1972–73 Alberta Oilers season

1972–73 Alberta Oilers
Division	5th Western
1972–73 record	38–37–3
Home record	26–13–2
Road record	12–24–1
Goals for	269 (9th)
Goals against	256 (4th)
Team Information
General Manager	Bill Hunter
Coach	Ray Kinasewich Bill Hunter
Captain	Al Hamilton
Arena	Edmonton Gardens
Average attendance	3,828
Team Leaders
Goals	Jim Harrison (39)
Assists	Al Hamilton (50)
Points	Jim Harrison (86)
Penalties in minutes	Al Hamilton (124)
Wins	Jack Norris (28)
Goals against average	Jack Norris (3.06)

1973–74 >

The 1972–73 Alberta Oilers season was the 1st season of the Oilers franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Oilers finished 5th in the Western Division and lost in a 1 game playoff tie-breaker to the Minnesota Fighting Saints.

Off-season

John Fisher's 1972-73 jersey.

The Oilers inaugural jersey colours were blue, white and orange with a primarily white home jersey and a primarily orange away jersey. The sleeve numbers were placed on the shoulders. The logo had a white background with an orange oil drop and blue "OILERS" elongated to appear to be dripping. The logo colour scheme would change for the 1974-75 season.

Unusually, the jersey back had "ALBERTA" nameplates instead of the player's names. This was modified later in the season to a the player's names in a unique font.

Regular Season

Ceremonial face-off between Ab McDonald and Al Hamilton at the Jets first home game, October 15, 1972.

The Oilers victory over the Ottawa Nationals on October 11, 1972 was the first game in league history, with Ron Anderson scoring the first goal.

Jim Harrison led the team in scoring, with 39 goals and 86 points. On January 30, 1973, in an 11–3 defeat of the New York Raiders, Harrison set a professional hockey record with 10 points (3G, 7A) in a single game. That feat was later matched by Darryl Sittler on February 7, 1976 in a National Hockey League game.

Jack Norris, 1972-73 Oilers.

The Oilers leaned heavily on goalie Jack Norris who led the league in games played (64) and was 5th in goals against average (3.06). Norris wore an unusual mask with a large nose and smile painted on.

The Oilers posted a winning record in the regular season, with 38 wins, 37 losses and 3 ties. The Minnesota Fighting Saints finished with an identical record, so a single game playoff was contested to decide fourth place in the Western Division. The Fighting Saints defeated the Oilers 4–2 on a neutral site rink (in Calgary), ending the Oilers season.

Final Standings

Western Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PIM	Pts
Winnipeg Jets	78	43	31	4	285	249	757	90
Houston Aeros	78	39	35	4	284	269	1363	82
Los Angeles Sharks	78	37	35	6	259	250	1477	80
Minnesota Fighting Saints	78	38	37	3	250	269	843	79
Alberta Oilers	78	38	37	3	269	256	1134	79
Chicago Cougars	78	26	50	2	245	295	811	54

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties Minutes, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Game Log

