1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season

The 1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season was their first season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Jets' first player signed was Norm Beaudin ("the Original Jet") and their first major signing was Bobby Hull.[1][2]

1972–73 Winnipeg Jets (1972–96)
Western Division champions
League2nd WHA
Division1st Western
1972–73 record43–31–4
Home record26–11–2
Road record17–20–2
Goals for285
Goals against249
Team information
General managerAnnis Stukus
CoachBobby Hull
Nick Mickoski
CaptainAb McDonald
Alternate captainsBill Sutherland
Bob Woytowich
ArenaWinnipeg Arena
Average attendance6,102 (55.5%)
Team leaders
GoalsBobby Hull (51)
AssistsNorm Beaudin (65)
PointsBobby Hull (103)
Norm Beaudin (103)
Penalty minutesSteve Cuddie (121)
WinsErnie Wakely (26)
Goals against averageJoe Daley (2.89)

Offseason

Bobby Hull

Long unhappy because of his relatively poor salary in the period when he was hockey's preeminent superstar, Hull responded to overtures from the upstart World Hockey Association's Winnipeg Jets in 1972 by jesting that he'd jump to them for a million dollars, a sum then considered absurd. Gathering the other league owners together to contribute to the unprecedented amount on the grounds that inking such a major star would give instant credibility to the new rival league that was competing directly against the entrenched NHL, Jets' owner Ben Hatskin agreed to the sum and signed Hull for a contract worth $1,000,000 over ten years. Although his debut with Winnipeg was held up in litigation by the NHL, Hull instantly became the WHA's greatest star.

Regular season

When the Jets played their first game on October 12 in New York against the Raiders, the Jets were without Bobby Hull. He was in court battling his former team, the Chicago Black Hawks over his new contract. The Jets would still win that first game 6–4. Three days later, the Jets would make their home debut losing to the Alberta Oilers 5–2. Bobby Hull won his court battle and joined the Jets 15 games into the season. Bobby Hull captured the WHA's first MVP award, by scoring 51 goals. The Jets won the Western Division with a 43–31–4 record.

Season standings

Western Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
Winnipeg Jets784331428524975790
Houston Aeros7839354284269136382
Los Angeles Sharks7837356259250147780
Minnesota Fighting Saints783837325026984379
Alberta Oilers7838373269256113479
Chicago Cougars782650224529581154

Playoffs

In the playoffs, the Jets would beat the Minnesota Fighting Saints in 5 games. In the second round of the playoffs, the Jets beat the Houston Aeros in 4 straight to reach the Avco World Trophy finals. In the finals, the Jets were beaten by the New England Whalers in 5 games.

Winnipeg Jets 4, Minnesota Fighting Saints 1

#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 6Minnesota Fighting Saints1–3Winnipeg Jets1–0
2April 8Minnesota Fighting Saints2–5Winnipeg Jets2–0
3April 10Winnipeg Jets4–6Minnesota Fighting Saints2–1
4April 11Winnipeg Jets3–2 OTMinnesota Fighting Saints3–1
5April 15Minnesota Fighting Saints5–8Winnipeg Jets4–1

Winnipeg Jets 4, Houston Aeros 0

#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 20Houston Aeros1–5Winnipeg Jets1–0
2April 22Houston Aeros0–2Winnipeg Jets2–0
3April 24Winnipeg Jets4–2Houston Aeros3–0
4April 26Winnipeg Jets3–0Houston Aeros4–0

New England Whalers 4, Winnipeg Jets 1 – Avco Cup Finals

#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 29Winnipeg Jets2–7New England Whalers0–1
2May 2New England Whalers7–4Winnipeg Jets0–2
3May 3New England Whalers3–4Winnipeg Jets1–2
4May 5Winnipeg Jets2–4New England Whalers1–3
5May 6Winnipeg Jets6–9New England Whalers1–4

Awards and records

Player statistics

Forwards

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player GP G A PTS PIM
Bobby Hull63515210337
Norm Beaudin78386510315
Chris Bordeleau78475410112
Dan Johnson7619234217
Ab McDonald7717244116
Milt Black7518163414
Wally Boyer696283427
Dunc Rousseau7516173375
Cal Swenson777212819
Jean Guy Gratton7115122737
Bill Sutherland486162234
Garth Rizzuto6110102032
Freeman Asmundson762141654
Brian Cadle5644839

Defencemen

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player GP G A PTS PIM
Larry Hornung7713455828
Joe Zanussi734212553
Steve Cuddie7771320121
Bob Ash763141739
Bob Woytowich6224647

Goaltending

Note: GP= Games played; MIN= Minutes; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against

Player GP MIN W L T SO GAA
Joe Daley2917181710122.89
Ernie Wakely4928942619323.15
Gordon Tumilson313802004.34

References

  1. World Hockey Association (1972). WHA 1972-73 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  2. World Hockey Association (1973). WHA 1973-74 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
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