1977–78 OMJHL season
The 1977–78 OMJHL season was the fourth season of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League. Twelve teams each played 68 games. The Peterborough Petes won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Hamilton Fincups. The Fincups franchise moved back from St. Catharines to Hamilton after a temporary year away from the city due to lack of a suitable arena.
The league featured a wealth of scoring talent during the season, with two players recording the league's highest single season point totals. Third season veteran Bobby Smith, edged 17-year-old rookie Wayne Gretzky for the Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy, scoring 192 points.
Regular season
Final standings
Leyden Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-Ottawa 67's | 68 | 43 | 18 | 7 | 93 | 405 | 308 |
x-Peterborough Petes | 68 | 37 | 18 | 13 | 87 | 327 | 273 |
x-Oshawa Generals | 68 | 30 | 26 | 12 | 72 | 320 | 289 |
x-Kingston Canadians | 68 | 27 | 32 | 9 | 63 | 288 | 323 |
x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 68 | 26 | 32 | 10 | 62 | 330 | 346 |
Sudbury Wolves | 68 | 16 | 42 | 10 | 42 | 255 | 377 |
Emms Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y-London Knights | 68 | 35 | 22 | 11 | 81 | 333 | 251 |
x-Windsor Spitfires | 68 | 36 | 24 | 6 | 78 | 338 | 289 |
x-Hamilton Fincups | 68 | 31 | 23 | 14 | 76 | 273 | 223 |
x-Kitchener Rangers | 68 | 26 | 34 | 8 | 60 | 270 | 303 |
x-Toronto Marlboros | 68 | 24 | 36 | 8 | 56 | 263 | 341 |
Niagara Falls Flyers | 68 | 17 | 41 | 10 | 44 | 261 | 340 |
Scoring leaders
Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bobby Smith | Ottawa 67's | 61 | 69 | 123 | 192 | 44 |
Wayne Gretzky | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 64 | 70 | 112 | 182 | 14 |
Dino Ciccarelli | London Knights | 68 | 72 | 70 | 142 | 49 |
Keith Acton | Peterborough Petes | 68 | 42 | 86 | 128 | 52 |
Jim Fox | Ottawa 67's | 59 | 44 | 83 | 127 | 12 |
Gerry Leroux | Windsor Spitfires | 68 | 57 | 66 | 123 | 85 |
Steve Marengere | Ottawa 67's | 65 | 25 | 93 | 118 | 73 |
Dan Lucas | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 61 | 50 | 67 | 117 | 90 |
Jim MacRae | London Knights | 68 | 50 | 62 | 112 | 58 |
Dan Maloney | Kitchener Rangers | 62 | 30 | 74 | 104 | 143 |
OHL Playoffs
First Round
Kitchener Rangers defeat Toronto Marlboros 3–2
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defeat Kingston Canadians 3–2
Hamilton Fincups defeat Windsor Spitfires 4–1, 1 tie
Peterborough Petes defeat Oshawa Generals 4–1, 1 tie
Quarter Finals
Ottawa 67's defeat Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4–3, 1 tie
London Knights defeat Kitchener Rangers 4–0
Semi Finals
Hamilton Fincups defeat London Knights 4–2, 1 tie
Peterborough Petes defeat Ottawa 67's 4–3, 1 tie
J. Ross Robertson Cup
Peterborough Petes defeat Hamilton Fincups 4–3, 1 tie