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1976 WHA playoffs

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1976 WHA playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 9 – May 27, 1976
Season1975–76
Teams10
Final positions
ChampionsWinnipeg Jets (1st title)
Runner-upHouston Aeros
Semifinalists
← 1975
1977 →

The 1976 WHA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the World Hockey Association's 1975-1976 season. The fourth WHA tournament, it was the only one with ten teams in competition with each other. The Winnipeg Jets won the Avco Cup over the Houston Aeros for their first ever championship.[1] Ulf Nilsson was named the WHA Playoff MVP.[2]

Bracket

[edit]
Quarterfinals
April 9-30		Semifinals
April 23 - May 16		Avco Cup
May 20-27
W1Houston Aeros4
W3San Diego Mariners2
W1Houston Aeros4
E3New England Whalers3
E3New England Whalers4
'
E1Indianapolis Racers3
C1Winnipeg Jets4
W1Houston Aeros0
C3Calgary Cowboys4
C2Quebec Nordiques1
C1Winnipeg Jets4
C3Calgary Cowboys1
C1Winnipeg Jets4
C4Edmonton Oilers0
Preliminary RoundPreliminary Round
New England Whalers3San Diego Mariners3
Cleveland Crusaders0Phoenix Roadrunners2


Preliminary Round

[edit]

San Diego Mariners vs. Phoenix Roadrunners

[edit]

Unusually, Game 5 had no penalties called for the duration of the game. It also was the last playoff game played in the state of Arizona until the Arizona Coyotes played in 1997.

April 9San Diego Mariners2–3 (OT)
(1–2, 1–0, 0–0, 0–1)		Phoenix RoadrunnersArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Ernie WakelyGoaliesJack Norris
Wayne Rivers
Bob Falkenberg		GoalsGary Veneruzzo
Serge Beaudoin
GW - Del Hall (0:31)
25 (10–9–6–0)Shots29 (9–7–12–1)
April 10Phoenix Roadrunners2–4
(1–1, 0–1, 1–2)		San Diego MarinersSan Diego Sports Arena
Jack NorrisGoaliesErnie Wakely
Jim BoydGoalsJohn French
Joe Noris
Norm Ferguson
André Lacroix
24 (7–13–4)Shots37 (9–12–16)
April 13San Diego Mariners4–6
(4–1, 0–4, 0–1)		Phoenix RoadrunnersArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Ernie WakelyGoaliesJack Norris
Brent Hughes, Gene Peacosh, Ray Adduono, John FrenchGoalsDel Hall, Jim Boyd, Robbie Ftorek, Gary Veneruzzo, Ron Huston, Lauri Mononen
24 (10–6–8)Shots40 (16–14–10)
April 15Phoenix Roadrunners1–5
(0–2, 0–1, 1–2)		San Diego MarinersSan Diego Sports Arena
Jack NorrisGoaliesErnie Wakely
Cam ConnorGoalsKevin Devine, Brian Morenz, Andre Lacroix, Alex Tidey, Bob Wall
21 (3–7–11)Shots33 (11–15–7)
April 17San Diego Mariners2–1
(1–0, 1–1, 0–0)		Phoenix RoadrunnersArizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Ernie WakelyGoaliesJack Norris
Alex Tidey, Norm FergusonGoalsJohn Gray
23 (9–11–3)Shots30 (10–10–10)

New England Whalers vs. Cleveland Crusaders

[edit]

Mike Rogers delivered the go-ahead goal in Game 3 with four minutes remaining to eliminate Cleveland. This was the final game played by the Crusaders in Cleveland, as they relocated to Minnesota in the offseason when the National Hockey League approved the move of the California Golden Seals to Cleveland.

