The 1985–86 WHL season was the 20th season of the Western Hockey League (WHL). It featured fourteen teams and a 72-game regular season. The Medicine Hat Tigers captured their first Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy for the best regular season record, while the Kamloops Blazers won their second President's Cup as playoff champions.
The season was the first for the Spokane Chiefs, with the Kelowna Wings relocating to Spokane, Washington prior to the season. The Chiefs became the third American-based WHL team. In addition, the Seattle Breakers were renamed the Thunderbirds.
Team changes The Kelowna Wings relocated to Spokane, Washington, becoming the Spokane Chiefs. The Seattle Breakers are renamed the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Regular season
Final standings
Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Rob Brown Kamloops Blazers 69 58 115 173 171 Simon Wheeldon Victoria Cougars 70 61 96 157 85 Ken Morrison Kamloops Blazers/Prince Albert Raiders 72 83 67 150 65 Randy Smith Saskatoon Blades 70 60 86 146 44 Ken Priestlay Victoria Cougars 72 73 72 145 45 Rod Matechuk Saskatoon Blades 72 57 78 135 93 Ray Podloski Portland Winter Hawks 66 59 75 134 69 Mike Nottingham Kamloops Blazers 70 61 70 131 101 Craig Endean Seattle Thunderbirds 70 58 70 128 34 Dave Waldie Portland Winter Hawks 72 68 58 126 63
1986 WHL Playoffs
First round The East division played a round robin format amongst the top six teams: Prince Albert (9–1) advanced Medicine Hat (8–2) advanced Saskatoon (7–3) advanced Moose Jaw (4–6) advanced Lethbridge (1–9) eliminated Regina (1–9) eliminated
Division semi-finals Medicine Hat defeated Moose Jaw 3 games to 0 Prince Albert defeated Saskatoon 3 games to 0 Kamloops defeated Seattle 5 games to 0 Portland defeated Spokane 5 games to 4
Division finals Medicine Hat defeated Prince Albert 4 games to 3 Kamloops defeated Portland 5 games to 1
WHL Championship Kamloops defeated Medicine Hat 4 games to 1
All-Star games
On January 20, the Portland Winter Hawks defeated the West All-Stars 4–3 in Portland, Oregon before a crowd of 3,106. On January 21, the East All-Stars defeated the Prince Albert Raiders 6–3 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan before a crowd of 1,475.
WHL awards Note: In some cases, the WHL handed out separate awards for the East and West divisions.
Most Valuable Player: East: Emanuel Viveiros, Prince Albert Raiders; West: Rob Brown, Kamloops BlazersScholastic Player of the Year - Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman Trophy: Mark Janssens, Regina PatsTop Scorer - Bob Clarke Trophy: Rob Brown, Kamloops BlazersMost Sportsmanlike Player: East: Randy Smith, Saskatoon Blades; Ken Morrison, Kamloops BlazersTop Defenseman - Bill Hunter Trophy: East: Emanuel Viveiros, Prince Albert Raiders; West: Glen Wesley, Portland Winter HawksRookie of the Year - Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy: East: Neil Brady, Medicine Hat Tigers; West: (tie) Ron Shudra, Kamloops Blazers and Dave Waldie, Portland Winter HawksTop Goaltender - Del Wilson Trophy: Mark Fitzpatrick, Medicine Hat TigersCoach of the Year - Dunc McCallum Memorial Trophy: Terry Simpson, Prince Albert RaidersRegular season champions - Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy: Medicine Hat Tigers
All-Star teams East Division First Team Second Team Goal Darryl Gilmour Moose Jaw Warriors Mark Fitzpatrick Medicine Hat TigersDefense Emanuel Viveiros Prince Albert Raiders Robert Dirk Regina Pats Ken Spangler Calgary Wranglers Dave Manson Prince Albert Raiders Center Al Conroy Medicine Hat Tigers Randy Smith Saskatoon Blades Left Wing Tim Iannone Regina Pats Larry DePalma Saskatoon Blades Right Wing Pat Elynuik Prince Albert Raiders Kim Issel Prince Albert RaidersWest Division First Team Second Team Goal Larry Dyck Seattle Thunderbirds Bill Ranford New Westminster BruinsDefense Glen Wesley Portland Winter Hawks Mike Berger Spokane Chiefs Jim Agnew (tied) Portland Winter Hawks Ron Shudra Kamloops Blazers Greg Hawgood (tied) Kamloops Blazers - - Center Rob Brown Kamloops Blazers Simon Wheeldon Victoria Cougars Left Wing Dave Waldie Portland Winter Hawks Ken Priestlay Victoria Cougars Right Wing Ken Morrison Kamloops Blazers Terry Perkins Spokane Chiefs
See also 1986 Memorial Cup 1986 NHL entry draft 1985 in sports 1986 in sports
References 2005–06 WHL Guide