1978–79 WHL season

The 1978–79 WHL season was the 13th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and the first under that shortened name after previously operating as the Western Canada Hockey League. The season featured twelve teams and a 72-game regular season. The Brandon Wheat Kings secured their third consecutive regular season title, posting the league's best record—accumulating a league record 125 points in the standings—and followed the title up with the team's first playoff championship, defeating the Portland Winter Hawks in the final series to capture the President's Cup.[1]

1978–79 WHL season
LeagueWestern Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams12
Regular season
Season championBrandon Wheat Kings (3)
Season MVPPerry Turnbull (Portland Winter Hawks)
Top scorerBrian Propp (Brandon Wheat Kings)
Playoffs
Finals championsBrandon Wheat Kings (1)
  Runners-upPortland Winter Hawks
1978–79 CHL season
LeagueCanadian Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams34
OMJHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals championsPeterborough Petes (OMJHL) (1st title)
  Runners-upBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

The season was the first—and only—season for the second incarnation of the Edmonton Oil Kings after the Flin Flon Bombers relocated to Edmonton prior to the season.

Regular season

Final standings
East Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Brandon Wheat Kings725859125491230
x Saskatoon Blades7226321466385398
x Edmonton Oil Kings7217431246288403
Regina Pats721847743297481
Central Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Billings Bighorns7238231187378302
x Lethbridge Broncos723728781389326
x Calgary Wranglers722838662349392
Medicine Hat Tigers721550737270479
West Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Portland Winter Hawks72491013111432265
x Victoria Cougars7234271179318295
x New Westminster Bruins723432674310301
Seattle Breakers7221401153299334

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Brian ProppBrandon Wheat Kings7194100194127
Ray AllisonBrandon Wheat Kings626093153191
Laurie BoschmanBrandon Wheat Kings656683149215
Duane SutterLethbridge Broncos715075125212
Doug MorrisonLethbridge Broncos725667123159
Kelly KisioCalgary Wranglers70606112173
Mike ToalPortland Winter Hawks71388312132
Brent AshtonSaskatoon Blades626465119180
Perry TurnbullPortland Winter Hawks707543118191
Gord WilliamsLethbridge Broncos72585911760

1979 WHL Playoffs

Division semi-finals

Round robin format

  • Brandon (7–1) advanced
  • Saskatoon (3–5) advanced
  • Edmonton (2–6) eliminated
  • Lethbridge (5–3) advanced
  • Calgary (4–4) advanced
  • Billings (3–5) eliminated
  • Portland (7–1) advanced
  • Victoria (3–5) advanced
  • New Westminster (2–6) eliminated

Division finals
  • Brandon defeated Saskatoon 4 games to 0
  • Lethbridge defeated Calgary 4 games to 3
  • Portland defeated Victoria 4 games to 3

League semi-finals

Round Robin format

  • Brandon (3–1) advanced
  • Portland (3–1) advanced
  • Lethbridge (0–4) eliminated

WHL Championship
  • Brandon defeated Portland 4 games to 2

WHL awards
Most Valuable Player: Perry Turnbull, Portland Winter Hawks
Top Scorer: Brian Propp, Brandon Wheat Kings
Most Sportsmanlike Player: Errol Rausse, Seattle Breakers
Top Defenseman: Keith Brown, Portland Winter Hawks
Rookie of the Year: Kelly Kisio, Calgary Wranglers
Top Goaltender: Rick Knickle, Brandon Wheat Kings
Coach of the Year: Dunc McCallum, Brandon Wheat Kings
Regular season champions: Brandon Wheat Kings

All-Star Teams
First TeamSecond Team
GoalRick KnickleBrandon Wheat KingsWarren SkorodenskiCalgary Wranglers
DefenseKeith BrownPortland Winter HawksCraig LevieEdmonton Oil Kings
Brad McCrimmonBrandon Wheat KingsBlake WesleyPortland Winter Hawks
CenterLaurie BoschmanBrandon Wheat KingsMike ToalPortland Winter Hawks
Left WingBrian ProppBrandon Wheat KingsPerry TurnbullPortland Winter Hawks
Right WingRay AllisonBrandon Wheat KingsDirk GrahamRegina Pats

See also

References
  • 2005–06 WHL Guide
  1. Drinnan, Gregg (August 14, 2021). "1978-79 BWK Series — Day 17 — 1970s was a very different era". Brandon Sun. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
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