The 1966–67 CMJHL season was the inaugural season of the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League. The fledgling league was formed by five members of the former Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, along with the Edmonton Oil Kings and the Calgary Buffaloes. However, the league did not receive the sanction of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, and was considered an "outlaw league" whose members were ineligible to compete for the Memorial Cup.
The CMJHL's inaugural season featured seven teams based in Alberta and Saskatchewan and a 56-game schedule. The Oil Kings topped the regular season standings with 34 wins; however, the Oil Kings were upset in the playoffs by the Moose Jaw Canucks, who went on to win the President's Cup, defeating the Regina Pats in the league final.
Regular season
Final standings
Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Gerry Pinder Saskatoon Blades 56 78 62 140 95 Rick Sentes Regina Pats 56 66 61 127 100 Herb Pinder Saskatoon Blades 49 44 75 119 113 Brian Lavander Regina Pats 56 39 71 110 100 Ernie Hicke Regina Pats 55 37 72 109 184 Ken Faranski Regina Pats 42 40 54 99 28 Morris Stefaniw Estevan Bruins 55 36 58 99 44 Garnet Bailey Edmonton Oil Kings 56 47 46 93 177 Galen Head Edmonton Oil Kings 56 50 42 92 43 Ron Walters Edmonton Oil Kings 54 44 40 84 31 Grant Erickson Estevan Bruins 55 35 49 84 49
1967 CMJHL playoffs
Quarterfinals Regina defeated Weyburn 4 games to 1 Estevan defeated Saskatoon 3 games to 2, with 2 ties
Semifinals Moose Jaw defeated Edmonton 3 games to 2, with 4 ties Regina defeated Estevan 4 games to 1
Finals Moose Jaw defeated Regina 4 games to 1
All-star game The 1966–67 WCJHL all-star game was held in Calgary, Alberta, with the Reds defeating the Whites 7–0 before a crowd of 1,000.
Awards
Most Valuable Player: Gerry Pinder, Saskatoon BladesTop Scorer: Gerry Pinder, Saskatoon BladesMost Sportsmanlike Player: Morris Stefaniw, Estevan BruinsDefenseman of the Year: Barry Gibbs, Estevan BruinsRookie of the Year: Ron Garwasiuk, Regina PatsGoaltender of the Year: Ken Brown, Moose Jaw CanucksRegular Season Champions: Edmonton Oil Kings
All-star teams First team Second team Goal Ken Brown Moose Jaw Canucks none (Brown received all goaltender votes)Defence Barry Gibbs Estevan Bruins Ken Hodge Moose Jaw Canucks Ray McKay Moose Jaw Canucks Kerry Ketter Edmonton Oil KingsCentre Morris Stefaniw Estevan Bruins Jim Harrison (tied) Estevan Bruins - - Herb Pinder (tied) Saskatoon Blades Left wing Gerry Pinder Saskatoon Blades Bill Lesuk Weyburn Red Wings Right wing Rick Sentes Regina Pats Galen Head Edmonton Oil Kings
See also 1966 in sports 1967 in sports
References
2005–06 WHL Guide