1978–79 WHL season

The 1978–79 WHL season was the 13th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL), and the first under that shortened name after previously operating as the Western Canada Hockey League. The season featured twelve teams and a 72-game regular season. The Brandon Wheat Kings secured their third consecutive regular season title, posting the league's best record—accumulating a league record 125 points in the standings—and followed the title up with the team's first playoff championship, defeating the Portland Winter Hawks in the final series to capture the President's Cup.

The season was the first—and only—season for the second incarnation of the Edmonton Oil Kings after the Flin Flon Bombers relocated to Edmonton prior to the season.

Team changes

• The Flin Flon Bombers relocated to Edmonton, Alberta, becoming the Edmonton Oil Kings.

Regular season

Final standings

Scoring leaders

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

1979 WHL Playoffs

Division semi-finals

Round robin format

• Brandon (7–1) advanced
• Saskatoon (3–5) advanced
• Edmonton (2–6) eliminated
• Lethbridge (5–3) advanced
• Calgary (4–4) advanced
• Billings (3–5) eliminated
• Portland (7–1) advanced
• Victoria (3–5) advanced
• New Westminster (2–6) eliminated

Division finals

• Brandon defeated Saskatoon 4 games to 0
• Lethbridge defeated Calgary 4 games to 3
• Portland defeated Victoria 4 games to 3

League semi-finals

Round Robin format

• Brandon (3–1) advanced
• Portland (3–1) advanced
• Lethbridge (0–4) eliminated

WHL Championship

• Brandon defeated Portland 4 games to 2

WHL awards

All-Star teams

See also

• 1979 Memorial Cup
• 1979 NHL entry draft
• 1978 in sports
• 1979 in sports

References

• 2005–06 WHL Guide