1970–71 WCHL season

The 1970–71 WCHL season was the fifth season of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL). It featured ten teams and a 66-game regular season. For the second time in team history, the Edmonton Oil Kings topped the regular season standings, posting 45 wins on the season. In the playoffs, after losing the previous two league finals to the Flin Flon Bombers, the Oil Kings met the Bombers for a third straight season, this time winning the club's first President's Cup. On the national scene, the season was the first to be sanctioned by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association under a new agreement signed in 1970, which included the participation of the WCHL champion in the Memorial Cup final. The Oil Kings thus advanced to the 1971 Memorial Cup final, which they lost to the Quebec Remparts.^[1]

In January 1970, the Medicine Hat Tigers were approved as an expansion team for the 1970–71 season.^[2] In May, the Regina Pats were accepted for a return to the WCHL after two seasons in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, which increased the WCHL to ten teams.^[3] League president Ron Butlin stated that the expansion draft was configured so that the new teams would be competitive in their first year. Established teams could protect six players from being selected.^[4]

After years of disputes between the western league and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), the CAHA general meeting in May 1970 discussed proposals from the Butlin to disband the rival Canadian Hockey Association and rejoin CAHA. Proposals included splitting junior hockey into two tiers and readmitting the WCHL into the top tier along with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Ontario Hockey Association Major Junior A Series. The top tier teams would be eligible to compete for the Memorial Cup, receive greater development payments from the National Hockey League when their players were drafted, and be allowed to select a limited number of players from lower-tier teams.^[5]

On May 29, 1970, Justice Lieberman of the Alberta Supreme Court ruled in favour of the WCHL being paid C$13,200 in outstanding development payments from the CAHA for the 1968 NHL draft. Butlin was satisfied with the ruling and considered further court action to receive an additional $40,700 from the 1969 NHL draft.^[6]

On June 24, 1970, the WCHL and CAHA signed a two-year agreement to reunite the organizations. The WCHL was admitted to the top tier of major junior hockey, receiving $100,000 in development grants for the 1970–71 season. The WCHL would pay a flat registration fee per team rather than a percentage of gate receipts, and would have direct representation on the CAHA junior council. The WCHL was expected to abide by any future CAHA-NHL agreements, which included the re-negotiation of draft payment amounts, and CAHA agreed to distribute outstanding draft money. League expansion or relocation of teams were subject to CAHA approval, and the WCHL league champion would qualify for the Memorial Cup final. The WCHL was allowed four over-age players for the 1970–71 season, and then two over-age players from the following season onward. The WCHL was allowed to transfer up to six players between provinces per team from areas west of Ontario, and could draft a maximum of two players from a lower tier team.^[7]

In August 1970, Butlin announced an affiliation agreement with the British Columbia Junior Hockey League to develop prospect players for the WCHL.^[8]

In October 1970, CAHA president Earl Dawson threatened to have the league expelled from CAHA due to the use of over-age players who came from Ontario, and disputes over payments to lower tier teams.^[9] CAHA secretary Gordon Juckes later clarified that automatic release provisions would not be used in the 1970–71 season, and suggested alternate arrangements be made to settle disputes of roster movements between tiers.^[10]

In January 1971, the league set up an $8,000 scholarship for Ernie Heineman due to a career-ending eye injury.^[11]

Butlin resigned as WCHL president on June 21, 1971, stating he was not happy with how some team owners conducted business. For example, he stated that several team owners had conducted negotiations with potential new teams from British Columbia without him.^[12]

Wheat Kings

Bruins

Bombers

Pats

Jets

Centennials

Oil Kings

Tigers

Blades

Broncos

East Division West Division

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

• Winnipeg defeated Estevan 4 games to 2 with 1 tie
• Flin Flon defeated Regina 4 games to 1 with 1 tie
• Edmonton defeated Saskatoon 4 games to 1
• Calgary defeated Swift Current 3 games to 0 with 2 ties

• Flin Flon defeated Winnipeg 5 games to 2
• Edmonton defeated Calgary 4 games to 2

• Edmonton defeated Flin Flon 4 games to 1 with 1 tie

The 1970–71 WCHL All-Star Game was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with the WCHL All-stars defeating the Winnipeg Jets 4–3 before a crowd of 3,543.

• Goaltender: Ed Dyck, Calgary Centennials
• Defenceman: Ron Jones, Edmonton Oil Kings
• Defenceman: Len Frig, Calgary Centennials & Ed Sidebottom,^[b] Estevan Bruins (tied)
• Centerman: Gene Carr, Flin Flon Bombers
• Left winger: Rod Norrish, Regina Pats
• Right winger: Chuck Arnason, Flin Flon Bombers

• 1970 in sports
• 1971 in sports