1972–73 Chicago Cougars season



The 1972–73 Chicago Cougars season was the Cougars 1st season in the WHA. The Cougars finished 6th in the West Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Off-season
The Cougars played in the International Amphitheatre while awaiting completion of Rosemont Horizon Arena which was not finished until 1980. The 9,000 seat Amphitheatre was located next to cattle stockyards and abattoirs, filling the arena with a powerful stench.

The Cougars jersey colours for their inaugural WHA season were mustard, white and green with a primarily white home jersey and a primarily mustard away jersey. Three thin stripes on the arms, body and the shoulders yolks completed the design. Numbers on the sleeves, back and names weren't outlined and uniquely, a small number was present on the front over the heart. The logo was a profile of a snarling cougar inside a rounded rectangle. Except for a small change to the numbers for the 1973-74 season, the jerseys remained the same for the Cougars three year stint in the WHA.

Regular Season
The Cougars opened the season with a seven game road trip before hosting the Winnipeg Jets on October 31, 1972. Bobby Hull was on hand for the ceremonial face-off.

On March 28, 1973, Bobby Hull returned to Chicago to face the Cougars, having scored 49 goals. Hull potted his 50th of the season and when the game went into overtime, won it for the Jets with his 51st.

Playoffs

 * The Cougars did not qualify for the post season.

Player Stats
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts

Awards and Records

 * The Cougars did not win any awards this season.

Video
48 minutes of game action from the October 27, 1972 Chicago Cougars-Winnipeg Jets match.