1980 Memorial Cup

The Royals faced the Chicoutimi Saguenéens in the QMJHL semi-finals, as they won the series four games to one, earning a berth into the league finals.

In the post-season, Hawerchuk broke out with 20 goals and 45 points in 18 games to lead the club, winning the Guy Lafleur Trophy as QMJHL Playoff MVP.

The club won the 1972 Memorial Cup in their previous appearance, defeating the Peterborough Petes in the final game.

The Peterborough Petes represented the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League at the 1980 Memorial Cup.

Peterborough was the top team in the OMJHL during the 1979-80 season, earning a record of 47-20-1 for 95 points, and winning the Hamilton Spectator Trophy.

The Petes scored 316 goals during the regular season, ranking the club ninth in the twelve team league.

Bill Gardner led the Petes offense, scoring a team high 43 goals and 106 points in 59 games.

Rick LaFerriere was the Petes starting goaltender, as in 55 games, he earned a 38-13-1 record with a 3.27 GAA and a .893 save percentage.

LaFerriere and his back-up, Terry Wright, won the Dave Pinkney Trophy as the goaltenders with the lowest GAA in the league.

The Pats starting goaltender was Bart Hunter, who played in 69 games, earning a record of 45-21-1 with a 4.06 GAA and a .884 save percentage.

Confident of victory, the Petes pulled starting goaltender Rick LaFerriere (who made the tournament all-star team and later played in the NHL) and put in his back-up; Cornwall proceeded to storm back with three tallies to take a 5-4 lead.

Soon, the fans began throwing toilet paper, programs, soft drinks and other things at the Petes, causing a fifteen-minute delay and the arrival of some Regina city policemen.

The allegations were never proven; Peterborough coach (and future NHL skipper) Mike Keenan hotly denied the rumours, calling them "garbage" whipped up by the media.

Even if the Petes did lose on purpose, it quickly backfired on them, as the Royals upended Peterborough on Robert Savard's goal in overtime, 3-2, to take the trophy.

After Savard's game-winning goal, things got even uglier as the Peterborough bench was pelted with eggs, tomatoes, garbage and debris.