SEVEN SEASONS: WHA 1973-74
SEASON TWO: Timeline by Paul
Newberry
Philadelphia moves to Vancouver and
Ottawa becomes the Toronto Toros. New York changes
its name to Golden Blades, then moves to Cherry
Hill, N.J., during the season and becomes the Jersey
Knights. Houston wins the first of two straight
championships, led by 45-year-old Gordie Howe. Mr.
Hockey is named the league's MVP while playing alongside
his two sons, Mark and Marty.
WHA Regular Season
EASTERN
DIVISION |
GP |
W |
L |
T |
PTS |
GF |
GA |
PIM |
New England Whalers |
78 |
43 |
31 |
4 |
90 |
291 |
260 |
875 |
Toronto Toros |
78 |
41 |
33 |
4 |
86 |
304 |
272 |
871 |
Cleveland Crusaders |
78 |
37 |
32 |
9 |
83 |
266 |
264 |
1007 |
Chicago Cougars |
78 |
38 |
35 |
5 |
81 |
271 |
273 |
1041 |
Quebec Nordiques |
78 |
38 |
36 |
4 |
80 |
306 |
280 |
909 |
NY Golden Blades/Jersey Knights |
78 |
32 |
42 |
4 |
68 |
268 |
313 |
933 |
WESTERN
DIVISION |
GP |
W |
L |
T |
PTS |
GF |
GA |
PIM |
Houston Aeros |
78 |
48 |
25 |
5 |
101 |
318 |
219 |
1038 |
Minnesota Fighting Saints |
78 |
44 |
32 |
2 |
90 |
332 |
275 |
1243 |
Edmonton Oilers |
78 |
38 |
37 |
3 |
79 |
268 |
269 |
1273 |
Winnipeg Jets |
78 |
34 |
39 |
5 |
73 |
264 |
296 |
673 |
Vancouver Blazers |
78 |
27 |
50 |
1 |
55 |
278 |
345 |
1047 |
Los Angeles Sharks |
78 |
25 |
53 |
0 |
50 |
239 |
339 |
1086 |
|
AVCO World Trophy Playoffs
First
Round:
Houston 4 Winnipeg 0
Minnesota 4 Edmonton 1
Chicago 4 New England 3
Toronto 4 Cleveland 1
Second Round:
Houston 4 Minnesota 2
Chicago 4 Toronto 3
AVCO Cup:
Houston over Chicago, 4 games to 0
Bill Hunter Trophy Scoring
Leader
Year |
Player |
Gm |
G |
A |
Pts |
1974 |
Mike
Walton,
Minnesota Fighting Saints |
78 |
57 |
60 |
117 |
|
Ben Hatskin Trophy Best
Goaltender
Year
|
Player |
Record
|
GAA |
1974 |
Don
McLeod,
Houston Aeros |
33-13-3 |
2.56 |
|
Dennis A. Murphy Trophy
Best Defenseman
Year
|
Player |
1974 |
Pat
Stapleton,
Chicago Cougars |
|
Lou Kaplan Trophy Rookie
of the Year
Year |
Player |
G |
A |
Pts |
1974 |
Mark
Howe,
LW, Houston Aeros |
38 |
41 |
79 |
|
Paul Deneau Trophy
Most Gentlmenly Player
Year
|
Player |
1974 |
Ralph
Backstrom,
Chicago Cougars |
|
Howard Baldwin Trophy Coach
of the Year
Year |
Coach |
Improvement |
1974 |
Billy
Harris,
Toronto Toros |
35-39-4 |
to |
41-33-4 |
|
Note: *Won Division.
All WHA WHA
All Star Teams
Pos
|
1st
Team |
2nd
Team |
G |
Don
McLeod
Houston
|
Gerry
Cheevers
Cleveland |
D |
Pat
Stapleton
Chicago |
JC
Tremblay
Quebec |
D |
Paul
Shmyr
Cleveland |
Al
Hamilton
Edmonton |
C |
Andre
Lacroix
New York/New Jersey |
Wayne
Carleton
Toronto |
LW |
Bobby
Hull
Winnipeg |
Mark
Howe
Houston |
RW |
Gordie
Howe
Houston
|
Mike
Walton
Minnesota |
|
WHA Annual All-Star Game
1/3/74 St Paul, Minnesota
East 8, West 4
Attendance: 13,196
MVP: Mike Walton
EAST
LINEUP |
WEST
LINEUP |
G Gerry Cheevers Cleveland
G Gilles Gratton Toronto
G Al Smith New England
D Rick Ley New England
D JC Tremblay Quebec
D Pat Stapleton Chicago
D Paul Shmyr Cleveland
D Brad Selwood New England
D Jim Dorey New England
D Dale Hoganson Quebec
(Injured-Did Not Play)
C Larry Pleau New England
C Ralph Backstrom Chicago
C Andre Lacroix New Jersey
C Serge Bernier Quebec
RW Gerry Pinder Cleveland
RW Tom Webster New England
RW Rosaire Paiement Chicago
RW Tom Simpson Toronto
LW Rejean Houle Quebec
LW Wayne Carleton Toronto
LW Gary Jarrett Cleveland
LW Hugh Harris New England
LW Bobby Sheehan New Jersey
(Injured-Did Not Play) |
G Ernie Wakely Winnipeg
G Jack Norris Edmonton
G John Garrett Minnesota
D Rick Smith Minnesota
D Al Hamilton Edmonton
D Gerry Odrowski Los Angeles
D Poul Popiel Houston
D Bart Crashley Los Angeles
D Ralph McSweyn Vancouver
D Larry Hornung Winnipeg
(Injured-Did Not Play)
C Mike Walton Minnesota
C Larry Lund Houston
C Bryan Campbell Vancouver
C Fran Huck Winnipeg
C Jim Harrison Edmonton (Injured-Did not
Play)
C Ross Perkins Edmonton
RW Wayne Connelly Minnesota
RW Gordie Howe Houston
RW Danny Lawson Vancouver
RW Frank Hughes Houston
LW Bobby Hull Winnipeg
LW Ron Climie Edmonton
LW Marc Tardif Los Angeles |
|
|