1973–74 New England Whalers season

The 1973–74 New England Whalers season was the second season of the Whalers' franchise. The Whalers qualified for the playoffs for the second-straight season to attempt to defend their championship. They were defeated in the first round by the Chicago Cougars.[1][2]

1973–74 New England Whalers
Division	1st East
1973–74 record	43–31–4
Home record	26-11-2
Road record	17-20-2
Goals for	291
Goals against	260
Team information
General manager	Jack Kelley
Coach	Ron Ryan
Captain	Ted Green
Alternate captains	Jim Dorey Tommy Williams Larry Pleau
Arena	Boston Garden
Average attendance	5,970 (39.8%)
Team leaders
Goals	Tom Webster (43)
Assists	John French (48)
Points	John French (72)
Penalty minutes	Rick Ley (148)
Wins	Al Smith (30)
Goals against average	Al Smith (3.08)

Regular season

Final standings

Eastern Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PIM	Pts
New England Whalers	78	43	31	4	291	260	875	90
Toronto Toros	78	41	33	4	304	272	871	86
Cleveland Crusaders	78	37	32	9	266	264	1007	83
Chicago Cougars	78	38	35	5	271	273	1041	81
Quebec Nordiques	78	38	36	4	306	280	909	80
NY Golden Blades / Jersey Knights	78	32	42	4	268	313	933	68

Schedule and results

No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 7, 1973	2–4	@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)	0–1–0
2	W	October 9, 1973	3–2	Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)	1–1–0
3	W	October 13, 1973	6–4	Chicago Cougars (1973–74)	2–1–0
4	W	October 14, 1973	2–1 OT	@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	3–1–0
5	T	October 15, 1973	3–3	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)	3–1–1
6	L	October 17, 1973	1–3	Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)	3–2–1
7	L	October 19, 1973	0–1	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)	3–3–1
8	W	October 21, 1973	4–3	@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)	4–3–1
9	W	October 22, 1973	4–1	New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	5–3–1
10	W	October 25, 1973	8–3	@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	6–3–1
11	W	October 27, 1973	3–1	Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)	7–3–1
12	L	November 3, 1973	4–5	Toronto Toros (1973–74)	7–4–1
13	W	November 4, 1973	7–5	Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)	8–4–1
14	W	November 7, 1973	9–2	Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)	9–4–1
15	L	November 10, 1973	3–6	Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)	9–5–1
16	L	November 11, 1973	2–3	@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)	9–6–1
17	W	November 12, 1973	3–2 OT	New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	10–6–1
18	W	November 15, 1973	5–3	@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)	11–6–1
19	L	November 17, 1973	4–10	Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)	11–7–1
20	W	November 18, 1973	5–2	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)	12–7–1
21	L	November 21, 1973	1–4	@ Houston Aeros (1973–74)	12–8–1
22	L	November 22, 1973	5–7	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)	12–9–1
23	W	November 26, 1973	4–2	New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	13–9–1
24	W	November 29, 1973	5–2	Houston Aeros (1973–74)	14–9–1
25	W	December 2, 1973	4–3	Chicago Cougars (1973–74)	15–9–1
26	L	December 8, 1973	1–2 OT	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)	15–10–1
27	W	December 9, 1973	3–2	Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)	16–10–1
28	W	December 12, 1973	8–6	Toronto Toros (1973–74)	17–10–1
29	W	December 14, 1973	3–1	New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	18–10–1
30	L	December 16, 1973	2–3	Chicago Cougars (1973–74)	18–11–1
31	W	December 19, 1973	4–2	Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)	19–11–1
32	L	December 22, 1973	0–2	Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)	19–12–1
33	W	December 24, 1973	5–4 OT	Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)	20–12–1
34	W	December 26, 1973	3–2 OT	@ Houston Aeros (1973–74)	21–12–1
35	W	December 27, 1973	5–1	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)	22–12–1
36	L	December 29, 1973	2–6	@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)	22–13–1
37	L	December 30, 1973	5–6 OT	@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)	22–14–1
38	W	January 4, 1974	4–3	@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)	23–14–1
39	L	January 5, 1974	0–1	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)	23–15–1
40	L	January 8, 1974	2–3	Toronto Toros (1973–74)	23–16–1
41	T	January 10, 1974	6–6	@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)	23–16–2
42	W	January 13, 1974	9–6	Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)	24–16–2
43	W	January 16, 1974	4–2	New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	25–16–2
44	L	January 17, 1974	2–5	Chicago Cougars (1973–74)	25–17–2
45	W	January 19, 1974	5–2	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)	26–17–2
46	L	January 20, 1974	4–8	@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)	26–18–2
47	L	January 22, 1974	3–5	@ Chicago Cougars (1973–74)	26–19–2
48	W	January 26, 1974	4–0	Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)	27–19–2
49	W	January 28, 1974	6–4	Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)	28–19–2
50	L	January 31, 1974	1–4	@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	28–20–2
51	W	February 2, 1974	5–2	Houston Aeros (1973–74)	29–20–2
52	L	February 3, 1974	1–3	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)	29–21–2
53	L	February 6, 1974	0–3	Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)	29–22–2
54	W	February 8, 1974	4–2	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)	30–22–2
55	L	February 10, 1974	2–5	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)	30–23–2
56	L	February 13, 1974	4–9	@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)	30–24–2
57	W	February 15, 1974	7–3	@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)	31–24–2
58	W	February 17, 1974	3–2 OT	@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)	32–24–2
59	L	February 20, 1974	2–4	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)	32–25–2
60	W	February 23, 1974	3–0	@ Chicago Cougars (1973–74)	33–25–2
61	L	February 24, 1974	0–2	@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)	33–26–2
62	W	February 27, 1974	5–3	Toronto Toros (1973–74)	34–26–2
63	T	February 28, 1974	3–3	@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	34–26–3
64	W	March 2, 1974	7–1	Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)	35–26–3
65	W	March 3, 1974	6–3	@ Houston Aeros (1973–74)	36–26–3
66	W	March 5, 1974	3–2	@ Chicago Cougars (1973–74)	37–26–3
67	L	March 6, 1974	6–8	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)	37–27–3
68	W	March 8, 1974	7–2	@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	38–27–3
69	L	March 12, 1974	3–5	@ Chicago Cougars (1973–74)	38–28–3
70	W	March 14, 1974	6–3	@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)	39–28–3
71	W	March 15, 1974	6–2	@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)	40–28–3
72	L	March 17, 1974	1–10	@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)	40–29–3
73	T	March 20, 1974	2–2	Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)	40–29–4
74	L	March 24, 1974	3–4	@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)	40–30–4
75	W	March 27, 1974	7–1	Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)	41–30–4
76	W	March 28, 1974	3–2	Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)	42–30–4
77	W	March 31, 1974	3–2 OT	Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)	43–30–4
78	L	April 1, 1974	1–4	Houston Aeros (1973–74)	43–31–4

