The Ontario Hockey League and Canadian Hockey League are grieving 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.
Born in Bathurst, New Brunswick and having lived in Whitby, Ontario for many years, Branch dedicated an impressive 45 years as OHL Commissioner from 1979-2024. He also held the position of CHL President from 1996-2019, guiding major junior hockey across Canada during that time.
<p Branch was instrumental in establishing the OHL Scholarship Program to help players access post-secondary education after their playing days.
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 many years on the selection committee for the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Since the renaming of the award in his honor during the 2019-20 season, the CHL has annually presented the David Branch Player of the Year Award to recognize outstanding players. The OHL also presents a similar honor with the David Branch Leader of the Year Award for its top executive each year.
Funeral arrangements and memorial services will be shared by both CHL and OHL 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 CHL. “His relentless focus on player experience, both on and off ice, will be his greatest legacy as safety, speed, and skill have all improved thanks to his influence. David had both vision and determination to achieve great things while bringing people together to make it happen. He was truly a builder deserving recognition in future halls of fame.”
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