WHA 1973/74
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The 1973/74 season was the World Hockey Association's (WHA) second regular season .
After a successful first season, the second season started with confidence. Furthermore, twelve teams took part in the game, with four competed under a new name. There had been a pure name change with the Oilers, who replaced their associated province of Alberta in the name with Edmonton. The New York Raiders had a new owner who had renamed the team the New York Golden Blades . During the season, the team moved from Manhattan to New Jersey and played as Jersey Knights there . There was also a move at the Ottawa Nationals . The team had already played the playoffs in Toronto last year and moved there due to the positive response from the audience. The new name was now Toronto Toros . The Philadelphia Blazers had to make the furthest move . They moved from the east of the United States to the west coast of Canada and played as Vancouver Blazers from then on .
In terms of personnel, the signing of Gordie Howe in particular caused a stir. He was a legend in the National Hockey League and had retired two years earlier. Now he celebrated his comeback and played for the Houston Eros together with his two sons Mark and Marty . With 100 scorer points, he showed that he could still play at the highest level.
The Houston Eros were also the second winner of the Avco World Trophy . They clearly beat the Chicago Cougars 4-0 in the finals. Chicago was fourth in the Eastern Division surprisingly advanced into the final series.
2,764,506 spectators saw the 468 games of the second season, an average of 5,907 per game. The NHL had about 13,848 viewers per game at the time.
Regular season
mode
As in the previous year, the twelve WHA teams were divided into two divisions of six teams each. In total, each team played 78 season games in the course of the regular season , 39 of them on home ice and 39 on that of the opposing team. In contrast to the common method in Europe of playing the same number of games against each team in the course of the season, the WHA teams competed against each other differently often. Teams that belonged to the same division played against each other eight times during the season. Six games were played against each team in the other division. In addition, each team played two more games against a “regional neighbor”. There was a swap in the pairs when the Blazers moved from Philadelphia to Vancouver. The new couples were Chicago and Winnipeg, Cleveland and Minnesota, Edmonton and Houston, Vancouver and Los Angeles, New England and New York, and Toronto and Quebec.
At the end of the regular season, the four best-placed teams from each division qualified for the playoffs , which took place after the regular season and were played in the knockout system . If two or more teams were tied, the larger number of games won counted first.
Closing tables
Eastern Division
Abbreviations: GP = games, W = wins, L = defeats, T = draws, GF = goals scored, GA = goals conceded, Pts = points
Explanations: The position within the conference is in brackets; = Playoff qualification, = division winner
Eastern Division | GP | W. | L. | T | GF | GA | Pts | Zø |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New England Whalers | 78 | 43 | 31 | 4th | 291 | 260 | 90 | 5,970 |
Toronto Toros | 78 | 41 | 33 | 4th | 304 | 272 | 86 | 4,291 |
Cleveland Crusaders | 78 | 34 | 32 | 9 | 266 | 264 | 83 | 6.212 |
Chicago Cougars | 78 | 38 | 35 | 5 | 271 | 273 | 81 | 4,924 |
Québec Nordiques | 78 | 38 | 36 | 4th | 268 | 280 | 80 | 7,983 |
New York Golden Blades * Jersey Knights |
78 | 32 | 42 | 4th | 303 | 334 | 68 | 2,585 |
* Moved from New York to New Jersey during the season
Western Division
Western Division | GP | W. | L. | T | GF | GA | Pts | Zø |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston Eros | 78 | 48 | 25th | 5 | 318 | 219 | 101 | 6,811 |
Minnesota Fighting Saints | 78 | 44 | 32 | 2 | 332 | 275 | 90 | 6,584 |
Edmonton Oilers | 78 | 38 | 37 | 3 | 268 | 269 | 79 | 4,429 |
Winnipeg Jets | 78 | 34 | 39 | 5 | 264 | 296 | 73 | 6,401 |
Vancouver Blazers | 78 | 27 | 50 | 1 | 278 | 345 | 55 | 9,356 |
Los Angeles Sharks | 78 | 25th | 53 | 0 | 239 | 339 | 50 | 5,338 |
Best scorer
Only in the shadow of the stars was top scorer Mike Walton with the Boston Bruins until the previous season . The new top star of the league Gordie Howe , who was back on the ice two years after his retirement, also managed to break the 100-point mark. In his second WHA season was the 35-year-old Wayne Connelly , who brought plenty of NHL experience. Also from the beginning were Wayne Carleton and Larry Lund . With Serge Bernier they had caught the second best scorer of the Los Angeles Kings in Quebec . Only Bobby Hull , André Lacroix and Danny Lawson made it into the "Top Ten" as in the previous year.
