However, due to continued public health orders and increasing cases of COVID-19 in Ontario, the league eventually shortened the planned season and postponed it indefinitely in December 2020.
On August 5, 2020, the OHL announced that the start of the regular season was moved to December 1, 2020, and would end on April 29, 2021.
[2] Due to Ontario's provincewide shutdown in December 2020, which ordered the closure of all sports and recreation facilities with limited exceptions for "high-performance athletes and specified professional leagues",[3][4] the OHL delayed the season indefinitely on December 23, 2020, and stated that they would work with health officials in order to determine potential start dates in 2021.
[6] In April 2021, Ontario implemented a second provincewide shutdown and stay-at-home order due to widespread infections involving variants of concern.
[8] On April 20, 2021, the OHL announced that due to continued public health orders and the need to provide certainty to players and staff, the 2020–21 season has been cancelled and would not be played.
The Sudbury Wolves won the lottery [10] and selected Quentin Musty from the North Jersey Avalanche of the AYHL.
[11] The Niagara IceDogs forfeited their first round draft pick due to violating league recruitment rules.
Below are the players who were selected in the first round by Ontario Hockey League teams in the 2021 CHL Import Draft.
[14] On July 23–24, 2021, the National Hockey League conducted the 2021 NHL Entry Draft held via video conference call.
Mason McTavish of the Peterborough Petes was the highest player from the OHL to be selected, as he was taken with the third overall pick by the Anaheim Ducks.
[15] The 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship was held at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta starting on December 25, 2020.
Twenty-seven current and former OHL players were on eight rosters in this tournament, including eight on Canada, four on the Czech Republic, three on Germany, three on Slovakia, two on Finland, two on Russia, two on the United States, two on Switzerland and one on Austria.
The players on the Canadian team were: Quinton Byfield, (Sudbury Wolves); Jamie Drysdale, (Erie Otters); Thomas Harley, (Mississauga Steelheads); Connor McMichael, (London Knights); Cole Perfetti, (Saginaw Spirit); Jack Quinn, (Ottawa 67's); Ryan Suzuki, (Saginaw Spirit); and Philip Tomasino, (Oshawa Generals).
The team finished the preliminary round in fourth place in Group B, as the Czech Republic earned six points in four games.
Egor Afanasyev of the Windsor Spitfires and Daniil Chayka of the Guelph Storm represented Russia at the tournament.
The players were Martin Chromiak of the Kingston Frontenacs, Dominik Jendek of the Windsor Spitfires and David Mudrak of the Oshawa Generals.
Slovakia finished the preliminary round in fourth place in Group A, as the team earned four points in four games.
Giancarlo Chanton of the Niagara IceDogs and Noah Delemont of the Owen Sound Attack represented Switzerland at the tournament.
Twenty-seven current and former OHL players were on eight rosters in this tournament, including eight on Canada, four on the Czech Republic, three on Germany, three on Slovakia, two on Finland, two on Russia, two on the United States, two on Switzerland and one on Austria.
The players on the Canadian team were: Brandt Clarke, Barrie Colts; Ethan Del Mastro, Mississauga Steelheads; Benjamin Gaudreau, Sarnia Sting; Brett Harrison, Oshawa Generals; Wyatt Johnston, Windsor Spitfires; Jack Matier, Ottawa 67's; Mason McTavish, Peterborough Petes; Brennan Othmann, Flint Firebirds; Francesco Pinelli, Kitchener Rangers; Chase Stillman, Sudbury Wolves; Ryan Winterton, Hamilton Bulldogs; Shane Wright, Kingston Frontenacs; and Danny Zhilkin, Guelph Storm.