Chicago Cougars
The Chicago Cougars were an ice hockey team, which was active from 1971 to 1975 in the North American World Hockey Association (WHA ).
History
The Cougars were among the founding members of the WHA, but when the league resumed their game operation, the brothers Jordan and William Kaiser, who made their money in the real estate industry were already the third owner of the franchise. On the basis of these turbulent events at the club had been in the summer of 1972, a few months before the start of the season, with Bob Kelly only one player under contract. When Kelly realized this, he changed his mind and released his contract on, to continue to play in the National Hockey League. As stadium the 9,000 -seat amphitheater International served.
The squad for the first 1972/73 season consisted mainly of players who had previously played in unterklassigen teams. From the NHL only Rosaire Paiement, who had previously shown appealing performances at the Vancouver Canucks, and Reg Fleming came by we could tear ourselves away a familiar face from local rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks. However, in the first season, the Cougars were the weakest team in the league. One of the bright spots on the team was Bob Sicinski, who had 88 points best scorer. Goalie Jim McLeod played a regular season, while his backup Andre Gill disappointed and 24 of his 28 games lost.
The following summer, the Cougars tried to strengthen their team and were able for the 1973/74 season win, among other things by the Blackhawks with Pat Stapleton and Ralph Backstrom two stars for itself. Stapleton acted as player-coach. The season was successful, and it was the Quebec Nordiques in the battle for the fourth playoff spot in the Eastern Division defeat. Sporty the playoffs were a complete success. The team sat down both against the Toronto Toros and against the New England Whalers in seven games by. In the finals the rested Houston Aeros were, however eüberlegen and were victorious in all four games.
Extremely unhappy one, however, was about the stadium situation. Even the International Amphitheater was not the home town, the Cougars wanted. Here usually rodeos and animal exhibitions were held. But during the playoffs you could not even play here partly because the hall for a Peter Pan performance was rented, but had to move, which offered only 3,000 spectators to Mount Prospect in the location in a shopping center edge Hurst Twin Ice Arena.
Worry not prepared the athletic field at the start of season 1974/75. Here you could advertise in the top draft pick Gary MacGregor against the Montreal Canadiens prevail. MacGregor thanked with 44 goals. In addition, they picked from the NHL goalie Dave Dryden of the the Buffalo Sabres. The Finance who here gave more cause for concern and the owners, the brothers emperor wanted to get rid of the team. After they had found a buyer, were finally three players, Pat Stapleton, Ralph Backstrom and Dave Dryden, willing them buy out club. However, after the Emperor could keep the money for the annual passes, they made a superior cut in this business. The team missed the playoff participation and the hope for a new stadium, the Rosemont Horizon, which should be completed only in 1980, fell through. The three players, which the team now belonged, made a substantial loss and presented shortly after the end of the season the game mode a.
There was no official successor to the Cougars, but many of the players move from Chicago to the new team the Denver Spurs, from which already in the coming season, the Ottawa Civics were and which dissolved again after their single season.
Club record
- Most Games: 229 Games Bob Liddington
- Top goals: Rosaire Paiement 89 goals
- Most assists: Rosaire Paiement 119 assists
- Most points: Rosaire Paiement 208 points
- Most penalty minutes: Larry Mavety 356 penalty minutes
- Most games played by a goalkeeper: Cam Newton 77 games
- Most wins by a goalkeeper: Cam Newton 37 victories
- Most shutouts: Cam Newton, Jim McLeod and Dave Dryden per 1 shutout
Game times: 1972/73 | 1973/74 | 1974/75 | 1975/76 | 1976/77 | 1977/78 | 1978/79
Franchises: Alberta Oilers (1972-1973), Edmonton Oilers (1973-1979) | Chicago Cougars (1972-1975) | Cincinnati Stingers (1975-1979) | Cleveland Crusaders (1972-1976) | Denver Spurs (1975 ), Ottawa Civics (1976 ) | Houston Aeros (1972-1978) | Indianapolis Racers (1974-1979) | Los Angeles Sharks (1972-1974), Michigan Stags (1974-1975), Baltimore Blades ( 1975) | Minnesota Fighting Saints ( 1972-1977 ) | New England Whalers (1972-1979) | New York Raiders (1972-1973), New York Golden Blades ( 1973), Jersey Knights ( 1973-1974 ), San Diego Mariners ( 1974-1977 ) | Ottawa Nationals ( 1972-1973 ), Toronto Toros (1973-1976), Birmingham Bulls (1976-1979) | Philadelphia Blazers (1972-1973), Vancouver Blazers (1973-1975), Calgary Cowboys (1975-1977) | Phoenix Roadrunners (1974-1977) | Quebec Nordiques (1972-1979) | Winnipeg Jets (1972-1979)
- Hockey Association (World Hockey Association )
- Sports Club ( Chicago)