# 1976–77 OMJHL season

The 1976–77 OMJHL season was the third season of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL). 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 Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| y-Ottawa 67's | 66 | 38 | 23 | 5 | 81 | 348 | 288 |
| x-Sudbury Wolves | 66 | 38 | 24 | 4 | 80 | 385 | 290 |
| x-Kingston Canadians | 66 | 32 | 24 | 10 | 74 | 295 | 259 |
| x-Peterborough Petes | 66 | 31 | 28 | 7 | 69 | 307 | 309 |
| x-Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds | 66 | 20 | 41 | 5 | 45 | 261 | 375 |
| Oshawa Generals | 66 | 5 | 57 | 4 | 14 | 216 | 444 |
| Emms Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| y-St. Catharines Fincups | 66 | 50 | 11 | 5 | 105 | 438 | 242 |
| x-London Knights | 66 | 51 | 13 | 2 | 104 | 379 | 203 |
| x-Toronto Marlboros | 66 | 31 | 23 | 12 | 74 | 335 | 286 |
| x-Kitchener Rangers | 66 | 26 | 32 | 8 | 60 | 320 | 380 |
| x-Windsor Spitfires | 66 | 21 | 37 | 8 | 50 | 294 | 386 |
| Niagara Falls Flyers | 66 | 15 | 45 | 6 | 36 | 254 | 370 |

### Scoring leaders

| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Dwight Foster | Kitchener Rangers | 64 | 60 | 83 | 143 | 88 |
| Dale McCourt | St. Catharines Fincups | 66 | 60 | 79 | 139 | 26 |
| Bobby Smith | Ottawa 67's | 64 | 65 | 70 | 135 | 52 |
| Tony McKegney | Kingston Canadians | 66 | 58 | 77 | 135 | 30 |
| Ken Linseman | Kingston Canadians | 63 | 53 | 74 | 127 | 210 |
| Keith Acton | Peterborough Petes | 65 | 52 | 69 | 121 | 93 |
| John Anderson | Toronto Marlboros | 64 | 57 | 62 | 119 | 42 |
| Mike Keating | St. Catharines Fincups | 65 | 51 | 61 | 112 | 96 |
| Ron Mason | Peterborough Petes | 62 | 53 | 58 | 111 | 33 |
| Ric Seiling | St. Catharines Fincups | 62 | 50 | 61 | 111 | 103 |

## Playoffs
### First round

Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defeat Peterborough Petes 3–1
Windsor Spitfires defeat Kitchener Rangers 3–0

### Quarterfinals

Ottawa 67's 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

Ottawa 67's defeat Kingston Canadians 4–3, 1 tie
London Knights defeat St. Catharines Fincups 4–3, 1 tie

### J. Ross Robertson Cup

Ottawa 67's defeat London Knights 4–2

## Awards

| J. Ross Robertson Cup: | Ottawa 67's |
| Hamilton Spectator Trophy: | St. Catharines Fincups |
| Leyden Trophy: | Ottawa 67's |
| Emms Trophy: | St. Catharines Fincups |
| Red Tilson Trophy: | Dale McCourt, St. Catharines Fincups |
| Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy: | Dwight Foster, Kitchener Rangers |
| Matt Leyden Trophy: | Bill Long, London Knights |
| Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy: | John Anderson, Toronto Marlboros |
| Max Kaminsky Trophy: | Craig Hartsburg, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds |
| Dave Pinkney Trophy: | Pat Riggin, London Knights |
| Emms Family Award: | Mike Gartner, Niagara Falls Flyers |
| F. W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy: | Barry Heard, London Knights |
| William Hanley Trophy: | Dale McCourt, St. Catharines Fincups |