1976-77 WCLH Season

 

Standings

1. Fargo Owls

2. Saskatoon Cats

3. Kenora Pioneers

4. Nanaimo Sharks

5. Abbotsford Forest Kings

6. Brandon Buffalos

7. Lethbridge Cougars

8. Moose Jaw Wings

9. Medicine Hat Hawks

10. North Battleford Crusaders

Story:

The downfall of the Cougars has begun with losing their 1st 15 games until they finally get their 1st win of the season. But their luck would turn around when the Vancouver Pro Hockey Club assigned Cliff Burns to the team, and they went on winning the last ten games and finished 7th. However, they got swept by the Cats in 3 games in the playoffs.

The Fargo Owls made history as they became the first American team to finish 1st in the WCLH by winning 33 games, followed by losing just 2 and 5 ties.

On February 15, 1977, a piece of bombshell news hit both the league and the town of North Battleford as the Crusaders owner Ron Jackins officially sold the team to businessman Patrick Cox. He would go on and announced that the team would move from North Battleford to Swift Current in a brand-new arena called “Swift Current Veteran Memorial Centre” this is excellent news for Swift Current. Still, horrible news for North Battleford as no one cannot agree on a new arena deal at all. “This is one of the things that we let the past get into our heads and fall apart, I mean, we were the 1960 Jade Trophy champions, and we can’t seem to work together to build this team better and put funds in a better arena.” Former Crusaders player Neal England said after the news broke. The team finishes last and will start the 1977-78 season in Swift Current.

One of the best series ever played happened in the 2nd round was Saskatoon Cats vs. Kenora Pioneers. They battled all five games, and all of them were overtimes, and in-game five, the Cats' left-winger Pete Quinn scored the overtime winner with the score of 2-1 to win and move on to the Jade Trophy finals.

Fargo kept their historic run to the finals as they beat the Saskatoon Cats in 6 games. Led by the Owls' top scorer Tom Gregson made 9 goals and 21 points as the Owls become the first American team to win the Jade Trophy title and will make a trip up north to Winnipeg for the 1977 Valor Cup tournament.