The 1976–77 OMJHL season was the third season of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL). The St. Catharines Black Hawks moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario, becoming the Flyers. Their owner Hap Emms using the name of his former team. The Hamilton Fincups then moved to the vacant Jack Gatecliff Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario after the ice-making machine at the ancient Hamilton Forum broke down irreparably a month before the season began. Twelve teams each played 66 games. The Ottawa 67's won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the London Knights.
League business
OMJHL commissioner Tubby Schmalz filed legal action against the World Hockey Association on behalf of the OMJHL in 1976, citing failure to pay development fees for junior-aged players Paul Heaver and Bob Russell who turned professional. Schmalz also said legal action to receive payments would be likely for a third player, John Tonelli. Schmalz later announced that an OMJHL team would represent Canada at the 1977 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and that the league would operate a small tournament within its schedule to choose the representative.
Regular season
Standings
| Leyden Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Ottawa 67's | 66 | 38 | 23 | 5 | 81 | 348 | 288 |
| x-Sudbury Wolves | 66 | 38 | 24 | 4 | 80 | 385 | 290 |
| x-Kingston Canadians | 66 | 32 | 24 | 10 | 74 | 295 | 259 |
| x-Peterborough Petes | 66 | 31 | 28 | 7 | 69 | 307 | 309 |
| x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 66 | 20 | 41 | 5 | 45 | 261 | 375 |
| Oshawa Generals | 66 | 5 | 57 | 4 | 14 | 216 | 444 |
| Emms Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-St. Catharines Fincups | 66 | 50 | 11 | 5 | 105 | 438 | 242 |
| x-London Knights | 66 | 51 | 13 | 2 | 104 | 379 | 203 |
| x-Toronto Marlboros | 66 | 31 | 23 | 12 | 74 | 335 | 286 |
| x-Kitchener Rangers | 66 | 26 | 32 | 8 | 60 | 320 | 380 |
| x-Windsor Spitfires | 66 | 21 | 37 | 8 | 50 | 294 | 386 |
| Niagara Falls Flyers | 66 | 15 | 45 | 6 | 36 | 254 | 370 |
Scoring leaders
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dwight Foster | Kitchener Rangers | 64 | 60 | 83 | 143 | 88 |
| Dale McCourt | St. Catharines Fincups | 66 | 60 | 79 | 139 | 26 |
| Bobby Smith | Ottawa 67's | 64 | 65 | 70 | 135 | 52 |
| Tony McKegney | Kingston Canadians | 66 | 58 | 77 | 135 | 30 |
| Ken Linseman | Kingston Canadians | 63 | 53 | 74 | 127 | 210 |
| Keith Acton | Peterborough Petes | 65 | 52 | 69 | 121 | 93 |
| John Anderson | Toronto Marlboros | 64 | 57 | 62 | 119 | 42 |
| Mike Keating | St. Catharines Fincups | 65 | 51 | 61 | 112 | 96 |
| Ron Mason | Peterborough Petes | 62 | 53 | 58 | 111 | 33 |
| Ric Seiling | St. Catharines Fincups | 62 | 50 | 61 | 111 | 103 |
Playoffs
First round
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defeat Peterborough Petes 3–1
Windsor Spitfires defeat Kitchener Rangers 3–0
Quarterfinals
Ottawa 67's defeat Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4–0, 1 tie
Kingston Canadians defeat Sudbury Wolves 4–1, 1 tie
St. Catharines Fincups defeat Windsor Spitfires 4–2
London Knights defeat Toronto Marlboros 4–1, 1 tie
Semifinals
Ottawa 67's defeat Kingston Canadians 4–3, 1 tie
London Knights defeat St. Catharines Fincups 4–3, 1 tie
J. Ross Robertson Cup
Ottawa 67's defeat London Knights 4–2
Awards
See also
- List of OHA Junior A standings
- List of OHL seasons
- 1977 Memorial Cup
- 1977 NHL Entry Draft
- 1976 in sports
- 1977 in sports
References
- Kerr, Grant (May 25, 1976). "OHA legal action a test case?". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. p. 8.
- "OHA team gets nod, represents Canada". Lethbridge Herald. Lethbridge, Alberta. May 26, 1976. p. 25.
External links
| Preceded by1975–76 OMJHL season | OHL seasons | Succeeded by1977–78 OMJHL season |