1978–79 Indianapolis Racers season



The 1978–79 Indianapolis Racers season was the Racers' 5th and final season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The team ceased operations after only 25 games.

Off-season
Nelson Skalbania, the owner of Indianapolis Racers, signed the 17 year old future super-star, Wayne Gretzky to, at that time, a whopping personal contract worth between 1.125 and 1.75 million dollars over 4 to 7 years. Skalbania, knowing that the WHA was fading, felt owning the young star was more valuable than owning a WHA team.

The Racers jerseys were the same design as in the 1977-78 season.

Regular Season
This was the first season of Wayne Gretzky's professional career and he scored 3 goals and 3 assists in 8 games.

The Racers' management knew that the team was going to fold due to poor attendance, and sold Gretzky to the Edmonton Oilers after eight games. Skalbania needed cash and liquidated his greatest asset to his old friend and former partner, Peter Pocklington, owner of the Oilers. Pocklington purchased Gretzky and two other Indianapolis players, goaltender Eddie Mio and forward Peter Driscoll paying $700,000 for the contracts of the three players, although the announced price was actually $850,000.

Playoffs

 * The Racers ceased operations before the post season.

Regular Season

 * Scoring
 * Goaltending

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 Racers did not win any awards this season.

Video
Wayne Gretzky scores the first two goals of his professional career, October 20, 1978.