1980-81 WHL season
Encyclopedia
The 1980–81 WHL season was the 15th season
for the Western Hockey League
. Thirteen teams completed a 72 game season. The Victoria Cougars won the President's Cup
.
8–3 at Victoria, British Columbia
with a crowd of 3,520.
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
for the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
. Thirteen teams completed a 72 game season. The Victoria Cougars won the President's Cup
President's Cup (WHL)
The Ed Chynoweth Cup is an ice hockey club championship trophy awarded to the playoff champion of the Western Hockey League . Originally called the President's Cup when the league was founded in 1966, the trophy was renamed in 2007 to honour Ed Chynoweth's long service to junior hockey in Canada...
.
League notes
- The Spokane FlyersSpokane FlyersThe Spokane Flyers were a junior ice hockey team that played one and a half seasons in the Western Hockey League from 1980–1982. They played in Spokane, Washington, United States.-History:...
and Winnipeg WarriorsWinnipeg WarriorsThe Winnipeg Warriors were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League. They were founded as an expansion team in 1980, but suffered from attendance problems competing with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League and ultimately moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1984,...
joined the WHL as its 12th and 13th franchises.
Final standings
| East Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x Regina Pats Regina Pats The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:... |
72 | 49 | 21 | 2 | 100 | 423 | 315 |
| x Calgary Wranglers Calgary Wranglers The Calgary Wranglers were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League from 1977 until 1987. The Wranglers played their home games in Calgary, Alberta, at the Stampede Corral.-Season-by-season Record:... |
72 | 46 | 24 | 2 | 94 | 368 | 295 |
| x Medicine Hat Tigers Medicine Hat Tigers The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who play out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1970, the team has won two national Memorial Cups, five WHL League Championships and seven Division Titles. The Tigers play at the Medicine Hat Arena.... |
72 | 40 | 29 | 3 | 83 | 358 | 302 |
| x Lethbridge Broncos Lethbridge Broncos The Lethbridge Broncos were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League from 1974 until 1986. They played at the Lethbridge Sportsplex.-Season-by-season record:... |
72 | 37 | 33 | 2 | 76 | 339 | 332 |
| x Billings Bighorns Billings Bighorns The Billings Bighorns were a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who played from 1977 to 1982. The team was originally the Calgary Centennials. They played at the MetraPark Arena in Billings, Montana. The team wore uniforms based upon those then used by the Washington Capitals... |
72 | 30 | 40 | 2 | 62 | 336 | 334 |
| x Brandon Wheat Kings Brandon Wheat Kings The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They compete in the Western Hockey League, and joined the league in the 1967–68 season. Prior to that they played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and were known as the Brandon Elks for a short time in the... |
72 | 29 | 40 | 3 | 61 | 342 | 352 |
| Winnipeg Warriors Winnipeg Warriors The Winnipeg Warriors were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Hockey League. They were founded as an expansion team in 1980, but suffered from attendance problems competing with the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League and ultimately moved to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1984,... |
72 | 28 | 43 | 1 | 57 | 298 | 345 |
| Saskatoon Blades Saskatoon Blades The Saskatoon Blades are a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League. They are based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing at the 15,195 seat Credit Union Centre.-History:... |
72 | 22 | 47 | 3 | 47 | 297 | 427 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| x Victoria Cougars | 72 | 60 | 11 | 1 | 121 | 462 | 217 |
| x Portland Winter Hawks Portland Winter Hawks The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the... |
72 | 56 | 15 | 1 | 113 | 443 | 266 |
| x Seattle Breakers | 72 | 26 | 46 | 0 | 52 | 318 | 393 |
| x Spokane Flyers Spokane Flyers The Spokane Flyers were a junior ice hockey team that played one and a half seasons in the Western Hockey League from 1980–1982. They played in Spokane, Washington, United States.-History:... |
72 | 17 | 54 | 1 | 35 | 288 | 488 |
