He received the Order of Hockey in Canada in 2016, and the David Branch Player of the Year Award was renamed in his honour in 2019.

[3][4] He was hired by Gord Renwick in 1978 to become the new executive director of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association for the retiring Gordon Juckes.

[1] Branch played a role in the founding of the Ontario Hockey League, by negotiating the split of its predecessor, the OMJHL from the OHA.

[1] Branch helped develop a scholarship program that affords all players one year of post-secondary education per season played in the league.

[9][10][11] Branch will continue as OHL commissioner until his retirement on August 6, 2024, when he will be succeeded by Golf Canada executive Bryan Crawford.