1972–73 Alberta Oilers season

WHA hockey team season (inaugural season) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1972–73 Alberta Oilers season was the Oilers' first season, as one of twelve inaugural franchises of the newly formed World Hockey Association (WHA). [1][2]

Division5th Western
1972–73 record38–37–3
Home record26–13–2
Road record12–24–1
Quick facts Alberta Oilers, Division ...
1972–73 Alberta Oilers
Division5th Western
1972–73 record38–37–3
Home record26–13–2
Road record12–24–1
Goals for269
Goals against256
Team information
General managerBill Hunter
CoachRay Kinasewich
Bill Hunter
CaptainAl Hamilton
Alternate captainsDoug Barrie
Val Fonteyne
Jim Harrison
ArenaEdmonton Gardens
Average attendance3,848 (74.0%)
Team leaders
GoalsJim Harrison (39)
AssistsAl Hamilton (50)
PointsJim Harrison (86)
Penalty minutesAl Hamilton (124)
WinsJack Norris (28)
Goals against averageJack Norris (3.06)
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Regular season

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 major 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.

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.

Season standings

More information GP, W ...
Western Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
Winnipeg Jets784331428524975790
Houston Aeros7839354284269136382
Los Angeles Sharks7837356259250147780
Minnesota Fighting Saints783837325026984379
Alberta Oilers7838373269256113479
Chicago Cougars782650224529581154
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Schedule and results

