Portlandbuckaroos.com

Let's line up a few of the great Portland Buckaroos program covers with some great cartoon caricatures by Art Brewster on the cover. These programs were issued during the 1965-1966 season. I will also include a Portland Buckaroos team photo from 1965-1966 along with the team record and some other details of that season.
1965–66 Portland Buckaroos Season Record
Wins: 40
Losses: 28
Ties: 4
Total Points: 84
Finish: 2nd place in the WHL regular season standings
The Buckaroos reached the Lester Patrick Cup Finals.
In the playoffs, they defeated the Seattle Totems in a hard-fought semi-final series.
In the WHL Championship, they faced the Victoria Maple Leafs—a rematch of the 1964–65 Finals.
Portland lost the series, and Victoria claimed the Lester Patrick Cup, winning in six games (4–2 series).
Season Highlights
Art Jones, Portland’s perennial scoring star, was again among the league’s top point producers. His leadership and playmaking continued to define the Buckaroos' offensive core.
Cliff Schmautz led the league with 46 goals and 58 assists for a league leading 104 points, just 2 points ahead of his teammate Art Jones and Billy McNeil of the Vancouver Canucks, both finishing the season with 102 points.
Connie Madigan, the rugged defenseman known as 'Mad Dog,' continued to bring toughness and skill to the blue line and led the team in penalty minutes.
Don Head, the team’s veteran goaltender, delivered another strong season between the pipes, providing consistency and big-game performances in key matchups.
The Buckaroos maintained an excellent home-ice advantage at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum, where crowds remained strong and passionate.
Notable Events
The 1965–66 season further cemented Portland's rivalry with Seattle and Victoria, as those matchups were often heated, physical, and well-attended.
Portland was one of the most balanced teams in the league, boasting both offensive depth and solid defensive play.
This season was part of the Buckaroos' extended run of excellence in the 1960s, where they were perennial contenders and one of the WHL’s most stable and successful franchises.