1976 Off-season

 

1976 WCLH Draft

Moose Jaw selects forward Kyle Ferrell of Edmonton, AB. Brandon Buffalos takes Pat Myles, a forward from Prince Albert, SK. The 3rd pick to the Nanaimo Sharks after a trade with Medicine Hat Hawks as they received forward Alex Jorden. The Sharks pick goalie Max Tayler of Surrey, B.C.

1976 OMJHA Draft

Ever since the Diamonds and Generals trade, some top teams offer players for draft picks, but both the Micmacs and the Admirals would not budge as they made their picks. Micmacs choose Milton local forward Bo Chapman. The Admirals select forward Shawn Greene of Barrie. The Generals wasted no time and picked forward Patrick Herbco of Thamesville. With Pat and some good players on their roster, the Generals are set for a deep run. Generals GM Todd Holmes said, "Get ready for a dynasty in the making!"

1976 AQHL Draft

Saint John, New Brunswick local forward Frank Logan becomes a Clipper as Portland took him 1st overall. Sherbrooke Loups rebuild continues as they take Christian Dupont, a forward from Saint-Jerome, QC. Trois-Rivieres Titans pick JP Laflamme, a forward from downtown Trois-Rivieres as he would be one of many locals to represent Trois-Rivieres for a deep run as team co-owner. Lance Chouinard said, "This is it! It is all or nothing for us, and we must finish first place no ifs or buts about it.

News

After a big meeting with owners within all three leagues during the Valor Cup tournament in Vancouver, they all agreed and sign in print that Winnipeg, Manitoba, is the location for the 1977 Valor Cup. The arena will be the Winnipeg Memorial Centre, formerly home of the Manitoba Pro Hockey Club.

Also, in the meeting, the owners had agreed to increase the numbers of games for both the season and in the playoffs, but only the 1976-77 playoff games will rise from the best 2 of 3 games in rounds 1 and 2 to the best 3 of 5, and the finals will be from the best 3 of 5 now the best 4 of 7 games. The season will increase from 40 games to 50 games a year later in 1977-78, just in time for the CIHA 5th anniversary.

 As speaking of 1977-78, the OMJHA have announced that they will be adding two more teams in their league. OMJHA will welcome Peterborough and Orangeville. For Orangeville, it is an excellent opportunity for the city. As for Peterborough, it is a significant return to the league as the city was once part of the OMJHA; from 1946 until 1961, the team folded from low attendants to high prices for travelling. "Today is a great day for both cities to be part of the top tier league," said OMJHA President Franklin Name.

The OMJHA is not the only league to add more teams; the AQHL is also adding two teams to the league but in a different way. 1977-78 season, the league welcomes Shawinigan, QC. While a year later, Manchester, New Hampshire, joins in, making them the 2nd American team to be part of the AQHL. John Rome said, "this is what this city needs after losing a minor pro hockey team that was part of the city in almost 40 years. Finally, we can have a team that we can cheer and enjoy the good old game of hockey."

WCLH got a taste of international flavour as the Nanaimo Sharks signs Kenta Takamachi, a forward from Osaka, Japan, who moved to Vancouver with his Uncle. "He played outstanding hockey in his homeland," said GM Paul Rowe, "but it's a risk to take from word of mouth, but after his tryout, I feel that this could pay off for us down the road."

The town of Lethbridge would hear one of sad news the Cougars star Cliff Burns got drafted 1st overall by the Vancouver Pro Hockey club, along with Tony Will got drafted in 2nd round by the Minnesota Pro Hockey club, and Shane Louis by the Denver Pro Hockey club in the 3rd round. With those three key players going pro and some other players they got could go pro or commit to a college, the writing is on the wall for the team being the top of the league. "This one will be a tough road for us, but we have been there and overcome it. This one will test us, and we will prevail," Cougars GM Rick Hill said.

In OMJHA, two teams made one of the most significant trades ever as Burlington Metros gets forward Thomas Marksman, defence Joe Edwards and Backup goalie Jake Mills. While the Waterloo Maroons received forward Sam O'Brian, defence Luke Stevenson, and goalie Roger Stevenson, this became a turning point for both teams. For the Maroons, it's a need in the hope of staying in contender form for the Smyth Cup. As for the Metros, they realize they need an overhaul after 5 top players from their roster got drafted in the Pro Hockey League draft.