1975–76 WHA season

The 1975–76 WHA season was the fourth season of the World Hockey Association. After the Baltimore Blades and Chicago Cougars folded, the league stayed at 14 teams by adding the Cincinnati Stingers and Denver Spurs. In addition, the Vancouver Blazers franchise moved to Calgary and became the Cowboys. Midway through the season, the Spurs moved to Ottawa and became the Civics, though the team folded shortly thereafter when the sale of the franchise fell through. The Minnesota Fighting Saints became the second team to fold mid-season when the franchise was not financially successful, despite having a winning record at the time. Theoretically, fourteen teams would play 80 games each, but only twelve teams finished the season, with cancelled games involving the Civics or Saints being rescheduled on the fly, and four of five Canadian Division teams played 81 games, as a result.

1975–76 WHA season
LeagueWorld Hockey Association
SportIce hockey
Regular season
Top scorerMarc Tardif (Quebec)
Avco World Trophy
ChampionsWinnipeg Jets
  Runners-upHouston Aeros

Regular season

Final standings
Canadian Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Winnipeg Jets8152272106345254940
Quebec Nordiques81502741043713161654
Calgary Cowboys8041354863072821064
Edmonton Oilers812749559268345991
Toronto Toros8124525533353981099
Denver Spurs / Ottawa Civics+411426129134172536

+team started season in Western Division when playing in Denver; transferred by league to Canadian Division shortly after moving to Ottawa.

Eastern Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Indianapolis Racers8035396762452471301
Cleveland Crusaders8035405752732791356
New England Whalers8033407732552901012
Cincinnati Stingers8035441712853401344
Western Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Houston Aeros80532701063412631093
Phoenix Roadrunners8039356843022871292
San Diego Mariners803638678303290716
Minnesota Fighting Saints5930254642112121354

Player stats

Scoring leaders

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Marc TardifQuebec Nordiques81717714879
Bobby HullWinnipeg Jets80537012330
Real CloutierQuebec Nordiques80605411427
Ulf NilssonWinnipeg Jets78387611454
Robbie FtorekPhoenix Roadrunners804172113109
Chris BordeleauQuebec Nordiques74377210942
Anders HedbergWinnipeg Jets76505510548
Rejean HouleQuebec Nordiques81515210361
Serge BernierQuebec Nordiques70346810291
Gordie HoweHouston Aeros78327010276

Leading goaltenders

Bolded numbers indicate season leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties, GA = Goals against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA
Michel DionIndianapolis Racers3118601415185091.02.74
Joe DaleyWinnipeg Jets62361241171171590.32.84
Wayne RutledgeHouston Aeros2514561410077190.13.17
Jack NorrisPhoenix Roadrunners41241221144128189.13.18
Ernie WakelySan Diego Mariners67382435274208389.53.25

All-Star game

The 4th annual WHA All-Star Game featured a Canadian-based All-Star team vs a United States-based All-Star team, with the game taking place in Richfield Coliseum in Cleveland, Ohio. The Canadians won the game 6-1, with Real Cloutier and Paul Shmyr being named MVPs.

Avco World Trophy playoffs

The New England Whalers, Cleveland Crusaders, the Phoenix Roadrunners and the San Diego Mariners participated in Preliminary Rounds, with two teams advancing to the main bracket. The Whalers beat the Crusaders in 3 games, while the Mariners beat the Roadrunners in 5 games.

San Diego Mariners 3, Phoenix Roadrunners 2
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 9San Diego Mariners2–3 OTPhoenix Roadrunners0-1
2April 10Phoenix Roadrunners2–4San Diego Mariners1-1
3April 13San Diego Mariners4–6Phoenix Roadrunners1-2
4April 15Phoenix Roadrunners1–5San Diego Mariners2-2
5April 17San Diego Mariners2–1Phoenix Roadrunners3-2
New England Whalers 3, Cleveland Crusaders 0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 9Cleveland Crusaders3–5New England Whalers1-0
2April 10New England Whalers6–1Cleveland Crusaders2-0
3April 11New England Whalers3–2Cleveland Crusaders3-0
Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
W1 Houston Aeros 4
W3 San Diego Mariners 2
W1 Houston Aeros 4
E3 New England Whalers 3
E3 New England Whalers 4
E1 Indianapolis Racers 3
C1 Winnipeg Jets 4
W1 Houston Aeros 0
C3 Calgary Cowboys 4
C2 Quebec Nordiques 1
C1 Winnipeg Jets 4
C3 Calgary Cowboys 1
C1 Winnipeg Jets 4
C4 Edmonton Oilers 0

WHA awards

Trophies
Avco World Trophy:Winnipeg Jets
Gordie Howe Trophy:Marc Tardif
Bill Hunter Trophy:Marc Tardif
Lou Kaplan Trophy:Mark Napier
Ben Hatskin Trophy:Michel Dion
Dennis A. Murphy Trophy:Paul Shmyr
Paul Deneau Trophy:Vaclav Nedomansky
Howard Baldwin Trophy:Bobby Kromm
WHA Playoff MVP:Ulf Nilsson

All-Star Team
PositionFirst TeamSecond Team
CentreUlf Nilsson, WinnipegRobbie Ftorek, Phoenix
Right WingAnders Hedberg, WinnipegReal Cloutier, Quebec
Left WingMarc Tardif, QuebecBobby Hull, Winnipeg
DefencePaul Shmyr, ClevelandKevin Morrison, San Diego
DefenceJ. C. Tremblay, QuebecPat Stapleton, Indianapolis
GoaltenderJoe Daley, WinnipegRon Grahame, Houston

See also

References
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