April 9Cleveland Crusaders3–5
(1–3, 1–1, 1–1)		New England WhalersHartford Civic Center
JohnsonGoaliesLandon
Leduc
Connelly
Gruen		GoalsBackstrom
G. Roberts
Fotiu
Pleau
Rogers
31 (10-10-11)Shots33 (10-16-7)
April 10New England Whalers6–1
(1–1, 2–0, 3–0)		Cleveland CrusadersRichfield Coliseum
LandonGoaliesNewton
Pleau (2)
O'Donnell
Webster
Selwood
Rogers		GoalsLeduc
40 (13-9-18)Shots30 (11-11-8)
April 11New England Whalers3–2
(0–2, 1–0, 2–0)		Cleveland CrusadersRichfield Coliseum
LandonGoaliesJohnson
McManama
Backstrom
16:38 (3rd)- Rogers		GoalsGruen
McDonough
36 (12-11-13)Shots35 (16-9-10)

Quarterfinals

[edit]

Winnipeg vs. Edmonton Oilers

[edit]
April 9Edmonton Oilers3–7
(1–3, 1–2, 1–2)		Winnipeg JetsWinnipeg Arena
DrydenGoaliesDaley
Russell, Baird, SheehyGoalsHull, Guindon, Lindh, Ketola, Bergman, Beaudin, Sullivan
7 6 8 - 21Shots18 13 17 - 48
April 11Edmonton Oilers4–5 (OT)
(1–1, 2–2, 1–1, 0–1)		Winnipeg JetsWinnipeg Arena
DrydenGoaliesDaley, Larsson
Spring, Patenaude, Baird
18:10 (3rd) - Sheehy		GoalsNilsson
Moffat
Hull
Lindstrom
GW - Nilsson (0:54)
10 11 3 0 24Shots24 16 21 1 62
April 14Winnipeg Jets3–2
(2–0, 0–2, 1–0)		Edmonton OilersEdmonton Coliseum
LarssonGoaliesDryden
Hedberg
Sullivan
10:22 (3rd) - Bobby Hull		GoalsB.McAneeley, Baird
10 10 9 - 29Shots12 12 5 - 29
April 16Winnipeg Jets7–2
(1–1, 5–1, 1–0)		Edmonton OilersEdmonton Coliseum
DaleyGoaliesWorthy
Hull 2, Ketola, Lesuk, Lindh, Beaudin, AsmundsonGoalsCarleton, Ullman
13 14 11 - 38Shots5 13 2 - 20

Calgary Cowboys vs. Quebec Nordiques

[edit]

In a shocking upset, the Cowboys prevailed over the Nordiques. However it mostly became known for an infamous brawl during Game 2 that saw eleven elections, a coach suspended the rest of the series, and criminal matters. The incident began when Calgary's Rick Jodzio cross-checked Quebec's Marc Tardif in the head, causing both teams to leave their benches.[3][4] The brawl lasted 20 minutes, and ended only when Quebec police gathered at the players benches and escorted the teams back to their dressing rooms.[5] The game resumed following a 20-minute break to allow both teams to cool down, then resumed without eleven players who were ejected from the game.[4] The incident caught the attention of Quebec's Solicitor General Fernand Lalonde, who had the incident investigated as a criminal matter.[4] Jodzio was suspended indefinitely by the league, and later pleaded guilty in a Quebec court to a charge of assault over the incident.[6] Cowboys coach Joe Crozier was suspended for the rest of the series.[5]

April 10Calgary Cowboys3–1
(1–0, 1–0, 1–1)		Quebec NordiquesColisée de Québec
McLeodGoaliesBrodeur
Evans 2, ChipperfieldGoalsCloutier
9 5 10 - 24Shots10 7 11 - 28
April 11Calgary Cowboys8–4
(2–2, 0–2, 6–0)		Quebec NordiquesColisée de Québec
McLeodGoaliesBrodeur
Morrison 2, Kirk 2, Tannahill, Lukowich, Chipperfield, PowisGoalsS. Bernier 2, Tardif, Fitchner
8 8 13 - 29Shots8 8 9 - 25
April 14Quebec Nordiques2–3
(0–1, 1–1, 1–1)		Calgary CowboysStampede Corral
BrodeurGoaliesMcLeod
Cloutier, HogansonGoalsPowis 2, Lukowich
5 8 7 - 20Shots14 9 4 - 27
April 16Quebec Nordiques4–3
(0–1, 4–0, 0–2)		Calgary CowboysStampede Corral
BrodeurGoaliesMcLeod
Cloutier 2, Houle 2GoalsChipperfield, Kirk, Lawson
8 12 5 - 25Shots8 9 12 - 29
April 18Calgary Cowboys6–4
(2–0, 1–3, 3–1)		Quebec NordiquesColisée de Québec
BrodeurGoaliesMcLeod
Evans 2, Driscoll, Morrison, Lukowich, LawsonGoalsSutherland 2, Bordeleau, Roy
11 6 11 - 28Shots13 15 13 - 41