Abbreviations: GP = games, G = goals, A = assists , Pts = points, PIM = penalty minutes; Bold: Season best
player | team | GP | G | A. | Pts | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mike Walton | Minnesota | 78 | 57 | 60 | 117 | 88 |
André Lacroix | New York / Jersey | 78 | 31 | 80 | 111 | 54 |
Gordie Howe | Houston | 76 | 31 | 69 | 100 | 46 |
Wayne Connelly | Minnesota | 78 | 42 | 53 | 95 | 16 |
Bobby Hull | Winnipeg | 75 | 53 | 42 | 95 | 37 |
Wayne Carleton | Toronto | 78 | 37 | 55 | 92 | 31 |
Bryan Campbell | Vancouver | 76 | 27 | 62 | 89 | 50 |
Danny Lawson | Vancouver | 78 | 50 | 38 | 88 | 14th |
Serge Bernier | Quebec | 74 | 37 | 49 | 86 | 107 |
Larry Lund | Houston | 75 | 33 | 53 | 86 | 109 |
Best goalkeeper
Abbreviations: GP = games, TOI = ice age (in minutes), W = wins, L = defeats, OTL = overtime / shootout defeats , GA = goals conceded, SO = shutouts , Sv% = shots saved (in%), GAA = Conceded goal; Bold: Season best
player | team | GP | TOI | W. | L. | T | GA | SO | ATM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Don MacLeod | Houston | 49 | 2971 | 33 | 13 | 3 | 127 | 3 | 2.56 |
Gerry Cheevers | Cleveland | 59 | 3562 | 30th | 20th | 6th | 180 | 4th | 3.03 |
Al Smith | New England | 55 | 3194 | 30th | 21st | 2 | 164 | 2 | 3.08 |
Jack Norris | Edmonton | 53 | 2954 | 23 | 24 | 1 | 158 | 2 | 3.21 |
Les Binkley | Toronto | 27 | 1412 | 14th | 9 | 1 | 77 | 1 | 3.27 |
Mike Curran | Minnesota | 40 | 2382 | 23 | 14th | 2 | 130 | 2 | 3.27 |
Ernie Wakely | Winnipeg | 37 | 2254 | 15th | 18th | 4th | 123 | 3 | 3.27 |
Playoff
mode
After the first four teams had qualified from each division, start in K. Knockout system discharged play-offs . The division winners met fourth in the division semifinals, while the teams in second and third played the other semifinals.
The winning teams then met in the division finals. The two divisional playoff winners then met in the finals for the Avco World Trophy .
All series in each round were played in best-of-seven mode, which means that a team needed four wins to reach the next round. The higher ranked team had the first two games at home, the next two the opposing team. If no winner emerged from the round up to then, the home law changed from game to game. The higher-ranked team had a home advantage in games 1, 2, 5 and 7, i.e. four of the maximum seven games.
In the final, the team started with more points in the regular season with two home games. Two away games followed.
For games that were tied after the regular playing time of 60 minutes, overtime followed . The thirds lasted 20 minutes and the game was played until one team scored the first goal.
