WHA 1974/75

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The 1974/75 season was the third regular season of the World Hockey Association (WHA).

The third season saw the league's first expansion. With the Indianapolis Racers and the Phoenix Roadrunners , two new teams were added. There were also two moves with varying degrees of success. After admitting that they could not win the race against the NHL in New York, the team based there moved to San Diego and received the encouragement they had hoped for. They also withdrew from Los Angeles and went to Detroit. The Michigan Stags didn't have the desired success here. As early as January, the Stags became the Baltimore Blades . The team ended the season and was then disbanded. It was decided to split the league into three divisions .

The Toronto Toros upgraded their staff and brought Frank Mahovlich, another former NHL star, into the league. Two events commemorated the 1972 Summit Series , when the stars of the NHL won against the national team of the Soviet Union . On the one hand, the then star of the series, Paul Henderson , now also played in the WHA for Toronto, but above all an all-star team of the WHA organized the Summit Series in 1974 before the start of the season , but lost in the series, which lasted eight games four games were played in the Canadian WHA cities and four games were held in Moscow.

The Houston Eros managed to defend their title. You became the third winner of the Avco World Trophy . They clearly prevail with 4–0 against the Québec Nordiques in the finals.

4,095,911 spectators watched the 546 games of the third season. The average was 7,502 per game, which was a significant increase compared to the previous season. The NHL had about 13,224 viewers at the time, a slight decrease compared to the previous year.

Regular season

mode

The two additional teams split the 14 WHA teams into three divisions. The Canadian and Western Divisions played with five teams, the Eastern Divisions with only four. 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. For the first time, all teams competed against each other with the same number of times. So there were three home and three away games between all teams.

At the end of the regular season, the two best-placed teams from each division qualified for the playoffs , plus the two best-placed teams from the third and fourth places. The playoffs 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

Canadian 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

Canadian Division GP W. L. T GF GA Pts Zø
Québec Nordiques 78 46 32 0 331 299 92 9,406
Toronto Toros 78 43 33 2 349 304 88 10,436
Winnipeg Jets 78 38 35 5 322 293 81 8,586
Vancouver Blazers 78 37 39 2 256 270 76 8,014
Edmonton Oilers 78 36 38 4th 279 279 76 10,722

Eastern Division

Eastern Division GP W. L. T GF GA Pts Zø
New England Whalers 78 43 30th 5 274 279 91 7,845
Cleveland Crusaders 78 35 40 3 236 258 73 6,931
Chicago Cougars 78 30th 47 1 261 312 61 3,168
Indianapolis Racers 78 18th 57 3 216 338 39 7,923

Western Division

Western Division GP W. L. T GF GA Pts Zø
Houston Eros 78 53 25th 0 369 247 106 6,801
San Diego Mariners 78 43 31 4th 326 268 90 6,080
Minnesota Fighting Saints 78 42 33 3 308 279 87 8,410
Phoenix Roadrunners 78 39 31 8th 300 265 86 7,443
Michigan Stags
Baltimore Blades 		78 21st 53 4th 205 341 46 3,258

* Moved from Michigan to Baltimore during the season

Best scorer

Mostly familiar faces were found among the best scorers. With Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg , Winnipeg signed two Swedes who made a big hit. In the wake of André Lacroix , Wayne Rivers made the list of the best. He had not been able to assert himself in the NHL and established himself in the WHA from the start. Wayne Dillon was a 19-year-old Canadian who was too young for the NHL. From the coming season he was eligible to play there and moved to the New York Rangers .

Abbreviations: GP = games, G = goals, A = assists , Pts = points, PIM = penalty minutes; Bold: Season best

player team GP G A. Pts PIM
André Lacroix San Diego 78 41 106 147 63
Bobby Hull Winnipeg 78 77 65 142 41
Serge Bernier Quebec 76 54 68 122 75
Ulf Nilsson Winnipeg 78 26th 94 120 79
Larry Lund Houston 78 33 75 108 68
Wayne Rivers San Diego 78 54 53 107 52
Hedberg is different Winnipeg 65 53 47 100 45
Gordie Howe Houston 75 34 65 99 84
Wayne Dillon Toronto 77 29 66 95 22nd
Mike Walton Minnesota 75 48 45 93 33

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
Ron Grahame Houston 43 2590 33 10 0 131 4th 3.03
Wayne Rutledge Houston 35 2098 20th 15th 0 113 2 3.23
Bob Whidden Cleveland 29 1654 9 16 1 89 2 3.23
Ernie Wakely Winnipeg
San Diego		 41 2417 23 15th 2 131 3 3.25
Gerry Cheevers Cleveland 52 3076 26th 24 2 167 4th 3.26

Playoff

mode

After each division from the first two plus the two best point teams had qualified start in knockout format discharged play-offs . The team with the best points met the eighth best. The second met the seventh, the third met the sixth, and the fourth met the fifth.