New England Whalers vs. Indianapolis Racers

[edit]
April 16New England Whalers4–1
(1–1, 1–0, 2–0)		Indianapolis RacersMarket Square Arena
LandonGoaliesDion
Pleau, Paiement, D. Roberts, BackstromGoalsParizeau
15 7 10 - 32Shots8 8 8 - 24
April 17New England Whalers0–4
(0–2, 0–1, 0–1)		Indianapolis RacersMarket Square Arena
RaederGoaliesPark
No scoringGoalsBond, Parizeau, Harris, Leclerc
11 6 12 - 29Shots11 6 8 - 25
April 21Indianapolis Racers0–3
(0–1, 0–1, 0–1)		New England WhalersHartford Civic Center
DionGoaliesRaeder
Hangsleben 2, SwainGoalsNo scoring
9 5 8 - 22Shots10 14 10 - 34
April 23Indianapolis Racers1–2
(0–0, 0–1, 1–1)		New England WhalersHartford Civic Center
DionGoaliesRaeder
HarrisGoalsPleau
19:03 (3rd) - Rogers
9 14 10 - 33Shots8 16 15 - 39
April 24New England Whalers0–4
(0–1, 0–2, 0–1)		Indianapolis RacersMarket Square Arena
RaederGoaliesPark
No scoringGoalsParizeau 2, Thomas, Keon
13 5 12 - 30Shots14 11 9 - 34
April 27Indianapolis Racers5–3
(0–0, 4–1, 1–2)		New England WhalersHartford Civic Center
ParkGoaliesRaeder
Harbaruk 2, Maggs, Leclerc, KeonGoalsWebster, Fotiu, McManama
10 12 9 - 31Shots7 15 15 - 37
April 29New England Whalers6–0
(1–0, 3–0, 2–0)		Indianapolis RacersMarket Square Arena
RaederGoaliesPark
Bolduc, Webster, O'Donnell, Swain, Paiement, BackstromGoalsNo scoring
10 9 10 - 29Shots7 11 8 - 26

Houston Aeros vs. San Diego Mariners

[edit]
April 21San Diego Mariners6–8
(2–6, 2–2, 2–0)		Houston AerosThe Summitt
Wakely, GillowGoaliesGrahame
French 2, Lacroix, Morenz, Adduono, RiversGoalsPreston 3, Ruskowski 2, Labossiere 2, Hughes
6 7 14 - 27Shots14 6 19 - 39
April 23San Diego Mariners1–3
(0–0, 0–2, 1–1)		Houston AerosThe Summitt
WakelyGoaliesGrahame
17:21 (3rd) - LacroixGoalsTonelli, Hughes, G. Howe
10 8 8 - 26Shots8 8 11 - 27
April 25Houston Aeros8–4
(1–1, 4–2, 3–1)		San Diego MarinersSan Diego Sports Arena
GrahameGoaliesWakely
Larway 3, Tonelli 2, Mty Howe, Schella, G. HoweGoalsTidey, Morrison, Adduono, Noris
10 12 12 - 34Shots10 10 12 - 32
April 27Houston Aeros2–3
(1–0, 0–1, 1–2)		San Diego MarinersSan Diego Sports Arena
GrahameGoaliesWakely
Larway, TonelliGoalsRivers, Dobek, Devine
10 15 11 - 36Shots21 8 10 - 39
April 28San Diego Mariners3–2
(1–0, 2–1, 0–1)		Houston AerosThe Summitt
GrahameGoaliesWakely
Tonelli, G. HoweGoalsAdduono, Peacosh, Devine
14 7 7 - 28Shots7 8 12 - 27
April 30Houston Aeros3–2
(1–0, 1–0, 1–2)		San Diego MarinersSan Diego Sports Arena
RutledgeGoaliesWakely
Hughes, Preston, HallGoalsBurgess, Rivers
7 10 6 - 23Shots12 17 14 - 43

Semifinals

[edit]

Winnipeg Jets vs. Calgary Cowboys

[edit]

In Game 3, Powis and Tannahill each recorded a goal three seconds apart from each other, the fastest in WHA history.

