Wikipedia

1977–78 WCHL season

The 1977–78 WCHL season was the 12th season of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL), featuring twelve teams and a 72-game regular season. The Brandon Wheat Kings won their second consecutive regular season title, topping the standings with 46 wins. In the playoffs, the New Westminster Bruins solidified their dynasty in winning their fourth consecutive President's Cup, defeating the Billings Bighorns—the first American-based club to make the league playoff final—in the championship series. The Bruins earned a berth in the 1978 Memorial Cup tournament, and there won the club's second consecutive Memorial Cup title.

1977–78 WCHL season
LeagueWestern Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams12
Regular season
Season championsBrandon Wheat Kings (2)
Season MVPRyan Walter (Seattle Breakers)
Top scorerBrian Propp (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Playoffs
Finals championsNew Westminster Bruins (4)
  Runners-upBillings Bighorns
WHL seasons
1977–78 CHL season
LeagueCanadian Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams34
OMJHL
QMJHL
WCHL
Memorial Cup
Finals championsNew Westminster Bruins (WCHL) (2nd title)
  Runners-upPeterborough Petes (OMJHL)

The season was the first for a trio of franchises. The Calgary Centennials relocated to Billings, Montana and became the Bighorns. However, Calgary was not left without a team as the Winnipeg Monarchs relocated there and became the Calgary Wranglers. Finally, the Kamloops Chiefs relocated to Seattle and became the Seattle Breakers, bringing the number of American clubs in the league up to three.

Team changes

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Regular season

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Final standings

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East Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Brandon Wheat Kings 72 46 12 14 106 424 299
x Flin Flon Bombers 72 33 30 9 75 396 380
x Regina Pats 72 29 38 5 63 363 405
Saskatoon Blades 72 20 50 2 42 340 460
Central Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Lethbridge Broncos 72 36 29 7 79 341 328
x Billings Bighorns 72 32 31 9 73 342 336
x Medicine Hat Tigers 72 22 41 9 53 293 365
Calgary Wranglers 72 18 40 14 50 303 404
West Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Portland Winter Hawks 72 41 20 11 93 361 296
x Victoria Cougars 72 34 29 9 77 365 333
x New Westminster Bruins 72 33 28 11 77 345 310
Seattle Breakers 72 32 28 12 76 359 316

Scoring leaders

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Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Brian Propp Brandon Wheat Kings 70 70 112 182 200
Ray Allison Brandon Wheat Kings 71 73 86 160 254
Steve Tambellini Lethbridge Broncos 66 75 80 155 32
Errol Rausse Seattle Breakers 72 62 92 154 60
Bill Derlago Brandon Wheat Kings 52 89 63 152 105
Geordie Robertson Victoria Cougars 61 64 72 136 85
Gerald Minor Regina Pats 66 54 75 129 236
Merlin Malinowski Medicine Hat Tigers 72 48 78 126 131
Ryan Walter Seattle Breakers 62 54 71 125 148
Wayne Babych Portland Winter Hawks 68 50 71 121 218

1978 WCHL Playoffs

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Division Semi-finals

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Round Robin format

  • Flin Flon (4–4) advanced
  • Regina (4–4) advanced
  • Brandon (4–4) eliminated
  • Billings (6–2) advanced
  • Medicine Hat (3–5) advanced
  • Lethbridge (3–5) eliminated
  • New Westminster (7–1) advanced
  • Victoria (4–4) advanced
  • Portland (1–7) eliminated

Division Finals

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  • Flin Flon defeated Regina 4 games to 1
  • Billings defeated Medicine Hat 4 games to 0
  • New Westminster defeated Victoria 4 games to 1

League semi-finals

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Round Robin format

  • Billings (3–1) advanced
  • New Westminster (3–1) advanced
  • Flin Flon (0–4) eliminated

WHL Championship

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  • New Westminster defeated Billings 4 games to 0

All-Star game

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On January 18, the West All-Stars defeated the East All-Stars 2–1 at Regina, Saskatchewan before a crowd of 2,814.

WHL awards

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Most Valuable Player: Ryan Walter, Seattle Breakers
Top Scorer: Brian Propp, Brandon Wheat Kings
Most Sportsmanlike Player: Steve Tambellini, Lethbridge Broncos
Top Defenseman: Brad McCrimmon, Brandon Wheat Kings
Rookie of the Year: (tie) Keith Brown, Portland Winter Hawks and John Ogrodnick, New Westminster Bruins
Top Goaltender: Bart Hunter, Portland Winter Hawks
Coach of the Year: (tie) Dave King, Billings Bighorns and Jack Shupe, Victoria Cougars
Regular season champions: Brandon Wheat Kings

All-Star Teams

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First Team Second Team
Goal Tim Thomlison Billings Bighorns Bart Hunter Portland Winter Hawks
Defense Brad McCrimmon Brandon Wheat Kings Dwayne Lowdermilk Seattle Breakers
Larry Playfair Portland Winter Hawks Keith Brown (tie) Portland Winter Hawks
- - Brian Young (tie) New Westminster Bruins
Center Ryan Walter Seattle Breakers Bill Derlago Brandon Wheat Kings
Left Wing Brian Propp Brandon Wheat Kings Errol Rausse Seattle Breakers
Right Wing Wayne Babych Portland Winter Hawks Ray Allison Brandon Wheat Kings

See also

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References

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  • 2005–06 WHL Guide
Preceded by WHL seasons Succeeded by
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