MEMORIAL CUP 1982

The 1982 Memorial Cup Tournament was hosted by the City of Hull and for the first time ever in the history of the Memorial Cup a team from outside of Canada would contend for the championship.

The Kitchener Rangers returned to the Memorial Cup for a second year in a row after losing in the 1981 final to the Cornwall Royals. The Rangers, who were coached by Joe Crozier, defeated the Ottawa 67`s nine points to one to win the J. Ross Robertson Cup and the Ontario Hockey League title.

The Sherbrooke Castors were returning to the Memorial Cup tournament for the third time since 1975 but were still looking for their first Memorial Cup title. The Castors eliminated the Trois-Rivieres Draveurs in four games to win the President`s Cup and the right to represent the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in the Memorial Cup.

The Portland Winter Hawks defeated the Regina Pats four games to one in the Western Hockey League final and in doing so they became the first team from outside of Canada to earn the right to compete in the Memorial Cup final. The Winter Hawks had some Memorial Cup history on their side, as they were the former Edmonton Oil King franchise that dominated junior hockey in Western Canada in the 1960`s. The Oil Kings appeared in nine Memorial Cup finals from 1954 to 1971 including consecutive appearances from 1960 to 1966. The Oil Kings were Memorial Cup champions in 1963 and again in 1966. The Oil Kings relocated to Portland in 1976.

In the double round robin tournament the three teams all finished with identical records of two wins and two losses with the Winter Hawks being eliminated based on goal differential.

In the sudden death final Brian Bellows scored three goals and added two assists as the Rangers defeated Sherbrooke 7-4 to give Kitchener its first Memorial Cup title.

Four members of the Rangers would later add Stanley Cup titles to their Memorial Cup win. Scott Stevens won his first Stanley Cup in 1995, followed by winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the 2000 National Hockey League Playoffs when his New Jersey Devils would win the Stanley Cup. Scott experienced his third Stanley Cup in 2003 before finishing his NHL career in 2004. Al MacInnis was the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the 1989 National Hockey League Playoffs when his Calgary Flames would win the Stanley Cup. Wendell Young was a member of back-to-back Stanley Cup teams with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991 and 1992. Brian Bellows was a member of the Montreal Canadiens` 1993 Stanley Cup winning team.

Tournament Awards - None

All Star Teams

Goal Michel Morissette, Sherbrooke
Defence Paul Boutilier, Sherbrooke
Defence Gary Nylund, Portland & Allan MacInnis, Kitchener (tie)
Centre John Chabot, Sherbrooke
Left Wing Jeff Larmer, Kitchener
Right Wing Sean McKenna, Sherbrooke


Roster:

1982 - Kitchener Rangers - Brian Bellows, Darryl Boudreau, Kevin Casey, Louis Crawford, Mike Eagles, Mike Hough, Jeff Larmer, Joel Levesque, Al MacInnis, Grant Martin, Mario Michieli, Mike Moher, Dave Nicholls, Jim Ralph, Robert Savard, Brad Schnurr, Dave Shaw, Scott Stevens, John Tucker, Wendell Young, Joe Crozier (general manager and coach), Les Bradley (Trainer), Jack Davidson (President)