1975–76 OMJHL season

The 1975–76 OMJHL season was the second season of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL). The Windsor Spitfires were added as an expansion team, becoming the twelfth team in the league. The OMJHL splits into two divisions of six teams each. The southern and western teams joined the Emms division, named for Hap Emms. The northern and eastern teams joined the Leyden division, named for Matt Leyden. The OMJHL created three new trophies for the season. The Emms Trophy and the Leyden Trophy are awarded to the regular season champion of their respective divisions. The F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy (named for Francis Moore) is inaugurated for the first-year goaltender with the best goals-against-average. Twelve teams each played 66 games. The Hamilton Fincups won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, defeating the Sudbury Wolves.

League business

On May 9, 1975, officials from the OMJHL, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Western Canada Hockey League, announced a constitution to establish the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League (CMJHL) composed of the three league under one umbrella. The new organization wanted standard contracts for all players, consistent dollar amounts for development fees paid by the professional leagues, and for the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association to work together on a common drafting program to eliminate bidding wars. The CMJHL sought to represent players directly instead of agents, and proposed an escalating development fee schedule if professional teams wanted to sign a player while he was still eligible for junior hockey. The league also proposed to allow some players under professional contracts to continue playing in junior hockey.[1][2] OMJHL commissioner Tubby Schmalz defended the validity of the constitution, despite a challenge from Alan Eagleson that it violated antitrust laws in Canada and the United States.[3]

In November 1975, Schmalz decreed that future OMJHL games were to be attended by least two off-duty police officers as a deterrent to violence on ice or among the spectators.[4] The statement was in response to incidents from a game involving the London Knights and the St. Catharines Black Hawks.[4] Problems in getting development payments from professional leagues continued, and Schmalz announced the possibility of legal action to recover delinquent fees for drafting junior-aged players.[5]

Regular season

Standings
Leyden Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
y-Sudbury Wolves6647118102384224
x-Ottawa 67's663423977331291
x-Kingston Canadians663324975357316
x-Oshawa Generals663127870312299
x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds6627261367341319
Peterborough Petes6618371147204284
Emms Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
y-Hamilton Fincups664315894379232
x-London Knights663126971317256
x-Toronto Marlboros6626301062278294
x-Kitchener Rangers662635557298384
x-St. Catharines Black Hawks6616401042283366
Windsor Spitfires661250428251470

Scoring leaders
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Mike KaszyckiSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds665111917038
Peter LeeOttawa 67's66818016159
Paul GardnerOshawa Generals65697514475
Dale McCourtHamilton Fincups66558413919
John TavellaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds64677013758
Rod SchuttSudbury Wolves63726313542
Ron DuguaySudbury Wolves614292134101
Vern StenlundLondon Knights64447511924
Larry SkinnerOttawa 67's5937781158
Ken LinsemanKingston Canadians65615111292

Playoffs

First round

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defeat Oshawa Generals 3–2

Kitchener Rangers defeat St. Catharines Black Hawks 3–1

Quarterfinals

Sudbury Wolves defeat Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4–2, 1 tie

Ottawa 67's defeat Kingston Canadians 4–2, 1 tie Hamilton Fincups defeat Kitchener Rangers 4–0 Toronto Marlboros defeat London Knights 4–1

Semifinals

Sudbury Wolves defeat Ottawa 67's 4–1

Hamilton Fincups defeat Toronto Marlboros 4–0, 1 tie

J. Ross Robertson Cup

Hamilton Fincups defeat Sudbury Wolves 4–2

Awards
J. Ross Robertson Cup:Hamilton Fincups
Hamilton Spectator Trophy:Sudbury Wolves
Leyden Trophy:Sudbury Wolves
Emms Trophy:Hamilton Fincups
Red Tilson Trophy:Peter Lee, Ottawa 67's
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy:Mike Kaszycki, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Matt Leyden Trophy:Jerry Toppazzini, Sudbury Wolves
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy:Peter Lee, Ottawa 67's
Max Kaminsky Trophy:Rick Green, London Knights
Dave Pinkney Trophy:Jim Bedard, Sudbury Wolves
Emms Family Award:John Tavella, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
F.W. 'Dinty' Moore Trophy:Mark Locken, Hamilton Fincups
William Hanley Trophy:Dale McCourt, Hamilton Fincups
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See also

References
  1. Passa, Dennis (May 9, 1975). "Junior leagues are together". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. p. 21.
  2. "CMJHL becomes legal entity". Medicine Hat News. Medicine Hat, Alberta. May 9, 1975. p. 11.
  3. "Junior game will disappear". Brandon Sun. Brandon, Manitoba. May 10, 1975. p. 6.
  4. "Policemen required at games". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Manitoba. November 21, 1975. p. 54.
  5. "Ontario teams await payment". Victoria Daily Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia. December 12, 1975. p. 44.
Preceded by
1974–75 OMJHL season		 OHL seasons Succeeded by
1976–77 OMJHL season
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