WHA 1976/77

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The 1976/77 season was the fifth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA).

In the preseason, two teams had already stopped playing during the season. After the Cleveland Crusaders had got competition from the National Hockey League in their city , they left the city and started the second attempt to be successful as Minnesota Fighting Saints . The attempt failed and halfway through the season gave up a team called Minnesota Fighting Saints for the second time in two years during one season.

As last year's champions, the Winnipeg Jets toured Europe for two weeks in December. After their return, still plagued by jetlag, they were defeated by the Quebec Nordiques 12: 3 on Boxing Day . The two following games before the turn of the year were also lost.

In the final games of the Avco World Trophy , it was again the Québec Nordiques who could trip up the Winnipeg Jets. In a hard-fought and very scoring final series, they just prevailed with 4–3.

3,590,511 spectators saw the 465 games of the fifth season. On average, that was 7,722 per game, which was only a very small decrease compared to the previous season. In the NHL at that time, the average attendance had fallen to just under 11,900.

Regular season

mode

As in the first few years, they played in two divisions again. 80 games were planned for each team, 40 of which were to be played on their own and 40 on opposing ice. Six games were scheduled against the teams in the other division. In your own division you should play eight games each against three teams, the other two teams, the local rivals, should each meet ten times. However, the abandonment of the Minnesota Fighting Saints after 42 games forced the league to reschedule again. Since Minnesota had played eight more games at home than away, the schedule was adjusted so that each team came to 40 home games. As a result, eight of the eleven remaining teams played 81 games.

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 .

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,     = abandonment during the season

Eastern Division GP W. L. T GF GA Pts Zø
Québec Nordiques 81 47 31 3 353 295 97 8,598
Cincinnati stingers 81 39 37 5 354 303 83 7,647
Indianapolis Racers 81 36 37 8th 276 305 80 9,295
New England Whalers 81 35 40 6th 275 290 76 8,918
Birmingham Bulls 81 31 46 4th 289 309 66 8,468
Minnesota Fighting Saints ( retired Jan 17, 1977) 42 19th 18th 5 136 129 43 6.211

Western Division

Western Division GP W. L. T GF GA Pts Zø
Houston Eros 80 50 24 6th 320 241 106 8,830
Winnipeg Jets 80 46 32 2 366 291 94 8,447
San Diego Mariners 81 40 37 4th 284 283 84 6.013
Edmonton Oilers 81 34 43 4th 243 304 72 8,370
Calgary cowboys 81 31 43 7th 252 296 69 4,313
Phoenix Roadrunners 80 28 48 4th 281 383 60 6,985

Best scorer

Two players from the Cincinnati Stingers made a name for themselves this season. Neither Rich LeDuc nor Blaine Stoughton had even managed to come to the fore in the previous years. After a strong rookie season, 20-year-old Mark Napier was able to confirm his strong performance in his second year and made it into the list of top scorers.

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

player team GP G A. Pts +/- PIM
Real Cloutier Quebec 76 66 75 141 +47 39
Hedberg is different Winnipeg 68 70 61 131 +48 48
Ulf Nilsson Winnipeg 71 39 85 124 +57 89
Robbie Ftorek Phoenix 80 46 71 117 +26 86
André Lacroix San Diego 81 32 81 114 +2 79
Marc Tardif Quebec 62 49 60 109 +29 65
Christian Bordeleau Quebec 72 32 75 107 +28 34
Rich LeDuc Cincinnati 81 52 55 107 +28 75
Blaine Stoughton Cincinnati 81 52 52 104 +24 39
Serge Bernier Quebec 74 43 53 96 +1 94
Mark Napier Birmingham 80 60 36 96 +16 24
Dennis Sobchuk Cincinnati 81 44 52 96 +14 38

Best goalkeeper

Cincinnati's Jacques Caron (2.84) and Edmonton's Dave Dryden (3.26) both conceded a good goal against goals, but since they only played 24 games each, they are not included in the list below.