The winning teams then met in the division finals. The two divisional playoff winners then met in the final series 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 with the most points in the regular season started 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

  Quarter finals Semifinals final
                           
  W1 Houston Eros 4th        
E2 Cleveland Crusaders 1  
W1 Houston Eros 4th
  W2 San Diego Mariners 0  
W2 San Diego Mariners 4th
C2 Toronto Toros 2  
W1 Houston Eros 4th
  C1 Québec Nordiques 0
E1 New England Whalers 2    
W3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4th  
W3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 2
  C1 Québec Nordiques 4th  
C1 Québec Nordiques 4th
  W4 Phoenix Roadrunners 1  

Quarterfinals (Round 1)

Houston Eros (1) vs. Cleveland Crusaders (8)
date Away team Home team Note
10th of April Cleveland 5 8th Houston
12. April Cleveland 3 5 Houston
April 13th Houston 1 3 Cleveland
April 15th Houston 7th 2 Cleveland
17th April Cleveland 1 3 Houston
Houston wins the series 4-1.

It was certainly no surprise that the defending champion and big favorite from Houston prevailed against the Crusaders. It was rather remarkable that the eighth-placed team from Cleveland was the only one to win a playoff game against the Eros.

Québec Nordiques (2) vs. Phoenix Roadrunners (7)
date Away team Home team Note
April 8th Phoenix 2 5 Quebec
10th of April Phoenix 2 3 Quebec
12. April Quebec 3 0 Phoenix
April 15th Quebec 5 6th Phoenix 1OT
17th April Phoenix 2 4th Quebec
Québec wins the series 4-1.

For the Roadrunners, who contested their first season in the WHA, reaching the playoffs was already a great success. The winners of the Canadian Division, the Québec Nordiques, were an insurmountable opponent in the first round. Only in the fourth game of the series was Michel Cromier able to walk off the ice as the winner after 7:21 minutes in overtime.

New England Whalers (3) vs. Minnesota Fighting Saints (6)
date Away team Home team Note
9th April Minnesota 6th 5 New England
11 April Minnesota 2 3 New England 1OT
April 13th New England 3 8th Minnesota
April 15th New England 5 2 Minnesota
April 18 Minnesota 4th 0 New England
April 19th New England 1 6th Minnesota
Minnesota wins the series 4-2.

In the regular season, the Fighting Sains had won four of the six games against the Whalers and they also won the first game in New England. With a goal from Rick Ley after 6:46 minutes in overtime, the Whalers were able to travel to Minnesota with at least an even balance. A victory in the fourth game brought them back into the race, but a 4-0 home defeat put them on the losing track.

San Diego Mariners (4) vs. Toronto Toros (5)
date Away team Home team Note
9th April Toronto 3 5 San Diego
12. April Toronto 6th 7th San Diego
April 14th San Diego 2 5 Toronto
April 16 San Diego 5 6th Toronto
April 18 Toronto 3 4th San Diego
April 21 San Diego 6th 4th Toronto
San Diego wins the series 4-2.

It was the tight series expected, not only because the fourth met the fifth, but also because both teams each won three games in the regular season. Each team won their first two home games and the Mariners kept the upper hand in the fifth game at home. The decisive victory was achieved by San Diego in the sixth game in Toronto.

Semifinals (round 2)

Houston Eros (1) vs. San Diego Mariners (4)
date Away team Home team Note
April 25 Houston 4th 0 San Diego
April 27 Houston 2 1 San Diego
April 29 San Diego 0 6th Houston
1st of May San Diego 4th 5 Houston 1OT
Houston wins the series 4-0.

The series was played in reverse order. Houston started in San Diego, but in the very first game the Eros made it clear that there could only be one winner. After two wins in San Diego, the Mariners were also outclassed in their first home game. That they managed to save the last game in overtime could be regarded as a respectable success, but after 27 seconds Jim Sherrit ended the season for the players of the Mariners

Québec Nordiques (2) vs. Minnesota Fighting Saints (6)
date Away team Home team Note
April 22 Minnesota 1 4th Quebec
April 23 Minnesota 5 3 Quebec
26th of April Quebec 6th 1 Minnesota
April 27 Quebec 2 4th Minnesota
April 29 Minnesota 3 6th Quebec
1st of May Quebec 4th 2 Minnesota
Québec wins the series 4-2.

The Fighting Saints surprised in the previous round and they had good experiences against the Nordiques in the regular season. They won all three games in Quebec. The Nordiques were therefore very relieved to win the first game. But Minnesota kept the series open until the fourth game. Finally, the nominal favorite from Québec managed to defeat the Fighting Saints in six games.

