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.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4]

Regular season

Standings
Leyden Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
y-Ottawa 67's684318793405308
x-Peterborough Petes6837181387327273
x-Oshawa Generals6830261272320289
x-Kingston Canadians682732963288323
x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds6826321062330346
Sudbury Wolves6816421042255377
Emms Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
y-London Knights6835221181333251
x-Windsor Spitfires683624678338289
x-Hamilton Fincups6831231476273223
x-Kitchener Rangers682634860270303
x-Toronto Marlboros682436856263341
Niagara Falls Flyers6817411044261340

Scoring leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
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

First round

Kitchener Rangers defeat Toronto Marlboros 3–2

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defeat Kingston Canadians 3–2

Hamilton Fincups defeat Windsor Spitfires 4–1, 1 tie

Peterborough Petes defeat Oshawa Generals 4–1, 1 tie

Quarterfinals

Ottawa 67's defeat Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4–3, 1 tie

London Knights defeat Kitchener Rangers 4–0

Semifinals

Hamilton Fincups defeat London Knights 4–2, 1 tie

Peterborough Petes defeat Ottawa 67's 4–3, 1 tie

J. Ross Robertson Cup

Peterborough Petes defeat Hamilton Fincups 4–3, 1 tie

Awards
J. Ross Robertson Cup:Peterborough Petes
Hamilton Spectator Trophy:Ottawa 67's
Leyden Trophy:Ottawa 67's
Emms Trophy:London Knights
Red Tilson Trophy:Bobby Smith, Ottawa 67's
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy:Bobby Smith, Ottawa 67's
Matt Leyden Trophy:Bill White, Oshawa Generals
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy:Dino Ciccarelli, London Knights
Max Kaminsky Trophy:Brad Marsh, London Knights and Rob Ramage, London Knights
Dave Pinkney Trophy:Al Jensen, Hamilton Fincups
Emms Family Award:Wayne Gretzky, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy:Ken Ellacott, Peterborough Petes
William Hanley Trophy:Wayne Gretzky, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

See also

References
  1. "Cup shifts back east". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. June 4, 1977. p. 17.icon of an open green padlock
  2. "Juniors welcome study". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. February 28, 1978. p. 17.icon of an open green padlock
  3. "WHA-junior hassle revived". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. February 2, 1978. p. 140.icon of an open green padlock
  4. "Junior leaders are concerned". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. May 9, 1978. p. 71.icon of an open green padlock
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