1976–77 WHA season

The 1976/77 season was the fifth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA ).

In the preseason two teams had already set the play mode during the season. After the Cleveland Crusaders had received in their city competition from the National Hockey League, they left the city and started the second attempt as Minnesota Fighting Saints to be successful. The attempt failed, and after half of the season was the second time in two years, a team named Minnesota Fighting Saints during a season.

As last year's champion, the Winnipeg Jets toured in December two weeks by Europe. Upon their return they lost, still plagued by jet lag, on Boxing Day the Quebec Nordiques with 12:3. The following two games before the new year were lost.

In the finals at the Avco World Trophy it was again the Quebec Nordiques, who could make the Winnipeg Jets on purpose. In a highly competitive and very high-scoring final series they sat down by almost 4-3.

3,590,511 viewers watched the 465 games of the fifth season. On average, the 7,722 per game, which meant only a very brief decline the previous season were. In the NHL the average attendance was at this time declined to just under 11,900.

  • 2.1 mode
  • 2.2 Playoff Tree
  • 2.3 Division Semifinals ( Round 1 ) 2.3.1 Eastern Division
  • 2.3.2 Western Division
  • 2.4.1 Eastern Division
  • 2.4.2 Western Division
  • 3.1 WHA All-Star teams 3.1.1 WHA First All -Star Team
  • 3.1.2 WHA Second All-Star Team

Regular Season

Mode

As in the early years they played again in two divisions. 80 games were planned for each team, each of which also own 40 and 40 should be discharged on enemy ice. The six games were scheduled against teams from the other division. In our own division should be played against three teams of eight games, the other two teams, the local rivals, should be ten times each meet. However, the task of the Minnesota Fighting Saints after 42 games forced the league again for rescheduling. Since Minnesota had eight games with over outward played indoors, the game plan has been adjusted so that each team came on 40 home games. This meant that eight of the eleven remaining teams came to 81 games.

At the end of the regular season qualify from each division, the four highest ranked teams for the playoffs, which took place after the regular season and were held in the knockout system.

Statements Tables

Eastern Division

Note: GP = Games, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals Scored, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points Notes: In parentheses is the placement within the Conference; = Playoff Qualification = Division Winner, = task during the season

Western Division

Best Scorer

Two players from the Cincinnati Stingers succeeded this season to draw attention to themselves. Neither Rich nor Leduc Blaine Stoughton it was in previous years even approach way managed to play so in the foreground. After a strong rookie season, the 20 - year-old Mark Napier was able to confirm its strong performance in his second year and made ​​it into the list of top scorers.

Note: GP = Games, B = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = penalty minutes; Fat: Saisonbestwert

Best Goalkeeper

Cincinnati Jacques Caron (2.84 ) and Edmonton's Dave Dryden ( 3.26 ) also had both a good Gegentorschnitt, since the two have, however, only 24 games disputed, they are not listed in the list below.

Note: GP = Games, TOI = Ice Age ( in minutes), W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime / Shootout Losses, GA = Goals against, SO = shutouts, Sv % = held shots (in%), GAA = Gegentorschnitt; Fat: Saisonbestwert

Playoff

Mode

After each division of the first four teams had qualified to start the discharged in the knockout system play-offs. The division winners met in the Division Semifinals at the fourth place, while the second and third place teams fought out each other's semi-finals.

The victorious sides met in the Division Finals. The two playoff winner of the division then met each other in the finals at the Avco World Trophy.

All series of each round were played in best- of-seven - mode, which means that a team four wins needed to reach the next round. The higher placed team had with the first two games venue, the next two the opposing team. Until then no winner emerged from the round, the venue of the game changed to match. Thus, the higher placed team had in Game 1, 2, 5 and 7, ie four of a maximum of seven games, a home advantage.

In the final, the team began with more points in the regular season with two home games. This was followed by two away games.

In games, the 60 minutes were undecided after regulation time, followed by the overtime. The third lasted 20 minutes and still it was played so long until one team scored the first goal.