Avco World Trophy Championship

Houston Eros (1) vs. Québec Nordiques (2)
date Away team Home team Note
May 3rd Quebec 2
M. Tardif ( C. Bordeleau , D. Hoganson ) 37:21
B. Guindon (C. Bordeleau) 43:45 		6
G. Labossiere ( P. Popiel , J. Schella ) 1:26
L. Lund ( M. Howe , G. Howe ) 2:36
G. Howe (J. Schella, R. Preston ) 12:13
T. Ruskowski ( P. Popiel, D. Larway ) 17:54
D. Larway (T. Ruskowski) 24:37
G. Labossiere ( T. Taylor , F. Hughes ) 41:45 		Houston
May 6th Quebec 3
D. Hoganson ( S. Bernier , R. Houle ) 16:34
M. Tardif ( C. Bordeleau , B. Guindon ) 22:57
M. Tardif (C. Bordeleau) 42:37 		5
G. Howe ( M. Howe , J. Sherrit ) 4:44
G. Howe ( L. Lund , F. Hughes ) 21:19
G. Labossiere ( M. Hall , T. Taylor ) 42:06
T. Ruskowski ( R. Preston , G. Irwin ) 43:04
A. Hinse (L. Lund, J. Schella ) 51:08 		Houston
10th of May Houston 2
F. Hughes ( G. Howe , M. Howe ) 20:14
P. Popiel ( J. Schella ) 53:48 		0 Quebec
12th of May Houston 7
G. Howe ( A. Hinse , L. Lund ) 2:41
M. Howe (A. Hinse, L. Lund) 12:18
G. Labossiere ( J. Schella , M. Hall ) 19:53
G. Howe ( L. Lund) 27:36
F. Hughes (M. Howe, J. Sherrit ) 36:52
L. Lund ( P. Popiel ) 54:07
F. Hughes (G. Howe, L. Lund) 58:30 		2
R. Houle ( M. Tardif , S. Bernier ) 6:01
R. Houle (S. Bernier, R. Brodeur ) 34:51 		Quebec
Houston wins the series 4-0 and the Avco World Trophy .

In the first third of the first game in the series, the Houston Eros made things clear. Gordie Howe led his team to the title again in just four games.

Avco World Trophy Winner

The 20 players in the Eros consist of two goalkeepers, seven defenders and eleven attackers. All players who were used during the season were part of the winning team. The team was spared almost entirely from injury concerns that season; 17 outfield players of the Eros completed at least 70 regular season games. Only defender Bill Prentice was used sporadically and was by far the player with the fewest Ice Age. As in the previous year, 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 , Wayne Rutledge

Defenders: Larry Hale , Mark Howe , Marty Howe , Glen Irwin , Poul Popiel , Bill Prentice , John Schella

Attackers: Murray Hall , Andre Hinse , Gordie Howe , Frank Hughes , Gord Labossiere , Don Larway , Larry Lund , Rich Preston , Terry Ruskowski , Jim Sherrit , Ted Taylor ( C )

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
Mark Howe Houston 13 10 12 22nd 0
Marc Tardif Quebec 15th 10 11 21st 10
Larry Lund Houston 13 5 13 18th 13
Gordie Howe Houston 13 8th 12 20th 20th
Mike Walton Minnesota 12 10 7th 10 10

WHA Awards and trophies awarded

For the first time, the most valuable player in the playoffs was awarded. Two trophies were given new names, the most valuable player no longer received the Gary L. Davidson Trophy, but the Gordie Howe Trophy. The former Howard Baldwin Trophy for the best coach has been renamed the Robert Schmertz Memorial Trophy.

Award player team
Gordie Howe Trophy Bobby Hull Winnipeg Jets
Bill Hunter Trophy André Lacroix San Diego Mariners
Lou Kaplan Trophy Hedberg is different Winnipeg Jets
Ben Hatskin Trophy Ron Grahame Houston Eros
Dennis A. Murphy Trophy JC Tremblay Québec Nordiques
WHA Playoff MVP Ron Grahame Houston Eros
Robert Schmertz Memorial Trophy Sandy Hucul Phoenix Roadrunners
Paul Deneau Trophy Mike Rogers Edmonton Oilers

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 San Diego Mariners 78 41 106 147
Gordie Howe Winger Houston Eros 75 34 65 99
Bobby Hull Winger Winnipeg Jets 78 77 65 142
JC Tremblay defender Québec Nordiques 68 16 56 72
Kevin Morrison defender San Diego Mariners 78 20th 61 81
player position team GP W. SO ATM
Ron Grahame goalkeeper Houston Eros 43 33 4th 3.03

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
Serge Bernier center Québec Nordiques 76 54 68 122
Hedberg is different Winger Winnipeg Jets 65 53 47 100
Marc Tardif Winger Michigan Stags
Québec Nordiques 		76 50 39 89
Poul Popiel defender Houston Eros 78 11 53 64
Barry Long defender Edmonton Oilers 78 20th 40 60
player position team GP W. SO ATM
Gerry Cheevers goalkeeper Cleveland Crusaders 52 26th 4th 3.26

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 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Scott Surgent: The World Hockey Association Factbook. 2010, p. 238, ISBN 978-0-9644774-8-3