Additionally, the Otters have consistently excelled in divisional play, earning the Holody Trophy as Midwest Division champions in multiple seasons.

[citation needed] By the 1972–73 season, the franchise underwent another significant transition under the new ownership of Ron Cupido and the Finochio brothers, rebranding as the Hamilton Fincups.

[citation needed] By the 1984–85 season, the franchise returned to Hamilton under the new moniker Steelhawks, with plans to establish itself in the newly constructed Copps Coliseum.

This period of dominance culminated in the team capturing the J. Ross Robertson Cup as Ontario Hockey League champions during the 2001–02 season.

In 2001, the Otters secured a playoff berth, advancing to the Western Conference final, where they were ultimately defeated by the Plymouth Whalers.

However, the team saw the emergence of future NHL star Ryan O'Reilly, who was selected first overall in the 2007 OHL draft, receiving the prestigious Jack Ferguson Award.

He was subsequently named the Otters' Rookie of the Year and Most Sportsmanlike Player, in addition to being Erie's nominee for the Bobby Smith Trophy, recognizing his achievements both on and off the ice.

McDavid was also granted "exceptional player" status by Hockey Canada, enabling him to join the Otters at the age of fifteen.

Before this achievement, they had shared the record for three consecutive 50-win seasons with several teams, including the Kelowna Rockets (2012–15), Edmonton Oil Kings (2011–14), Saint John Sea Dogs (2009–12), and Kamloops Blazers (1989–92).

[10] Following several years of speculation regarding a potential relocation to Hamilton, the Otters formalized a ten-year lease agreement with Erie Insurance Arena in September 2019.

[11] On January 17, 2022, the Otters marked a significant milestone by hosting their inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK) game.

This initiative continued in 2023 with Trey Matthews, a Pennsylvania native and student at Arizona State University, serving as the announcer for the MLK Jr. Day game.

[18] On May 20, 2019, the Otters unveiled an updated version of a previous logo, incorporating the team's revised color palette of navy blue, gold, and gray.

This refreshed emblem maintained the essence of the original design while introducing contemporary elements to reflect the team's evolving identity.

The update also included a redesigned shoulder patch, which featured the name "Erie" prominently displayed within the Pennsylvania keystone symbol, emphasizing the team's connection to its home state.