1974–75 New England Whalers season

The 1974–75 New England Whalers season was the Whalers' third season of play. It was also the first season the franchise played in Hartford, Connecticut. Ryan was replaced by Kelley before the playoffs started; the Whalers lost to Minnesota in 6 games.

1974–75 New England Whalers
Division1st East
1974–75 record43–30–5
Goals for274
Goals against279
Team information
General managerJack Kelley
CoachRon Ryan (40–28–5)
Jack Kelley (3–2–0)
CaptainTed Green

Regular season

Final standings
Eastern Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
New England Whalers784330591274279867
Cleveland Crusaders7835403732362581273
Chicago Cougars7830471612613121086
Indianapolis Racers781857339216338970

Schedule and results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 15, 19742–6@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)0–1–0
2WOctober 19, 19742–1 OTMichigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)1–1–0
3WOctober 23, 19745–4Houston Aeros (1974–75)2–1–0
4WOctober 26, 19746–1Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)3–1–0
5WOctober 30, 19745–2Toronto Toros (1974–75)4–1–0
6WOctober 31, 19746–1@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)5–1–0
7WNovember 2, 19744–2Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)6–1–0
8WNovember 8, 19743–0San Diego Mariners (1974–75)7–1–0
9LNovember 9, 19742–4Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)7–2–0
10LNovember 12, 19741–6@ Houston Aeros (1974–75)7–3–0
11WNovember 14, 19747–2@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)8–3–0
12LNovember 16, 19743–6@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)8–4–0
13WNovember 17, 19746–1@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)9–4–0
14WNovember 19, 19745–4@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)10–4–0
15WNovember 21, 19744–0@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)11–4–0
16WNovember 23, 19743–2Chicago Cougars (1974–75)12–4–0
17WNovember 24, 19749–5@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)13–4–0
18WNovember 26, 19745–4 OT@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)14–4–0
19LNovember 29, 19741–5@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)14–5–0
20LDecember 1, 19744–8@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)14–6–0
21LDecember 3, 19741–2@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)14–7–0
22WDecember 4, 19743–2@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)15–7–0
23LDecember 5, 19741–9@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)15–8–0
24WDecember 7, 19746–3Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)16–8–0
25WDecember 11, 19743–1Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)17–8–0
26WDecember 14, 19749–4Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)18–8–0
27WDecember 15, 19744–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)19–8–0
28TDecember 17, 19742–2@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)19–8–1
29LDecember 20, 19740–3@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)19–9–1
30LDecember 21, 19743–5Houston Aeros (1974–75)19–10–1
31LDecember 22, 19741–2@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)19–11–1
32LDecember 27, 19743–6@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)19–12–1
33LDecember 28, 19741–6@ Houston Aeros (1974–75)19–13–1
34WJanuary 3, 19755–3@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)20–13–1
35WJanuary 4, 19754–3 OTVancouver Blazers (1974–75)21–13–1
36LJanuary 5, 19753–9@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)21–14–1
37LJanuary 7, 19753–5@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)21–15–1
38TJanuary 9, 19751–1@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)21–15–2
39WJanuary 11, 19754–3 OTSan Diego Mariners (1974–75)22–15–2
40WJanuary 15, 19757–5Chicago Cougars (1974–75)23–15–2
41WJanuary 17, 19752–1Toronto Toros (1974–75)24–15–2
42LJanuary 18, 19752–8@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)24–16–2
43LJanuary 19, 19751–3Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)24–17–2
44LJanuary 24, 19751–4@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)24–18–2
45LJanuary 25, 19752–6@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)24–19–2
46WJanuary 27, 19752–0Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)25–19–2
47WJanuary 29, 19754–3Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)26–19–2
48WJanuary 31, 19754–2Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)27–19–2
49WFebruary 7, 19755–4 OT@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)28–19–2
50LFebruary 8, 19751–4@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)28–20–2
51LFebruary 9, 19751–5@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)28–21–2
52TFebruary 12, 19752–2Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)28–21–3
53WFebruary 14, 19754–3 OTIndianapolis Racers (1974–75)29–21–3
54LFebruary 18, 19753–6@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)29–22–3
55WFebruary 21, 19754–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)30–22–3
56WFebruary 23, 19752–1 OT@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)31–22–3
57WFebruary 25, 19753–2Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)32–22–3
58LFebruary 26, 19753–4Chicago Cougars (1974–75)32–23–3
59WFebruary 27, 19755–2Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)33–23–3
60TMarch 1, 19754–4Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)33–23–4
61WMarch 2, 19754–1Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)34–23–4
62LMarch 5, 19753–5@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)34–24–4
63WMarch 8, 19755–4@ Houston Aeros (1974–75)35–24–4
64WMarch 11, 19756–2Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)36–24–4
65TMarch 13, 19755–5Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)36–24–5
66WMarch 15, 19756–2Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)37–24–5
67WMarch 16, 19757–5Toronto Toros (1974–75)38–24–5
68LMarch 19, 19751–6San Diego Mariners (1974–75)38–25–5
69LMarch 21, 19753–6Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)38–26–5
70LMarch 22, 19753–5Houston Aeros (1974–75)38–27–5
71WMarch 25, 19755–4Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)39–27–5
72WMarch 27, 19755–3Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)40–27–5
73LMarch 29, 19753–9Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)40–28–5
74WMarch 30, 19754–3@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)41–28–5
75WApril 1, 19755–3Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)42–28–5
76WApril 3, 19754–1Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)43–28–5
77LApril 4, 19751–3@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)43–29–5
78LApril 5, 19752–5@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)43–30–5