| New Westminster Bruins New Westminster Bruins The New Westminster Bruins were a junior ice hockey team from the Western Hockey League. There were two franchises that carried this name:* 1971–1981... |
72 | 17 | 54 | 1 | 35 | 306 | 512 |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Varga | Regina Pats Regina Pats The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:... |
68 | 64 | 96 | 160 | 187 |
| Jock Callander Jock Callander William Darren "Jock" Callander is a former professional ice hockey player.-Career:The younger brother of Drew, Jock Callander replaced a small NHL career with a historic one in the IHL. Never drafted, he had brief stops with St... |
Regina Pats Regina Pats The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:... |
72 | 67 | 86 | 153 | 37 |
| Barry Pederson Barry Pederson Barry Alan Pederson is a retired professional ice hockey centre who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League between 1980 and 1992... |
Victoria Cougars | 55 | 65 | 82 | 147 | 65 |
| Steve Tsujiura Steve Tsujiura Steven Ken Tsujiura is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the American Hockey League , the Swiss National League A and the Japan Ice Hockey League . He played in the 1998 Winter Olympics for host country Japan... |
Medicine Hat Tigers Medicine Hat Tigers The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who play out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1970, the team has won two national Memorial Cups, five WHL League Championships and seven Division Titles. The Tigers play at the Medicine Hat Arena.... |
72 | 55 | 84 | 139 | 60 |
| Jim Benning Jim Benning James Elmer Benning is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. Drafted in the first round in the 1981 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, he played 605 games over nine seasons for the Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks, compiling 52 goals and 191 points.Prior to his professional... |
Portland Winter Hawks Portland Winter Hawks The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the... |
72 | 28 | 111 | 139 | 61 |
| Gary Yaremchuk Gary Yaremchuk Gary Yaremchuk is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 34 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Toronto Maple Leafs.- References :... |
Portland Winter Hawks Portland Winter Hawks The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the... |
72 | 56 | 79 | 135 | 121 |
| Dave Michayluk Dave Michayluk David Michayluk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 21 games in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins... |
Regina Pats Regina Pats The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:... |
72 | 62 | 71 | 133 | 39 |
| Dave Chartier Dave Chartier Dave Chartier is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.Chartier was drafted 191st overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft from the Brandon Wheat Kings... |
Brandon Wheat Kings Brandon Wheat Kings The Brandon Wheat Kings are a Canadian junior ice hockey team based in Brandon, Manitoba. They compete in the Western Hockey League, and joined the league in the 1967–68 season. Prior to that they played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League and were known as the Brandon Elks for a short time in the... |
69 | 64 | 60 | 124 | 295 |
| Mark Sochatsky | Spokane Flyers Spokane Flyers The Spokane Flyers were a junior ice hockey team that played one and a half seasons in the Western Hockey League from 1980–1982. They played in Spokane, Washington, United States.-History:... |
70 | 40 | 79 | 119 | 279 |
| Brian Shaw | Portland Winter Hawks Portland Winter Hawks The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the... |
72 | 53 | 65 | 118 | 176 |
First round
- Regina defeated Brandon 4 games to 1
- Calgary defeated Billings 4 games to 1
- Lethbridge defeated Medicine Hat 4 games to 1
- Spokane defeated New Westminster in 4th place tiebreaker game
Division semi-finals
- Regina earned a bye
- Calgary defeated Lethbridge 3 games to 1
- Victoria defeated Spokane 4 games to 0
- Portland defeated Seattle 4 games to 1
Division finals
- Calgary defeated Regina 4 games to 2
- Victoria defeated Portland 4 games to 0
All-Star game
On January 20, the WHL All-Stars defeated the Victoria CougarsVictoria Cougars
The Victoria Cougars were a major league professional ice hockey team that played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association from 1922 to 1924, and in the Western Hockey League from 1924 to 1926...
8–3 at Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
with a crowd of 3,520.