More information Game, Result ...
1972–73 regular season[3]
October
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
1WOctober 11, 19727–4@ Ottawa Nationals1–0–0
2LOctober 13, 19720–6@ Quebec Nordiques1–1–0
3LOctober 14, 19722–3@ Cleveland Crusaders1–2–0
4WOctober 15, 19725–2@ Winnipeg Jets2–2–0
5WOctober 17, 19723–2Winnipeg Jets3–2–0
6WOctober 20, 19724–1Philadelphia Blazers4–2–0
7TOctober 24, 19723–3Chicago Cougars4–2–1
8LOctober 27, 19720–6@ Cleveland Crusaders4–3–1
9WOctober 28, 19724–1@ New England Whalers5–3–1
10LOctober 29, 19722–7@ New York Raiders5–4–1
11LOctober 31, 19723–4Houston Aeros5–5–1
November
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
12WNovember 3, 19724–3Houston Aeros6–5–1
13LNovember 5, 19723–5Ottawa Nationals6–6–1
14WNovember 7, 19724–2New York Raiders7–6–1
15WNovember 9, 19727–2Los Angeles Sharks8–6–1
16WNovember 11, 19725–3Los Angeles Sharks9–6–1
17LNovember 12, 19721–3Cleveland Crusaders9–7–1
18WNovember 15, 19723–1Winnipeg Jets10–7–1
19WNovember 17, 19723–1Chicago Cougars11–7–1
20LNovember 21, 19723–4@ Minnesota Fighting Saints11–8–1
21LNovember 22, 19724–5@ Philadelphia Blazers11–9–1
22LNovember 24, 19722–7@ New England Whalers11–10–1
23LNovember 25, 19722–4@ New York Raiders11–11–1
24WNovember 26, 19722–1@ Ottawa Nationals12–11–1
25LNovember 28, 19720–3@ Winnipeg Jets12–12–1
26TNovember 30, 19723–3Winnipeg Jets12–12–2
December
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
27LDecember 1, 19724–6Minnesota Fighting Saints12–13–2
28LDecember 3, 19722–6Quebec Nordiques12–14–2
29LDecember 8, 19722–4@ Los Angeles Sharks12–15–2
30LDecember 10, 19723–5@ Los Angeles Sharks12–16–2
31LDecember 12, 19724–6@ Houston Aeros12–17–2
32WDecember 13, 19723–2@ Houston Aeros13–17–2
33LDecember 15, 19723–4Ottawa Nationals13–18–2
34WDecember 17, 19723–1Ottawa Nationals14–18–2
35WDecember 21, 19725–4New England Whalers15–18–2
36LDecember 23, 19722–3@ Chicago Cougars15–19–2
37LDecember 25, 19722–3@ Chicago Cougars15–20–2
January
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
38WJanuary 1, 19737–3Winnipeg Jets16–20–2
39LJanuary 10, 19731–6@ Winnipeg Jets16–21–2
40WJanuary 12, 19732–1@ Los Angeles Sharks17–21–2
41WJanuary 13, 19734–1@ Los Angeles Sharks18–21–2
42LJanuary 15, 19733–4Los Angeles Sharks18–22–2
43WJanuary 16, 19736–5Los Angeles Sharks19–22–2
44LJanuary 20, 19734–6Chicago Cougars19–23–2
45WJanuary 22, 19736–1Chicago Cougars20–23–2
46LJanuary 27, 19730–1Philadelphia Blazers20–24–2
47WJanuary 28, 19734–2Philadelphia Blazers21–24–2
48WJanuary 30, 197311–3New York Raiders22–24–2
February
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
49WFebruary 1, 19738–5New York Raiders23–24–2
50WFebruary 2, 19734–3@ Winnipeg Jets24–24–2
51LFebruary 4, 19733–5Winnipeg Jets24–25–2
52LFebruary 6, 19732–4New England Whalers24–26–2
53WFebruary 7, 19733–1New England Whalers25–26–2
54WFebruary 9, 19736–0Minnesota Fighting Saints26–26–2
55WFebruary 11, 19737–5Minnesota Fighting Saints27–26–2
56WFebruary 13, 19735–3Houston Aeros28–26–2
57LFebruary 15, 19733–5Houston Aeros28–27–2
58LFebruary 20, 19734–5@ Cleveland Crusaders28–28–2
59LFebruary 21, 19734–5@ New York Raiders28–29–2
60LFebruary 23, 19732–4@ New England Whalers28–30–2
61LFebruary 25, 19732–3@ Ottawa Nationals28–31–2
62LFebruary 27, 19734–5@ Houston Aeros28–32–2
63LFebruary 28, 19732–3@ Houston Aeros28–33–2
March
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
64LMarch 6, 19733–4@ Minnesota Fighting Saints28–34–2
65WMarch 8, 19733–2@ Chicago Cougars29–34–2
66WMarch 10, 19735–4@ Chicago Cougars30–34–2
67LMarch 11, 19731–2@ Minnesota Fighting Saints30–35–2
68WMarch 13, 19734–2Cleveland Crusaders31–35–2
69WMarch 14, 19734–2Cleveland Crusaders32–35–2
70WMarch 16, 19734–2Quebec Nordiques33–35–2
71WMarch 17, 19733–0Quebec Nordiques34–35–2
72WMarch 20, 19735–3Minnesota Fighting Saints35–35–2
73TMarch 22, 19731–1@ Winnipeg Jets35–35–3
74LMarch 24, 19734–5@ Quebec Nordiques35–36–3
75WMarch 25, 19735–4@ Quebec Nordiques36–36–3
76WMarch 28, 19732–1@ Philadelphia Blazers37–36–3
77LMarch 29, 19731–2@ Philadelphia Blazers37–37–3
78WMarch 30, 19735–3@ Minnesota Fighting Saints38–37–3

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

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Playoffs

The Oilers 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. The Oilers lost the game, and the Fighting Saints went on to play in the Quarterfinals.

