1968–69 WCHL season

Junior ice hockey season 1968–69 WCHL season Western Hockey League Ice hockey Playoffs Flin Flon Bombers (1) Edmonton Oil Kings 8 Regular season Season champions Flin Flon Bombers (2) Four Broncos Memorial Trophy Bobby Clarke (Flin Flon Bombers) Bob Clarke Trophy Bobby Clarke (Flin Flon Bombers) WHL 1967–68 1969–70 The 1968–69 WCHL season was the third season of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL), featuring eight teams and a 60-game regular season. The Flin Flon Bombers topped the season's standings with 47 wins, and in the playoffs defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings to win the club's first President's Cup championship. The Bombers advanced to a national series organized by the Canadian Hockey Association to rival the Memorial Cup. In the series the Bombers defeated the St. Thomas Barons from the Western Ontario Junior A Hockey League. League business The Western Canada Junior Hockey League changed its name to the Western Canada Hockey League on June 8, 1968, and broke away from the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), affiliating instead with the fledgling rival Canadian Hockey Association (CHA) over disputes about age limits. Ron Butlin was named president of both the WCHL and the CHA. The league changed its name since it no longer conformed to CAHA's age limit of 19, but rather raised its age limit to 21.Briscoe Bob August 13, 1968 'Captain' Butlin Can Claim First Round https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-aug-13-1968-1686636/ Winnipeg Free Press 42 The break-up made the WCHL ineligible to compete for the Memorial Cup. Due to the dispute with CAHA, the Regina Pats chose to withdraw from the WCHL and helped revive Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) under the jurisdiction of the Saskatchewan Amateur Hockey Association.West Juniors Change Name June 8, 1968 Winnipeg Free Press 56 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jun-08-1968-1686481/ Butlin expected the WCHL to go ahead with the remaining ten teams separated into two divisions, but actively searched for prospective owners for a team in Regina to replace the Pats. In fact, the Pats attempted to lure the Saskatoon Blades to join the SJHL, but the Saskatoon team declined. However, the Weyburn Red Wings, weary of the growing costs of an expanding WCHL, opted to follow the Pats. Then, on July 20, 1968, Butlin suspended the Moose Jaw Canucks for failure to fulfill financial obligations to the league. The Canucks opted to join the SJHL as well.July 20, 1968 Kerslake, Club On The Warpath https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jul-20-1968-1686622/ Lethbridge Herald 10 This left the WCHL down to eight teams by the start of the 1968–69 season. The WCHL sought payments from the National Hockey League (NHL) as per the existing NHL amateur draft agreement in which CAHA members were paid for developing future professional players.Western Canada League outlines future plans June 10, 1968 Brandon Sun 7 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-jun-10-1968-1686499/ In February 1969, the Dauphin Kings of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League challenged the validity of the Canadian Hockey Association contract when it signed Butch Goring from the Winnipeg Jets.Briscoe Bob February 10, 1969 Legal Battle Over Goring? https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-10-1969-1688540/ Winnipeg Free Press 20 Merv Haney also departed the Jets for the Kings, and Butlin stated that the WCHL would seek a court injunction to prevent both from playing for Dauphin and take legal action to seek damages.Briscoe Bob February 11, 1969 Goring Affair Is THE Topic https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-feb-11-1969-1688543/ Winnipeg Free Press 53 Team changes The Regina Pats withdraw from the league and join the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The Weyburn Red Wings withdraw from the league and join the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League. The league suspended the Moose Jaw Canucks for failure to fulfill financial obligations. Regular season The WCHL was split into two four-team divisions with an interlocking season schedule.Butlin Confident August 20, 1968 Lethbridge Herald Lethbridge, Alberta 6 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-aug-20-1968-1686641/ Final standings main WDL Q y y 2 n East Division FLI Flin Flon Bombers EST Estevan Bruins WIN Winnipeg Jets BRA Brandon Wheat Kings 47 13 0 343 159 40 20 0 294 195 29 31 0 290 268 18 40 2 224 350 complete main WDL Q y y 2 n West Division EDM Edmonton Oil Kings CAL Calgary Centennials SAS Saskatoon Blades SWI Swift Current Broncos 