1975–76 WCHL season

1975–76 WCHL season
LeagueWestern Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams12
Regular season
Season championsNew Westminster Bruins (1)
Season MVPBernie Federko (Saskatoon Blades)
Top scorerBernie Federko (Saskatoon Blades)
Playoffs
Finals championsNew Westminster Bruins (2)
  Runners-upSaskatoon Blades
WHL seasons
1975–76 CHL season
LeagueCanadian Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams34
OMJHL
QMJHL
WCHL
Memorial Cup
Finals championsHamilton Fincups (OMJHL) (1st title)
  Runners-upNew Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

The 1975–76 WCHL season was the tenth season of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL), featuring twelve teams and an expanded 72-game regular season. The New Westminster Bruins topped the regular season standings with 54 wins, and in the playoffs won their second consecutive President's Cup, defeating the Saskatoon Blades in a rematch of the previous season's final. The Bruins advanced to the 1976 Memorial Cup tournament, losing the final to the Hamilton Fincups.

Regular season

Final standings

East Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Saskatoon Blades 72 43 19 10 96 390 269
x Brandon Wheat Kings 72 34 30 8 76 341 303
x Lethbridge Broncos 72 28 35 9 65 293 352
x Winnipeg Clubs 72 27 39 6 60 302 378
x Regina Pats 72 22 42 8 52 278 347
Flin Flon Bombers 72 18 44 10 46 279 441
West Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x New Westminster Bruins 72 54 14 4 112 463 247
x Kamloops Chiefs 72 40 26 6 86 365 285
x Medicine Hat Tigers 72 38 24 10 86 379 306
x Victoria Cougars 72 37 28 7 81 343 320
x Edmonton Oil Kings 72 25 42 5 55 312 400
Calgary Centennials 72 22 45 5 49 284 381

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Bernie Federko Saskatoon Blades 72 72 115 187 108
Greg Carroll Medicine Hat Tigers 71 60 109 169 118
Don Murdoch Medicine Hat Tigers 70 88 77 165 202
Blair Chapman Saskatoon Blades 69 71 86 157 67
Fred Berry New Westminster Bruins 72 59 87 146 164
Rick Shinske New Westminster Bruins 70 52 91 143 86
Jim Gustafson Victoria Cougars 69 46 95 141 72
Morris Lukowich Medicine Hat Tigers 72 65 75 140 195
Rich Gosselin Flin Flon Bombers 69 67 66 133 192
Dale McMullin Brandon Wheat Kings 72 56 74 130 28

1976 WCHL Playoffs

Preliminary round

  • Medicine Hat defeated Edmonton 4 games to 1
  • Victoria defeated Regina 4 games to 1 with 1 tied

League quarter-finals

  • New Westminster defeated Brandon 5 games to 0
  • Saskatoon defeated Lethbridge 3 games to 1 with 2 tied
  • Kamloops defeated Winnipeg 3 games to 1 with 2 tied
  • Victoria defeated Medicine Hat 3 games to 1 with 1 tied

League semi-finals

  • Saskatoon defeated Kamloops 4 games to 2
  • New Westminster defeated Victoria 4 games to 0 with 1 tied

WHL Championship

  • New Westminster defeated Saskatoon 4 games to 2 with 1 tied

All-Star game

On January 15, the West All-Stars defeated the East All-Stars 8–7 at Lethbridge, Alberta in front of a crowd of 2,413.

WHL awards

Most Valuable Player: Bernie Federko, Saskatoon Blades
Top Scorer: Bernie Federko, Saskatoon Blades
Most Sportsmanlike Player: Blair Chapman, Saskatoon Blades
Top Defenseman: Kevin McCarthy, Winnipeg Clubs
Rookie of the Year: Steve Tambellini, Lethbridge Broncos
Top Goaltender: Carey Walker, New Westminster Bruins
Coach of the Year: Ernie McLean, New Westminster Bruins
Regular season champions: New Westminster Bruins

All-Star Teams

First Team Second Team
Goal Glen Hanlon Brandon Wheat Kings Dave Parro Saskatoon Blades
Defense Kevin McCarthy Winnipeg Clubs Brad Maxwell New Westminster Bruins
Barry Beck New Westminster Bruins Tim Williams Victoria Cougars
Center Bernie Federko Saskatoon Blades Greg Carroll Medicine Hat Tigers
Left Wing Morris Lukowich Medicine Hat Tigers Steve Clippingdale New Westminster Bruins
Right Wing Don Murdoch Medicine Hat Tigers Blair Chapman Saskatoon Blades

See also

References

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