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 39 2345 27 10 2 107 4th 2.74
Ernie Wakely San Diego 46 2506 22nd 18th 3 129 3 3.09
Cap Raeder New England 26th 1328 12 10 1 69 2 3.12
Wayne Rutledge Houston 42 2512 23 14th 4th 132 3 3.15
Michel Dion Indianapolis 42 2286 17th 19th 3 128 1 3.36

Playoff

mode

After the first four teams had qualified from each division, start the knock-out 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 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 Québec Nordiques 4th        
E4 New England Whalers 1  
E1 Québec Nordiques 4th
  E3 Indianapolis Racers 1  
E2 Cincinnati stingers 0
E3 Indianapolis Racers 4th  
E1 Québec Nordiques 4th
  W1 Winnipeg Jets 3
W1 Houston Eros 4th    
W4 Edmonton Oilers 1  
W1 Winnipeg Jets 4th
  W2 Houston Eros 2  
W2 Winnipeg Jets 4th
  W3 San Diego Mariners 3  

Division Semifinals (Round 1)

Eastern Division

Québec Nordiques (1) vs. New England Whalers (4)
date Away team Home team Note
9th April New England 2 5 Quebec
12. April New England 3 7th Quebec
April 14th Quebec 4th 3 New England 1OT
April 16 Quebec 4th 6th New England
April 19th New England 0 3 Quebec
Québec wins the series 4-1.

Québec went into the series as favorites and when the Nordiques won their third game after two home wins with a goal from Paul Baxter after 1:50 minutes in overtime, the Whalers' victory in game four was all cosmetic. In the fifth game, Richard Brodeur kept his goal clean and the Nordiques advanced to the next round.

Cincinnati Stingers (2) vs. Indianapolis Racers (3)
date Away team Home team Note
9th April Indianapolis 4th 3 Cincinnati 3OT
12. April Indianapolis 7th 2 Cincinnati
April 14th Cincinnati 3 5 Indianapolis
April 16 Cincinnati 1 3 Indianapolis
Indianapolis wins the series 4-0.

The longest overtime in WHA history brought the first game in the series. Only after 48:40 minutes, Gene Peacosh decided the game for the Racers, who were motivated to win the second game in Cincinnati. In the two home games they could not take the advantage and won the series with 4–0.

Western Division

Houston Eros (1) vs. Edmonton Oilers (4)
date Away team Home team Note
April 13th Edmonton 3 4th Houston 1OT
April 15th Edmonton 2 6th Houston
17th April Houston 2 7th Edmonton
20th of April Houston 4th 1 Edmonton
April 22 Edmonton 3 4th Houston
Houston wins the series 4-1.

The Oilers were able to open the first game, but Morris Lukowich brought the favored Eros onto the winning road after 13:11 minutes. The Oilers won one of their two home games, but after five games the series was over for them.

Winnipeg Jets (2) vs. San Diego Mariners (3)
date Away team Home team Note
10th of April San Diego 1 5 Winnipeg
12. April San Diego 1 4th Winnipeg
April 16 Winnipeg 4th 5 San Diego
17th April Winnipeg 4th 6th San Diego
20th of April San Diego 0 3 Winnipeg
April 22 Winnipeg 1 3 San Diego
April 24th San Diego 3 7th Winnipeg
Winnipeg wins the series 4-3.

Already in the regular season, both teams were characterized by their home strength and the away team also had no chance in the playoffs. Winnipeg's Joe Daley managed a shutout in the fifth game of the series and thanks to the better placement in the preliminary round, the Jets, who were allowed to play the seventh and decisive game at home, moved into the next round.

Division Finals (Round 2)

Eastern Division

Québec Nordiques (1) vs. Indianapolis Racers (3)
date Away team Home team Note
April 23 Indianapolis 1 3 Quebec
April 25 Indianapolis 3 8th Quebec
April 28 Quebec 6th 5 Indianapolis 1OT
April, 30th Quebec 0 2 Indianapolis
2.May Indianapolis 3 8th Quebec
Québec wins the series 4-1.

After two home wins, the Nordiques were also able to win their first game in Indianapolis in extra time. Paulin Bordeleau secured victory for Quebec after 5:29 minutes. Thanks to an excellent performance by Paul Hoganson , who did not concede a goal, the Racers got their only win in the series, because back in Québec they had no chance against the Nordiques.

Western Division

Houston Eros (1) vs. Winnipeg Jets (2)
date Away team Home team Note
26th of April Winnipeg 4th 3 Houston 1OT
April 28 Winnipeg 2 7th Houston
April, 30th Houston 3 4th Winnipeg
1st of May Houston 4th 6th Winnipeg
May 3rd Winnipeg 2 3 Houston
5th of May Houston 3 6th Winnipeg
Winnipeg wins the series 4-2.