33 25 2 229 206 31 28 1 253 236 24 35 1 195 271 14 44 2 186 329 complete Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Bobby Clarke Flin Flon Bombers 58 51 86 137 123 Greg Polis Estevan Bruins 60 40 85 125 94 Tom Serviss Calgary Centennials 60 24 79 103 60 Bob Liddington Calgary Centennials 60 58 33 91 26 Ernie Moser Estevan Bruins 56 46 40 86 41 Brian Marchinko Flin Flon Bombers 60 41 45 86 96 Gregg Sheppard Estevan Bruins 54 42 42 84 33 Doug Smith Winnipeg Jets 47 31 52 83 130 Jim Nichols Saskatoon Blades 60 37 35 72 16 Steve Andrascik Flin Flon Bombers 50 32 36 68 142 Wayne Hawrysh Flin Flon Bombers 58 31 37 68 187 League playoffs Butlin arranged for the WCHL to compete in an east-west national championship under the auspices of the Canadian Hockey Association against the champions of the Western Ontario Junior A Hockey League.Maverick Ontario League May Expand Next Season December 26, 1968 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 58 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-dec-26-1968-1686759/ WCHL playoffs saw the first team to secure eight points winning their series.Winnipeg, Flin Flon Open Playoff March 18 March 8, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 58 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-mar-08-1969-1688594/ Quarterfinals Calgary defeated Swift Current 8 points to 0 Edmonton defeated Saskatoon 8 points to 0 Estevan defeated Brandon 8 points to 2 Flin Flon defeated Winnipeg 9 points to 5 Semifinals Flin Flon defeated Estevan 9 points to 1 Edmonton defeated Calgary 9 points to 5 Finals Flin Flon defeated Edmonton 8 points to 4 National championship The national final was scheduled to begin April 25, pitting the WCHL champion Flin Flon Bombers against the Western Ontario Junior A Hockey League champion St. Thomas Barons. The teams were to compete for the Father Athol Murray Trophy. The series was arranged as a best-of-seven series to begin in St. Thomas, Ontario. The series would be the first Canadian national junior hockey championship not under the jurisdiction of CAHA.Bombers and Barons in East-West Final April 28, 1969 Brandon Sun Brandon, Manitoba 7 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-apr-28-1969-1688649/ The Barons ultimately withdrew from the championship series during the fourth game, played at the Whitney Forum in Flin Flon on May 5. The team left after an on-ice brawl during the second period. The referee defaulted the game to the Bombers, who were leading by a 4–0 score at the time. The Bombers led the series three games to one after the default win. Game five was scheduled for May 7 in Flin Flon, and games six and seven would have been in St. Thomas if necessary.East Quits Hockey Finals May 6, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 1 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-may-06-1969-1688763/ The Barons were escorted from the arena to their hotel by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and abandoned the series, claiming it was in the interest of player safety. The team departed for St. Thomas on May 6. The Canadian Press described the Barons as being over-matched in the series and not up to the calibre of WCHL teams.Flin Flon Awarded Game Davis Reyn May 6, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 25 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-may-06-1969-1688776/Barons Get Home On Handouts Davis Reyn May 7, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 60 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-may-07-1969-1688786/ On May 7, Butlin awarded the series and the championship to the Flin Flon Bombers.Disgraceful, Says Butlin May 7, 1969 Winnipeg Free Press Winnipeg, Manitoba 60 https://newspaperarchive.com/sports-clipping-may-07-1969-1688791/ All-star game The 1968–69 WCHL all-star game was held in Flin Flon, Manitoba, with the WCHL All-stars and Flin Flon Bombers playing to a 4–4 draw before a crowd of 2,100. Awards Most Valuable Player: Bobby Clarke, Flin Flon BombersTop Scorer: Bobby Clarke, Flin Flon BombersMost Sportsmanlike Player: Bob Liddington, Calgary CentennialsDefenseman of the Year: Dale Hoganson, Estevan BruinsRookie of the Year: Ron Williams, Edmonton Oil KingsGoaltender of the Year: Ray Martyniuk, Flin Flon BombersRegular Season Champions: Flin Flon Bombers All-star team Goaltender: Ray Martyniuk, Flin Flon Bombers Defenceman: Dale Hoganson, Estevan Bruins Defenceman: Herb Howdle, Estevan Bruins Centerman: Bobby Clarke, Flin Flon Bombers Left winger: Greg Polis, Estevan Bruins Right winger: Reggie Leach, Flin Flon Bombers See also 1968 in sports 1969 in sports References 1967–68 WCJHL season 1969–70 WCHL season WHL seasons Category:Western Hockey League seasons WCHL