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record	Pts
1	October 11	Alberta Oilers	7–4	Ottawa Nationals	1–0–0	2
2	October 13	Alberta Oilers	0–6	Quebec Nordiques	1–1–0	2
3	October 14	Alberta Oilers	2–3	Cleveland Crusaders	1–2–0	2
4	October 15	Alberta Oilers	5–2	Winnipeg Jets	2–2–0	4
5	October 17	Winnipeg Jets	3–2	Alberta Oilers	3–2–0	6
6	October 20	Philadelphia Blazers	4–1	Alberta Oilers	4–2–0	8
7	October 24	Chicago Cougars	3–3	Alberta Oilers	4–2–1	9
8	October 27	Alberta Oilers	0–6	Cleveland Crusaders	4–3–1	9
9	October 28	Alberta Oilers	4–1	New England Whalers	5–3–1	11
10	October 29	Alberta Oilers	2–7	New York Raiders	5–4–1	11
11	October 31	Houston Aeros	3–4	Alberta Oilers	5–5–1	11
12	November 3	Houston Aeros	4–3	Alberta Oilers	6–5–1	13
13	November 5	Ottawa Nationals	3–5	Alberta Oilers	6–6–1	13
14	November 7	New York Raiders	4–2	Alberta Oilers	7–6–1	15
15	November 9	Los Angeles Sharks	7–2	Alberta Oilers	8–6–1	17
16	November 11	Los Angeles Sharks	5–3	Alberta Oilers	9–6–1	19
17	November 12	Cleveland Crusaders	1–3	Alberta Oilers	9–7–1	19
18	November 15	Winnipeg Jets	3–1	Alberta Oilers	10–7–1	21
19	November 17	Chicago Cougars	3–1	Alberta Oilers	11–7–1	23
20	November 21	Alberta Oilers	3–4	Minnesota Fighting Saints	11–8–1	23
21	November 22	Alberta Oilers	4–5	Philadelphia Blazers	11–9–1	23
22	November 24	Alberta Oilers	2–7	New England Whalers	11–10–1	23
23	November 25	Alberta Oilers	2–4	New York Raiders	11–11–1	23
24	November 26	Alberta Oilers	2–1	Ottawa Nationals	12–11–1	25
25	November 28	Alberta Oilers	0–3	Winnipeg Jets	12–12–1	25
26	November 30	Winnipeg Jets	3–3	Alberta Oilers	12–12–2	26
27	December 1	Minnesota Fighting Saints	4–6	Alberta Oilers	12–13–2	26
28	December 3	Quebec Nordiques	2–6	Alberta Oilers	12–14–2	26
29	December 8	Alberta Oilers	2–4	Los Angeles Sharks	12–15–2	26
30	December 10	Alberta Oilers	3–5	Los Angeles Sharks	12–16–2	26
31	December 12	Alberta Oilers	4–6	Houston Aeros	12–17–2	26
32	December 13	Alberta Oilers	3–2	Houston Aeros	13–17–2	28
33	December 15	Ottawa Nationals	3–4	Alberta Oilers	13–18–2	28
34	December 17	Ottawa Nationals	3–1	Alberta Oilers	14–18–2	30
35	December 21	New England Whalers	5–4	Alberta Oilers	15–18–2	32
36	December 23	Alberta Oilers	2–3	Chicago Cougars	15–19–2	32
37	December 25	Alberta Oilers	2–3	Chicago Cougars	15–20–2	32
38	January 1	Winnipeg Jets	7–3	Alberta Oilers	16–20–2	34
39	January 10	Alberta Oilers	1–6	Winnipeg Jets	16–21–2	34
40	January 12	Alberta Oilers	2–1	Los Angeles Sharks	17–21–2	36
41	January 13	Alberta Oilers	4–3	Los Angeles Sharks	18–21–2	38
42	January 15	Los Angeles Sharks	1–4	Alberta Oilers	18–22–2	38
43	January 16	Los Angeles Sharks	6–5	Alberta Oilers	19–22–2	40
44	January 20	Chicago Cougars	4–6	Alberta Oilers	19–23–2	40
45	January 22	Chicago Cougars	6–1	Alberta Oilers	20–23–2	42
46	January 27	Philadelphia Blazers	0–1	Alberta Oilers	20–24–2	42
47	January 28	Philadelphia Blazers	4–2	Alberta Oilers	21–24–2	44
48	January 30	New York Raiders	11–3	Alberta Oilers	22–24–2	46
49	February 1	New York Raiders	8–5	Alberta Oilers	23–24–2	48
50	February 2	Alberta Oilers	4–3	Winnipeg Jets	24–24–2	50
51	February 4	Winnipeg Jets	3–5	Alberta Oilers	24–25–2	50
52	February 6	New England Whalers	2–4	Alberta Oilers	24–26–2	50
53	February 7	New England Whalers	3–1	Alberta Oilers	25–26–2	52
54	February 9	Minnesota Fighting Saints	6–0	Alberta Oilers	26–26–2	54
55	February 11	Minnesota Fighting Saints	7–5	Alberta Oilers	27–26–2	56
56	February 13	Houston Aeros	5–3	Alberta Oilers	28–26–2	58
57	February 15	Houston Aeros	3–5	Alberta Oilers	28–27–2	58
58	February 20	Alberta Oilers	4–5	Cleveland Crusaders	28–28–2	58
59	February 21	Alberta Oilers	4–5	New York Raiders	28–29–2	58
60	February 23	Alberta Oilers	2–4	New England Whalers	28–30–2	58
61	February 25	Alberta Oilers	2–3	Ottawa Nationals	28–31–2	58
62	February 27	Alberta Oilers	4–5	Houston Aeros	28–32–2	58
63	February 28	Alberta Oilers	2–3	Houston Aeros	28–33–2	58
64	March 6	Alberta Oilers	3–4	Minnesota Fighting Saints	28–34–2	58
65	March 8	Alberta Oilers	3–2	Chicago Cougars	29–34–2	60
66	March 10	Alberta Oilers	5–4	Chicago Cougars	30–34–2	62
67	March 11	Alberta Oilers	1–2	Minnesota Fighting Saints	30–35–2	62
68	March 13	Cleveland Crusaders	4–2	Alberta Oilers	31–35–2	64
69	March 14	Cleveland Crusaders	4–2	Alberta Oilers	32–35–2	66
70	March 16	Quebec Nordiques	4–2	Alberta Oilers	33–35–2	68
71	March 17	Quebec Nordiques	3–0	Alberta Oilers	34–35–2	70
72	March 20	Minnesota Fighting Saints	5–3	Alberta Oilers	35–35–2	72
73	March 22	Alberta Oilers	1–1	Winnipeg Jets	35–35–3	73
74	March 24	Alberta Oilers	4–5	Quebec Nordiques	35–36–3	73
75	March 25	Alberta Oilers	5–4	Quebec Nordiques	36–36–3	75
76	March 28	Philadelphia Blazers	2–1	Alberta Oilers	37–36–3	77
77	March 29	Philadelphia Blazers	1–2	Alberta Oilers	37–37–3	77
78	March 30	Alberta Oilers	5–3	Minnesota Fighting Saints	38–37–3	79