In the first game, Peter Sullivan brought the favorites from Houston to victory after 8:05 minutes in extra time. After the Jets also managed to win their first two home games, they drove to the Eros with a 3–1 lead. Houston won its home game, but in Game 6 in Winnipeg the Jets decided the series and advanced to the final.

Avco World Trophy Championship

Winnipeg Jets (1) vs. Québec Nordiques (1)
date Away team Home team Note
May 11th Winnipeg 2
D. Labraaten ( D. Dunn ) 22:22
W. Lindström (D. Labraaten, P. Sullivan ) 33:30 		1
P. Bordeleau 47:00 		Quebec
May 15 Winnipeg 1
D. Labraaten ( W. Lindström ) 42:47 		6
P. Guité ( A. Boudrias , F. Lacombe ) 4:32
P. Bordeleau ( S. Bernier , N. Dubé ) 13:25
S. Sutherland 15:17
S. Bernier (N. Dubé, C. Brackenbury ) 18 : 23
C. Brackenbury (S. Bernier, W. Weir ) 37:02
S. Sutherland ( B. Fitchner , C. Brackenbury) 53:00 		Quebec
May 18 Quebec 1
C. Brackenbury ( B. Fitchner ) 2:08 		6
W. Lindström ( D. Labraaten ) 24:42
D. Labraaten (W. Lindström) 33:16
A. Hedberg ( M. Ford , J. Daley ) 40:31
U. Nilsson 46:16
B. Lesuk ( M. Lindh , B. Long ) 49:30
W. Lindström ( P. Sullivan , D. Labraaten) 56:33 		Winnipeg
May 20th Quebec 4
S. Bernier ( P. Bordeleau , J. Bernier ) 7:33
F. Lacombe ( R. Cloutier , JC Tremblay ) 21:50
M. Tardif (S. Bernier, C. Bordeleau ) 34:53
S. Bernier (P. Bordeleau) 44:32 		2
P. Miller ( P. Sullivan , D. Labraaten ) 11:38
U. Nilsson ( B. Hull , A. Hedberg ) 17:17 		Winnipeg
May 22 Winnipeg 3
U. Nilsson ( P. Miller , B. Hull ) 17:04
M. Ford ( P. Sullivan , D. Labraaten ) 26:39
B. Hull 33:43 		8
P. Guité ( A. Boudrias , J. Bernier ) 4:32
R. Cloutier ( M. Tardif , JC Tremblay ) 8:49
C. Bordeleau (R. Cloutier) 12:10
P. Bordeleau ( N. Dubé , p . Bernier ) 14:20
R. Cloutier (C. Bordeleau) 24:14
P. Bordeleau (S. Bernier, JC Tremblay) 26:01
C. Bordeleau (R. Cloutier, S. Bernier) 31:37
S. Bernier ( P. Bordeleau) 48:49 		Quebec
May 24th Quebec 3
R. Cloutier 3:02
R. Cloutier ( M. Tardif , C. Bordeleau ) 4:28
C. Bordeleau (M. Tardif, R. Cloutier) 16:35 		12
B. Hull ( U. Nilsson , M. Ford ) 1:26
D. Labraaten ( P. Sullivan , W. Lindström ) 9:17
A. Hedberg (U. Nilsson) 12:09
B. Guindon ( F. Huck , P. Miller ) 13:47
B. Hull (B. Guindon, D. Dunn ) 26:28
P. Sullivan (D. Labraaten) 28:04
M. Ford ( L.-E. Sjöberg , A. Hedberg) 36: 57
B. Guindon ( B. Long , F. Huck) 37:30
P. Sullivan (D. Labraaten) 42:21
A. Hedberg (U. Nilsson, P. Miller) 43:37
W. Lindström (P. Sullivan) 45:20
B. Hull (U. Nilsson, A. Hedberg) 52:36 		Winnipeg
May 26 Winnipeg 2
D. Labraaten ( M. Ford , P. Sullivan ) 28:39
P. Miller ( U. Nilsson , A. Hedberg ) 54:09 		8
B. Fitchner 20:11
M. Tardif ( R. Cloutier , C. Bordeleau ) 21:10
R. Cloutier (M. Tardif, G. Lariviere ) 26:27
J. C. Tremblay (R. Cloutier, M. Tardif) 29: 24
N. Dubé (G. Lariviere, S. Bernier ) 35:23
P. Bordeleau (S. Bernier, F. Lacombe ) 38:41
C. Bordeleau (R. Cloutier, F. Lacombe) 41:39
S. Bernier ( N. Dubé, G. Lariviere) 43:39 		Quebec
Québec wins the series 4-3 and the Avco World Trophy .

