REGULAR SEASON
| Brandon | 14-2 | 32-10 | Jerry Hemmings | ||
| Manitoba | 10-6 | Don Hunter | |||
| Winnipeg | 8-8 | 18-19 | Bruce Enns | ||
| Lakehead | 8-8 | 11-18 | Rick Suffield | ||
| Regina | 0-16 | 0-19 | Craig Chamberlin | ||
For one year, the league toyed with a four-team single knock-out tourney for the postseason.
Playoff non-qualifier Regina Cougars: Glen Nelson, Mark Benesh, Dave Hall, Murray Ell, Brian Larrivee, Franz Hoffman, Paul King, Rob Kirk, Dale Anderson, Mark Benesh, Thom McInnis, Warren Poncsak, coach Craig Chamberlin
In the semis, Winnipeg thrashed Manitoba 86-60 in a major upset by containing the Bisons inside game. Ken Opalko led Winnipeg with 27 points. Belaineh Deguefe added 21, Jim Grisim and Ron Hutsal each scored 14. Winnipeg out-rebounded Manitoba 55-27. For Manitoba, 6-8 centre Dan Snidal was held to 11. John Taylor scored 12 and Jim Kentel 19. But 6-10 Tom King was scoreless. “It may seem funny but we had an idea all year we’re be facing Manitoba in this game,” said Winnipeg coach Bruce Enns. “We went into it with the attitude that it would be the most important game for us all year.” Hutsal did an excellent defensive job on Manitoba playmaker Garry Bulloch. Winnipeg outshot Manitoba .550 to .340 and led 41-27 at the half. Opalko noted that “we won the loose balls, whether they were in the air or on the floor.”
In the other semi, Brandon defeated Lakehead 74-57 after taking a 35-33 lead at the break and exploding in the second half. Jerry Abernathy paced Brandon with 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Jude Kelly scored 10. Karl Subban led Lakehead with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Centre Harry Van Laar hit a mere 2-26 from the floor and scored only 5. David Zanatta added 12 for Lakehead. Brandon outshot Lakehead from the floor .520 to .320. “Jerry did what Jude didn’t – that was the difference in the game,” said Lakehead coach Rick Suffield. Lakehead led 14-6 when Hemmings called time out and settled the club down. “We took that time out just in the nick of time,” said Hemmings. “For a while there, it looked like were going to be the architects of our own destruction.”
In the final, Brandon defeated Winnipeg 87-77. “Our octane wasn’t as high as theirs. They have a lot of power,” said Winnipeg coach Bruce Enns. Winnipeg centre Belaineh Deguefe fouled out in a controversy between the bench and the scorer’s table over the number of fouls he’d picked up. Jerry Abernathy fouled out for Brandon but 6-7 rookie Wallace Manior and Steve Gill came up big in the second half for the Bobcats. Brandon trailed 38-37 at the break. Grant Coulter and Jude Kelly each scored 19 for Brandon. Abernathy nabbed 9 boards, while Manior and Gill scored 25 between them. Brandon was outshot by Winnipeg .470 to .450 from the floor. Ken Opalko led Winnipeg with 26. Lance Rosolowich added 14.
The co-bronze medalist Manitoba Bisons; Dan Snidal; John Taylor; Jim Kentel; Tom King; Garry Bulloch; Roger St. Fort; Scott Craig; Duane Brothers; Trevor Triffo; Richard Kartzmark; Ken Kyliuk; Paul Soubry; Jason Blake; John Christie; coach Don Hunter; assistant Dave Guss
The co-bronze medalist Lakehead Thunderwolves: David Zanatta; John Zanatta; Ken Ross; Tony Scott; Wally Zielinski; Greg McLean; David Kurtz; Sean Taylor; Cliff Bluechardt; Darryl Stevenson; Rod Williams; Rudy Massino; coach Rick Suffield
The runner-up Winnipeg Wesmen: Ken Opalko; Lance Rosolowich; Garry Bulloch; Belaineh Deguefe; Jim Grisim; Ron Hutsal; Kurt Bremner; Dwayne Atcheson; Wayne Harder; Tim Herr; Bob Wade; Gary Sherman; Bob Magel; coach Bruce Enns; assistant Larry Sawchuk; assistant Aubrey Ferris
The champion Brandon Bobcats: Jerry Abernathy; Jude Kelly; Grant Coulter; Wallace Manior; Tommy Price; Alf Hoehn; Butch Gayton; Brent Daniel; Earl Roberts; Willie Delas; Steve Gill; Cheddie Warner; Tony Brown; Brian Ackroyd; Jan Bujan; Clarence Thornton; Tony Speas; coach Jerry Hemmings; honourary manager Jim Dalling; trainer Ray Kardas