WHL awards
| Most Valuable Player Four Broncos Memorial Trophy The Four Broncos Memorial Trophy is awarded each year to the Western Hockey League's Player of the Year.The trophy is named in honour of four members of the Swift Current Broncos who were killed on December 30, 1986 in the Swift Current Broncos bus crash, an accident that occurred when the team bus... : Steve Tsujirua, Medicine Hat Tigers Medicine Hat Tigers The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who play out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1970, the team has won two national Memorial Cups, five WHL League Championships and seven Division Titles. The Tigers play at the Medicine Hat Arena.... |
| Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy Bob Clarke Trophy The Bob Clarke Trophy is awarded annually to the top scorer in the Western Hockey League.It is named after National Hockey League Hall of Famer Bobby Clarke who was one of the WHL's early stars... : Brian Varga, Regina Pats Regina Pats The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:... |
| Most Sportsmanlike Player Brad Hornung Trophy The Brad Hornung Trophy is awarded annually to the most sportsmanlike player of the Western Hockey League.It is named after former Regina Pats player Brad Hornung who was paralyzed during a game on March 1, 1987.-List of winners:... : Steve Tsujirua, Medicine Hat Tigers Medicine Hat Tigers The Medicine Hat Tigers are a junior ice hockey team in the Western Hockey League who play out of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1970, the team has won two national Memorial Cups, five WHL League Championships and seven Division Titles. The Tigers play at the Medicine Hat Arena.... |
| Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: Jim Benning Jim Benning James Elmer Benning is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman. Drafted in the first round in the 1981 NHL entry draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs, he played 605 games over nine seasons for the Leafs and the Vancouver Canucks, compiling 52 goals and 191 points.Prior to his professional... , Portland Winter Hawks Portland Winter Hawks The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the... |
| Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy The Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the top rookie in the Western Hockey League.The award is named after Jim Piggott who was the founder of the WHL's Saskatoon Blades, as well as one of the first presidents of the league.- Winners :... : Dave Michayluk Dave Michayluk David Michayluk is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 21 games in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins... , Regina Pats Regina Pats The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:... |
| Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy Del Wilson Trophy The Del Wilson Trophy is awarded to the top goaltender of the Western Hockey League.The award is named after Del Wilson, who was the general manager of the Regina Pats when they won the Memorial Cup in 1974.- Winners :... : Grant Fuhr Grant Fuhr Grant Scott Fuhr is a Canadian former ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League and currently the goaltending coach for the Phoenix Coyotes. In 2003, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame... , Victoria Cougars |
| Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy The Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the Coach of the Year in the Western Hockey League. It was named in honour of Dunc McCallum, who coached the Brandon Wheat Kings from 1976–81, compiling a 251–123–41 record during that time, winning the WHL Championship in 1979.-List of... : Ken Hodge, Portland Winter Hawks Portland Winter Hawks The Portland Winterhawks are a major junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon, playing in the Western Hockey League, a member league in the Canadian Hockey League. They play their home games at the Memorial Coliseum, though typically a few games each season are also played in the... |
| Regular season Champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy The Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the regular season champion of the Western Hockey League.It is named after one of the league's founders, Scotty Munro... : Victoria Cougars |
See also
- 1981 Memorial Cup1981 Memorial CupThe 1981 Memorial Cup occurred May 3-May 15 at the Windsor Arena in Windsor, Ontario. Participating teams were the winners of the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League which were the Kitchener Rangers, Cornwall Royals and Victoria Cougars...
- 1981 NHL Entry Draft1981 NHL Entry DraftThe 1981 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 211 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1980–81 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
- 1980 in sports1980 in sports1980 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup:** Men's overall season champion: Andreas Wenzel, Liechtenstein** Women's overall season champion: Hanni Wenzel, Liechtenstein...
- 1981 in sports1981 in sports1981 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup –** Men's overall season champion: Phil Mahre, USA** Women's overall season champion: Marie-Theres Nadig, Switzerland-American football:...