David E. Branch was born November 27, 1948 in Bathurst, New Brunswick. Branch has served as the Commissioner of the Ontario Hockey League since August 11, 1979, and as the President of the Canadian Hockey League since 1976. November 27 is the 331st day (332nd on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Bathurst (2001 population 12,924) is a city at the mouth of the Nepisiguit River on the Baie des Chaleurs in Gloucester County in northeastern New Brunswick, Canada. ... A typical OHL hockey game. ... The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization for three North American Major Junior A Tier I hockey leagues for players of 15 to 20 years of age. ...

Branch attended the University of Massachusetts on a hockey scholarship. He has previously served as the Executive Director of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and Secretary-Manager of the Ontario Hockey Association. The University of Massachusetts (commonly called UMass) is the five-campus public university system of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. ... The Canadian Amateur Hockey Association was the governing body for amateur hockey in Canada between 1914 and 1994 before merging with Hockey Canada. ... A typical OHL hockey game. ...

Under his command, the OHL has grown from 12 teams to 20, and has become a highly marketable television commodity. Branch is also known to be a strict disciplinarian, and recently suspended coach and General Manager Moe Mantha, Jr. of the Windsor Spitfires for an entire season due to a team hazing incident. Maurice William (Moe) Mantha, Jr. ... The Windsor Spitfires are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League. ... Hazing is often ritualistic harassment, abuse or humiliation with requirements to perform meaningless tasks; sometimes as a way of initiation into a social group. ...

Branch is a former minor hockey coach with the Whitby Wildcats organization. His son Barclay also works with the Wildcats and is currently the Director of Player Personnel for the Belleville Bulls, and previously of the Oshawa Generals. City: Belleville, Ontario League: Ontario Hockey League Conference: Eastern Division: East Founded: February 2, 1981 Home Arena: Belleville Yardmen Arena Colours: Black, Red, Gold & White Head Coach: George Burnett General Manager: George Burnett Belleville Bulls in action at home versus Oshawa Generals. ... 1990 Memorial Cup Champions Oshawa Generals The Oshawa Generals are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). ...