1969–70 WCHL season

Canadian ice hockey league season 1969–70 WCHL season Western Hockey League Ice hockey Playoffs Flin Flon Bombers (2) Edmonton Oil Kings 8 Regular season Season champions Flin Flon Bombers (3) Four Broncos Memorial Trophy Reggie Leach (Flin Flon Bombers) Bob Clarke Trophy Reggie Leach (Flin Flon Bombers) WHL 1968–69 1970–71 The 1969–70 WCHL season was the fourth season of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL). It featured eight teams and a 60-game regular season. The Flin Flon Bombers topped the season standings for a third consecutive year, posting 42 wins, and in the playoffs won their second consecutive President's Cup, defeating the Edmonton Oil Kings in a rematch of the previous season's final. League business Dispute with CAHA The WCHL annual meeting was held June 19 to 21 in Calgary.Shriners Bodycheck Hockey Meetings June 7, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 65 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jun-07-1969-1688925/ The WCHL planned to operate the 1969–70 season with the same eight teams from the previous season.No Change In WCHL June 21, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 60 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jun-21-1969-1688941/ Twenty players from the WCHL were chosen in the 1969 NHL amateur draft. Since the WCHL was operating under the jurisdiction of the Canadian Hockey Association instead of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), league president Ron Butlin initiated legal action for draft payments made by the National Hockey League (NHL) to CAHA.President of CHA swings at NHL money allotment June 17, 1969 Medicine Hat News Medicine Hat, Alberta 4 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jun-17-1969-1688931/ Internally, the WCHL reached a gate receipt sharing plan, where larger cities in the league would assist the smaller cities.Gate plan announced August 20, 1969 Brandon Sun Brandon, Manitoba 8 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-aug-20-1969-1688948/ A tentative agreement between the WCHL and CAHA was announced on July 30, 1969, whereby the WCHL would rejoin CAHA.WCHL - CAHA kiss and make up July 31, 1969 Medicine Hat News Medicine Hat, Alberta 6 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jul-31-1969-1434157/ According to the agreement, the WCHL would not expand before 1970, and would not have representation on the CAHA's junior committee before then either. There were no plans included for the WCHL to participate in the 1970 Memorial Cup. Outstanding fees from the NHL draft would be paid out, and WCHL teams would not be allowed to deal directly with the NHL. WCHL teams would be allowed to claim a maximum of one player from lower-tier CAHA teams.Earl Clears Air On WCHL-CAHA Sinclair Jr. Gord August 12, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 65 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-aug-12-1969-1434213/ The WCHL still wanted to reserve the right to place a club anywhere in Western Canada without seeking CAHA approval.Peace Talks Not Smooth September 9, 1969 Lethbridge Herald Lethbridge, Alberta 7 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-sep-09-1969-1689003/ By September, neither the CAHA nor the WCHL had approved the tentative agreement.AJHL Head Man Denies Threat September 16, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 54 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-sep-16-1969-1434251/Hockey Reunion Looks Doubtful September 29, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 25 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-sep-29-1969-1434255/ Butlin stated that peace talks with CAHA had stalled due to financial issues, and the league would begin its season outside of CAHA jurisdiction. He stated that the WCHL wanted the development fees released to its teams immediately, whereas CAHA reportedly wanted to hold the money as a bond in good faith until May 1970.Door Is Open, But Money Stops Entry October 4, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 63 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-oct-04-1969-1689016/ CAHA president Earl Dawson granted an extension until October 8, 1969, for the WCHL to decide. A joint meeting with the NHL was refused since the professionals deemed it an amateur issue.Generous Mr. Dawson Gives Outlaws Chance October 7, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 52 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-oct-07-1969-1689021/ Dawson terminated negotiations on October 9, although individual teams in the WCHL were still welcomed to apply for CAHA membership. WCHL teams were reportedly offered $5,000 per team in subsidies from CAHA, less than the $7,000 given to teams in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA).Western Junior Loop Prefers Bandit Role Gilchrist Kent October 10, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 42 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-oct-10-1969-1689035/ After it was apparent the WCHL would not rejoin CAHA, the WCHL and the OHA began to compete for players from each other's leagues.Ontario Juniors Declare War October 11, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 58 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-oct-11-1969-1689048/ On October 17, 1969, the WCHL resumed legal action to recover development payments from the NHL made to CAHA.Junior Outlaws Will Use Court October 17, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 30 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-oct-17-1969-1689050/ The Western Ontario Junior A Hockey League wanted to continue the east-west Canadian Hockey Association final series, and felt that their teams were stronger than in the previous season due to more over-age players on its rosters. Butlin was hesitant to agree due to the previous year's final being incomplete and concerns about an imbalance of talent.East-West Final Is Up To WCHL Davis Reyn November 28, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 47 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-nov-28-1969-1689059/ A meeting in March 1970 between the WCHL and CAHA to resolve all differences ended after just 15 minutes. Butlin reported that the WCHL was asked to accept the same conditions as any other junior league under CAHA jurisdiction, instead of recognizing existing grievances. The main issues between the WCHL and CAHA were the transfer of players between