In 1890, the Ontario Hockey Association was organized and a senior league was formed.

At the same time, the Ottawa City Hockey League was organized.

In 1894, the Ottawa Hockey Association, owners of the senior Ottawa Hockey Club and organizer of the OCHL resigned from the OHA over a dispute over the Cosby Cup.

Several organizations came and went over the next twenty years, such as the Eastern Ontario Hockey Association, and the Central Canada Hockey Association for teams in Eastern Ontario.

In 1920, the Ottawa and Valley branch of the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada was formed.