1976–77 OMJHL season

The 1976–77 OMJHL season was the third season of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL). The St. Catharines Black Hawks moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario, becoming the Flyers. Their owner Hap Emms using the name of his former team. The Hamilton Fincups then moved to the vacant Jack Gatecliff Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario after the ice-making machine at the ancient Hamilton Forum broke down irreparably a month before the season began. Twelve teams each played 66 games. The Ottawa 67's won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the London Knights.

League business

OMJHL commissioner Tubby Schmalz filed legal action against the World Hockey Association on behalf of the OMJHL in 1976, citing failure to pay development fees for junior-aged players Paul Heaver and Bob Russell who turned professional. Schmalz also said legal action to receive payments would be likely for a third player, John Tonelli.[1] Schmalz later announced that an OMJHL team would represent Canada at the 1977 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and that the league would operate a small tournament within its schedule to choose the representative.[2]

Regular season

Standings

Leyden Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
y-Ottawa 67's 66 38 23 5 81 348 288
x-Sudbury Wolves 66 38 24 4 80 385 290
x-Kingston Canadians 66 32 24 10 74 295 259
x-Peterborough Petes 66 31 28 7 69 307 309
x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 66 20 41 5 45 261 375
Oshawa Generals 66 5 57 4 14 216 444
Emms Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
y-St. Catharines Fincups 66 50 11 5 105 438 242
x-London Knights 66 51 13 2 104 379 203
x-Toronto Marlboros 66 31 23 12 74 335 286
x-Kitchener Rangers 66 26 32 8 60 320 380
x-Windsor Spitfires 66 21 37 8 50 294 386
Niagara Falls Flyers 66 15 45 6 36 254 370

Scoring leaders

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Dwight Foster Kitchener Rangers 64 60 83 143 88
Dale McCourt St. Catharines Fincups 66 60 79 139 26
Bobby Smith Ottawa 67's 64 65 70 135 52
Tony McKegney Kingston Canadians 66 58 77 135 30
Ken Linseman Kingston Canadians 63 53 74 127 210
Keith Acton Peterborough Petes 65 52 69 121 93
John Anderson Toronto Marlboros 64 57 62 119 42
Mike Keating St. Catharines Fincups 65 51 61 112 96
Ron Mason Peterborough Petes 62 53 58 111 33
Ric Seiling St. Catharines Fincups 62 50 61 111 103

Playoffs

First round

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defeat Peterborough Petes 3–1

Windsor Spitfires defeat Kitchener Rangers 3–0

Quarterfinals

Ottawa 67's defeat Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4–0, 1 tie

Kingston Canadians defeat Sudbury Wolves 4–1, 1 tie

St. Catharines Fincups defeat Windsor Spitfires 4–2

London Knights defeat Toronto Marlboros 4–1, 1 tie

Semifinals

Ottawa 67's defeat Kingston Canadians 4–3, 1 tie

London Knights defeat St. Catharines Fincups 4–3, 1 tie

J. Ross Robertson Cup

Ottawa 67's defeat London Knights 4–2

Awards

J. Ross Robertson Cup: Ottawa 67's
Hamilton Spectator Trophy: St. Catharines Fincups
Leyden Trophy: Ottawa 67's
Emms Trophy: St. Catharines Fincups
Red Tilson Trophy: Dale McCourt, St. Catharines Fincups
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy: Dwight Foster, Kitchener Rangers
Matt Leyden Trophy: Bill Long, London Knights
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy: John Anderson, Toronto Marlboros
Max Kaminsky Trophy: Craig Hartsburg, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Dave Pinkney Trophy: Pat Riggin, London Knights
Emms Family Award: Mike Gartner, Niagara Falls Flyers
F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy: Barry Heard, London Knights
William Hanley Trophy: Dale McCourt, St. Catharines Fincups

See also

References

  1. ^ Kerr, Grant (May 25, 1976). "OHA legal action a test case?". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. p. 8.Free access icon
  2. ^ "OHA team gets nod, represents Canada". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. May 26, 1976. p. 25.Free access icon
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