More information 1973 Avco Cup playoffs, Game ...
1973 Avco Cup playoffs[3]
Western Division 4th Place Tiebreaker Game vs. Minnesota Fighting Saints
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 4Minnesota Fighting Saints4 – 2Alberta OilersNorris6,3920–1

Legend:   Win   Loss

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Player statistics

Skaters

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

More information Player, Regular season ...
Player Regular season Playoffs
GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Jim Harrison663947869310112
Al Hamilton7811506112410002
Ross Perkins712137581910002
Ed Patenaude782927565910114
Ron Walters782826543711010
Bob Wall781629452010110
Val Fonteyne7773239210000
Eddie Joyal712216381610000
Bill Hicke731424382010000
Brian Carlin65122234610000
Doug Barrie5492231111100022
Ron Anderson731415294310000
Ken Baird7514152911211016
Bob Falkenberg77623294410000
Steve Carlyle67710173510000
Dennis Kassian5067131410110
Bob McAneeley51571224—————
Bernie Blanchette†235492—————
Roger Cote603584610000
John Fisher400550—————
Jack Norris64033210000
Jim Benzelock‡2611210—————
Derek Harker‡10000—————
Ken Brown200002—————
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†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

More information Player, Regular season ...
Player Regular season Playoffs
GP TOI W L T GA SO SV% GAA GP TOI W L GA SO SV% GAA
Jack Norris6437052829318910.9033.0615901400.8334.07
Ken Brown20103410806310.8833.65————————
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Awards and records

Four Oilers were selected to play in the mid-season All-Star Game on January 6:

Milestones

Regular Season
PlayerMilestoneReached
Ron Anderson1st WHA Game
1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		October 11, 1972
Bill Hicke
Eddie Joyal
Ron Walters
Jim Benzelock1st WHA Game
Roger Cote
Bob Falkenberg
Dennis Kassian
Ed Patenaude
Ken Brown1st WHA Game
1st WHA Win
Steve Carlyle1st WHA Game
1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
John Fisher
Val Fonteyne
Al Hamilton
Bob McAneeley
Bob Wall
Jim Harrison1st WHA Game
1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Jack Norris1st WHA GameOctober 13, 1972
Roger Cote1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		October 15, 1972
Val Fonteyne1st WHA Goal
Eddie Joyal1st WHA Assist
Ron Walters
Ron Anderson1st WHA AssistOctober 17, 1972
Jack Norris1st WHA Win
Brian Carlin1st WHA GameOctober 20, 1972
Bob Falkenberg1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Ed Patenaude1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Ron Walters1st WHA Hat-trick
Brian Carlin1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		October 24, 1972
Bill Hicke1st WHA Assist
Ross Perkins1st WHA GameOctober 27, 1972
Dennis Kassian1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		October 28, 1972
Ross Perkins1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Ken Baird1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point		October 29, 1972
Doug Barrie1st WHA Game
Ross Perkins1st WHA Goal
Doug Barrie1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		November 3, 1972
Brian Carlin1st WHA Assist
Bob Wall1st WHA Goal
Dennis Kassian1st WHA AssistNovember 5, 1972
Doug Barrie
Steve Carlyle1st WHA GoalNovember 7, 1972
Al Hamilton
Ken Baird1st WHA GoalNovember 9, 1972
Bob Falkenberg1st WHA GoalNovember 11, 1972
Jim Benzelock1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point		November 25, 1972
Bob McAneeley1st WHA GoalNovember 30, 1972
Jim Benzelock1st WHA GoalDecember 12, 1972
Roger Cote1st WHA AssistDecember 21, 1972
Jim Harrison1st WHA Gordie Howe hat trick
Ross Perkins1st WHA Hat-TrickJanuary 1, 1973
Jack Norris1st WHA AssistJanuary 16, 1973
Jim Harrison1st WHA Hat-TrickJanuary 30, 1973
Jack Norris1st WHA ShutoutFebruary 9, 1973
Al Hamilton100th WHA PIMFebruary 27, 1973
Ken Baird100th WHA PIMMarch 17, 1973
Ken Brown1st WHA Shutout
Jim Harrison2nd WHA Gordie Howe hat trick
Doug Barrie100th WHA PIMMarch 28, 1973
Ken Baird1st WHA GameTBD
Derek Harker
Playoffs
PlayerMilestoneReached
Ron Anderson1st WHA GameApril 4, 1973
Doug Barrie
Brian Carlin
Steve Carlyle
Roger Cote
Bob Falkenberg
Val Fonteyne
Al Hamilton
Bill Hicke
Eddie Joyal
Jack Norris
Ross Perkins
Ken Baird1st WHA Game
1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point
Ron Walters
Jim Harrison1st WHA Game
1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Dennis Kassian
Ed Patenaude
Bob Wall

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:

Ullman and MacGregor would eventually play for the Oilers, but not for 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.

