The 1972 Allan Cup was the Canadian senior ice hockey championship for the 1971–72 senior “A” season. It marked the 64th awarding of the Allan Cup, the trophy presented annually by Hockey Canada to the senior amateur men’s national champion.
The championship series was hosted jointly by Spokane, Washington, United States, and Kimberley, British Columbia, Canada. The Spokane Jets served as the Western Canadian (or “Western”) champions, while the Barrie Flyers represented Eastern Canada as the Eastern champions. Although the Spokane Jets were based in the United States, they participated in the competition as the Western representative.
Series format and results
The final was contested as a best‑of‑seven series:
| Game | Date | Location | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 May 1972 | Spokane Coliseum, Spokane, WA | Spokane Jets 3 – Barrie Flyers 0 |
| 2 | 7 May 1972 | Spokane Coliseum, Spokane, WA | Spokane Jets 8 – Barrie Flyers 3 |
| 3 | 12 May 1972 | Kimberley Civic Centre, Kimberley, BC | Barrie Flyers 4 – Spokane Jets 2 |
| 4 | 13 May 1972 | Kimberley Civic Centre, Kimberley, BC | Barrie Flyers 4 – Spokane Jets 1 |
| 5 | 14 May 1972 | Spokane Coliseum, Spokane, WA | Spokane Jets 7 – Barrie Flyers 3 |
| 6 | 15 May 1972 | Spokane Coliseum, Spokane, WA | Spokane Jets 6 – Barrie Flyers 3 |
The Spokane Jets won the series four games to two, securing the Allan Cup for the 1972 season.
Significance
The 1972 tournament was notable for its cross‑border nature, with an American club competing for and winning a traditionally Canadian national championship. The series contributed to the continued prominence of senior amateur hockey in North America during the early 1970s.
References
- “1972 Allan Cup,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Allan_Cup.
- Stewart, Chuck. Spokane Chronicle articles (May 1972).