1972–73 Alberta Oilers season

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1972–73 Alberta Oilers
Division 5th Western
1972–73 record 38–37–3
Home record 26–13–2
Road record 12–24–1
Goals for 269 (9th)
Goals against 256 (4th)
Team information
General Manager Bill Hunter
Coach Ray Kinasewich
Bill Hunter
Captain Al Hamilton
Alternate captains Doug Barrie
Val Fonteyne
Jim Harrison
Arena Edmonton Gardens
Average attendance 3,828
Team leaders
Goals Jim Harrison (39)
Assists Al Hamilton (50)
Points Jim Harrison (86)
Penalties in minutes Al Hamilton (124)
Wins Jack Norris (28)
Goals against average Jack Norris (3.06)

1973–74 >

The 1972–73 Alberta Oilers season was the Oilers' first season, as one of twelve inaugural franchises of the now-defunct World Hockey Association (WHA).

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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

Western Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
Winnipeg Jets 78 43 31 4 285 249 757 90
Houston Aeros 78 39 35 4 284 269 1363 82
Los Angeles Sharks 78 37 35 6 259 250 1477 80
Minnesota Fighting Saints 78 38 37 3 250 269 843 79
Alberta Oilers 78 38 37 3 269 256 1134 79
Chicago Cougars 78 26 50 2 245 295 811 54


Schedule and results

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 11 Alberta Oilers 7–4 Ottawa Nationals 1–0–0 2
2 October 13 Alberta Oilers 0–6 Quebec Nordiques 1–1–0 2
3 October 14 Alberta Oilers 2–3 Cleveland Crusaders 1–2–0 2
4 October 15 Alberta Oilers 5–2 Winnipeg Jets 2–2–0 4
5 October 17 Winnipeg Jets 3–2 Alberta Oilers 3–2–0 6
6 October 20 Philadelphia Blazers 4–1 Alberta Oilers 4–2–0 8
7 October 24 Chicago Cougars 3–3 Alberta Oilers 4–2–1 9
8 October 27 Alberta Oilers 0–6 Cleveland Crusaders 4–3–1 9
9 October 28 Alberta Oilers 4–1 New England Whalers 5–3–1 11
10 October 29 Alberta Oilers 2–7 New York Raiders 5–4–1 11
11 October 31 Houston Aeros 3–4 Alberta Oilers 5–5–1 11
12 November 3 Houston Aeros 4–3 Alberta Oilers 6–5–1 13
13 November 5 Ottawa Nationals 3–5 Alberta Oilers 6–6–1 13
14 November 7 New York Raiders 4–2 Alberta Oilers 7–6–1 15
15 November 9 Los Angeles Sharks 7–2 Alberta Oilers 8–6–1 17
16 November 11 Los Angeles Sharks 5–3 Alberta Oilers 9–6–1 19
17 November 12 Cleveland Crusaders 1–3 Alberta Oilers 9–7–1 19
18 November 15 Winnipeg Jets 3–1 Alberta Oilers 10–7–1 21
19 November 17 Chicago Cougars 3–1 Alberta Oilers 11–7–1 23
20 November 21 Alberta Oilers 3–4 Minnesota Fighting Saints 11–8–1 23
21 November 22 Alberta Oilers 4–5 Philadelphia Blazers 11–9–1 23
22 November 24 Alberta Oilers 2–7 New England Whalers 11–10–1 23
23 November 25 Alberta Oilers 2–4 New York Raiders 11–11–1 23
24 November 26 Alberta Oilers 2–1 Ottawa Nationals 12–11–1 25
25 November 28 Alberta Oilers 0–3 Winnipeg Jets 12–12–1 25
26 November 30 Winnipeg Jets 3–3 Alberta Oilers 12–12–2 26
27 December 1 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4–6 Alberta Oilers 12–13–2 26
28 December 3 Quebec Nordiques 2–6 Alberta Oilers 12–14–2 26
29 December 8 Alberta Oilers 2–4 Los Angeles Sharks 12–15–2 26
30 December 10 Alberta Oilers 3–5 Los Angeles Sharks 12–16–2 26
31 December 12 Alberta Oilers 4–6 Houston Aeros 12–17–2 26
32 December 13 Alberta Oilers 3–2 Houston Aeros 13–17–2 28
33 December 15 Ottawa Nationals 3–4 Alberta Oilers 13–18–2 28
34 December 17 Ottawa Nationals 3–1 Alberta Oilers 14–18–2 30
35 December 21 New England Whalers 5–4 Alberta Oilers 15–18–2 32
36 December 23 Alberta Oilers 2–3 Chicago Cougars 15–19–2 32
37 December 25 Alberta Oilers 2–3 Chicago Cougars 15–20–2 32
38 January 1 Winnipeg Jets 7–3 Alberta Oilers 16–20–2 34
39 January 10 Alberta Oilers 1–6 Winnipeg Jets 16–21–2 34
40 January 12 Alberta Oilers 2–1 Los Angeles Sharks 17–21–2 36
41 January 13 Alberta Oilers 4–3 Los Angeles Sharks 18–21–2 38
42 January 15 Los Angeles Sharks 1–4 Alberta Oilers 18–22–2 38
43 January 16 Los Angeles Sharks 6–5 Alberta Oilers 19–22–2 40
44 January 20 Chicago Cougars 4–6 Alberta Oilers 19–23–2 40
45 January 22 Chicago Cougars 6–1 Alberta Oilers 20–23–2 42
46 January 27 Philadelphia Blazers 0–1 Alberta Oilers 20–24–2 42
47 January 28 Philadelphia Blazers 4–2 Alberta Oilers 21–24–2 44
48 January 30 New York Raiders 11–3 Alberta Oilers 22–24–2 46
49 February 1 New York Raiders 8–5 Alberta Oilers 23–24–2 48
50 February 2 Alberta Oilers 4–3 Winnipeg Jets 24–24–2 50
51 February 4 Winnipeg Jets 3–5 Alberta Oilers 24–25–2 50
52 February 6 New England Whalers 2–4 Alberta Oilers 24–26–2 50
53 February 7 New England Whalers 3–1 Alberta Oilers 25–26–2 52
54 February 9 Minnesota Fighting Saints 6–0 Alberta Oilers 26–26–2 54
55 February 11 Minnesota Fighting Saints 7–5 Alberta Oilers 27–26–2 56
56 February 13 Houston Aeros 5–3 Alberta Oilers 28–26–2 58
57 February 15 Houston Aeros 3–5 Alberta Oilers 28–27–2 58
58 February 20 Alberta Oilers 4–5 Cleveland Crusaders 28–28–2 58
59 February 21 Alberta Oilers 4–5 New York Raiders 28–29–2 58
60 February 23 Alberta Oilers 2–4 New England Whalers 28–30–2 58
61 February 25 Alberta Oilers 2–3 Ottawa Nationals 28–31–2 58
62 February 27 Alberta Oilers 4–5 Houston Aeros 28–32–2 58
63 February 28 Alberta Oilers 2–3 Houston Aeros 28–33–2 58
64 March 6 Alberta Oilers 3–4 Minnesota Fighting Saints 28–34–2 58
65 March 8 Alberta Oilers 3–2 Chicago Cougars 29–34–2 60
66 March 10 Alberta Oilers 5–4 Chicago Cougars 30–34–2 62
67 March 11 Alberta Oilers 1–2 Minnesota Fighting Saints 30–35–2 62
68 March 13 Cleveland Crusaders 4–2 Alberta Oilers 31–35–2 64
69 March 14 Cleveland Crusaders 4–2 Alberta Oilers 32–35–2 66
70 March 16 Quebec Nordiques 4–2 Alberta Oilers 33–35–2 68
71 March 17 Quebec Nordiques 3–0 Alberta Oilers 34–35–2 70
72 March 20 Minnesota Fighting Saints 5–3 Alberta Oilers 35–35–2 72
73 March 22 Alberta Oilers 1–1 Winnipeg Jets 35–35–3 73
74 March 24 Alberta Oilers 4–5 Quebec Nordiques 35–36–3 73
75 March 25 Alberta Oilers 5–4 Quebec Nordiques 36–36–3 75
76 March 28 Philadelphia Blazers 2–1 Alberta Oilers 37–36–3 77
77 March 29 Philadelphia Blazers 1–2 Alberta Oilers 37–37–3 77
78 March 30 Alberta Oilers 5–3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 38–37–3 79

