1972–73 New England Whalers season

1972–73 New England Whalers
Avco Cup Champions
Division	1st Eastern
1972–73 record	46–30–2
Home record	30–8–1
Road record	16–22–1
Goals for	318
Goals against	263
Team Information
General Manager	Jack Kelley
Coach	Jack Kelley
Captain	Ted Green
Alternate captains	Tom Williams Jim Dorey Larry Pleau
Arena	Boston Arena (20 games) Boston Garden (19 games)
Average attendance	6,981 (67.2%)
Team Leaders
Goals	Tom Webster (53)
Assists	Terry Caffery (61)
Points	Tom Webster (103)
Penalties in minutes	Brad Selwood (114)
Wins	Al Smith (31)
Goals against average	Al Smith (3.17)

1973–74>

The 1972–73 New England Whalers season was the 1st season of the Whalers' franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Whalers finished 1st in the Eastern Division and then won three playoff series to become the first winner of the Avco World Trophy.

Off-season

Rick Ley's 1972-73 jersey.

Whalers GM Jack Kelley targeted American born players for signing, particularly those from the New England area. Larry Pleau, a Boston native, was the first player signed by the Whalers, on April 19, 1972. Kevin Ahearn, John Cunniff, Paul Hurley and Tim Sheehy, who all played for the Boston College Eagles, and Tom Williams and Ted Green, who had played for the Boston Bruins, were also signed. Green became the team's first captain.

The Whalers jersey colours were forest green and white with a primarily white home jersey and a primarily green away jersey. Jersye numbers and names were not outlined. Single stripes, a whale on each shoulder and a roundel logo with a large "W", a narrow black horizontal harpoon and "NEW ENGLAND WHALERS" spelt around the roundel completed the design.

Regular Season

Tom Williams scores the Whalers first goal on Bernie Parent, October 12, 1972.

Playing in Boston, Massachusetts, the Whalers divided their home games between the aging Boston Arena and the Boston Garden, home of the 1972 Stanley Cup champions Boston Bruins. The Whalers won their home opener 4-3 against the Derek Sanderson led Philadelphia Blazers on October 12, 1972.

The 1972-73 season was the best in the Whalers WHA history as they garnered 94 points to lead the league. Terry Caffery won the Lou Kaplan Trophy as Rookie of the Year and Jack Kelley, the Howard Baldwin Trophy as Coach of the Year. Tom Webster led the Whalers in scoring with 53 goals (2nd in the league), 103 points and was voted a Second Team All-Star. Defenseman Rick Ley was also voted a Second Team All-Star.

Final Standings

Eastern Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PIM	Pts
New England Whalers	78	46	30	2	318	263	858	94
Cleveland Crusaders	78	43	32	3	287	239	1095	89
Philadelphia Blazers	78	38	40	0	288	305	1260	76
Ottawa Nationals	78	35	39	4	279	301	1067	74
Quebec Nordiques	78	33	40	5	276	313	1354	71
New York Raiders	78	33	43	2	303	334	900	68

