1973–74 New England Whalers season

1973–74 New England Whalers
Division1st East
1973–74 record43–31–4
Home record26–11–2
Road record17–20–2
Goals for291
Goals against260
Team information
General managerJack Kelley
CoachRon Ryan
CaptainTed Green
Alternate captainsJim Dorey
Tommy Williams
Larry Pleau
ArenaBoston Garden (regular season)
Eastern States Coliseum (playoffs)
Average attendance5,970 (39.8%)
Team leaders
GoalsTom Webster (43)
AssistsJohn French (48)
PointsJohn French (72)
Penalty minutesRick Ley (148)
WinsAl Smith (30)
Goals against averageAl Smith (3.08)

The 1973–74 New England Whalers season was the second season of the Whalers' franchise. The Whalers qualified for the playoffs for the second-straight season to attempt to defend their championship. They were defeated in the first round by the Chicago Cougars.[1][2]

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Eastern Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
78 43 31 4 291 260 875 90
Toronto Toros 78 41 33 4 304 272 871 86
Cleveland Crusaders 78 37 32 9 266 264 1007 83
Chicago Cougars 78 38 35 5 271 273 1041 81
Quebec Nordiques 78 38 36 4 306 280 909 80
NY Golden Blades / Jersey Knights 78 32 42 4 268 313 933 68

Schedule and results

1973–74 regular season[3]
October
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
1 L October 7, 1973 2–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 0–1–0
2 W October 9, 1973 3–2 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 1–1–0
3 W October 13, 1973 6–4 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 2–1–0
4 W October 14, 1973 2–1 OT @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 3–1–0
5 T October 15, 1973 3–3 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 3–1–1
6 L October 17, 1973 1–3 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 3–2–1
7 L October 19, 1973 0–1 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 3–3–1
8 W October 21, 1973 4–3 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 4–3–1
9 W October 22, 1973 4–1 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 5–3–1
10 W October 25, 1973 8–3 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 6–3–1
11 W October 27, 1973 3–1 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 7–3–1
November
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
12 L November 3, 1973 4–5 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 7–4–1
13 W November 4, 1973 7–5 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 8–4–1
14 W November 7, 1973 9–2 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 9–4–1
15 L November 10, 1973 3–6 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 9–5–1
16 L November 11, 1973 2–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 9–6–1
17 W November 12, 1973 3–2 OT New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 10–6–1
18 W November 15, 1973 5–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 11–6–1
19 L November 17, 1973 4–10 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 11–7–1
20 W November 18, 1973 5–2 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 12–7–1
21 L November 21, 1973 1–4 @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 12–8–1
22 L November 22, 1973 5–7 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 12–9–1
23 W November 26, 1973 4–2 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 13–9–1
24 W November 29, 1973 5–2 Houston Aeros (1973–74) 14–9–1
December
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
25 W December 2, 1973 4–3 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 15–9–1
26 L December 8, 1973 1–2 OT @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 15–10–1
27 W December 9, 1973 3–2 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 16–10–1
28 W December 12, 1973 8–6 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 17–10–1
29 W December 14, 1973 3–1 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 18–10–1
30 L December 16, 1973 2–3 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 18–11–1
31 W December 19, 1973 4–2 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 19–11–1
32 L December 22, 1973 0–2 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 19–12–1
33 W December 24, 1973 5–4 OT Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 20–12–1
34 W December 26, 1973 3–2 OT @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 21–12–1
35 W December 27, 1973 5–1 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 22–12–1
36 L December 29, 1973 2–6 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 22–13–1
37 L December 30, 1973 5–6 OT @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 22–14–1
January
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
38 W January 4, 1974 4–3 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 23–14–1
39 L January 5, 1974 0–1 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 23–15–1
40 L January 8, 1974 2–3 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 23–16–1
41 T January 10, 1974 6–6 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 23–16–2
42 W January 13, 1974 9–6 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 24–16–2
43 W January 16, 1974 4–2 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 25–16–2
44 L January 17, 1974 2–5 Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 25–17–2
45 W January 19, 1974 5–2 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 26–17–2
46 L January 20, 1974 4–8 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 26–18–2
47 L January 22, 1974 3–5 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 26–19–2
48 W January 26, 1974 4–0 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 27–19–2
49 W January 28, 1974 6–4 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 28–19–2
50 L January 31, 1974 1–4 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 28–20–2
February
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
51 W February 2, 1974 5–2 Houston Aeros (1973–74) 29–20–2
52 L February 3, 1974 1–3 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 29–21–2
53 L February 6, 1974 0–3 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 29–22–2
54 W February 8, 1974 4–2 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 30–22–2
55 L February 10, 1974 2–5 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 30–23–2
56 L February 13, 1974 4–9 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 30–24–2
57 W February 15, 1974 7–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 31–24–2
58 W February 17, 1974 3–2 OT @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 32–24–2
59 L February 20, 1974 2–4 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 32–25–2
60 W February 23, 1974 3–0 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 33–25–2
61 L February 24, 1974 0–2 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 33–26–2
62 W February 27, 1974 5–3 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 34–26–2
63 T February 28, 1974 3–3 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 34–26–3
March
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
64 W March 2, 1974 7–1 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 35–26–3
65 W March 3, 1974 6–3 @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 36–26–3
66 W March 5, 1974 3–2 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 37–26–3
67 L March 6, 1974 6–8 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 37–27–3
68 W March 8, 1974 7–2 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 38–27–3
69 L March 12, 1974 3–5 @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) 38–28–3
70 W March 14, 1974 6–3 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 39–28–3
71 W March 15, 1974 6–2 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 40–28–3
72 L March 17, 1974 1–10 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 40–29–3
73 T March 20, 1974 2–2 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 40–29–4
74 L March 24, 1974 3–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 40–30–4
75 W March 27, 1974 7–1 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 41–30–4
76 W March 28, 1974 3–2 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 42–30–4
77 W March 31, 1974 3–2 OT Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 43–30–4
April
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
78 L April 1, 1974 1–4 Houston Aeros (1973–74) 43–31–4

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1974 Avco Cup playoffs[3]
Division Quarterfinals vs. Chicago Cougars – Cougars win 4–3
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 April 6 Chicago Cougars 4–6 New England Whalers 1–0
2 April 7 Chicago Cougars 3 – 4 OT New England Whalers 2–0
3 April 9 New England Whalers 6–8 Chicago Cougars 2–1
4 April 10 New England Whalers 1 – 2 OT Chicago Cougars 2–2
5 April 12 Chicago Cougars 4–2 New England Whalers 3–2
6 April 14 New England Whalers 2–0 Chicago Cougars 3–3
7 April 16 Chicago Cougars 3–2 New England Whalers 3–4

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

New England's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.[4]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 2 Glenn Goldup (F)  Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
1 12 Blake Dunlop (F)  Canada Ottawa 67's (OHA)
2 26 Mike Clarke (C)  Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
3 38 Tom Colley (C)  Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
4 41 Randy Holt (D)  Canada Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
4 51 Alan Hangsleben (D)  United States University of North Dakota (WCHA)
5 53 Larry Patey (C)  Canada Boston University (ECAC)
5 64 Cap Raeder (G)  United States University of New Hampshire (ECAC)
6 77 Rick Chinnick (F)  Canada Peterborough Petes (OHA)
7 90 Steve Alley (LW)  United States University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

See also

References

  1. ^ World Hockey Association (1973). WHA 1973-74 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  2. ^ World Hockey Association (1974). WHA 1974-75 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  3. ^ a b "1973-74 New England Whalers Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  4. ^ "1973 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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