1976–77 New England Whalers season

1976–77 New England Whalers
Division4th East
1976–77 record35–40–6
Home record20–16–4
Road record15–24–2
Goals for275
Goals against290
Team information
General managerRon Ryan
CoachHarry Neale
CaptainRick Ley
ArenaHartford Civic Center
Team leaders
GoalsGeorge Lyle (39)
AssistsMike Rogers (57)
PointsTom Webster (85)
Penalty minutesGordie Roberts (169)
WinsChrister Abrahamsson (15)
Goals against averageCap Raeder (3.12)

The 1976–77 New England Whalers season was the fifth season of operation of the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association. The Whalers placed fourth in the Eastern Division, qualifying fourth for the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Quebec Nordiques.

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Eastern Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Quebec Nordiques 81 47 31 3 353 295 97
Cincinnati Stingers 81 39 37 5 354 303 83
Indianapolis Racers 81 36 37 8 276 305 80
81 35 40 6 275 290 76
Birmingham Bulls 81 31 46 4 289 309 66
Minnesota Fighting Saints 42 19 18 5 136 129 43

Schedule and results

1976–77 regular season[1]
October
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
1 L October 8, 1976 0–2 @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 0–1–0
2 L October 10, 1976 2–5 @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 0–2–0
3 L October 16, 1976 2–8 Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 0–3–0
4 T October 19, 1976 4–4 @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 0–3–1
5 W October 22, 1976 5–2 Houston Aeros (1976–77) 1–3–1
6 W October 23, 1976 5–4 Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 2–3–1
7 L October 26, 1976 0–1 Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 2–4–1
8 W October 29, 1976 5–1 Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 3–4–1
9 W October 30, 1976 5–4 Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 4–4–1
November
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
10 W November 5, 1976 4–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 5–4–1
11 L November 7, 1976 2–4 @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 5–5–1
12 L November 9, 1976 4–5 OT @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 5–6–1
13 T November 11, 1976 3–3 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 5–6–2
14 L November 12, 1976 1–3 @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 5–7–2
15 W November 16, 1976 5–4 @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 6–7–2
16 W November 17, 1976 6–4 Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 7–7–2
17 L November 19, 1976 3–7 Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 7–8–2
18 T November 20, 1976 3–3 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 7–8–3
19 L November 23, 1976 3–4 @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 7–9–3
20 W November 25, 1976 5–3 @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 8–9–3
21 L November 27, 1976 1–3 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 8–10–3
22 L November 28, 1976 3–4 Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 8–11–3
23 L November 30, 1976 1–2 @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 8–12–3
December
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
24 W December 1, 1976 8–4 Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 9–12–3
25 T December 3, 1976 5–5 Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 9–12–4
26 L December 4, 1976 2–6 Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 9–13–4
27 L December 7, 1976 2–4 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 9–14–4
28 W December 8, 1976 5–1 Houston Aeros (1976–77) 10–14–4
29 W December 11, 1976 3–2 San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 11–14–4
30 L December 12, 1976 1–5 @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 11–15–4
31 W December 14, 1976 3–1 @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 12–15–4
32 L December 17, 1976 4–5 OT Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 12–16–4
33 W December 18, 1976 6–2 Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 13–16–4
34 L December 21, 1976 0–4 @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 13–17–4
35 W December 23, 1976 5–3 @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 14–17–4
36 W December 26, 1976 3–2 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 15–17–4
37 L December 28, 1976 4–5 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 15–18–4
38 W December 30, 1976 6–4 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 16–18–4
January
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
39 W January 2, 1977 3–2 Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 17–18–4
40 L January 4, 1977 3–5 @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 17–19–4
41 L January 5, 1977 1–2 San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 17–20–4
42 L January 7, 1977 3–7 Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 17–21–4
43 L January 8, 1977 3–4 Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 17–22–4
44 L January 11, 1977 2–8 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 17–23–4
45 L January 13, 1977 1–4 @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 17–24–4
46 L January 14, 1977 3–5 Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 17–25–4
47 L January 20, 1977 4–5 Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 17–26–4
48 T January 22, 1977 3–3 Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 17–26–5
49 W January 23, 1977 4–3 OT Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 18–26–5
50 L January 25, 1977 2–4 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 18–27–5
51 W January 27, 1977 5–3 @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 19–27–5
52 W January 28, 1977 6–2 @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 20–27–5
53 L January 30, 1977 0–5 @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 20–28–5
February
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
54 L February 1, 1977 3–4 @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 20–29–5
55 L February 4, 1977 1–4 @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 20–30–5
56 L February 5, 1977 3–8 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 20–31–5
57 T February 6, 1977 5–5 Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 20–31–6
58 W February 10, 1977 6–3 Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 21–31–6
59 L February 12, 1977 1–5 Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 21–32–6
60 W February 13, 1977 5–4 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 22–32–6
61 W February 17, 1977 4–2 Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 23–32–6
62 L February 18, 1977 2–3 Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 23–33–6
63 W February 20, 1977 5–0 @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 24–33–6
64 L February 22, 1977 3–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 24–34–6
65 W February 25, 1977 3–2 @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 25–34–6
66 W February 27, 1977 3–2 @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 26–34–6
March
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
67 W March 2, 1977 2–0 San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 27–34–6
68 W March 4, 1977 3–2 Houston Aeros (1976–77) 28–34–6
69 W March 6, 1977 6–2 Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 29–34–6
70 L March 9, 1977 3–4 OT @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 29–35–6
71 L March 11, 1977 3–6 @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 29–36–6
72 L March 13, 1977 3–5 @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 29–37–6
73 W March 18, 1977 3–1 Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 30–37–6
74 W March 20, 1977 9–0 Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 31–37–6
75 L March 24, 1977 4–5 Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 31–38–6
76 L March 26, 1977 2–4 Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 31–39–6
77 W March 27, 1977 5–2 Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 32–39–6
78 W March 29, 1977 5–4 @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 33–39–6
79 W March 31, 1977 6–2 @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 34–39–6
April
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
80 W April 2, 1977 3–2 OT @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 35–39–6
81 L April 5, 1977 2–7 @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 35–40–6

