1975-76 WHA season

The 1975–76 WHA season was the 4th 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, Vancouver moved to Calgary and became the Cowboys. Midway through the season, the Spurs moved to Ottawa and became the Civics. The fourteen teams were scheduled to play 80 games each, but four of five Canadian Division teams played 81, due to the WHA's tiebreaker rule, while two teams, Minnesota and Denver/Ottawa, folded mid-season.

The Winnipeg Jets defeated the Houston Aeros 4 games to 0 in the Finals to win their 1st Avco World Trophy.

Pre-season
The Winnipeg Jets held their training camp in Europe and played two games against the Czechoslovakian National team, losing both by 6-1 and 3-1 scores on September 25 and 26, 1975. Anders Hedberg scored both Jets goals.

Regular Season
After poor attendance, the Denver Spurs moved to Ottawa and became the Ottawa Civics. The Civics lasted only seven games and played in the Spurs' uniform. Reports that the jerseys had been stripped bare of its logo are untrue. All Civics players were declared free agents by the league and a dispersal draft was held. Several players found a new address, including leading scorer Ralph Backstrom, who at 37, moved to the New England Whalers. Many of the other players, however, would sit the remainder of the season out before coming back in another league the next season. Others like Brian Lavender retired.

Scoring Leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

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

All-Star Game
On January 13, 1976, the All-Stars from the Canadian-based teams beat the All-Stars from the American-based teams 6-1 at the Coliseum at Richfield in Cleveland, Ohio before 15,491 spectators. Real Cloutier, who had a Hat trick, was the Canadian All-Stars MVP while Paul Shmyr was the American All-Stars MVP.

Avco World Trophy Playoffs
The New England Whalers, Cleveland Crusaders, the Phoenix Roadrunners and the San Diego Mariners participated in Preliminary Round, 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.

Preliminary Round

 * San Diego Mariners 3, Phoenix Roadrunners 2


 * New England Whalers 3, Cleveland Crusaders 0

Avco World Trophy Finals
The line of Bobby Hull, Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg dominated the Finals, scoring 12 goals. Nilsson was voted the WHA Playoff MVP.