The 1973–74 WCHL season was the eighth season of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL). It featured twelve teams and a 68-game regular season. The Regina Pats topped the season's standings with 43 wins, and in the playoffs went on to win the team's first President's Cup, defeating the Calgary Centennials in the championship series. The win earned the Pats a berth in the 1974 Memorial Cup tournament, and Regina would go on to win its first Memorial Cup since 1930.[1] This was the first Memorial Cup title for a team representing the WCHL.[2]
| 1973–74 WCHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | Western Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Regular season | |
| Season champions | Regina Pats (1) |
| Season MVP | Ron Chipperfield (Brandon Wheat Kings) |
| Top scorer | Ron Chipperfield (Brandon Wheat Kings) |
| Playoffs | |
| Finals champions | Regina Pats (1) |
| Runners-up | Calgary Centennials |
| 1973–74 Canadian major junior season | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Number of teams | 34 |
| OHA | |
| QMJHL | |
| WCHL | |
| Memorial Cup | |
| Finals champions | Regina Pats (WCHL) (4th title) |
| Runners-up | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
The season was the first for the Kamloops Chiefs after the Vancouver Nats relocated to Kamloops prior to the season. The Winnipeg Jets also opted to change their name to the Winnipeg Clubs, mitigating confusion caused by the 1972 arrival of the professional World Hockey Association Jets.
Team changes
edit- The Winnipeg Jets are renamed the Winnipeg Clubs.
- The Vancouver Nats relocate to Kamloops, British Columbia, becoming the Kamloops Chiefs.
Regular season
editFinal standings
edit| East Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x Regina Pats | 68 | 43 | 14 | 11 | 97 | 377 | 225 |
| x Flin Flon Bombers | 68 | 34 | 21 | 13 | 81 | 322 | 259 |
| x Swift Current Broncos | 68 | 35 | 24 | 9 | 79 | 240 | 306 |
| x Saskatoon Blades | 68 | 30 | 29 | 9 | 69 | 283 | 272 |
| Brandon Wheat Kings | 68 | 27 | 37 | 4 | 58 | 305 | 348 |
| Winnipeg Clubs | 68 | 23 | 38 | 7 | 53 | 258 | 338 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x Calgary Centennials | 68 | 41 | 18 | 9 | 91 | 328 | 236 |
| x New Westminster Bruins | 68 | 36 | 21 | 11 | 83 | 284 | 250 |
| x Medicine Hat Tigers | 68 | 29 | 31 | 8 | 66 | 305 | 314 |
| x Edmonton Oil Kings | 68 | 25 | 36 | 7 | 57 | 252 | 301 |
| Victoria Cougars | 68 | 22 | 40 | 6 | 50 | 259 | 336 |
| Kamloops Chiefs | 68 | 13 | 49 | 6 | 32 | 248 | 376 |
Scoring leaders
editNote: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Chipperfield | Brandon Wheat Kings | 66 | 90 | 72 | 162 | 82 |
| Dennis Sobchuk | Regina Pats | 66 | 68 | 78 | 146 | 78 |
| Mike Rogers | Calgary Centennials | 66 | 67 | 73 | 140 | 32 |
| Al Hiller | Flin Flon Bombers | 68 | 30 | 108 | 138 | 33 |
| Terry Ruskowski | Swift Current Broncos | 68 | 40 | 93 | 133 | 243 |
| Rick Blight | Brandon Wheat Kings | 67 | 49 | 81 | 130 | 122 |
| Danny Gare | Calgary Centennials | 65 | 68 | 59 | 127 | 238 |
| Jerry Holland | Calgary Centennials | 67 | 55 | 65 | 120 | 54 |
| Ed Johnstone | Medicine Hat Tigers | 68 | 64 | 54 | 118 | 164 |
| Clark Gillies | Regina Pats | 65 | 46 | 66 | 112 | 179 |
1974 WCHL Playoffs
editLeague quarter-finals
edit- Swift Current defeated Flin Flon 4 games to 3
- Regina defeated Saskatoon 4 games to 2
- New Westminster defeated Medicine Hat 4 games to 2
- Calgary defeated Edmonton 4 games to 1
League semi-finals
edit- Regina defeated Swift Current 4 games to 2
- Calgary defeated New Westminster 4 games to 1
WHL Championship
edit- Regina defeated Calgary 4 games to 0
All-Star game
editOn January 29, the West All-Stars defeated the East All-Stars 6–5 at Edmonton, Alberta in front of a crowd of 2,471.
WHL awards
editAll-Star Team
edit- Goaltender: Larry Hendrick, Edmonton Oil Kings
- Defenseman: Pat Price, Saskatoon Blades
- Defenseman: Ron Greschner, New Westminster Bruins & Greg Joly, Regina Pats (tied)
- Centerman: Ron Chipperfield, Brandon Wheat Kings & Dennis Sobchuk, Regina Pats (tied)
- Left Winger: Clark Gillies, Regina Pats
- Right Winger: Danny Gare, Calgary Centennials
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Lapp, Richard; Macaulay, Alec (1997). The Memorial Cup: Canada's National Junior Hockey Championship. Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing. p. 170. ISBN 1-55017-170-4.
- ^ Lapp, Richard M.; White, Silas (1993). Local Heroes: A History of the Western Hockey League. Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing. pp. 154–155. ISBN 1-55017-080-5.
- 2005–06 WHL Guide