After both teams had only managed to win one home game in the first four games, Québec set an example in their fifth game with a clear 8-3 victory. The Winnipeg Jets were not intimidated by this and were able to underline their title ambitions with an impressive 12: 3 success. In the decisive game in Québec, however, it was again the home side who, after a goalless first third, won the middle section 6-1 and thus laid the foundation for the final success.

Avco World Trophy Winner

The 22 Nordiques players are made up of three goalkeepers, seven defenders and twelve attackers.

Only three players who were used during the season were not part of the winning team. Defender Pierre Roy and center Richard Grenier were unattended in the finals, while Michel Dubois was not immortalized on the trophy, despite having played several play-offs. In addition to the outstanding attack by strikers Réal Cloutier , Marc Tardif and Christian Bordeleau , leading players such as defender JC Tremblay played a decisive role in the Québec Nordiques' championship win , while the defensive was reinforced by players such as Paul Baxter and Wally Weir , who had a physically dominated style of play shaped.

In addition to head coach Marc Boileau and General Manager Maurice Filion , the following players were engraved on the Avco World Trophy, the championship trophy of the WHA:

Avco World Trophy Winner Québec Nordiques

Québec Nordiques logo

Goalkeepers: Serge Aubry , Richard Brodeur , Ed Humphreys

Defenders: Paul Baxter , Jean Bernier , Jim Dorey , François Lacombe , Garry Lariviere , JC Tremblay , Wally Weir

Attackers: Serge Bernier , Christian Bordeleau , Paulin Bordeleau , André Boudrias , Curt Brackenbury , Réal Cloutier , Charles Constantin , Norm Dubé , Bob Fitchner , Pierre Guité , Steve Sutherland , Marc Tardif ( C )

Head coach: Marc Boileau   General Manager: Maurice Filion

Best scorer

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

player team GP G A. Pts +/- PIM
Serge Bernier Quebec 17th 14th 22nd 36 +16 10
Hedberg is different Winnipeg 20th 13 16 29 +6 13
Real Cloutier Quebec 16 14th 13 27 +11 10
Ulf Nilsson Winnipeg 20th 6th 21st 27 +5 33
Dan Labraaten Winnipeg 20th 7th 17th 24 +8 15th
Bobby Hull Winnipeg 20th 13 9 22nd +6 2

WHA Awards and trophies awarded

Award player team
Gordie Howe Trophy Robbie Ftorek Phoenix Roadrunners
Bill Hunter Trophy Real Cloutier Québec Nordiques
Lou Kaplan Trophy George Lyle New England Whalers
Ben Hatskin Trophy Ron Grahame Houston Eros
Dennis A. Murphy Trophy Ron Plumb Cincinnati stingers
WHA Playoff MVP Serge Bernier Québec Nordiques
Robert Schmertz Memorial Trophy Bill Dineen Houston Eros
Paul Deneau Trophy Dave Keon New England Whalers

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
Robbie Ftorek center Phoenix Roadrunners 80 46 71 117
Hedberg is different Winger Winnipeg Jets 68 70 61 131
Marc Tardif Winger Québec Nordiques 62 49 60 109
Darryl Maggs defender Indianapolis Racers 81 16 55 71
Ron Plumb defender Cincinnati stingers 79 11 58 69
player position team GP W. SO ATM
John Garrett goalkeeper Birmingham Bulls 65 24 4th 3.53

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
Ulf Nilsson center Winnipeg Jets 71 39 85 124
Real Cloutier Winger Québec Nordiques 76 66 75 141
Rick Dudley Winger Cincinnati stingers 77 41 47 88
Poul Popiel defender Houston Eros 80 12 56 68
Mark Howe defender Houston Eros 57 23 52 75
player position team GP W. SO ATM
Joe Daley goalkeeper Winnipeg Jets 65 39 3 3.24

Web links

Individual evidence

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