Playoff tree
Semifinals division | Division Finals | final | |||||||||||
E1 | New England Whalers | 3 | |||||||||||
E4 | Chicago Cougars | 4th | |||||||||||
E4 | Chicago Cougars | 4th | |||||||||||
E2 | Toronto Toros | 3 | |||||||||||
E2 | Toronto Toros | 4th | |||||||||||
E3 | Cleveland Crusaders | 1 | |||||||||||
E4 | Chicago Cougars | 0 | |||||||||||
W1 | Houston Eros | 4th | |||||||||||
W1 | Houston Eros | 4th | |||||||||||
W4 | Winnipeg Jets | 0 | |||||||||||
W1 | Houston Eros | 4th | |||||||||||
W2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 2 | |||||||||||
W2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 4th | |||||||||||
W3 | Edmonton Oilers | 1 |
Division Semifinals (Round 1)
Eastern Division
The favored Whalers started with two wins, whereby the second win could only be secured by John French after 2:51 minutes in overtime. In Chicago, however, the Cougars struck back surprisingly, even if they had to go into overtime, but here, too, it came to a home win, for which Ralph Backstrom was responsible with a goal after 17:45 minutes. The Cougars surprised with a win in Boston, but the Whalers returned with an away win. But again the Cougars won in Boston and made the big surprise perfect. |
With the victory in the third game, the Toros set the course for progress. Cleveland was able to reach a fifth game in the fourth game after overtime with a goal from Wayne Muloin after 4:17 minutes, but here the Toros won and moved into the division finals. |
Western Division
With Houston's Gordie Howe and the "Golden Jet" Bobby Hull , the most prominent players of the WHA met in this series. The Eros started against the series unusually away from home. They returned from Winnipeg with two away wins and with a 10-1 win in their first home game they made things clear. After four games, the season for the Jets was over. |
The Oilers were able to keep the first game quite open, but after they had also lost the third game, the situation was rather hopeless. With a narrow win in Game 4 they made it back to Minnesota, but there they failed to bring the series back to Edmonton. |
Division Finals (Round 2)
Eastern Division
Toronto Toros (2) vs. Chicago Cougars (4) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
date | Away team | Home team | Note | |||
April 19th | Chicago | 4th | 6th | Toronto | ||
April 22 | Chicago | 4th | 3 | Toronto | ||
April 28 | Toronto | 2 | 3 | Chicago | ||
April, 30th | Toronto | 7th | 6th | Chicago | ||
1st of May | Chicago | 3 | 5 | Toronto | ||
May 4th | Toronto | 2 | 9 | Chicago | ||
May 6th | Chicago | 5 | 2 | Toronto | ||
Chicago wins the series 4-3. |
Chicago was able to surprise in the second game in Toronto. At home, the Cougars had to move to the Randhurst Twin Ice Arena in Mount Prospect, which can hold just 3,000 spectators . Her hall was rented for a Peter Pan performance. In the fourth game, the Toros equalized and back in Toronto they took the series 3-2 in the lead. After the Cougars brought the series in game 7 with a clear victory, the fourth in the preliminary round managed to surprise and move into the final series.
Western Division
Houston Eros (1) vs. Minnesota Fighting Saints (2) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
date | Away team | Home team | Note | |||
April 18 | Minnesota | 5 | 4th | Houston | 1OT | |
20th of April | Minnesota | 2 | 5 | Houston | ||
April 22 | Houston | 1 | 4th | Minnesota | ||
April 28 | Houston | 4th | 1 | Minnesota | ||
April 29 | Minnesota | 4th | 9 | Houston | ||
1st of May | Houston | 3 | 1 | Minnesota | ||
Houston wins the series 4-2. |
When Mike Walton secured victory for the Saints after 1:40 minutes in stoppage time of the first game, the horror of the favored Eros was deep, but they equalized in the second home game. At the first game in Minnesota, the home team took the lead back, but then Houston came out on top.
Avco World Trophy Championship
Houston Eros (1) vs. Chicago Cougars (4) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
date | Away team | Home team | Note | |||
12th of May | Chicago | 2 B. Liddington ( P. Stapleton , R. Backstrom ) 45:42 D. Gordon ( L. Mavety , D. Proceviat ) 53:45 |
3 L. Hale ( M. Hall , G. Labossiere ) 6:31 G. Labossiere ( T. Taylor , D. Grierson ) 9:15 F. Hughes 55:48 |
Houston | ||
May 15 | Chicago | 1 F. Rochon 59:44 |
6 M. Hall ( T. Taylor , L. Lund ) 13:21 G. Labossiere ( P. Popiel , T. Taylor) 18:08 A. Hinse ( G. Howe , F. Hughes ) 36:50 J. Sherrit ( M. Howe , G. Howe) 41:59 A. Hinse (L. Lund, F. Hughes) 42:23 T. Taylor (M. Hall) 53:16 |
Houston | ||
17th of May | Houston |
7 M. Hall 5:19 F. Hughes ( G. Howe , A. Hinse ) 10:51 M. Howe ( J. Sherrit , G. Howe) 13:22 A. Hinse (G. Howe, P. Popiel ) 21 : 34 L. Hale (J. Sherrit) 23:21 A. Hinse ( L. Lund , P. Popiel) 43:08 F. Hughes (A. Hinse) 40:48 |
4 R. Backstrom 12:17 R. Paiement 25:01 R. Morris ( J. Hardy , D. Gordon ) 31:38 L. Mavety ( P. Stapleton , B. Sicinski ) 35:34 |
Chicago | ||
May 19th | Houston |
6 L. Lund ( A. Hinse , L. Hale ) 14:34 M. Hall 15:47 M. Hall ( P. Popiel , G. Howe ) 16:55 A. Hinse (G. Howe, P. Popiel) 32 : 40 G. Labossiere (P. Popiel, J. Schella ) 33:58 L. Lund (G. Howe, P. Popiel) 43:08 |
2 J. Popiel ( R. Paiement , B. Sicinski ) 31:38 R. Morris ( L. Mavety ) 50:12 |
Chicago | ||
Houston wins the series 4-0 and the Avco World Trophy . |
Chicago was able to open the first game, but then the Houston Eros clearly prevailed. Gordie Howe shone with eight assists in the finals.