Playoffs
Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
W1 Houston Aeros 4
E2 Cleveland Crusaders 1
W1 Houston Aeros 4
W2 San Diego Mariners 0
W2 San Diego Mariners 4
C2 Toronto Toros 2
W1 Houston Aeros 4
C1 Quebec Nordiques 0
E1 New England Whalers 2
W3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4
W3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 2
C1 Quebec Nordiques 4
C1 Quebec Nordiques 4
W4 Phoenix Roadrunners 1

Game Two at Hartford on April 11 went to overtime and the Whalers won in the extra period 3–2. The game was famous for a huge brawl early in the second period that involved both benches and lasted nearly five full minutes; the primary fighters were Nick Fotiu, Bill Butters, and Jack Carlson that raged on the ice and even in the penalty boxes.[1]

Minnesota Fighting Saints 4, New England Whalers 2 – Division Quarterfinals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 9Minnesota Fighting Saints6–5New England Whalers0–1
2April 11Minnesota Fighting Saints2 – 3 OTNew England Whalers1–1
3April 13New England Whalers3–8Minnesota Fighting Saints1–2
4April 15New England Whalers5–2Minnesota Fighting Saints2–2
5April 18Minnesota Fighting Saints4–0New England Whalers2–3
6April 19New England Whalers1–6Minnesota Fighting Saints2–4

Roster
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
29 Christer Abrahamsson G L 28 1974 Leksand, Sweden
19 Thommy Abrahamsson D L 28 1974 Leksand, Sweden
30 Bill Berglund G L 29 1974 Everett, Massachusetts
22 Don Blackburn LW L 36 1973 Kirkland Lake, Ontario
21 Mike Byers RW R 28 1973 Toronto, Ontario
9 Terry Caffery C R 26 1972 Toronto, Ontario
7 Wayne Carleton C L 28 1974 Sudbury, Ontario
18 Bob Charlebois LW L 30 1973 Cornwall, Ontario
15 Ron Climie LW L 25 1975 Hamilton, Ontario
10 Jim Dorey D L 27 1972 Kingston, Ontario
27 Tommy Earl LW R 27 1972 Niagara Falls, Ontario
23 Nick Fotiu LW L 26 1974 Staten Island, New York
11 John French C L 24 1972 Orillia, Ontario
6 Ted Green D R 35 1972 Eriksdale, Manitoba
10 Alan Hangsleben D L 22 1975 Warroad, Minnesota
5 Paul Hurley D R 28 1972 Melrose, Massachusetts
14 Al Karlander C L 28 1973 Lac la Hache, British Columbia
30 Bruce Landon G L 25 1972 Kingston, Ontario
2 Rick Ley D L 26 1972 Orillia, Ontario
5 Gerry Methe D L 23 1974 Ottawa, Ontario
16 Fred O'Donnell RW R 25 1974 Kingston, Ontario
4 Larry Pleau LW L 27 1972 Lynn, Massachusetts
3 Brad Selwood D L 27 1972 Leamington, Ontario
15 Tim Sheehy C R 26 1972 Fort Frances, Ontario
1 Al Smith G L 29 1972 Toronto, Ontario
20 Garry Swain C L 27 1974 Welland, Ontario
8 Tom Webster RW R 26 1972 Kirkland Lake, Ontario

[2]

Draft picks

New England's draft picks at the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft.[3][4]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
WHA Secret Amateur Draft
114Peter Sturgeon (LW) CanadaKitchener Rangers (OHA)
229Michel Deziel (LW) CanadaSorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
WHA Amateur Draft
113Tim Young (F) CanadaOttawa 67's (OHA)
228Mike Eruzione (LW) United StatesBoston University (ECAC)
343Peter Brown (D) United StatesBoston University (ECAC)
458Dick Lamby (D) United StatesSalem State College (ECAC-2)
572Don McLean (D) CanadaSudbury Wolves (OHA)
687Joe Rando (D) United StatesUniversity of New Hampshire (ECAC)
7102Brian Walsh (RW) United StatesUniversity of Notre Dame (WCHA)
8117John Nazar (LW) CanadaCornwall Royals (QMJHL)
9132Warren Miller (F) United StatesUniversity of Minnesota (WCHA)
10145Tony White (F) CanadaKitchener Rangers (OHA)
11158Robbie Moore (G) CanadaMichigan Americans (SOJHL)
12171Cliff Cox (F) CanadaUniversity of New Hampshire (ECAC)
13182Dave Staffen (F) CanadaOttawa 67's (OHA)
14190Peter Tighe (D) CanadaLondon Knights (OHA)
15195Brian Durocher (G) United StatesSpringfield Olympics (NEJHL)
16199Colin Ahern (C) United StatesTyngsboro Huskies
17203Dwane Byers (F) CanadaSherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)

See also

References
  1. 1975 Whalers-Saints Brawl At The Mall call by Bill Rasmussen and Bob Neumeier
  2. "1974–75 New England Whalers Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  3. "1974 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  4. "1974 WHA Secret Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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