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
LeagueWestern Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams12
Regular season
Season championsRegina Pats (1)
Season MVPRon Chipperfield (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Top scorerRon Chipperfield (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Playoffs
Finals championsRegina Pats (1)
  Runners-upCalgary Centennials
WHL seasons
1973–74 Canadian major junior season
SportIce hockey
Number of teams34
OHA
QMJHL
WCHL
Memorial Cup
Finals championsRegina Pats (WCHL) (4th title)
  Runners-upQuebec 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

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Regular season

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Final standings

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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

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Note: 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

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League quarter-finals

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  • 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

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  • Regina defeated Swift Current 4 games to 2
  • Calgary defeated New Westminster 4 games to 1

WHL Championship

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  • Regina defeated Calgary 4 games to 0

All-Star game

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On 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

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Most Valuable Player: Ron Chipperfield, Brandon Wheat Kings
Top Scorer: Ron Chipperfield, Brandon Wheat Kings
Most Sportsmanlike Player: Mike Rogers, Calgary Centennials
Top Defenseman: Pat Price, Saskatoon Blades
Rookie of the Year: Cam Connor, Flin Flon Bombers
Top Goaltender: Garth Malarchuk, Calgary Centennials
Coach of the Year: Stan Dunn, Swift Current Broncos
Regular season champions: Regina Pats

All-Star Team

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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
Preceded by WHL seasons Succeeded by