Avco World Trophy Winner
The 23 players in the Eros are made up of three goalkeepers, eight defenders and 12 attackers.
A special feature was the consideration of defender Dunc McCallum , who had missed the entire season due to injury and was still immortalized on the cup. The winning team consisted of three members of the Howe hockey family, in addition to "Mr. Hockey “ Gordie also has his two sons Mark and Marty .
In addition to head coach and general manager Bill Dineen , the following players were engraved on the Avco World Trophy, the championship trophy of the WHA:
Avco World Trophy winner Houston Eros |
Goalkeepers: Ron Grahame , Don McLeod , Wayne Rutledge Defenders: Larry Hale , Mark Howe , Marty Howe , Gordon Kannegiesser , Dunc McCallum , Poul Popiel , Bill Prentice , John Schella Attackers: Don Grierson , Murray Hall , Andre Hinse , Gordie Howe , Frank Hughes , Gord Labossiere , Larry Lund , Jim Sherrit , Jack Stanfield , Joe Szura , Ted Taylor ( C ), Gary Williamson Head Coach and General Manager: Bill Dineen |
Best scorer
Abbreviations: GP = games, G = goals, A = assists , Pts = points, PIM = penalty minutes; Bold: Season best
player | team | GP | G | A. | Pts | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Larry Lund | Houston | 14th | 9 | 14th | 23 | 56 |
Ralph Backstrom | Chicago | 18th | 5 | 14th | 19th | 4th |
Mark Howe | Houston | 14th | 9 | 10 | 19th | 4th |
Mike Walton | Minnesota | 11 | 10 | 8th | 18th | 16 |
Andre Hinse | Houston | 14th | 8th | 9 | 17th | 18th |
Gordie Howe | Houston | 13 | 3 | 14th | 17th | 34 |
WHA Awards and trophies awarded
The new trophies were named after some of the founders of teams and important people from the organization of the WHA.
WHA All-Star Teams
WHA First All-Star Team
Abbreviations: GP = games, G = goals, A = assists , Pts = points, W = wins, SO = shutouts , GAA = conceded goals
player | position | team | GP | G | A. | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
André Lacroix | center |
New York Golden Blades Jersey Knights |
78 | 31 | 80 | 111 |
Gordie Howe | Winger | Houston Eros | 76 | 31 | 69 | 100 |
Bobby Hull | Winger | Winnipeg Jets | 63 | 51 | 52 | 103 |
Pat Stapleton | defender | Chicago Cougars | 78 | 6th | 52 | 58 |
Paul Shmyr | defender | Cleveland Crusaders | 78 | 13 | 31 | 44 |
player | position | team | GP | W. | SO | ATM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Don MacLeod | goalkeeper | Houston Eros | 49 | 33 | 3 | 2.56 |
WHA Second All-Star Team
Abbreviations: GP = games, G = goals, A = assists , Pts = points, W = wins, SO = shutouts , GAA = conceded goals
player | position | team | GP | G | A. | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wayne Carleton | center | Toronto Toros | 78 | 37 | 55 | 92 |
Mike Walton | Winger | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 78 | 57 | 60 | 117 |
Mark Howe | Winger | Houston Eros | 76 | 38 | 41 | 79 |
JC Tremblay | defender | Quebec Nordiques | 68 | 9 | 44 | 53 |
Al Hamilton | defender | Edmonton Oilers | 77 | 14th | 45 | 59 |
player | position | team | GP | W. | SO | ATM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gerry Cheevers | goalkeeper | Cleveland Crusaders | 59 | 30th | 4th | 3.03 |
literature
- Scott Adam Surgent: The Complete Historical and Statistical Reference of the World Hockey Association 1972-1979 Xaler Press, 1995. ISBN 0-9644774-0-8 . Pages 115–157
Web links
- The 1973/74 WHA season at hockeydb.com
Individual evidence
- ↑ Scott Surgent: The World Hockey Association Factbook. 2010, p. 238, ISBN 978-0-9644774-8-3