April 23Calgary Cowboys1–6
(0–3, 0–3, 1–0)		Winnipeg JetsWinnipeg Arena
McLeod, HumphreysGoaliesDaley
EvansGoalsLindstrom, Nilsson, Sullivan, Hull, Guindon, Ketola
4 8 5 - 17Shots9 11 9 - 29
April 25Calgary Cowboys2–3
(1–2, 1–0, 0–1)		Winnipeg JetsWinnipeg Arena
McLeodGoaliesDaley
Chipperfield
Miller		GoalsBobby Hull (2)
1:32 (3rd) - Hedberg
10 7 5 - 22Shots15 15 15 - 45
April 28Winnipeg Jets6–3
(1–0, 1–3, 4–0)		Calgary CowboysStampede Corral
DaleyGoaliesMcLeod
Hedberg 2, Hull, Nilsson, Ketola, LesukGoals4:08 (2nd) - Powis
4:11 (2nd) - Tannahill
Driscoll
10 12 13 - 35Shots6 17 9 - 32
April 30Quebec Nordiques3–7
(1–3, 1–2, 1–2)		Calgary CowboysStampede Corral
DaleyGoaliesMcLeod
Hedberg, Nilsson, BergmanGoalsLawson 2, Leiter 2, Kirk, Powis, Chipperfield
11 7 13 - 31Shots11 8 7 - 26
May 2Calgary Cowboys0–4
(0–0, 0–1, 0–3)		Winnipeg JetsWinnipeg Arena
McLeodGoaliesDaley
No scoringGoalsHedberg 2, Lindstrom, Asmundson
6 7 4 - 17Shots13 10 8 - 31

Houston Aeros vs. New England Whalers

[edit]
May 5New England Whalers4–2
(0–0, 3–2, 1–0)		Houston AerosThe Summitt
RaederGoaliesGrahame
Webster (3)
Paiement		GoalsMty Howe, Lund
5 10 3 - 18Shots9 10 11 - 30
May 7New England Whalers2–5
(1–0, 0–4, 1–1)		Houston AerosThe Summitt
Raeder, CooleyGoaliesRutledge
Abrahamsson, McManamaGoalsRuskowski, Tonelli, Taylor, Mk Howe, Hinse
6 6 9 - 21Shots10 12 10 - 32
May 9Houston Aeros1–4
(0–2, 0–1, 1–1)		New England WhalersHartford Civic Center
RutledgeGoaliesRaeder
16:20 (3rd) - Mark HoweGoalsPaiement, Borgeson, Abrahamsson, McManama
9 7 14 - 30Shots16 10 8 - 34
May 11Houston Aeros4–3
(3–0, 1–1, 0–2)		New England WhalersHartford Civic Center
GrahameGoaliesRaeder
P. Popiel 2, J. Popiel, RuskowskiGoalsSelwood, Webster, G. Roberts
11 6 8 - 25Shots8 15 12 - 35
May 13New England Whalers2–4
(1–0, 0–2, 1–2)		Houston AerosThe Summitt
Raeder, AbrahamssonGoaliesGrahame
Webster, LeyGoalsTonelli, Hughes, Ruskowski, Hinse
10 7 10 - 27Shots15 16 14 - 45
May 15Houston Aeros1–6
(0–1, 0–3, 1–2)		New England WhalersHartford Civic Center
Grahame, RutledgeGoaliesRaeder
LarwayGoalsWebster 2, Rogers, Fotiu, Backstrom, Swain
9 13 18 - 40Shots11 10 7 - 28
May 16New England Whalers0–2
(0–1, 0–0, 0–1)		Houston AerosThe Summitt
RaederGoaliesGrahame
No scoringGoalsP. Popiel, Mk Howe
9 5 7 - 21Shots10 16 11 - 37

Avco Cup Finals

[edit]

The first two games were tight affairs that Winnipeg won before a four-goal first period in Game 3 and three in the first period in Game 4 carried them to victory.[7]

