1972-73 OMJHA Season

1972-73 standings

1.Kitchener Generals

2.Kitchener Legionnaires

3.Owen Sound Arrowbirds

4.Waterloo Maroons

5.Burlington Metros

6.Oakville Oaks

7.Milton Micmacs

8.Guelph Crusaders

Story:

Franklin Name attended a season opener in Burlington, Ontario, along with CIHA first President Joseph McGeorge. As they and hockey fans at the Burlington Auditorium witness, the Metros won the game over the Guelph Crusaders 4 – 2. After the game, McGeorge announced that the Toronto Forum (Toronto Pro Hockey team’s rink) would be the location for the first Valor Cup tournament.

Due to only eight teams in the league, only six teams will make it to the playoffs while the bottom two teams will be outside looking in. The playoff format in the OMJHA is the best 2 of 3 games in the wild card round, both the 2nd round and the finals are the best 3 of 5 games.

Both the Oaks and Micmacs battle each other for the 6th spot for the playoffs, both played 4 times against each other, so far the series is at 2 games apiece as they would face each other in their last game of the season both got the same record, but it’s a must-win for the Oaks as the Macs got less GAA. 

Luckily for the Oaks, their goalie Matt Allen played very well and helped the Oaks shutout the Macs 3-0 to clinch 6th place. Sadly, the Oaks would get eliminated by the Arrowbirds.

Metros forward Cliff Raymond is the top scorer of the OMJHA, and he proves it as he and the Metros outscored and beat the Kitchener Legionnaires to win the Smyth Cup 3 to 1 and headed to the Valor Cup tournament.

1973 Playoffs

Wild card round (best 2 of 3 games)

3rd Owen Sound Arrowbirds: 2 – 6th Oakville Oaks: 0

5th Burlington Metros: 2 – 4th Waterloo Maroons 1

Semi-finals (best 2 of 3 games)

5th Burlington Metros: 2 – 1st Kitchener Generals: 1

2nd Kitchener Legionnaires: 2 - 3rd Owen Sound Arrowbirds: 0

Smyth Cup finals (best 3 of 5 games)

5th Burlington Metros: 3 - 2nd Kitchener Legionnaires: 1

1972-73 WCLH Season

1972-73 standings

1. Lethbridge Cougars

2. Saskatoon Cats

3. Abbotsford Forest Kings

4. Fargo Owls

5. Medicine Hat Hawks

6. Brandon Buffalos

7. North Battleford Crusaders

8. Nanaimo Greyhounds

Story:

On October 25, 1972, all 8-team played on the day. The Cougars blew the Crusaders 6-0, both the Hawks and the Owls played a 3-3 tie game, Forest Kings beat the Buffalos 3-1, and the Cats blanked the Greyhounds 4-0.

The playoff format was the best 2 of 3 games in the 1st and 2nd round, while the finals became the best 3 of 5 games. On another note, WCLH president James Name announced that all eight teams would be in the playoffs no matter the standings.

If anybody thinks that there is no chance that the Greyhounds would give any top teams a hard time even after winning just 10 out of 40 games, in the playoffs they played as they belong in 1st place with help from Sam Scott scoring 6 goals and Paul Richards 4 goals-against average eliminated 1st seeded and favourited to win it all the Lethbridge Cougars 2 games to 1.

The Greyhounds magic would go all the way to the finals and beat the Brandon Buffalos 3 game to 5 to win the team’s first-ever Jade Trophy and qualified for the Valor Cup tournament.

1973 WCLH Playoffs

Round 1 (best 2 of 3 games)

8th Nanaimo Greyhounds: 2 – 1st Lethbridge Cougars: 1

2nd Saskatoon Cats: 2 – 7th North Battleford Crusaders: 0

6th Brandon Buffalos: 2 – 3rd Abbotsford Forest Kings: 1

4th Fargo Owls: 2 – 5th Medicine Hat Hawks: 1

Round 2 (best 2 of 3 games)

8th Nanaimo Greyhounds: 2 - 2nd Saskatoon Cats: 1

6th Brandon Buffalos: 2 - 4th Fargo Owls: 0

Jade Trophy finals (best 3 of 5 games)

8th Nanaimo Greyhounds: 3 - 6th Brandon Buffalos: 2