Playoffs

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 4 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4–2 Alberta Oilers 0–1

Player statistics

Skaters

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

Player Regular season Playoffs
GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Jim Harrison 66 39 47 86 93 1 0 1 1 2
Al Hamilton 78 11 50 61 124 1 0 0 0 2
Ross Perkins 71 21 37 58 19 1 0 0 0 2
Ed Patenaude 78 29 27 56 59 1 0 1 1 4
Ron Walters 78 28 26 54 37 1 1 0 1 0
Bob Wall 78 16 29 45 20 1 0 1 1 0
Val Fonteyne 77 7 32 39 2 1 0 0 0 0
Eddie Joyal 71 22 16 38 16 1 0 0 0 0
Bill Hicke 73 14 24 38 20 1 0 0 0 0
Brian Carlin 65 12 22 34 6 1 0 0 0 0
Doug Barrie 54 9 22 31 111 1 0 0 0 22
Ron Anderson 73 14 15 29 43 1 0 0 0 0
Ken Baird 75 14 15 29 112 1 1 0 1 6
Bob Falkenberg 77 6 23 29 44 1 0 0 0 0
Steve Carlyle 67 7 10 17 35 1 0 0 0 0
Dennis Kassian 50 6 7 13 14 1 0 1 1 0
Bob McAneeley 51 5 7 12 24 — — — — —
Bernie Blanchette† 23 5 4 9 2 — — — — —
Roger Cote 60 3 5 8 46 1 0 0 0 0
John Fisher 40 0 5 5 0 — — — — —
Jack Norris 64 0 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 0
Jim Benzelock‡ 26 1 1 2 10 — — — — —
Derek Harker‡ 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
Ken Brown 20 0 0 0 2 — — — — —

