1977–78 WCHL season

The 1977–78 WCHL season was the 12th season of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL), featuring twelve teams and a 72-game regular season. The Brandon Wheat Kings won their second consecutive regular season title, topping the standings with 46 wins. In the playoffs, the New Westminster Bruins solidified their dynasty in winning their fourth consecutive President's Cup, defeating the Billings Bighorns—the first American-based club to make the league playoff final—in the championship series. The Bruins earned a berth in the 1978 Memorial Cup tournament, and there won the club's second consecutive Memorial Cup title.

The season was the first for a trio of franchises. The Calgary Centennials relocated to Billings, Montana and became the Bighorns. However, Calgary was not left without a team as the Winnipeg Monarchs relocated there and became the Calgary Wranglers. Finally, the Kamloops Chiefs relocated to Seattle and became the Seattle Breakers, bringing the number of American clubs in the league up to three.

Regular season

Final standings

Scoring leaders

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

1978 WCHL Playoffs

Division Semi-finals

Round Robin format

• Flin Flon (4–4) advanced
• Regina (4–4) advanced
• Brandon (4–4) eliminated
• Billings (6–2) advanced
• Medicine Hat (3–5) advanced
• Lethbridge (3–5) eliminated
• New Westminster (7–1) advanced
• Victoria (4–4) advanced
• Portland (1–7) eliminated

Division Finals

• Flin Flon defeated Regina 4 games to 1
• Billings defeated Medicine Hat 4 games to 0
• New Westminster defeated Victoria 4 games to 1

League semi-finals

Round Robin format

• Billings (3–1) advanced
• New Westminster (3–1) advanced
• Flin Flon (0–4) eliminated

WHL Championship

• New Westminster defeated Billings 4 games to 0

All-Star game

On January 18, the West All-Stars defeated the East All-Stars 2–1 at Regina, Saskatchewan before a crowd of 2,814.

WHL awards

All-Star Teams

See also

• 1978 NHL Entry Draft
• 1977 in sports
• 1978 in sports

References

• 2005–06 WHL Guide