1976–77 OMJHL season


The 1976–77 OMJHL season was the third season of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League. The St. Catharines Black Hawks moved to Niagara Falls, Ontario, becoming the Flyers. Their owner Hap Emms using the name of his former team. The Hamilton Fincups then moved to the vacant Jack Gatecliff Arena in St. Catharines, Ontario after the ice-making machine at the ancient Hamilton Forum broke down irreparably a month before the season began. Twelve teams each played 66 games. The Ottawa 67's won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the London Knights.

League business

OMJHL commissioner Tubby Schmalz filed legal action against the World Hockey Association on behalf of the OMJHL in 1976, citing failure to pay development fees for junior-aged players Paul Heaver and Bob Russell who turned professional. Schmalz also said legal action to receive payments would be likely for a third player, John Tonelli. Schmalz later announced that an OMJHL team would represent Canada at the 1977 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, and that the league would operate a small tournament within its schedule to choose the representative.

Regular season

Standings

Leyden DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGA
y-Ottawa 67's663823581348288
x-Sudbury Wolves663824480385290
x-Kingston Canadians6632241074295259
x-Peterborough Petes663128769307309
x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds662041545261375
Oshawa Generals66557414216444

Emms DivisionGPWLTPtsGFGA
y-St. Catharines Fincups6650115105438242
x-London Knights6651132104379203
x-Toronto Marlboros6631231274335286
x-Kitchener Rangers662632860320380
x-Windsor Spitfires662137850294386
Niagara Falls Flyers661545636254370

Scoring leaders

Playoffs

First round

defeat Peterborough Petes 3–1
Windsor Spitfires defeat Kitchener Rangers 3–0

Quarterfinals

defeat Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4–0, 1 tie
Kingston Canadians defeat Sudbury Wolves 4–1, 1 tie
St. Catharines Fincups defeat Windsor Spitfires 4–2
London Knights defeat Toronto Marlboros 4–1, 1 tie

Semifinals

defeat Kingston Canadians 4–3, 1 tie
London Knights defeat St. Catharines Fincups 4–3, 1 tie

J. Ross Robertson Cup

defeat London Knights 4–2

Awards