Ex-football player chosen as OHL's new commissioner

The Ontario Hockey League announced this afternoon that former Canadian Football League player Bryan Crawford will take over as league commissioner later this summer.

Crawford joins the league after serving as a Golf Canada executive and the tournament director for the RBC Canadian Open. He is a former running back with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts.

Tim Lukenda, president and governor of the Soo Greyhounds and chairman of the OHL's board of governors, made the announcement earlier today after heading up the league's search committee.

“When we embarked on this search, we were really wanting to identify someone who can lead the way forward and be able to build upon the firm foundation established under David’s influence over the past 45 years," Lukenda said in a release. "The search committee came away confident in Bryan’s talents and ability to step in and lead the best development league in the world. Anyone succeeding David Branch as commissioner of the OHL is going to have big shoes to fill, but we have the utmost confidence in Bryan’s ability to lead the continued growth and success of the OHL."

Branch announced last summer that the 2023-24 season would be his last as league commissioner.

Crawford, 42, called the opportunity to take over "an honour."

"I am thrilled to be joining one of the great sport institutions in our country,” Crawford said. “I am excited by the opportunity to build upon the legacy being left by David Branch. Thank you to the Board of Governors for entrusting me to lead our league. I look forward to engaging with our member teams and league partners while further familiarizing myself with the players, alumni, fans and all of the elements that make the OHL community so special.”

A Queen's University graduate, Crawford brings with him a number of executive positions after stepping away from the CFL in 2011.

Prior to his time with Golf Canada, which included roles with the RBC Canadian Open and the PGA Tour, Crawford served as interim executive director and director of operations with Ontario University Athletics. While serving as executive director, Crawford was the youngest person to serve in the role in OUA history.

Crawford's past experience also includes a tenure as senior director of operations for Canada Basketball from 2015 to 2018.

Crawford officially begins his tenure as OHL commissioner on Aug. 6.