Playoff Tree

Division Semifinals ( Round 1 )

Eastern Division

Quebec was the favorite in the series, as the Nordiques after two home wins by a goal from Paul Baxter after 1:50 minutes in overtime won the third game was the victory of the Whalers in game four, only cosmetics. In the fifth game Richard Brodeur kept his goal clean and the Nordiques moved into the next round.

The longest overtime in the history of the WHA launched the first game of the series. Only after 48:40 minutes genes Peacosh decided the game for the Racers, who were motivated by win the second game in Cincinnati. In the two home games they could be the advantage of no longer take and won the series 4-0.

Western Division

The first game was the Oilers still make open, but Morris Lukowich brought to 13:11 minutes, the favorite Aeros on the road to victory. One of the two home games won by the Oilers, but after five games, the series was over for them.

Even in the regular season, both teams were distinguished by their strength at home and also in the playoffs the away team had no chance. Winnipeg Joe Daley succeeded in the fifth game of the series and a shutout thanks to the better placement in the preliminary round attracted the Jets, who were allowed to deliver the seventh and deciding game at home, in the next round.

Division Finals ( Round 2)

Eastern Division

After two home wins, the Nordiques were able to win the first game in Indianapolis in extra time. Paulin Bordeleau presented after 5:29 minutes the victory for Quebec safely. Through an outstanding performance by Paul Hoganson, who allowed no goals, the Racers got their only victory in the series, since back in Quebec they had no chance against the Nordiques.

Western Division

In the first game Peter Sullivan brought after 8:05 minutes into extra time to win the favorites from Houston. Having also managed to win the Jets their first two home games, they took a 3-1 guide to the Aeros. Houston was able to win his home race, but in Game 6 in Winnipeg Jets decided the series and made ​​it to the finals.

Avco World Trophy Championship

After he had succeeded in the first four games the two teams only ever a home game to win, Quebec sat in the fifth game with a clear 8:3 victory a sign. The Winnipeg Jets were not thereby intimidate and could underline with an impressive 12:3 victory their title ambitions. When deciding game in Quebec City, it was then but again the home side, who decided after a scoreless first period the central portion with 6:1 for themselves and thus laid the foundation for the final success.

Avco World Trophy winner

The 22 players of the Nordiques are made up of three goalkeepers, seven defenders and attackers twelve together.

Only three players who had come in the course of the season to use, did not count for the winning team. Defender Pierre Roy and center Richard Grenier remained in the final round without using while Michel Dubois was not perpetuated on the trophy, although he had played more playoff games. Had contributed significantly to the championship winning the Quebec Nordiques in addition to the outstanding attack the striker Réal Cloutier, Marc Tardif and Chris Bordeleau also guide players like defender JC Tremblay, while the defense had been reinforced by players such as Paul Baxter and Wally Weir which a physically dominating style of play impressed.

In addition to head coach Marc Boileau and general manager Maurice Filion following players on the Avco World Trophy, the championship trophy of the WHA were engraved:

Goalkeepers: Serge Aubry, Richard Brodeur, Ed Humphreys

Defender: Paul Baxter, Jean Bernier, Jim Dorey, François Lacombe, Garry Lariviere, JC Tremblay, Wally Weir

Attacker: Serge Bernier, Chris Bordeleau, Paulin Bordeleau, Andre Boudrias, Curt Brackenbury, Réal Cloutier, Charles Constantin, Standard Dubé, Bob Fitchner, Pierre Guite, Steve Sutherland, Marc Tardif (C )

Head Coach: Marc Boileau General Manager: Maurice Filion

Best Scorer

Note: GP = Games, B = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, PIM = penalty minutes; Fat: Saisonbestwert

WHA awards and award trophies

WHA All-Star teams

WHA First All -Star Team

Note: GP = Games, B = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, W = Wins, SO = shutouts, GAA = Gegentorschnitt

WHA Second All-Star Team

Note: GP = Games, B = Goals, A = Assists, Pts = Points, W = Wins, SO = shutouts, GAA = Gegentorschnitt

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