WHA 1975/76
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The 1975/76 season was the fourth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA).
After three seasons of growth, the new season started with high hopes. With the Chicago Cougars and the Baltimore Blades , two teams that had got into trouble last season were disbanded. Their places were taken by the Cincinnati Stingers and the Denver Spurs . While Cincinnati had been preparing for participation for a long time, the season was hastily prepared in Denver.
In Denver a lot didn't go according to plan. To save the franchise , the team moved briefly to Ottawa at the turn of the year , but a short time later the team gave up. Shaken by this, the league was also unable to save the Minnesota Fighting Saints team . With the Saints, the league lost a team that was exceptionally successful in terms of both sport and audience appeal.
The Houston Eros failed to defend their title for the third time in a row. In the final games of the Avco World Trophy they were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets . They clearly prevailed with 4–0.
4,123,121 spectators watched the 532 games of the fourth season. The average was 7,750 per game, which was a further increase compared to the previous season. In the NHL at that time, the audience had dropped to about 12,644.
Regular season
mode
Two tasks in January forced the WHA to change their schedule at short notice. It was planned that the teams would play half of their games within their division and the other half against the teams of the other two divisions. Home and away games should also be balanced. The short-term adjustments made some teams play 80 and others 81 games.
At the end of the regular season, the first four teams from the Canadian Division and the top three teams from the other two divisions qualified for the playoffs . 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, = abandonment during the season
Canadian Division | GP | W. | L. | T | GF | GA | Pts | Zø |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winnipeg Jets | 81 | 52 | 27 | 2 | 345 | 254 | 106 | 8,696 |
Québec Nordiques | 81 | 50 | 27 | 4th | 371 | 316 | 104 | 9,885 |
Calgary cowboys | 80 | 41 | 35 | 4th | 307 | 282 | 86 | 4,948 |
Edmonton Oilers | 81 | 27 | 49 | 5 | 268 | 345 | 59 | 7,931 |
Toronto Toros | 81 | 24 | 52 | 5 | 335 | 398 | 53 | 8,983 |
Eastern Division
Eastern Division | GP | W. | L. | T | GF | GA | Pts | Zø |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indianapolis Racers | 80 | 35 | 39 | 6th | 245 | 247 | 76 | 8,778 |
Cleveland Crusaders | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 273 | 279 | 75 | 6,356 |
New England Whalers | 80 | 33 | 40 | 7th | 255 | 290 | 73 | 9,308 |
Cincinnati stingers | 80 | 35 | 44 | 1 | 285 | 340 | 71 | 7,741 |
Western Division
Western Division | GP | W. | L. | T | GF | GA | Pts | Zø |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston Eros | 80 | 53 | 27 | 0 | 341 | 263 | 106 | 9,180 |
Phoenix Roadrunners | 80 | 39 | 35 | 6th | 302 | 287 | 84 | 6,464 |
San Diego Mariners | 80 | 36 | 38 | 6th | 303 | 290 | 78 | 6.237 |
Minnesota Fighting Saints (retired February 27, 1976) | 59 | 30th | 25th | 4th | 211 | 212 | 64 | 8,983 |
Denver Spurs / Ottawa Civics (retired January 17, 1976) | 41 | 14th | 26th | 1 | 134 | 172 | 29 | 4,321 |
Best scorer
There were no surprises and new faces among the top scorers this season. Abbreviations: GP = games, G = goals, A = assists , Pts = points, PIM = penalty minutes; Bold: Season best
player | team | GP | G | A. | Pts | +/- | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Marc Tardif | Quebec | 80 | 71 | 77 | 148 | +35 | 79 |
Bobby Hull | Winnipeg | 80 | 53 | 70 | 123 | +62 | 30th |
Real Cloutier | Quebec | 80 | 60 | 54 | 114 | +33 | 27 |
Ulf Nilsson | Winnipeg | 78 | 38 | 76 | 114 | +65 | 84 |
Robbie Ftorek | Phoenix | 80 | 41 | 72 | 113 | +36 | 109 |
Christian Bordeleau | Quebec | 74 | 37 | 72 | 109 | +16 | 42 |
Hedberg is different | Winnipeg | 76 | 50 | 55 | 105 | +60 | 48 |
Réjean Houle | Quebec | 81 | 51 | 52 | 103 | +20 | 61 |
Serge Bernier | Quebec | 70 | 34 | 68 | 102 | +26 | 91 |
Gordie Howe | Houston | 78 | 32 | 70 | 102 | +14 | 76 |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michel Dion | Indianapolis | 31 | 1860 | 14th | 15th | 1 | 85 | 0 | 2.74 |
Joe Daley | Winnipeg | 62 | 3612 | 41 | 17th | 1 | 171 | 5 | 2.84 |
Wayne Rutledge | Houston | 25th | 1456 | 14th | 10 | 0 | 77 | 1 | 3.17 |
Jack Norris | Phoenix | 41 | 2412 | 21st | 14th | 4th | 128 | 1 | 3.18 |
Ernie Wakely | San Diego | 67 | 3824 | 35 | 27 | 4th | 208 | 3 | 3.26 |
Playoff
mode
After the first four teams from the Canadian division and the three best-point teams from the other two divisions had qualified, the playoffs , which were held in a knockout system , start . The Canadian Division played a final place. The other two divisions each played a semi-final place.