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

Playoffs

The Whalers met the Quebec Nordiques in the first round of the playoffs. The Nordiques defeated the Whalers 4–1 to win the round. The Nordiques would go on to win the league championship.

1977 Avco Cup playoffs[1]
Division Quarterfinals vs. Quebec Nordiques – Nordiques win 4–1
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
1 April 9 New England Whalers 2–5 Quebec Nordiques 0–1
2 April 12 New England Whalers 3–7 Quebec Nordiques 0–2
3 April 14 Quebec Nordiques 4 – 3 OT New England Whalers 0–3
4 April 16 Quebec Nordiques 4–6 New England Whalers 1–3
5 April 19 New England Whalers 0–3 Quebec Nordiques 1–4

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

New England's draft picks at the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.[2]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
2 13 Mike Fidler (LW)  United States Boston University (ECAC)
3 26 Fred Williams (C)  Canada Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)
3 31 Dave Debol (C)  United States University of Michigan (WCHA)
4 38 Mike Kaszycki (F)  Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)
5 49 Bill Baker (D)  United States University of Minnesota (WCHA)
5 50 Mike Liut (G)  Canada Bowling Green State University (CCHA)
6 62 Dwight Schofield (D)  Canada London Knights (OHA)
7 74 Warren Young (F)  Canada Michigan Tech (WCHA)
8 86 Ken Morrow (D)  United States Bowling Green State University (CCHA)
9 97 Ed Clarey (F)  Canada Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)
10 108 Jon Hammond (LW)  Canada Regina Pats (WCHL)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "1976-77 New England Whalers Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  2. ^ "1976 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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