In the 1970’s, the Memorial Cup became strict property of major junior hockey in Canada. Previously, the format had potentially included any ‘Junior A’ team in the country. Four times during the decade, a team from Ontario was victorious at the Memorial Cup tournament. Each year, one team from each of the three major junior leagues in Canada competed for the ultimate prize. Interestingly, in each of the Ontario victories, the Ontario representative played possum in the round robin, winning one and losing one. In fact, three of the four years, all three teams ended the round robin with 1 and 1 records.

At the 1973 tournament, the Toronto Marlboros faced off against the Quebec Remparts and Medicine Hat Tigers. In the final game, Toronto trounced Quebec 9-1. The Tournament was played in Montreal, Quebec and Mark Howe of the Marlboros was presented with the Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy as the tournament’s MVP.

Toronto finished first overall during the OHA (predecessor to the OMJHL and OHL) regular season, capturing the Hamilton Spectator Trophy. They won the Robertson Cup as OHA playoff champion. The team was led by Mark and Marty Howe, Bruce Boudreau and Mike Palmateer.

Toronto was back at the Memorial Cup two years later. In 1975, the Marlboros did battle with the New Westminster Bruins and Sherbrooke Castors. Toronto met the Bruins in the final game, winning 7-3. The tournament was played at Kitchener, Ontario. Barry Smith of the New Westminster Bruins was named the Stafford Smythe Trophy winner in the losing cause.

Toronto once again finished first overall in the OMJHL. They met the Hamilton Fincups in the Robertson Cup finals and narrowly won, eight points to six. The team was led by Bruce Boudreau, Mark Napier and John Anderson.

The Hamilton Fincups made it two in a row for Ontario teams, becoming Memorial Cup champions in 1976. Once again, the tournament was played in Montreal, Quebec and, once again, the New Westminster Bruins were the WCHL representative. The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champ was the same as 1973, the Quebec Remparts. In the final game, Hamilton beat the Bruins 5-2. Dale McCourt of the Fincups was named tournament MVP.

Hamilton finished the regular season first in the Emms Division and second overall in the OMJHL to the Sudbury Wolves. The Fincups met the Wolves in the Robertson Cup finals and won eight points to two. Hamilton was led by Dale McCourt, Al Secord and Willie Huber.

In the last Memorial Cup of the decade, the Peterborough Petes were victorious in the tournament held at several locations in Quebec. Joining Peterborough in the tournament was the Brandon Wheat Kings and Trois Rivieres Draveurs. The Petes took out the Wheat Kings 2-1 in overtime of the final game to win the Cup. Bart Hunter of Brandon won the Stafford Smythe Trophy.

Peterborough captured the Hamilton Spectator Trophy and battled the Niagara Falls Flyers to a tight eight points to six Robertson Cup final. The Petes were led by future NHLers Larry Murphy, Keith Crowder and Tim Trimper.