In a preliminary round, the second played against the third in the Eastern and Western Division in best-of-five mode.
In the quarter-finals, the first round winners from the Eastern and Western divisions met the first of the regular season. From the Canadian Division, the first against the fourth placed and the second in the preliminary round against the third. In the first semifinals, the two winners of the quarter-finals of the Canadian Division met. Delayed by the preliminary round, one representative each from the Eastern and Western Division played in the other semi-finals.
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 , which means that a team needed three wins to reach the next round.
From the quarter-finals onwards, the series 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
Preliminary Round | Quarter finals | Semifinals | final | |||||||||||||||
C1 | Winnipeg Jets | 4th | ||||||||||||||||
C4 | Edmonton Oilers | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
C1 | Winnipeg Jets | 4th | ||||||||||||||||
C3 | Calgary cowboys | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
C2 | Québec Nordiques | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
C3 | Calgary cowboys | 4th | ||||||||||||||||
C1 | Winnipeg Jets | 4th | ||||||||||||||||
W1 | Houston Eros | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
E1 | Indianapolis Racers | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
E3 | New England Whalers | 4th | ||||||||||||||||
E2 | Cleveland Crusaders | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
E3 | New England Whalers | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
E3 | New England Whalers | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
W1 | Houston Eros | 4th | ||||||||||||||||
W1 | Houston Eros | 4th | ||||||||||||||||
W3 | San Diego Mariners | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
W2 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
W3 | San Diego Mariners | 3 |
Preliminary Round (Round 1)
The New England Whalers prevailed surprisingly clearly against the Cleveland Crusaders. In the regular season, the Crusaders had two points more than the Whalers, but in Cleveland a move of the team was looming and this dwindled both players and spectators. |
The series between the Phoenix Roadrunners and the San Diego Mariners was highly competitive. In the first game, Del Hall succeeded in overtime after 31 seconds . After three close home wins, the Mariners were able to clearly win the fourth game and took the momentum with them into the last game in Phoenix. There they made it to the quarter-finals with the first away win in the series. |
Quarterfinals (Round 2)
Surely it was no surprise that the winner of the Canadien Division advanced to the next round in four games against the fourth from Edmonton. In the second game, the Oilers held against it and brought the game into overtime, but after just 54 seconds Ulf Nilsson scored the winning goal for the Jets. |
The Nordiques had finished the regular season with strong performances. Especially at home, the Nordiques were hard to beat. So the surprise was all the greater that the Cowboys could win their first game in Québec and they immediately followed up with another victory. Each team won once in Calgary before the Cowboys won the series in game five. |
New England and Indianapolis had a hard-fought series. New England secured the advantage with an away win in the first game, but in the sixth game the Racers equalized. Until then, Jim Park was the goalkeeper of the Racers with two shutouts , ahead of Cap Raeder of the Whalers. But in the decisive seventh game Raeder kept his goal clean and the Whalers moved into the semifinals with a convincing 6-0. |
The Houston favorite came into the game better and won the first three games. Gord Labossiere converted a penalty against Ernie Wakely in the first game . But the Mariners came back with two 3-2 wins. But in the sixth game, the Eros turned the tables and won 3-2. |
Semifinals (round 3)
Winnipeg Jets (2) vs. Calgary Cowboys (4) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
date | Away team | Home team | Note | |||
April 23 | Calgary | 1 | 6th | Winnipeg | ||
April 25 | Calgary | 2 | 3 | Winnipeg | ||
April 28 | Winnipeg | 6th | 3 | Calgary | ||
April, 30th | Winnipeg | 3 | 7th | Calgary | ||
2.May | Calgary | 0 | 4th | Winnipeg | ||
Winnipeg wins the series 4-1. |
The favored Jets left no doubt about progress in the first two games at home. You could also win the first game in Calgary. The Cowboys came back with a home win in their fourth game, but Joe Daley didn't concede a goal in their fifth game, ensuring that the series was over after five games.
