The 1967–68 WCJHL season was the second season of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League (WCJHL). The league adopted its new name after being known as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League in its inaugural season. The season featured eleven teams, up from seven during the inaugural season, and a 60-game regular season. The Flin Flon Bombers, playing their first season in the league, topped the season standings with 47 wins. In the playoffs, the Bombers faced the Estevan Bruins in the championship series. The Bruins won the series, claiming the President's Cup.
League notes The WCJHL added four new teams for its second season, including three based in Manitoba, increasing the league's presence across Western Canada. The Brandon Wheat Kings, Flin Flon Bombers, and Winnipeg Jets all joined in Manitoba, while the Swift Current Broncos became the league's sixth team based in Saskatchewan. The Calgary Buffaloes, meanwhile, adopted a new name, becoming the Calgary Centennials.
The league's name change reflected in part a temporary truce with the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), which had not sanctioned the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League upon its inception. The WCJHL agreed to abide by CAHA regulations, which could allow the league to receive development subsidies and the ability to compete for the Memorial Cup—the inaugural CMJHL champion Moose Jaw Canucks had been ineligible for the 1967 Memorial Cup. The agreement allowed the Estevan Bruins to contest the 1968 Memorial Cup; they would lose the final to the Niagara Falls Flyers.
This would be the only season for the league under the WCJHL name. After the season, the league dropped "Junior" from its name.
Team changes The Calgary Buffaloes are renamed the Calgary Centennials. The Brandon Wheat Kings join the league as an expansion franchise. The Flin Flon Bombers join the league as an expansion franchise. The Swift Current Broncos join the league as an expansion franchise. The Winnipeg Jets join the league as an expansion franchise.
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 Bobby Clarke Flin Flon Bombers 59 51 117 168 148 Reggie Leach Flin Flon Bombers 59 87 44 131 208 Bernie Blanchette Saskatoon Blades 58 52 72 124 31 Ron Snell Regina Pats 60 56 55 111 86 Reg Bechtold Moose Jaw Canucks 59 48? 51? 105? 158 Gene Peacosh Swift Current Broncos 53 52 48 100 60 Ron Garwasiuk Regina Pats 58 56 43 99 153 Mike Shaw Saskatoon Blades 58 25 73 98 149 Dick Mortenson Edmonton Oil Kings 60 53 40 93 37 Jim Benzelok Winnipeg Jets 58 43 50 93 168
1968 WCJHL playoffs
Quarterfinals Flin Flon defeated Regina 4 games to 0 Estevan defeated Winnipeg 4 games to 0 Edmonton defeated Saskatoon 3 games to 2 with 2 ties Moose Jaw defeated Brandon 4 games to 3 with 1 tie
Semifinals Flin Flon defeated Edmonton 4 games to 1 with 1 tie Estevan defeated Moose Jaw 4 games to 0 with 1 tie
Finals Estevan defeated Flin Flon 4 games to 0 with 1 tie
All-star game
The 1967–68 WCJHL all-star game was held in Estevan, Saskatchewan, with the WCJHL All-stars defeating the Estevan Bruins 8–7 before a crowd of 2500.
Awards
Most Valuable Player: Jim Harrison, Estevan BruinsTop Scorer: Bobby Clarke, Flin Flon BombersMost Sportsmanlike Player: Bernie Blanchette, Saskatoon BladesDefenseman of the Year: Gerry Hart, Flin Flon BombersRookie of the Year: Ron Fairbrother, Saskatoon BladesGoaltender of the Year: Chris Worthy, Flin Flon BombersRegular Season Champions: Flin Flon Bombers
All-star teams First team Second team Goal Chris Worthy Flin Flon Bombers Ken Brown Moose Jaw CanucksDefence Gerry Hart Flin Flon Bombers Jim Pritchard Winnipeg Jets Dale Hoganson Estevan Bruins Joe Zanussi Swift Current Broncos Center Bobby Clarke Flin Flon Bombers Jim Harrison Estevan Bruins Left wing Ron Garwasiuk Regina Pats Cal Swenson Flin Flon Bombers Right wing Reggie Leach Flin Flon Bombers Bernie Blanchette Saskatoon Blades
See also 1967 in sports 1968 in sports
References
2005–06 WHL Guide