1982 Memorial Cup

The 1982 Memorial Cup was held May 8–15, 1982, at the Robert Guertin Arena in Hull, Quebec. It was the 64th annual Memorial Cup competition and determined the major junior ice hockey champion of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The champions of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL) – the Kitchener Rangers, Sherbrooke Castors and Portland Winter Hawks respectively – competed for the championship in a double round-robin tournament. The Winter Hawks became the first American-based team to compete for the trophy, while the Rangers defeated the Castors in the final to capture their first Memorial Cup championship. Sherbrooke's Sean McKenna was named tournament most valuable player.

The Kitchener Rangers represented the Ontario Hockey League at the 1982 Memorial Cup. This tournament was the second consecutive trip to the Memorial Cup by the Rangers. During the 1981-82 season, Kitchener was the top ranked team in the Emms Division with a 44-21-3 record, earning 91 points, and finishing second overall in the league. The Rangers scored 322 goals, ranking the club fourth in goals scored. Kitchener was the second best defensive club, allowing 243 goals. In the Emms Division semi-finals, the Rangers swept the Windsor Spitfires in four games to advance to the next round of the post-season. In the Emms Division finals, Kitchener defeated the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds four games to one, as well as one game ending in a tie, advancing to the OHL finals. The Rangers captured the J. Ross Robertson Cup as they defeated the top ranked team in the OHL, the Ottawa 67's, four games to zero, and having one game end in a tie. The win over the 67's was the Rangers second straight OHL championship and earned the team a berth into the 1982 Memorial Cup.

The Rangers offense was led by top prospect Brian Bellows, as he scored 45 goals and 97 points in 47 games, leading the Rangers in points. Bellows added 16 goals and 29 points in 15 post-season games. Following the season, Bellows was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars with the second overall selection at the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Grant Martin finished second in team scoring, as he scored 33 goals and 96 points in 54 games. Jeff Larmer led Kitchener with 51 goals, and earned 95 points in 49 games. Larmer led the Rangers in post-season scoring, as he had a team high 21 goals and 35 points in 15 games. On defense, Al MacInnis led the way, scoring 25 goals and 75 points in 59 games after starting the season with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League. Scott Stevens emerged as a top NHL prospect during the season, as he scored six goals and 42 points in 68 games, while accumulating 158 penalty minutes. Stevens would be drafted by the Washington Capitals with the fifth overall selection at the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. David Shaw was another top prospect on the club, as in 68 games, he scored six goals and 31 points from the blue line. Shaw would be drafted with the thirteenth overall selection by the Quebec Nordiques at the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Wendell Young played the majority of games in goal, earning a 38-17-2 record with a 3.37 GAA in 60 games.

The 1982 Memorial Cup was the second appearance by the Rangers in team history. At the 1981 Memorial Cup, Kitchener lost in the final game by a score of 8-2 to the Cornwall Royals.

The Portland Winter Hawks represented the Western Hockey League at the 1982 Memorial Cup. The Winter Hawks became the first non-Canadian based team to qualify for the tournament. During the 1981-82 season, Portland had the best record in the West Division with a 46-24-2 record, earning 94 points. The Winter Hawks ranked fifth in league scoring with 380 goals scored. Portland was also the fifth ranked defensive team in the WHL during the regular season, allowing 323 goals. In the West Division semi-finals, the Winter Hawks swept the Kamloops Junior Oilers in four games. In the West Division finals, Portland defeated the Seattle Breakers four games to two to advance to the WHL finals. The Winter Hawks defeated the Regina Pats four games to one to capture the President's Cup and earn a berth into the 1982 Memorial Cup.

Ken Yaremchuk led the Winter Hawks offense, scoring 58 goals and 157 points in 72 games, while also accumulating 181 penalty minutes. Yaremchuk ranked fifth in WHL scoring. Following the season, Yaremchuk was drafted by the Chicago Black Hawks with the seventh overall pick at the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Brian Shaw scored 56 goals and 132 points in 69 games, as he finished ninth in league scoring. In the post-season, Shaw led the Winter Hawks with 18 goals in 15 games. Rookie Randy Heath scored 52 goals and 99 points in 65 games. In the playoffs, Heath earned a team high 32 points in 15 games. Gary Nylund led Portland's defense, as he scored seven goals and 66 points in 65 games. Nylund also registered 267 penalty minutes. Nylund won the Bill Hunter Trophy as the Top Defenseman in the WHL and would be selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the third overall selection at the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. In goal, Darrell May saw the bulk of action, earning a 31-20-2 record with a 4.38 GAA and a .890 save percentage in 52 games.

The 1982 Memorial Cup was the Winter Hawks first appearance in club history.

The Sherbrooke Castors represented the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League at the 1982 Memorial Cup. The Castors finished at the top of the QMJHL standings during the 1981-82 season with a 42-20-2 record, earning 88 points and winning the Jean Rougeau Trophy as the Top Club in the Regular Season. The high-scoring Castors led the league with 392 goals, while they were the third ranked defensive club as they allowed 265 goals. In the round-robin portion of the post-season, Sherbrooke finished second out of eight teams with a 9-5 record. In the QMJHL semi-finals, the Castors swept the Laval Voisins in four games. In the President's Cup finals, Sherbrooke stayed red hot and swept the Trois-Rivières Draveurs in four games to clinch the QMJHL championship and earn a berth into the 1982 Memorial Cup.