1960-61 WHL (minor pro) Season



This is the 1960-61 season of the Western Hockey League. It was the ninth season of the league.

The Portland Buckaroos were admitted, making a total of eight teams in the league. The Spokane Spokes were renamed the Spokane Comets.

Quarter Finals
Best of 5


 * Portland Buckaroos beat Spokane Comets 3 wins to 1. (7-2, 1-3, 6-4, 5-3)
 * Vancouver Canucks beat Victoria Cougars 3 wins to 2. (2-1, 1-4, 3-4, 3-1, 3-2)

Semi Finals
Best of 7


 * Seattle Totems beat Calgary Stampeders 4 wins to 1. (2-5, 5-4, 6-2, 2-1, 2-1)

Best of 5


 * Portland Buckaroos beat Vancouver Canucks 3 wins to 1. (5-1, 1-2, 3-0, 4-1)

Final
Best of 7


 * Portland Buckaroos beat Seattle Totems 4 wins to 2. (1-2, 3-2, 5-3, 2-3, 5-3, 4-0)

Portland Buckaroos won the Lester Patrick Cup.

''Note:This was the first All-American final in the league's history. By coincidence, the National Hockey League also had an All-American final this season, its first in 11 years.''

All-Star Game


This was the fourth annual game.

The previous games pitted the Coast Division all stars against those from the Prairie Division. The games were played in mid-season.

This game featured the defending champion Vancouver Canucks against an all-star team chosen from the other teams. It was played before the start of the season.

Friday, October 7, 1960 @ Vancouver

Attendance = approx. 2000

All-Stars 4 Vancouver Canucks 3

Awards

 * Most Valuable Player: Lou Jankowski, Calgary
 * Fred J. Hume Cup (Most Gentlemanly Player): Gord Fashoway, Portland

First Team

 * Goaltender: Don Head, Portland Buckaroos
 * Defenceman: Larry Cahan, Vancouver Canucks
 * Defenceman: Ralph Keller, Vancouver
 * Center: Norm Johnson, Calgary Stampeders
 * Left Winger: Lou Jankowski, Calgary
 * Right Winger: Ron Leopold, Calgary

Second Team

 * Goaltender: Marcel Pelletier, Victoria Cougars
 * Defenceman: Ron Matthews, Portland
 * Defenceman:Fred Hucul, Calgary
 * Center: Guyle Fielder, Seattle Totems
 * Left Winger: Gord Fashoway, Portland
 * Right Winger: Arnie Schmautz, Portland