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.OHA legal action a test case? Kerr Grant May 25, 1976 Medicine Hat News Medicine Hat, Alberta 8 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-may-25-1976-1598280/ 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.OHA team gets nod, represents Canada May 26, 1976 Lethbridge Herald Lethbridge, Alberta 25 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-may-26-1976-1598281/ 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 Fincups66 50 11 5 105 438 242 x-London Knights66 51 13 2 104 379 203 x-Toronto Marlboros66 31 23 12 74 335 286 x-Kitchener Rangers66 26 32 8 60 320 380 x-Windsor Spitfires66 21 37 8 50 294 386 Niagara Falls Flyers66 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'sHamilton Spectator Trophy: St. Catharines FincupsLeyden Trophy: Ottawa 67'sEmms Trophy: St. Catharines FincupsRed Tilson Trophy: Dale McCourt, St. Catharines FincupsEddie Powers Memorial Trophy: Dwight Foster, Kitchener Rangers Matt Leyden Trophy: Bill Long, London KnightsJim Mahon Memorial Trophy: John Anderson, Toronto MarlborosMax Kaminsky Trophy: Craig Hartsburg, Sault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsDave Pinkney Trophy: Pat Riggin, London KnightsEmms Family Award: Mike Gartner, Niagara Falls FlyersF. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy: Barry Heard, London KnightsWilliam Hanley Trophy: Dale McCourt, St. Catharines Fincups See also List of OHA Junior A standings List of OHL seasons 1977 Memorial Cup 1977 NHL entry draft 1976 in sports 1977 in sports References External links HockeyDB 1975–76 OMJHL season 1977–78 OMJHL season OHL seasons Category:Ontario Hockey League seasons OMJHL