1985–86 WHL season

1985–86 WHL season
LeagueWestern Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams14
Regular season
Scotty Munro Memorial TrophyMedicine Hat Tigers (1)
Season MVPRob Brown (Kamloops Blazers) / Manny Viveiros (Prince Albert Raiders)
Top scorerRob Brown (Kamloops Blazers)
Playoffs
Finals championsKamloops Blazers (2)
  Runners-upMedicine Hat Tigers
WHL seasons
1985–86 CHL season
LeagueCanadian Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Number of teams39
OHL
QMJHL
WHL
Memorial Cup
Finals championsGuelph Platers (OHL) (1st title)
  Runners-upHull Olympiques (QMJHL)

The 1985–86 WHL season was the 20th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). It featured fourteen teams and a 72-game regular season. The Medicine Hat Tigers captured their first Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record, while the Kamloops Blazers won their second President's Cup as playoff champions.

The season was the first for the Spokane Chiefs, with the Kelowna Wings relocating to Spokane, Washington prior to the season. The Chiefs became the third American-based WHL team. In addition, the Seattle Breakers were renamed the Thunderbirds.

Team changes

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Regular season

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Final standings

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East Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Medicine Hat Tigers 72 54 17 1 109 384 245
x Prince Albert Raiders 72 52 17 3 107 424 257
x Regina Pats 72 45 26 1 91 384 295
x Saskatoon Blades 72 38 28 6 82 381 360
x Lethbridge Broncos 72 27 42 3 57 314 379
x Moose Jaw Warriors 72 25 44 3 53 294 375
Brandon Wheat Kings 72 24 46 2 50 324 438
Calgary Wranglers 72 23 47 2 48 288 378
West Division GP W L T Pts GF GA
x Kamloops Blazers 72 49 19 4 102 449 299
x Portland Winter Hawks 72 47 24 1 95 438 348
x Spokane Chiefs 72 30 41 1 61 373 413
x Seattle Thunderbirds 72 27 43 2 56 330 406
New Westminster Bruins 72 25 45 2 52 276 373
Victoria Cougars 72 22 49 1 45 346 439

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Rob Brown Kamloops Blazers 69 58 115 173 171
Simon Wheeldon Victoria Cougars 70 61 96 157 85
Ken Morrison Kamloops Blazers/Prince Albert Raiders 72 83 67 150 65
Randy Smith Saskatoon Blades 70 60 86 146 44
Ken Priestlay Victoria Cougars 72 73 72 145 45
Rod Matechuk Saskatoon Blades 72 57 78 135 93
Ray Podloski Portland Winter Hawks 66 59 75 134 69
Mike Nottingham Kamloops Blazers 70 61 70 131 101
Craig Endean Seattle Thunderbirds 70 58 70 128 34
Dave Waldie Portland Winter Hawks 72 68 58 126 63

1986 WHL Playoffs

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First round

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The East division played a round robin format amongst the top six teams:

  • Prince Albert (9–1) advanced
  • Medicine Hat (8–2) advanced
  • Saskatoon (7–3) advanced
  • Moose Jaw (4–6) advanced
  • Lethbridge (1–9) eliminated
  • Regina (1–9) eliminated

Division semi-finals

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  • Medicine Hat defeated Moose Jaw 3 games to 0
  • Prince Albert defeated Saskatoon 3 games to 0
  • Kamloops defeated Seattle 5 games to 0
  • Portland defeated Spokane 5 games to 4

Division finals

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  • Medicine Hat defeated Prince Albert 4 games to 3
  • Kamloops defeated Portland 5 games to 1

WHL Championship

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  • Kamloops defeated Medicine Hat 4 games to 1

All-Star games

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On January 20, the Portland Winter Hawks defeated the West All-Stars 4–3 in Portland, Oregon before a crowd of 3,106. On January 21, the East All-Stars defeated the Prince Albert Raiders 6–3 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan before a crowd of 1,475.

WHL awards

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  • Note: In some cases, the WHL handed out separate awards for the East and West divisions.
Most Valuable Player: East: Emanuel Viveiros, Prince Albert Raiders; West: Rob Brown, Kamloops Blazers
Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Mark Janssens, Regina Pats
Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Rob Brown, Kamloops Blazers
Most Sportsmanlike Player: East: Randy Smith, Saskatoon Blades; Ken Morrison, Kamloops Blazers
Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: East: Emanuel Viveiros, Prince Albert Raiders; West: Glen Wesley, Portland Winter Hawks
Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: East: Neil Brady, Medicine Hat Tigers; West: (tie) Ron Shudra, Kamloops Blazers and Dave Waldie, Portland Winter Hawks
Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Mark Fitzpatrick, Medicine Hat Tigers
Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Terry Simpson, Prince Albert Raiders
Regular season champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Medicine Hat Tigers

All-Star Teams

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East Division
First Team Second Team
Goal Darryl Gilmour Moose Jaw Warriors Mark Fitzpatrick Medicine Hat Tigers
Defense Emanuel Viveiros Prince Albert Raiders Robert Dirk Regina Pats
Ken Spangler Calgary Wranglers Dave Manson Prince Albert Raiders
Center Al Conroy Medicine Hat Tigers Randy Smith Saskatoon Blades
Left Wing Tim Iannone Regina Pats Larry DePalma Saskatoon Blades
Right Wing Pat Elynuik Prince Albert Raiders Kim Issel Prince Albert Raiders
West Division
First Team Second Team
Goal Larry Dyck Seattle Thunderbirds Bill Ranford New Westminster Bruins
Defense Glen Wesley Portland Winter Hawks Mike Berger Spokane Chiefs
Jim Agnew (tied) Portland Winter Hawks Ron Shudra Kamloops Blazers
Greg Hawgood (tied) Kamloops Blazers - -
Center Rob Brown Kamloops Blazers Simon Wheeldon Victoria Cougars
Left Wing Dave Waldie Portland Winter Hawks Ken Priestlay Victoria Cougars
Right Wing Ken Morrison Kamloops Blazers Terry Perkins Spokane Chiefs

See also

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References

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  • 2005–06 WHL Guide
Preceded by WHL seasons Succeeded by