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1977–78 OMJHL season

1977–78 OMJHL season

The 1977–78 OMJHL season was the fourth season of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL). The Fincups franchise moved back from St. Catharines to Hamilton after a temporary year away from the city due to lack of a suitable arena. The league featured a wealth of scoring talent during the season, with two players recording the league's highest single season point totals. Third season veteran Bobby Smith, edged 17-year-old rookie Wayne Gretzky for the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy, scoring 192 points; as of 2023, Smith's and Gretzky's (182 points) performance this season still stand as the top two scoring totals in OHL history. Twelve teams each played 68 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Hamilton Fincups.

League business

Iona Campagnolo
Iona Campagnolo

Hosting duties for the Memorial Cup rotated among the three constituent leagues of the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League CMJHL), since its founding in 1975. OMJHL commissioner Tubby Schmalz announced that two Northern Ontario cities were chosen by the OMJHL to co-host the 1978 Memorial Cup in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.

In February 1978, Iona Campagnolo, the Minister of State of Fitness and Amateur Sport released a report which claimed that junior hockey functioned in the best interests of professional hockey instead of the players. Schmalz said that the CMJHL would welcome a study into its player development programs, if given a say on selecting the inquiry members. He stated an inquiry would reveal that the CMJHL was doing its best for the welfare of the players. He highlighted its academic standards, and stated that the OMJHL fined players who missed classes, suspended players who did not keep up with the workload.

The CMJHL expressed frustration with the 1978 WHA Amateur Draft being held during the junior season and four months earlier than the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft. The league was concerned that its players would be pursued for professional contracts while playing junior hockey, despite the names of drafted players not being released. The league considered having the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association use its International Ice Hockey Federation membership as leverage to block World Hockey Association (WHA) exhibition games against international teams and force the WHA to negotiate. In May 1978, Schmalz stated that the continued signing of junior-aged players by the WHA would mean forfeiture of a $150,000 bond paid as a promise not to sign players before November.

Regular season

Standings

Leyden DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGA
**y-Ottawa 67's**684318793405308
**x-Peterborough Petes**6837181387327273
**x-Oshawa Generals**6830261272320289
**x-Kingston Canadians**682732963288323
**x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds**6826321062330346
**Sudbury Wolves**6816421042255377
Emms DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGA
**y-London Knights**6835221181333251
**x-Windsor Spitfires**683624678338289
**x-Hamilton Fincups**6831231476273223
**x-Kitchener Rangers**682634860270303
**x-Toronto Marlboros**682436856263341
**Niagara Falls Flyers**6817411044261340

Scoring leaders

PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Bobby SmithOttawa 67's616912319244
Wayne GretzkySault Ste. Marie Greyhounds647011218214
Dino CiccarelliLondon Knights68727014249
Keith ActonPeterborough Petes68428612852
Jim FoxOttawa 67's59448312712
Gerry LerouxWindsor Spitfires68576612385
Steve MarengereOttawa 67's65259311873
Dan LucasSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds61506711790
Jim MacRaeLondon Knights68506211258
Don MaloneyKitchener Rangers623074104143

Playoffs

| RD2-group1=Leyden Division | RD2-group2=Emms Division | team-width=200px | RD1-seed3 = E4 | RD1-team3 = Kitchener Rangers | RD1-score3 = 6 | RD1-seed4 = E5 | RD1-team4 = Toronto Marlboros | RD1-score4 = 4 | RD1-seed1 = L4 | RD1-team1 = Kingston Canadians | RD1-score1 = 4 | RD1-seed2 = L5 | RD1-team2 = Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | RD1-score2 = 6 | RD2-seed1=L1 | RD2-team1 = Ottawa 67s | RD2-score1 = 9 | RD2-seed2=L5 | RD2-team2 =Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | RD2-score2 = 7 | RD2-seed3=L2 | RD2-team3 =Peterborough Petes | RD2-score3 = 9 | RD2-seed4=L3 | RD2-team4 =Oshawa Generals | RD2-score4 = 3 | RD2-seed5=L1 | RD2-team5 =London Knights | RD2-score5 = 8 | RD2-seed6=L4 | RD2-team6 =Kitchener Rangers | RD2-score6 = 0 | RD2-seed7=L2 | RD2-team7 =Windsor Spitfires | RD2-score7 = 3 | RD2-seed8=L3 | RD2-team8 =Hamilton Fincups | RD2-score8 = 9 | RD3-seed1=L1 | RD3-team1 =Ottawa 67s | RD3-score1= 7 | RD3-seed2=L2 | RD3-team2 =Peterborough Petes | RD3-score2=9 | RD3-seed3=E1 | RD3-team3 =London Knights | RD3-score3= 5 | RD3-seed4=E3 | RD3-team4 =Hamilton Fincups | RD3-score4=9 | RD4-seed1=L2 | RD4-team1 =Peterborough Petes | RD4-score1= 9 | RD4-seed2=E3 | RD4-team2 =Hamilton Fincups | RD4-score2= 7

Awards

William Hanley Trophy:Wayne Gretzky, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

References

References

  1. (June 4, 1977). "Cup shifts back east". Medicine Hat News.
  2. (February 28, 1978). "Juniors welcome study". Medicine Hat News.
  3. (February 2, 1978). "WHA-junior hassle revived". Winnipeg Free Press.
  4. (May 9, 1978). "Junior leaders are concerned". Winnipeg Free Press.
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