A public David Branch memorial will be held this Saturday in Oshawa to honour the longtime Whitby resident and influential leader in Canadian junior hockey.
The celebration of life is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Tribute Communities Centre, 99 Athol St., Oshawa, and is open to the public. Branch, who served as commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League from 1979 to 2024, passed away on Jan. 4 at the age of 77.
During his nearly five decades in leadership, Branch played a central role in shaping the modern junior hockey system. He also served as president of the Canadian Hockey League from 1996 to 2019, overseeing the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL.
Beyond league administration, Branch was known for his dedication to grassroots hockey, coaching minor hockey for many years and remaining deeply connected to the Whitby community