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

Regular Season Results
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 12, 1972	4–3	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	1–0–0
2	W	October 16, 1972	4–1	Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	2–0–0
3	W	October 18, 1972	4–1	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73)	3–0–0
4	L	October 19, 1972	3–4	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	3–1–0
5	L	October 21, 1972	4–6	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	3–2–0
6	W	October 23, 1972	5–1	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	4–2–0
7	W	October 24, 1972	3–2 OT	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73)	5–2–0
8	L	October 26, 1972	6–7	@ New York Raiders (1972–73)	5–3–0
9	L	October 28, 1972	1–4	Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	5–4–0
10	W	November 1, 1972	4–2	Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	6–4–0
11	W	November 4, 1972	8–4	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	7–4–0
12	W	November 6, 1972	6–2	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	8–4–0
13	W	November 11, 1972	6–5	New York Raiders (1972–73)	9–4–0
14	T	November 13, 1972	4–4	Houston Aeros (1972–73)	9–4–1
15	L	November 17, 1972	0–3	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73)	9–5–1
16	W	November 18, 1972	3–2	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	10–5–1
17	W	November 20, 1972	7–5	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	11–5–1
18	L	November 22, 1972	1–3	@ New York Raiders (1972–73)	11–6–1
19	W	November 24, 1972	7–2	Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	12–6–1
20	L	November 26, 1972	1–3	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	12–7–1
21	W	November 27, 1972	3–0	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73)	13–7–1
22	L	November 29, 1972	6–7	@ New York Raiders (1972–73)	13–8–1
23	L	December 1, 1972	3–5	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	13–9–1
24	W	December 2, 1972	7–2	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	14–9–1
25	W	December 4, 1972	7–2	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	15–9–1
26	W	December 6, 1972	4–3	New York Raiders (1972–73)	16–9–1
27	W	December 7, 1972	4–2	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	17–9–1
28	W	December 9, 1972	4–2	New York Raiders (1972–73)	18–9–1
29	W	December 11, 1972	4–3	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	19–9–1
30	L	December 13, 1972	3–6	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	19–10–1
31	W	December 14, 1972	5–2	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	20–10–1
32	W	December 16, 1972	10–6	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	21–10–1
33	L	December 17, 1972	3–6	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	21–11–1
34	L	December 19, 1972	5–7	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	21–12–1
35	L	December 21, 1972	4–5	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	21–13–1
36	L	December 24, 1972	3–5	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	21–14–1
37	W	December 25, 1972	8–2	@ New York Raiders (1972–73)	22–14–1
38	W	December 28, 1972	5–3	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	23–14–1
39	L	December 29, 1972	2–4	Houston Aeros (1972–73)	23–15–1
40	W	December 31, 1972	3–0	@ New York Raiders (1972–73)	24–15–1
41	L	January 9, 1973	5–7	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73)	24–16–1
42	W	January 13, 1973	4–3	New York Raiders (1972–73)	25–16–1
43	W	January 17, 1973	4–2	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	26–16–1
44	L	January 19, 1973	2–6	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	26–17–1
45	W	January 21, 1973	7–2	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	27–17–1
46	W	January 24, 1973	6–1	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	28–17–1
47	W	January 25, 1973	4–2	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	29–17–1
48	L	January 27, 1973	1–3	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	29–18–1
49	L	January 29, 1973	2–3	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73)	29–19–1
50	W	January 31, 1973	4–1	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73)	30–19–1
51	W	February 1, 1973	5–4 OT	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73)	31–19–1
52	L	February 2, 1973	1–3	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	31–20–1
53	L	February 4, 1973	3–4	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	31–21–1
54	W	February 6, 1973	4–2	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	32–21–1
55	L	February 7, 1973	1–3	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	32–22–1
56	L	February 9, 1973	4–7	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	32–23–1
57	T	February 11, 1973	2–2	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	32–23–2
58	L	February 13, 1973	4–5	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	32–24–2
59	W	February 15, 1973	6–5	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	33–24–2
60	W	February 17, 1973	6–4	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	34–24–2
61	L	February 20, 1973	2–4	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	34–25–2
62	W	February 23, 1973	4–2	Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	35–25–2
63	L	March 4, 1973	2–4	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	35–26–2
64	W	March 7, 1973	1–0 OT	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73)	36–26–2
65	W	March 9, 1973	5–4	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73)	37–26–2
66	W	March 10, 1973	3–1	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	38–26–2
67	W	March 13, 1973	4–3 OT	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	39–26–2
68	W	March 14, 1973	7–5	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	40–26–2
69	W	March 16, 1973	7–4	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	41–26–2
70	W	March 17, 1973	4–0	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	42–26–2
71	W	March 20, 1973	4–1	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	43–26–2
72	L	March 22, 1973	2–4	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	43–27–2
73	W	March 23, 1973	3–1	Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	44–27–2
74	L	March 26, 1973	5–7	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73)	44–28–2
75	L	March 27, 1973	1–6	Houston Aeros (1972–73)	44–29–2
76	L	March 29, 1973	2–5	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	44–30–2
77	W	March 30, 1973	5–4 OT	New York Raiders (1972–73)	45–30–2
78	W	April 1, 1973	8–3	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	46–30–2

Playoffs

New England Whalers 4, Ottawa Nationals 1

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 7	Ottawa Nationals	3–6	New England Whalers	1–0
2	April 8	Ottawa Nationals	3 – 4 OT	New England Whalers	2–0
3	April 10	New England Whalers	2–4	Ottawa Nationals	2–1
4	April 12	New England Whalers	7 – 3 OT	Ottawa Nationals	3–1
5	April 14	Ottawa Nationals	4–5	New England Whalers	4–1

New England Whalers 4, Cleveland Crusaders 1

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 18	Cleveland Crusaders	2–3	New England Whalers	1–0
2	April 19	Cleveland Crusaders	2–3	New England Whalers	2–0
3	April 21	New England Whalers	5–4	Cleveland Crusaders	3–0
4	April 22	New England Whalers	2–5	Cleveland Crusaders	3–1
5	April 26	Cleveland Crusaders	1–3	New England Whalers	4–1

New England Whalers 4, Winnipeg Jets 1

Larry Pleau scores the winning goal, Game 5 of the 1973 Avco World Trophy Finals, May 6, 1973.

