1978-79 AQHL Season

 

Standings

1. Verdun Knights (QUE)

2. Cape Breton Warriors (ATL)

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3. Sherbrooke Loups (QUE)

4. New Glasgow Highlanders (ATL)

5. Trois-Rivieres Titans (QUE)

6. Laval Tigers (QUE)

7. Fredericton Vikings (ATL)

8. Moncton Bears (ATL)

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9. Drummondville Les Rouges (QUE)

10. Portland Clippers (ATL)

11. Manchester Americans (ATL)

12. Shawinigan Voltages (QUE)

Story

The only team that made a jersey change is the New Glasgow Highlanders the change they did is dropping two thin stripes on the arms, hem and socks.

The AQHL has split the league into two divisions known as the Atlantic and Quebec divisions. The playoffs format is that the top two spots will be for the division winners while the rest are up for grabs.

The defending Bronz Cup champions Trois-Rivieres Titans had a rough first half of the season, mainly during road games over the Atlantic area. The Titans would get their game back on track by winning 15 of the last 25 games, but the team finished third place in the Quebec division. The team that took the top spot of the division and never looked back was the Verdun Knights, which they up their game with some good trades and their draft picks really helped very well. After all the rebuild put in, the Sherbrooke Loups is back from being on the bottom of the league for three years as they finished 2nd. The Laval Tigers' record of 23-23-4 may look off to some, but 50 points were enough to finish 4th. Both Drummondville and Shawinigan round out the Quebec Division 5th and 6th.

Cape Breton Warriors took the top of the Atlantic Division with their 35-13-2 72 points to show it. The New Glasgow Highlanders finally showed significant results as their top players played very well, mainly Shawn Oakley. He will be eligible for the Pro Hockey Draft after this season as he made 38 goals, and 76 points to lead the Highlanders to 2nd place in the Atlantic. Both the Vikings and the Bears battle to see who finished better. In the end, the Vikings take 3rd while the Bears finish 4th. The Portland Clippers had a lousy season where they suffered a 20-game losing streak and could not bounce back as they finished 5th. Manchester Americans had it even worse with 33 losses and finished last place. What more egg on the face for the team, owner John Rome did not renew his liquor licence to sell beers in the Manchester Forum; without it, the attendance has been under an average of 400.

As the season came to an end, the playoff matchups caught many eyes first seed Verdun Knights face eighth seed Moncton Bears, second seed Cape Breton Warriors take on the seventh seed Fredericton Vikings, third seed Sherbrooke Loups is back in the playoffs as they play the sixth seed Laval Tigers. Lastly, the fourth seed New Glasgow Highlanders battles fifth seed the defending Bronz Cup champions, the Trois-Rivieres Titans.