The Ontario Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League are saddened by the loss of longtime CHL President and OHL Commissioner David Branch.
Both leagues announced that Branch passed away at the age of 77 on Sunday, January 4.
Branch was born in Bathurst, New Brunswick, and spent many years living in Whitby, Ontario. He served as OHL Commissioner for an impressive 45 years from 1979 to 2024. Additionally, he held the position of CHL President from 1996 to 2019, overseeing major junior hockey across Canada during that time.
One of Branch’s key initiatives was the creation of the OHL Scholarship Program, which aimed to ensure that players in the league could pursue post-secondary education after their playing careers.
In recognition of his contributions, Branch received the Order of Canada in 2016 and was inducted into the Whitby Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. He also served for several years on the selection committee for the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Since the 2019-20 season, the CHL has presented the David Branch Player of the Year Award to honor the most outstanding player across its leagues. The OHL also awards the David Branch Leader of the Year Award each year to recognize its top executive.
Both organizations have stated that details regarding funeral arrangements and memorial services will be shared soon.
“This is a very sad day for a lot of people,” said OHL Commissioner Bryan Crawford. “David’s contributions to the game of hockey will continue to impact the game for generations. The entire league mourns the loss of a great leader and visionary who oversaw the growth and evolution of the Ontario Hockey League, always prioritizing the players and putting their experience first.”
“The CHL would not be the top development hockey league in the world without David Branch,” said Dan Mac Kenzie, President of the CHL. “His relentless focus on the player experience, both on and off the ice, will be his greatest legacy as our game is safer, faster, and more skilled because of his influence and leadership. David had both vision and determination to achieve great things while bringing people together to make it happen. He was a true builder; his rightful place should be in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day.”
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