†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

Player Regular season Playoffs
GP TOI W L T GA SO SV% GAA GP TOI W L GA SO SV% GAA
Jack Norris 64 3705 28 29 3 189 1 0.903 3.06 1 59 0 1 4 0 0.833 4.07
Ken Brown 20 1034 10 8 0 63 1 0.883 3.65 — — — — — — — —

Awards and records

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

Milestones

Regular Season
Player Milestone Reached
Ron Anderson 1st WHA Game
1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		 October 11, 1972
Bill Hicke
Eddie Joyal
Ron Walters
Ken Brown 1st WHA Game
1st WHA Win
Steve Carlyle 1st WHA Game
1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
John Fisher
Val Fonteyne
Al Hamilton
Bob McAneeley
Bob Wall
Bob Falkenberg 1st WHA Game
Ed Patenaude
Jim Harrison 1st WHA Game
1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Jack Norris 1st WHA Game October 13, 1972
Roger Côté 1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		 October 15, 1972
Val Fonteyne 1st WHA Goal
Eddie Joyal 1st WHA Assist
Ron Walters
Ron Anderson 1st WHA Assist October 17, 1972
Jack Norris 1st WHA Win
Bob Falkenberg 1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point		 October 20, 1972
Ed Patenaude 1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Ron Walters 1st WHA Hat-Trick
Brian Carlin 1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		 October 24, 1972
Bill Hicke 1st WHA Assist
Dennis Kassian 1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		 October 28, 1972
Ross Perkins 1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Ken Baird 1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point		 October 29, 1972
Ross Perkins 1st WHA Goal
Doug Barrie 1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point		 November 3, 1972
Brian Carlin 1st WHA Assist
Bob Wall 1st WHA Goal
Dennis Kassian 1st WHA Assist November 5, 1972
Doug Barrie
Steve Carlyle 1st WHA Goal November 7, 1972
Al Hamilton
Ken Baird 1st WHA Goal November 9, 1972
Bob Falkenberg 1st WHA Goal November 11, 1972
Jim Benzelock 1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point		 November 25, 1972
Bob McAneeley 1st WHA Goal November 30, 1972
Jim Benzelock 1st WHA Goal December 12, 1972
Roger Côté 1st WHA Assist December 21, 1972
Ross Perkins 1st WHA Hat-Trick January 1, 1973
Jack Norris 1st WHA Assist January 16, 1973
Jim Harrison 1st WHA Hat-Trick January 30, 1973
Jack Norris 1st WHA Shutout February 9, 1973
Ken Brown 1st WHA Shutout March 17, 1973

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.

Player Pos Team League Joined Oilers
Ron Anderson RW Buffalo Sabres NHL 1972–73
Ace Bailey LW Boston Bruins NHL 1978–79
Ken Baird D California Golden Seals NHL 1972–73
Doug Barrie D Los Angeles Kings NHL 1972–73
Jim Benzelock RW Dayton Gems IHL 1972–73
Brian Carlin LW Los Angeles Kings NHL 1972–73
Roger Cote D Cleveland Barons AHL 1972–73
Bob Falkenberg D Detroit Red Wings NHL 1972–73
John Fisher C Fort Worth Wings CHL 1972–73
Val Fonteyne LW Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 1972–73
Del Hall LW California Golden Seals NHL 1977–78
Al Hamilton D Buffalo Sabres NHL 1972–73
Eddie Joyal C Philadelphia Flyers NHL 1972–73
Kerry Ketter D Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL 1975–76
Barry Long D Portland Buckaroos WHL 1974–75
Len Lunde LW Ilves Tampere SM-sarja 1973–74
Bob McAneeley LW University of British Columbia CWUAA 1972–73
Ed Patenaude RW Fort Wayne Komets IHL 1972–73
Ross Perkins C Fort Worth Wings CHL 1972–73
Glen Sather LW New York Rangers NHL 1976–77
Bob Wall D Detroit Red Wings NHL 1972–73
Ron Walters C Tidewater Wings AHL 1972–73

Trades

Date To Alberta Oilers Traded to Traded for
May 1972 Jim Harrison Calgary Broncos Cash
May 1972 Dennis Kassian Houston Aeros Cash
June 1972 Future considerations Quebec Nordiques François Lacombe
June 1972 Jack Norris Cleveland Crusaders Cash
July 1972 Steve Carlyle Cleveland Crusaders Cash
July 1972 Ken Brown Cleveland Crusaders Cash
July 1972 Future considerations Cleveland Crusaders Joe Hardy
August 1972 Cash Cleveland Crusaders Doug Brindley
September 1972 Cash Ottawa Nationals Gilles Gratton
November 1972 Cash Philadelphia Blazers Derek Harker
December 27, 1972 Bernie Blanchette Chicago Cougars Jim Benzelock

Free Agents

References

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