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.
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.
Team changes The Flin Flon Bombers relocated to Edmonton, Alberta, becoming the Edmonton Oil Kings.
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 Brian Propp Brandon Wheat Kings 71 94 100 194 127 Ray Allison Brandon Wheat Kings 62 60 93 153 191 Laurie Boschman Brandon Wheat Kings 65 66 83 149 215 Duane Sutter Lethbridge Broncos 71 50 75 125 212 Doug Morrison Lethbridge Broncos 72 56 67 123 159 Kelly Kisio Calgary Wranglers 70 60 61 121 73 Mike Toal Portland Winter Hawks 71 38 83 121 32 Brent Ashton Saskatoon Blades 62 64 65 119 180 Perry Turnbull Portland Winter Hawks 70 75 43 118 191 Gord Williams Lethbridge Broncos 72 58 59 117 60
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 HawksTop Scorer: Brian Propp, Brandon Wheat KingsMost Sportsmanlike Player: Errol Rausse, Seattle BreakersTop Defenseman: Keith Brown, Portland Winter HawksRookie of the Year: Kelly Kisio, Calgary WranglersTop Goaltender: Rick Knickle, Brandon Wheat KingsCoach of the Year: Dunc McCallum, Brandon Wheat KingsRegular season champions: Brandon Wheat Kings
All-Star teams First Team Second Team Goal Rick Knickle Brandon Wheat Kings Warren Skorodenski Calgary WranglersDefense Keith Brown Portland Winter Hawks Craig Levie Edmonton Oil Kings Brad McCrimmon Brandon Wheat Kings Blake Wesley Portland Winter Hawks Center Laurie Boschman Brandon Wheat Kings Mike Toal Portland Winter Hawks Left Wing Brian Propp Brandon Wheat Kings Perry Turnbull Portland Winter Hawks Right Wing Ray Allison Brandon Wheat Kings Dirk Graham Regina Pats
See also 1979 Memorial Cup 1979 NHL entry draft 1978 in sports 1979 in sports
References
2005–06 WHL Guide