1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season



The 1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season was the 1st season of the Jets franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Jets finished 1st in the Western Division and lost in the Avco Cup Finals to the New England Whalers 4 games to 1.

Off-season
The Jets' first signing was Norm Beaudin ("the Original Jet").

Long unhappy because of his relatively poor NHL 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 Hull's request.

A ten year contract for $2.75 million, an unprecedented sum, was offered. For the first five seasons, Hull would receive a salary of $250,000 per year to play. For the latter five seasons, he was meant to receive $100,000 each year to work in their front office. The contract included the clause that he could not be traded against his wishes. To sign the contract, on June 27, 1972, Hull flew into St. Paul, Minnesota so that he would receive a U.S. tax break. As the 95th signee of the WHA, he used 11 pens to represent the 11 clubs in the new WHA. In return, the clubs all pitched in to pay Hull's signing bonus. At a press conference, 33-year-old Hull received an oversized check for $1 million. Although his debut with Winnipeg was held up in litigation by the NHL, Hull instantly became the WHA's greatest star.

The Jets inaugural jersey colours were dark blue, white and red with a primarily white home jersey and a primarily dark blue away jersey. They'd stay with these colours throughout the club's existence. The white jersey had blue shoulder yolks while the away jersey had no yolks. Both jerseys had stripes on the arms and body. The jerseys had two features that existed for this season only. First, the nameplates on the backs were highlighted and featured a unique font. Second, the team's logo was a slanted "JETS" with a small hockey player to the left.

Pre-Season
The Jets played five exhibition game in October 1972 finishing with a 2-3 record.

October 1, 1972: Jets 5, Minnesota Fighting Saints 7 @Duluth October 3, 1972: Jets 2, Minnesota Fighting Saints 5 @ Winnipeg October 4, 1972: Jets 3, Alberta Oilers 6 @ Edmonton October 5, 1972: Jets 2, Los Angeles Sharks 1 @ Regina October 8, 1972: Jets 6, Los Angeles Sharks 5 @ Winnipeg

Regular Season
When the Jets played their first game on October 12, 1972 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 made their home debut losing to the Alberta Oilers 5–2.

Bobby Hull won his court battle and joined the Jets after missing 14 regular season games. He made his debut on the road on November 8, 1972 as the Jets lost to the Quebec Nordiques 3-2 with Hull assisting on a goal by Dan Johnson. At home on November 12 against the Los Angeles Sharks, Hull scored his first goal for the Jets. He added another and an assist in a 5-2 victory. In a replay at home the next night, Ernie Wakely recorded the first shutout in Jets history as they thumped the Sharks 8-0 with Hull scoring 2 goals and an assist. Goalie Gordon Tumilson played the only 3 games of his professional career in this season. A 4-3 loss on December 1, 1972 versus the Ottawa Nationals, a 7-4 loss on December 13 to the Philadelphia Blazers in which he played 18 minutes and, the last game of the regular season against Philadelphia, a 4-2 loss.

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. At the end of the regular season, Bobby Hull had scored 51 goals and 103 points. He captured the WHA's first MVP award and was a First Team All-Star. The Jets won the Western Division with a 43–31–4 record.

Playoffs
In the playoffs, the Jets 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.

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

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

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

Awards and Records

 * Gary L. Davidson Award (MVP): Bobby Hull
 * Bobby Hull, Left Wing, WHA First Team All-Star
 * Larry Hornung, Defense, WHA Second Team All-Star

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