Houston Eros (1) vs. New England Whalers (9) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
date | Away team | Home team | Note | |||
5th of May | New England | 4th | 2 | Houston | ||
May 7th | New England | 3 | 5 | Houston | ||
May 9 | Houston | 2 | 4th | New England | ||
May 11th | Houston | 4th | 3 | New England | ||
May 13th | New England | 3 | 4th | Houston | ||
May 15 | Houston | 2 | 6th | New England | ||
May 16 | New England | 0 | 2 | Houston | ||
Quebec wins the series 4-3. |
This semifinal only started three days after the other semifinal series ended. The Whalers were able to win the first game in Houston, although Ron Grahame held a penalty from Tommy Earl in the goal of the Eros . In the fourth game, the Eros managed to equalize with a win in New England. After two more home wins, the decision had to be made in the seventh game. An outstanding Ron Grahame kept his goal clean and helped his team advance to the final.
Avco World Trophy Championship
Houston Eros (1) vs. Winnipeg Jets (2) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
date | Away team | Home team | Note | |||
May 20th | Winnipeg |
4 A. Hedberg ( B. Hull , U. Nilsson ) 13:07 L. Moffat ( N. Beaudin , M. Lindh ) 15:36 A. Hedberg ( T. Bergman ) 36:10 B. Hull (U. Nilsson) 56:43 |
3 F. Hughes ( B. Butters , L. Hale ) 9:37 L. Lund ( Mark Howe , S. West ) 19:35 Mark Howe ( R. Preston ) 40:46 |
Houston | ||
23. May | Winnipeg |
5 A. Hedberg ( U. Nilsson ) 13:52 W. Lindström ( P. Sullivan , T. Bergman ) 22:17 D. Asmundson ( B. Lesuk , B. Guindon ) 36:53 T. Bergman 45:19 B. Hull (T. Bergman, A. Hedberg) 56:43 |
4 G. Howe ( Mark Howe , J. Schella ) 21:22 Mart. Howe ( M. Hall ) 32:44 T. Ruskowski ( R. Preston , P. Popiel ) 41:29 Mart. Howe ( T. Taylor , P. Popiel) 43:23 |
Houston | ||
25. May | Houston | 3 Mark Howe ( J. Schella ) 3:48 D. Larway ( Mart. Howe , J. Tonelli ) 34:28 D. Larway (J. Tonelli, T. Ruskowski ) 53:22 |
6 V.-P. Ketola ( W. Lindström , H. Riihiranta ) 2:24 U. Nilsson ( A. Hedberg ) 3:23 A. Hedberg ( M. Ford , V.-P. Ketola) 8:49 P. Sullivan ( B. Hull , W. Lindström) 11:33 U. Nilsson ( L.-E. Sjöberg ) 27:46 U. Nilsson 41:44 |
Winnipeg | ||
May 27th | Houston | 1 T. Taylor ( G. Labossiere , Mart. Howe ) 9:45 |
9 B. Hull ( M. Ford , U. Nilsson ) 5:37 V.-P. Ketola (M. Ford, B. Hull) 10:22 L. Moffat ( L.-E. Sjöberg , M. Ford) 11:21 V.-P. Ketola ( W. Lindström , P. Sullivan ) 21:07 A. Hedberg (U. Nilsson, B. Hull) 23:11 A. Hedberg (U. Nilsson) 29:19 P. Sullivan ( L. Hillman ) 32:14 P. Sullivan (M. Ford, H. Riihiranta ) 41:33 B. Guindon (H. Riihiranta, V.-P. Ketola) 49:30 |
Winnipeg | ||
Winnipeg wins the series 4-0 and the Avco World Trophy . |
The jets had 18 days to prepare for the finals, the Eros only had four days. The Jets won the first two games in Houston. The series with Bobby Hull and the two Swedes Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson was particularly dominant at the Winnipeg Jets. The two games in Winnipeg were then dominated by the Jets. After the Eros saw no chance in the last game, they gave up and Winnipeg won 9-1.