More information Player, Pos ...
Player Pos Team League Joined Oilers
Rounds 1-10
Garnet BaileyLWBoston BruinsNHL1978–79
Doug BarrieDLos Angeles KingsNHL1972–73
Ross PerkinsCFort Worth WingsCHL1972–73
Rounds 11-20
Ron AndersonRWBuffalo SabresNHL1972–73
Len LundeLWIlves TampereSM-sarja1973–74
Rounds 21-50
Ken BairdDCalifornia Golden SealsNHL1972–73
Jim BenzelockRWDayton GemsIHL1972–73
Brian CarlinLWLos Angeles KingsNHL1972–73
Bob FalkenbergDDetroit Red WingsNHL1972–73
Val FonteyneLWPittsburgh PenguinsNHL1972–73
Del HallLWCalifornia Golden SealsNHL1977–78
Al HamiltonDBuffalo SabresNHL1972–73
Eddie JoyalCPhiladelphia FlyersNHL1972–73
Kerry KetterDNova Scotia VoyageursAHL1975–76
Barry LongDPortland BuckaroosWHL1974–75
Glen SatherLWNew York RangersNHL1976–77
Ron WaltersCTidewater WingsAHL1972–73
Rounds 51-70
Roger CoteDCleveland BaronsAHL1972–73
Bob McAneeleyLWUniversity of British ColumbiaCWUAA1972–73
Ed PatenaudeRWFort Wayne KometsIHL1972–73
Bob WallDDetroit Red WingsNHL1972–73
Rounds 71+
John FisherCFort Worth WingsCHL1972–73
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Trades

More information Date, To Alberta Oilers ...
DateTo Alberta OilersTraded toTraded for
May 1972Jim HarrisonCalgary BroncosCash
Dennis KassianHouston AerosCash
June 1972Future considerationsQuebec NordiquesFrancois Lacombe
July 1972Darryl Sittler
Steve Carlyle		Cleveland CrusadersJocelyn Hardy
Doug Brindley
Bill Horton
Rich Pumple
August 1972Jack Norris
Ken Brown		Cleveland CrusadersBob Whidden
Future considerationsQuebec NordiquesJohn Gravel
Jean-Yves Cartier
September 1972CashOttawa NationalsGilles Gratton
November 3, 1972 (1972-11-03)CashPhiladelphia BlazersDerek Harker
December 27, 1972 (1972-12-27)Bernie BlanchetteChicago CougarsJim Benzelock
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Free Agents

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerFormer team
September 11, 1972 (1972-09-11)Bill HickePittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
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Signings

More information Date, Player ...
DatePlayerTerm
1972Len Lunde2-year
June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06)Doug Barrie
Brian Carlin
Roger Cote
Al Hamilton5-year
Eddie Joyal3-year
Ross Perkins3-year
Bob Wall
June 7, 1972 (1972-06-07)Jim Benzelock3-year
Bob Falkenberg
June 20, 1972 (1972-06-20)Jim Harrison4-year
July 6, 1972 (1972-07-06)Ken Baird3-year
Derek Harker
Bob McAneeley
Ed Patenaude
July 27, 1972 (1972-07-27)Ron Walters
August 4, 1972 (1972-08-04)Ken Brown3-year
Jack Norris
August 21, 1972 (1972-08-21)Ron Anderson
Steve Carlyle3-year
September 4, 1972 (1972-09-04)Val Fonteyne2-year
September 18, 1972 (1972-09-18)Dennis Kassian2-year
October 1972John Fisher
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References

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