Larry Pleau scored a Hat trick in the deciding Game 5.

As the Avco World Trophy had not been created in time for the 1973 Finals, a trophy was bought from a Boston sporting goods store as a substitute.

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 29	Winnipeg Jets	2–7	New England Whalers	0–1
2	May 2	New England Whalers	7–4	Winnipeg Jets	0–2
3	May 3	New England Whalers	3–4	Winnipeg Jets	1–2
4	May 5	Winnipeg Jets	2–4	New England Whalers	1–3
5	May 6	Winnipeg Jets	6–9	New England Whalers	1–4

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
8	Tom Webster	77	53	50	103	89	15	12	14	26	6
7	Terry Caffery	74	39	61	100	14	8	3	7	10	0
4	Larry Pleau	78	39	48	87	42	15	12	7	19	15
15	Tim Sheehy	78	33	38	71	30	15	9	14	23	13
10	Jim Dorey	75	7	56	63	95	15	3	16	19	41
11	John French	74	24	35	59	43	15	3	11	14	2
6	Ted Green	78	16	30	46	47	12	1	5	6	25
14	Kevin Ahearn	78	20	22	42	18	14	1	2	3	9
18	Brit Selby	65	13	29	42	48	13	3	4	7	13
12	John Danby	77	14	23	37	10	8	0	0	0	0
3	Brad Selwood	75	13	21	34	114	15	3	5	8	22
9	Tom Williams	69	10	21	31	14	15	6	11	17	2
2	Rick Ley	76	3	27	30	108	15	3	7	10	24
27	Tommy Earl	77	10	13	23	4	15	2	3	5	10
21	Mike Hyndman	59	4	14	18	21	—	—	—	—	—
5	Paul Hurley	78	3	15	18	78	15	0	7	7	14
16	Dick Sarrazin	35	4	7	11	0	—	—	—	—	—
21	Mike Byers	19	6	4	10	4	12	6	5	11	6
17	John Cunniff	33	3	5	8	16	13	1	1	2	2
19	Guy Smith	22	3	3	6	6	11	2	0	2	4
20	Ric Jordan	34	1	5	6	12	4	0	0	0	0
30	Bruce Landon	30	0	0	1	8	—	—	—	—	—
1	Al Smith	51	0	1	1	39	15	0	1	1	12

Statistics for all players reflect only games played with the Whalers.

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
1	Al Smith	51	3059	31	19	1	162	3	0.894	3.17	15	909	12	3	49	0	0.886	3.20
30	Bruce Landon	30	1671	15	11	1	100	1	0.887	3.59	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Awards and Records

• Avco World Trophy: New England Whalers
• Lou Kaplan Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Terry Caffery
• Howard Baldwin Trophy (Coach of the Year): Jack Kelley
• Tom Webster, Right Wing, WHA Second Team All-Star
• Jim Dorey, Defense, WHA Second Team All-Star

Gallery

Ceremonial face-off between former Boston Bruins teammates Ted Green and Derek Sanderson at the Whalers first game, October 12, 1972.

Larry Pleau scores the winner in the first WHA game for the Whalers and Blazers, October 12, 1972.

Ted Green and Kent Douglas, December 9, 1972.

The Whalers top line of Larry Pleau, Tom Webster and Terry Caffery attack goalie Serge Aubry in 1972-73 season action.

Whalers captain Ted Green with the substitute Avco World Trophy, May 6, 1973.

Video

Nearly 17 minutes of game action from the April 8, 1973 Quarter-finals Game 2 New England Whalers-Ottawa Nationals.

1973 04 08 Ottawa Nationals at New England Whalers

See Also

• 1972–73 WHA season

References

• 1972–73 New England Whalers Games. Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved on 2009-05-21.