Avco World Trophy Winner
The 22 players in the Jets consist of two goalkeepers, eight defenders and twelve attackers.
All players who played in the final round were part of the winning team. In addition to the first row of attacks, which consisted of the greats Bobby Hull , Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg , the top-class European newcomers from Sweden and Finland around the strikers Veli-Pekka Ketola and Willy Lindström and defender Lars played a decisive role in the Winnipeg Jets' first championship win -Erik Sjöberg .
In addition to head coach Bobby Kromm and general manager Rudy Pilous , the following players were engraved on the Avco World Trophy, the championship trophy of the WHA:
Avco World Trophy winner Winnipeg Jets |
Goalkeepers: Joe Daley , Curt Larsson Defenders: Thommie Bergman , Mike Ford , Ted Green , Larry Hillman , Larry Hornung , Gerry Odrowski , Heikki Riihiranta , Lars-Erik Sjöberg ( C ) Attackers: Duke Asmundson , Norm Beaudin , Bob Guindon , Anders Hedberg , Bobby Hull , Veli-Pekka Ketola , Bill Lesuk , Mats Lindh , Willy Lindström , Lyle Moffat , Ulf Nilsson , Peter Sullivan Head Coach: Bobby Kromm General Manager: Rudy Pilous |
Best scorer
Abbreviations: GP = games, G = goals, A = assists , Pts = points, PIM = penalty minutes; Bold: Season best
player | team | GP | G | A. | Pts | +/- | PIM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ulf Nilsson | Winnipeg | 13 | 7th | 19th | 26th | +15 | 6th |
Bobby Hull | Winnipeg | 13 | 12 | 8th | 20th | +15 | 4th |
Hedberg is different | Winnipeg | 13 | 13 | 6th | 19th | +16 | 15th |
Tom Webster | New England | 17th | 10 | 9 | 19th | +3 | 6th |
Mark Howe | Houston | 17th | 6th | 10 | 16 | 0 | 18th |
Terry Ruskowski | Houston | 16 | 6th | 10 | 16 | +8 | 64 |
WHA Awards and trophies awarded
For the first time in WHA history, top scorer Marc Tardif managed to win two trophies in one season.
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ulf Nilsson | center | Winnipeg Jets | 78 | 38 | 76 | 114 |
Hedberg is different | Winger | Winnipeg Jets | 76 | 50 | 55 | 105 |
Marc Tardif | Winger | Québec Nordiques | 80 | 71 | 77 | 148 |
Paul Shmyr | defender | Cleveland Crusaders | 70 | 6th | 44 | 50 |
JC Tremblay | defender | Québec Nordiques | 80 | 12 | 77 | 89 |
player | position | team | GP | W. | SO | ATM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joe Daley | goalkeeper | Winnipeg Jets | 62 | 41 | 5 | 2.84 |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Robbie Ftorek | center | Phoenix Roadrunners | 80 | 41 | 72 | 113 |
Real Cloutier | Winger | Québec Nordiques | 80 | 60 | 54 | 114 |
Bobby Hull | Winger | Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 53 | 70 | 123 |
Kevin Morrison | defender | San Diego Mariners | 80 | 22nd | 43 | 65 |
Pat Stapleton | defender | Indianapolis Racers | 80 | 4th | 40 | 44 |
player | position | team | GP | W. | SO | ATM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ron Grahame | goalkeeper | Houston Eros | 57 | 39 | 3 | 3.27 |
Web links
- The 1975/76 WHA season at hockeydb.com
Individual evidence
- ↑ Scott Surgent: The World Hockey Association Factbook. 2010, p. 238, ISBN 978-0-9644774-8-3