Playoffs

Minnesota Fighting Saints 1, Alberta Oilers 0

The Minnesota Fighting Saints and the Minnesota Fighting Saints were tied at the end of the season. They had the same number of victories and points, and they had both won four games against each other. Subsequently, it was decided that the two teams would play a one game playoff to decide the final spot in the playoffs, to be played in Calgary.

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 4	Minnesota Fighting Saints	4–2	Alberta Oilers	0–1

Player Stats

Skaters

Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties In Minutes

#	Player	Regular Season					Playoffs
		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
7	Jim Harrison	66	39	47	86	93	1	0	1	1	2
3	Al Hamilton	78	11	50	61	124	1	0	0	0	2
9	Ross Perkins	71	21	37	58	19	1	0	0	0	2
17	Ed Patenaude	78	29	27	56	59	1	0	1	1	4
11	Ron Walters	78	28	26	54	37	1	1	0	1	0
4	Bob Wall	78	16	29	45	20	1	0	1	1	0
8	Val Fonteyne	77	7	32	39	2	1	0	0	0	0
16	Eddie Joyal	71	22	16	38	16	1	0	0	0	0
12	Bill Hicke	73	14	24	38	20	1	0	0	0	0
14	Brian Carlin	65	12	22	34	6	1	0	0	0	0
5	Doug Barrie	54	9	22	31	111	1	0	0	0	22
10	Ron Anderson	73	14	15	29	43	1	0	0	0	0
19	Ken Baird	75	14	15	29	112	1	1	0	1	6
6	Bob Falkenberg	77	6	23	29	44	1	0	0	0	0
20	Steve Carlyle	67	7	10	17	35	1	0	0	0	0
15	Dennis Kassian	50	6	7	13	14	1	0	1	1	0
18	Bob McAneeley	51	5	7	12	24	—	—	—	—	—
21	Bernie Blanchette	23	5	4	9	2	—	—	—	—	—
2	Roger Cote	60	3	5	8	46	1	0	0	0	0
22	John Fisher	40	0	5	5	0	—	—	—	—	—
30	Jack Norris	64	0	3	3	2	1	0	0	0	0
21	Jim Benzelock	26	1	1	2	10	—	—	—	—	—
27	Derek Harker	1	0	0	0	0	—	—	—	—	—
1	Ken Brown	20	0	0	0	2	—	—	—	—	—

^†Denotes player traded to the Oilers mid-season.
^‡Denotes player traded away mid-season.
Statistics for all players reflect only games played with the Oilers.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

#	Player	Regular Season									Playoffs
		GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	SV%	GAA	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	SV%	GAA
30	Jack Norris	64	3705	28	29	3	189	1	0.903	3.06	1	59	0	1	4	0	0.833	4.07
1	Ken Brown	20	1034	10	8	0	63	1	0.883	3.65	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and Records

• Jim Harrison, WHA Record, Most Points in a game (10)
• Four Oilers were selected to play in the mid-season All-Star Game on January 6: Jack Norris (G), Al Hamilton (D), Bob Wall (D), Jim Harrison (C)

Transactions

Draft Picks

The WHA General Player Draft was held on February 12–13, 1972 to stock each new WHA team with their initial rosters. The Oilers selected four NHL players with their "priority" selections:

• Norm Ullman, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
• Bobby Clarke, C, Philadelphia Flyers
• Bruce MacGregor, RW, New York Rangers
• Phil Myre, G, Montreal Canadiens

Ullman and MacGregor would eventually play for the Oilers, but not during the 1972–73 season. Both were Edmonton-born players who finished their playing careers with the Oilers after long NHL careers.