May 20 Winnipeg Jets 4–3 Houston Aeros The Summit  
13:08 - Hedberg (Hull, Nilsson)
15:36 - Moffat (Beaudin, Lindh) 		First period 9:37 - Hughes (Butters, Hale) 9:37
19:35 - Mark Howe (West, Hale)
16:10 - Hedberg (Bergman) Second period No scoring
16:43 - Bobby Hull (Nilsson) Third period 0:46 - Mark Howe (Preston)
Joe Daley 26 saves / 29 shots Goalie stats Ron Grahame 25 shots / 29 shots
May 23 Winnipeg Jets 5–4 Houston Aeros The Summit  
13:52 - Hedberg (Nilsson) First period No scoring
2:17 - Lindstrom (Sullivan, Bergman)
16:53 - Asmundson (Lesuk, Guindon) 		Second period 1:22 - Gordie Howe (M. Howe, Schella)
12:44 - Marty Howe (Hall)
5:19 - Bergman
18:06 - Hull (Bergman, Hedberg) 		Third period 1:29 - Ruskowski (Preston, Popiel)
3:23 - Marty Howe (Taylor, Popiel)
Joe Daley 28 saves / 32 shots Goalie stats Ron Grahame 21 saves / 26 shots
May 25 Houston Aeros 3–6 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Arena  
3:48 - Mark Howe (Schella) First period 2:24 - Ketola (Lindstrom, Riihiranta)
3:23 - Nilsson (Hedberg)
8:49 - Hedberg (Ford, Ketola)
11:33 - Sullivan (Hull, Lindstrom)
14:28 - Larway (Marty Howe, Tonelli) Second period 7:46 - Nilsson (Sjoberg)
13:22 - Larway (Tonelli, Ruskowski) Third period 1:44 - Nilsson
Ron Grahame 19 saves / 25 shots Goalie stats Joe Daley 15 saves / 18 shots
May 27 Houston Aeros 3–9 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Arena  
9:45 - Taylor (Labossiere, Marty Howe) First period 5:47 - Bobby Hull (Ford, Nilsson)
10:22 - Ketola (Ford, Hull)
11:21 - Moffat (Sjoberg, Ford)
No scoring Second period 1:07 - Ketola (Lindstrom, Sullivan)
3:11 - Hedberg (Nilsson, Hull)
9:19 - Hedberg (Nilsson)
12:14 - Sullivan (Hillman)
No scoring Third period 1:33 - Sullivan (Ford, Riihiranta)
9:30 - Guindon (Riihiranta, Ketola) 9:30
Ron Grahame 24 saves / 33 shots Goalie stats Joe Daley 14 saves / 17 shots
Winnipeg won series 4–0


Skaters

[edit]

These were the top ten skaters based on points.[8]

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM
Ulf Nilsson Winnipeg Jets 13 7 19 26 15 6
Bobby Hull Winnipeg Jets 13 12 8 20 15 4
Anders Hedberg Winnipeg Jets 13 13 6 19 16 15
Tom Webster New England Whalers 17 10 9 19 3 6
Mark Howe Houston Aeros 17 6 10 16 0 18
Terry Ruskowski Houston Aeros 16 6 10 16 8 64
Rosaire Paiement New England Whalers 17 4 11 15 3 41
John Tonelli Houston Aeros 17 7 7 14 8 8
Thommie Bergman Winnipeg Jets 13 3 10 13 10 8
Mike Ford Winnipeg Jets 12 1 12 13 8 8
Mike Rogers New England Whalers 17 5 8 13 1 2
Peter Sullivan Winnipeg Jets 13 6 7 13 7 0

References

[edit]
  1. ^ https://www.surgent.net/wha/year/197576/playoffs.html
  2. ^ Surgent, Scott (1990). The Complete World Hockey Association 11th Edition. Surgent. p. 222-223, 246-247. ISBN 978-1727753424.
  3. ^ Sportak, Randy (January 29, 2005). "Wanna be a Cowboy". Calgary Sun. Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c Bilych, George (April 12, 1976). "Cowboys, Nordiques brawl gives hockey a black eye". Calgary Herald. p. 1.
  5. ^ a b Willes 2004, p. 167
  6. ^ Willes 2004, p. 168
  7. ^ https://www.surgent.net/wha/finals/1976finals.html
  8. ^ https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/WHA_1976_skaters.html#stats::points
[edit]

WHA playoffs

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