The 1986–87 WHL season was the 21st season for the Western Hockey League. Fourteen teams completed a 72-game season. The Medicine Hat Tigers won the President's Cup before going on to also capture the Memorial Cup.
League notes
- The Lethbridge Broncos returned to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, to become the Swift Current Broncos.
- On December 30, 1986, the Swift Current Broncos bus crash caused the deaths of four members of the Swift Current Broncos: Trent Kresse, Scott Kruger, Chris Mantyka, and Brent Ruff. The WHL would later rename its Most Valuable Player award the Four Broncos Memorial Trophy in their honor.
- On March 1, 1987, Regina Pats player Brad Hornung was paralyzed during a game by a check. The WHL would later rename its Most Sportsmanlike Player award the Brad Hornung Trophy in his honor.
Regular season
Final standings
East Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
x Medicine Hat Tigers | 72 | 48 | 19 | 5 | 101 | 383 | 264 |
x Saskatoon Blades | 72 | 44 | 26 | 2 | 90 | 369 | 282 |
x Prince Albert Raiders | 72 | 43 | 26 | 3 | 89 | 346 | 264 |
x Moose Jaw Warriors | 72 | 38 | 31 | 3 | 79 | 366 | 321 |
x Regina Pats | 72 | 31 | 37 | 4 | 66 | 332 | 356 |
x Swift Current Broncos | 72 | 28 | 40 | 4 | 60 | 331 | 393 |
Calgary Wranglers | 72 | 23 | 46 | 3 | 49 | 304 | 390 |
Brandon Wheat Kings | 72 | 19 | 49 | 4 | 42 | 282 | 443 |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
1987 WHL Playoffs
First round
- Medicine Hat earned a bye
- Saskatoon earned a bye
- Prince Albert defeated Swift Current 3 games to 1
- Moose Jaw defeated Regina 3 games to 0
Division semi-finals
- Medicine Hat defeated Moose Jaw 4 games to 2
- Saskatoon defeated Prince Albert 4 games to 0
- Kamloops defeated Victoria 5 games to 0
- Portland defeated Spokane 5 games to 0
Division finals
- Medicine Hat defeated Saskatoon 4 games to 3
- Portland defeated Kamloops 5 games to 3
WHL Championship
- Medicine Hat defeated Portland 4 games to 3
All-Star game
On January 20, the East Division defeated the West Division 4–3 at Regina, Saskatchewan with a crowd of 3,652.
WHL awards
- Note: For the 1986–87 season, the WHL handed out separate awards for the East and West Divisions.
Most Valuable Player - Four Broncos Memorial Trophy: East: Joe Sakic, Swift Current Broncos; West: Rob Brown, Kamloops Blazers |
Scholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Casey McMilan, Swift Current Broncos |
Top Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: East: Craig Endean, Regina Pats; West: Rob Brown, Kamloops Blazers |
Most Sportsmanlike Player - Brad Hornung Trophy: East: Len Nielson, Regina Pats; West: Dave Archibald, Portland Winter Hawks |
Top Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: East: Wayne McBean, Medicine Hat Tigers; West: Glen Wesley, Portland Winter Hawks |
Rookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: East: Joe Sakic, Swift Current Broncos; West: Dennis Holland, Portland Winter Hawks |
Top Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: East: Kenton Rein, Prince Albert Raiders; West: Dean Cook, Kamloops Blazers |
Coach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: East: Graham James, Swift Current Broncos; West: Ken Hitchcock, Kamloops Blazers |
Regular season champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Kamloops Blazers |
WHL Plus-Minus Award: Rob Brown, Kamloops Blazers |
All-Star Teams
See also
References