The 1977 Memorial Cup occurred May 8–14 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was the 59th annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Participating teams were the winners of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League which were the Ottawa 67's, Sherbrooke Castors and New Westminster Bruins. New Westminster won their first Memorial Cup, defeating Ottawa in the final game.
Teams
New Westminster Bruins
The New Westminster Bruins coached by Punch McLean, represented the Western Canada Hockey League at the 1977 Memorial Cup. This marked the Bruins third consecutive appearance at the tournament. The Bruins finished the 1976-77 season in first place in the West Division with a 47-14-11, earning 105 points. The high-scoring team earned 363 goals during the season, which ranked them second in the WCHL. The Bruins were also the top ranked defensive club in the league, allowing only 216 goals. In the post-season, the Bruins defeated the Victoria Cougars in a four game sweep during the WCHL quarter-finals. In the WCHL semi-finals, New Westminster defeated the Portland Winter Hawks four games to one, earning a trip to the final round. In the President's Cup finals against the top ranked Brandon Wheat Kings, New Westminster defeated the Wheat Kings four games to one to win their third consecutive WCHL title, earning a berth into the 1977 Memorial Cup.
The Bruins offense was led by Mark Lofthouse, who scored 54 goals and 112 points in 70 games, ranking seventh in league scoring. Lofthouse was a top prospect heading into the 1977 NHL Entry Draft, where he would be selected by the Washington Capitals with the 21st overall pick. Lofthouse continued his hot scoring in the playoffs, scoring a team high 10 goals in 14 games. Defenseman Brad Maxwell was another to prospect on the Bruins. In 70 games, Maxwell scored 21 goals and 79 points. Maxwell led the club in post-season scoring with seven goals and 22 points in 14 games. He would be selected by the Minnesota North Stars in the first round, seventh overall at the 1977 NHL Entry Draft. Defenseman Barry Beck was another highly sought prospect for the Bruins. In 61 games, Beck scored 16 goals and 62 points. At the upcoming 1977 NHL Entry Draft, Beck was selected second overall by the Colorado Rockies. Beck was named the Top Defenseman in the league. Stan Smyl scored 35 goals and 66 points in 71 games, as he began getting attention for the 1978 NHL Entry Draft. Ray Creasy was acquired from the Flin Flon Bombers early in the season. In 48 games, Creasy scored 30 goals and 66 points. In goal, Blaine Peterson appeared in 46 games, earning a record of 26-10-4 with a 3.33 GAA and a .898 save percentage.
The 1977 Memorial Cup was the Bruins third trip to the tournament in team history. In 1975, New Westminster lost to the Toronto Marlboros in the final game. In 1976, the Bruins returned to the final game of the tournament, where they lost to the Hamilton Fincups.
Ottawa 67's
The Ottawa 67's represented the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League at the 1977 Memorial Cup. The 67's were the top team in the Leyden Division, earning a record of 38-23-5, getting 81 points and winning the Leyden Trophy. Ottawa scored 348 goals during the season, ranking them fourth in the OMJHL. The 67's allowed 288 goals, which ranked them fifth in the league. During the post-season, the 67's defeated the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds four games to zero, with a tie, during the Leyden Division semi-finals. In the next round, Ottawa was pushed to the limit by the Kingston Canadians, as they won the series four games to three, with another game tied, during the Leyden Division finals. The 67's faced the London Knights for the J. Ross Robertson Cup. Ottawa defeated London four games to two to capture the OMJHL championship, earning a berth into the 1977 Memorial Cup.