The Oilers selected an additional 96 players in subsequent rounds of the draft. Of those, 22 players would play for the Oilers, 16 in the 1972–73 season.

Player	Pos	Team	League	Joined Oilers
Anderson, RonRon Anderson	RW	Buffalo Sabres	NHL	1972–73
Bailey, AceAce Bailey	LW	Boston Bruins	NHL	1978–79
Baird, KenKen Baird	D	California Golden Seals	NHL	1972–73
Barrie, DougDoug Barrie	D	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	1972–73
Benzelock, JimJim Benzelock	RW	Dayton Gems	IHL	1972–73
Carlin, BrianBrian Carlin	LW	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	1972–73
Cote, RogerRoger Cote	D	Cleveland Barons	AHL	1972–73
Falkenberg, BobBob Falkenberg	D	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	1972–73
Fisher, JohnJohn Fisher	C	Fort Worth Wings	CHL	1972–73
Fonteyne, ValVal Fonteyne	LW	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	1972–73
Hall, DelDel Hall	LW	California Golden Seals	NHL	1977–78
Hamilton, AlAl Hamilton	D	Buffalo Sabres	NHL	1972–73
Joyal, EddieEddie Joyal	C	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL	1972–73
Ketter, KerryKerry Ketter	D	Nova Scotia Voyageurs	AHL	1975–76
Long, BarryBarry Long	D	Portland Buckaroos	WHL	1974–75
Lunde, LenLen Lunde	LW	Ilves Tampere	SM-sarja	1973–74
McAneeley, BobBob McAneeley	LW	University of British Columbia	CWUAA	1972–73
Patenaude, EdEd Patenaude	RW	Fort Wayne Komets	IHL	1972–73
Perkins, RossRoss Perkins	C	Fort Worth Wings	CHL	1972–73
Sather, GlenGlen Sather	LW	New York Rangers	NHL	1976–77
Wall, BobBob Wall	D	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	1972–73
Walters, RonRon Walters	C	Tidewater Wings	AHL	1972–73

Trades

Date	To Alberta Oilers	Traded to	Traded for
May 1972	Jim Harrison	Calgary Broncos	Cash
May 1972	Dennis Kassian	Houston Aeros	Cash
June 1972	Future considerations	Quebec Nordiques	François Lacombe
June 1972	Jack Norris	Cleveland Crusaders	Cash
July 1972	Steve Carlyle	Cleveland Crusaders	Cash
July 1972	Ken Brown	Cleveland Crusaders	Cash
July 1972	Future considerations	Cleveland Crusaders	Joe Hardy
August 1972	Cash	Cleveland Crusaders	Doug Brindley
September 1972	Cash	Ottawa Nationals	Gilles Gratton
November 1972	Cash	Philadelphia Blazers	Derek Harker
December 27, 1972	Bernie Blanchette	Chicago Cougars	Jim Benzelock

Free Agents

• Bill Hicke signed September 1972

Gallery

Ted Hampson scores the OT winner on Jack Norris, November 21, 1972.

Jim Harrison, Wayne Mosdell, Bernie Parent in 1972-73 season action.

Pre-season @ Saskatoon

Pre-season @ Regina

References

• Surgent, Scott (September 2004). The Complete Historical and Statistical Reference to the World Hockey Association, 1972-1979, 7th, Xaler Press, 48–69. ISBN 0-9644774-4-0. 
• 1972-73 Alberta Oilers [WHA player statistics]. The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
• 1972-73 World Hockey Association [WHA standings]. The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
• WHA Oilers Page - 1972-73 Results. "The Home of the Oilers". Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
• WHA Oilers Page - 1972 Alberta Oilers. "The Home of the Oilers". Retrieved on 2009-02-19.
• WHA Oilers Page - 1972 WHA General Player Draft. "The Home of the Oilers". Retrieved on 2009-02-20.
• WHA Oilers Page - All Time Trades. "The Home of the Oilers". Retrieved on 2009-02-20.