provinces, the number of over-age players permitted per team, the payment of development fees from the NHL, subsidies from CAHA for operational costs, participation in the Memorial Cup final, the sharing of profits from playoffs, and the right to relocate any franchise without CAHA approval.March 9, 1970 The Gap Grows Wider https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-09-1970-1690985/ Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 18March 9, 1970 Meeting was 'a farce' https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-09-1970-1690991/ Brandon Sun Brandon, Manitoba 7 1970 World Championships The Winnipeg Free Press reported that Butlin would agree to let WCHL players participate on the Canadian national team when the 1970 World Championships were scheduled to be hosted in Canada.Beck Dallis December 23, 1969 Remember The CAHA? https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-23-1969-1689070/ Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 18 After Canada withdrew from international play and hosting the World Championships, Butlin gave permission for WCHL teams to sign players from the Canadian national team, providing that players had fulfilled their contractual obligations.February 26, 1970 Butlin Has Change Of Heart Towards Lefley https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-26-1970-1690975/ Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 53 He later retracted that permission since the WCHL constitution did not allow players to be signed after February 10, for any reason.March 19, 1970 Butlin closes door... https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-19-1970-1691285/ Brandon Sun Brandon, Manitoba 8 Expansion The Medicine Hat Tigers were accepted as a new team for the 1970–71 season.New entry for WCHL January 15, 1970 Brandon Sun Brandon, Manitoba 1 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-15-1970-1690847/ Butlin attempted to expand the WCHL westward into British Columbia, inviting the Victoria Cougars of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League to join. He also wanted to see teams in Vancouver and New Westminster.WCHL invites Victoria January 31, 1970 Brandon Sun Brandon, Manitoba 6 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jan-31-1970-1690886/ The Cougars' owners made it known publicly they were interested in the WCHL, as did the owners of the Vancouver Centennials.February 3, 1970 B.C., Alberta Hockey Leagues Raise Junior Age Limit to 21 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-03-1970-1690901/ Victoria Daily Colonist Victoria, British Columbia 12The Mad Hatter Bridge Finn February 18, 1970 Medicine Hat News Medicine Hat, Alberta 2 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-18-1970-1690920/ However, westward expansion was resisted by some WCHL team owners due to the concerns over the calibre of the B.C. teams, and over travel costs and time, and the impact of travel on players' schooling.The Mad Hatter Bridge Finn February 4, 1970 Medicine Hat News Medicine Hat, Alberta 2 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-04-1970-1690910/ Regular season Final standings main WDL Q 2 y y n East Division FLI Flin Flon Bombers EST Estevan Bruins WIN Winnipeg Jets BRA Brandon Wheat Kings 42 18 0 257 176 28 31 1 237 255 25 33 2 226 235 23 34 3 234 272 complete main WDL Q 2 y y n West Division CAL Calgary Centennials EDM Edmonton Oil Kings SWI Swift Current Broncos SAS Saskatoon Blades 37 22 1 249 197 35 25 0 254 217 27 31 2 240 265 18 41 1 202 282 complete Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Reggie Leach Flin Flon Bombers 57 65 46 111 168 Greg Polis Estevan Bruins 60 48 56 104 99 Chris Oddleifson Winnipeg Jets 59 31 64 95 243 Lorne Henning Estevan Bruins 60 40 52 92 33 Randy Rota Calgary Centennials 60 43 47 90 43 Jim Nichols Saskatoon Blades 60 37 53 90 38 Laurie Yaworskifn1 Laurie Yaworski, while finishing as one of the top-10 WCHL scoring leaders in both the 1969–70 and 1970–71 WCHL seasons, was not drafted in either the 1969 nor 1970 NHL Amateur Drafts, and played less than one full season of professional ice hockey, appearing in 59 games in the 1972–73 season, split across three different minor leagues: the AHL's Richmond Robins (7 games); the WHL's San Diego Gulls (28 games); and the IHL's Dayton Gems and Flint Generals (24 games, Dayton-Flint split unknown).https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0001231973.html Laurie Yaworski (b.1949) (IHL, WHL, AHL, CIAU, SJHL, WCHL) [1966-1973] hockeydb.com July 20, 2021 Saskatoon Blades 55 48 41 89 139 Jerry Wrightfn2 Jerry Wright, while drafted in the 5th round of the 1969 NHL Amateur Draft, and again in the 70th round of the 1972 WHA General Player Draft, played less than one full season of professional ice hockey, appearing in 55 of the 73 games of the minor league Roanoke Valley Rebels in the EHL's 1971–72 season.https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=141984 Jerry Wright (b.1949) (EHL, WCJHL, WCHL) [1967-1972] hockeydb.com July 20, 2021 Calgary Centennials 57 33 45 78 34 Billy Moores Edmonton Oil Kings 58 31 46 77 83 Don Kozak Swift Current Broncos 56 40 34 74 67 League playoffs Quarterfinals Flin Flon defeated Brandon 4 games to 0 Winnipeg defeated Estevan 4 games to 1 Edmonton defeated Swift Current 4 games to 1 Calgary defeated Saskatoon 4 games to 3 Semifinals Flin Flon defeated Winnipeg 5 games to 4 Edmonton defeated Calgary 4 games to 3 (2 ties) Finals Flin Flon defeated Edmonton 4 games to 0 All-Star game The 1969–70 WCHL all-star game was held in Edmonton, Alberta, with the WCHL All-stars defeating the Edmonton Oil Kings 7–2 before a crowd of 4,753. Awards Most Valuable Player: Reggie Leach, Flin Flon BombersTop Scorer: Reggie Leach, Flin Flon BombersMost Sportsmanlike Player: Randy Rota, Calgary CentennialsDefenseman of the Year: Jim Hargreaves, Winnipeg JetsRookie of the Year: Gene Carr, Flin Flon BombersGoaltender of the Year: Ray Martyniuk, Flin Flon BombersRegular Season Champions: Flin Flon Bombers All-star team Goaltender: Ray Martyniuk, Flin Flon Bombers Defenceman: Jim Hargreaves, Winnipeg Jets Defenceman: Murray Anderson, Flin Flon Bombers Centerman: Chris Oddleifson, Winnipeg Jets Left winger: Greg Polis, Estevan Bruins Right winger: Reggie Leach, Flin Flon Bombers See also 1969 in sports 1970 in sports Trivia References 1968–69 WCHL season 1970–71 WCHL season WHL seasons Category:Western Hockey League seasons WCHL