Playoffs

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

E1

New England Whalers

3

E4

Chicago Cougars

4

E4

Chicago Cougars

4

Eastern Division

E2

Toronto Toros

3

E2

Toronto Toros

4

E3

Cleveland Crusaders

1

E4

Chicago Cougars

0

W1

Houston Aeros

4

W1

Houston Aeros

4

W4

Winnipeg Jets

0

W1

Houston Aeros

4

Western Division

W2

Minnesota Fighting Saints

2

W2

Minnesota Fighting Saints

4

W3

Edmonton Oilers

1

Chicago Cougars 4, New England Whalers 3 – Division Quarterfinals

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 6	Chicago Cougars	4–6	New England Whalers	1–0
2	April 7	Chicago Cougars	3 – 4 OT	New England Whalers	2–0
3	April 9	New England Whalers	6–8	Chicago Cougars	2–1
4	April 10	New England Whalers	1 – 2 OT	Chicago Cougars	2–2
5	April 12	Chicago Cougars	4–2	New England Whalers	3–2
6	April 14	New England Whalers	2–0	Chicago Cougars	3–3
7	April 16	Chicago Cougars	3–2	New England Whalers	3–4

Roster

#	Nat	Player	Pos	S/G	Age	Acquired	Birthplace
30		Bill Berglund	G	L	28	1974	Everett, Massachusetts
22		Don Blackburn	LW	L	35	1973	Kirkland Lake, Ontario
21		Mike Byers	RW	R	27	1973	Toronto, Ontario
18		Bob Charlebois	LW	L	29	1973	Cornwall, Ontario
–		John Cunniff	D	L	30	1972	Boston, Massachusetts
12		John Danby	C	R	25	1972	Toronto, Ontario
10		Jim Dorey	D	L	26	1972	Kingston, Ontario
27		Tommy Earl	LW	R	26	1972	Niagara Falls, Ontario
11		John French	C	L	23	1972	Orillia, Ontario
6		Ted Green	D	R	34	1972	Eriksdale, Manitoba
16		Hugh Harris	LW	L	25	1973	Toronto, Ontario
5		Paul Hurley	D	R	27	1972	Melrose, Massachusetts
20		Ric Jordan	D	L	24	1972	Toronto, Ontario
14		Al Karlander	C	L	27	1973	Lac la Hache, British Columbia
–		Mike Keeler	D	R	22	1973	Toronto, Ontario
30		Bruce Landon	G	L	24	1972	Kingston, Ontario
2		Rick Ley	D	L	25	1972	Orillia, Ontario
4		Larry Pleau	LW	L	27	1972	Lynn, Massachusetts
3		Brad Selwood	D	L	26	1972	Leamington, Ontario
15		Tim Sheehy	C	R	25	1972	Fort Frances, Ontario
1		Al Smith	G	L	28	1972	Toronto, Ontario
19		Guy Smith	RW	R	24	1972	Ottawa, Ontario
8		Tom Webster	RW	R	25	1972	Kirkland Lake, Ontario
9		Tommy Williams	C	R	34	1972	Duluth, Minnesota

Draft picks

New England's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.[3]

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1	2	Glenn Goldup (F)	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
1	12	Blake Dunlop (F)	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHA)
2	26	Mike Clarke (C)	Canada	Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
3	38	Tom Colley (C)	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
4	41	Randy Holt (D)	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
4	51	Alan Hangsleben (D)	United States	University of North Dakota (WCHA)
5	53	Larry Patey (C)	Canada	Boston University (ECAC)
5	64	Cap Raeder (G)	United States	University of New Hampshire (ECAC)
6	77	Rick Chinnick (F)	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OHA)
7	90	Steve Alley (LW)	United States	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

See also

• 1973–74 WHA season

References

1. World Hockey Association (1973). WHA 1973-74 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
2. World Hockey Association (1974). WHA 1974-75 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
3. "1973 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

• "1973–74 New England Whalers Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-21.

External links