste. Marie, 1993 Memorial Cup champion | |||||
| North Bay Centennials | 4–3 | 4th place at 1994 Memorial Cup | |||
| Detroit Junior Red Wings | 4–2 | 1995 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| Peterborough Petes | 4–3 | Guelph Storm | Peterborough, 1996 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| Guelph, 4th place at 1996 Memorial Cup | |||||
| Oshawa Generals | 4–2 | Ottawa 67's | 3rd place at 1997 Memorial Cup | ||
| Guelph Storm | 4–1 | Ottawa 67's | 1998 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| Belleville Bulls | 4–3 | London Knights | 3rd place at 1999 Memorial Cup | ||
| 4–3 | 2000 Memorial Cup finalist | ||||
| Ottawa 67's | 4–2 | Plymouth Whalers | 4th place at 2001 Memorial Cup | ||
| 4–1 | Barrie Colts | 3rd place at 2002 Memorial Cup | |||
| Kitchener Rangers | 4–1 | Ottawa 67's | 2003 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Guelph Storm | 4–0 | 4th place at 2004 Memorial Cup | |||
| London Knights | 4–1 | Ottawa 67's | London, 2005 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Ottawa, 3rd place at 2005 Memorial Cup | |||||
| Peterborough Petes | 4–0 | London Knights | 4th place at 2006 Memorial Cup | ||
| Plymouth Whalers | 4–2 | Sudbury Wolves | 3rd place at 2007 Memorial Cup | ||
| Kitchener Rangers | 4–3 | Belleville Bulls | Kitchener, 2008 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| Belleville, 3rd place at 2008 Memorial Cup | |||||
| Windsor Spitfires | 4–1 | 2009 Memorial Cup champion | |||
| Windsor Spitfires | 4–0 | Barrie Colts | 2010 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| 4–3 | |||||
| Mississauga, 2011 Memorial Cup finalist | |||||
| London Knights | 4–1 | 2012 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| London Knights | 4–3 | Barrie Colts | 3rd place at 2013 Memorial Cup | ||
| Guelph Storm | 4–1 | 2014 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| Oshawa Generals | 4–1 | Erie Otters | 2015 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| London Knights | 4–0 | Niagara IceDogs | 2016 Memorial Cup champion | ||
| Erie Otters | 4–1 | 2017 Memorial Cup finalist | |||
| 4–2 | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 3rd place at 2018 Memorial Cup | |||
| Guelph Storm | 4–2 | Ottawa 67's | 3rd place at 2019 Memorial Cup | ||
| OHL playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic – J. Ross Robertson Cup not awarded[13] | |||||
| Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[14] | |||||
| Hamilton Bulldogs | 4–3 | Windsor Spitfires | 2022 Memorial Cup finalist | ||
| Peterborough Petes | 4–2 | London Knights | 3rd place at 2023 Memorial Cup | ||
| London Knights | 4–0 | Oshawa Generals | 2024 Memorial cup finalist | ||