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1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season

WHA hockey team season (inaugural season)


WHA hockey team season (inaugural season)

FieldValue
Season1972–73
year1972
TeamWinnipeg Jets (1972–1996)Winnipeg Jets
LeagueWHA
LeagueRank2nd
DivisionWestern
DivisionRank1st
Record43–31–4
HomeRecord26–11–2
RoadRecord17–20–2
GoalsFor285
GoalsAgainst249
GeneralManagerAnnis Stukus
CoachBobby Hull
Nick Mickoski
CaptainAb McDonald
AltCaptainBill Sutherland
Bob Woytowich
ArenaWinnipeg Arena
Attendance6,102 (55.5%)
GoalsLeaderBobby Hull (51)
AssistsLeaderNorm Beaudin (65)
PointsLeaderBobby Hull (103)
Norm Beaudin (103)
PIMLeaderSteve Cuddie (121)
WinsLeaderErnie Wakely (26)
GAALeaderJoe Daley (2.89)
DivisionWinYes
next_season[1973–74](1973-74-winnipeg-jets-season)

Nick Mickoski Bob Woytowich Norm Beaudin (103) The 1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season was their first season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Jets' first player signed was Norm Beaudin ("the Original Jet") and their first major signing was Bobby Hull.

Offseason

Bobby Hull

Long unhappy because of his relatively poor salary in the period when he was hockey's preeminent superstar, Hull responded to overtures from the upstart World Hockey Association's Winnipeg Jets in 1972 by jesting that he'd jump to them for a million dollars, a sum then considered absurd. Gathering the other league owners together to contribute to the unprecedented amount on the grounds that inking such a major star would give instant credibility to the new rival league that was competing directly against the entrenched NHL, Jets' owner Ben Hatskin agreed to the sum and signed Hull for a contract worth $1,000,000 over ten years. Although his debut with Winnipeg was held up in litigation by the NHL, Hull instantly became the WHA's greatest star.

Regular season

When the Jets played their first game on October 12 in New York against the Raiders, the Jets were without Bobby Hull. He was in court battling his former team, the Chicago Black Hawks over his new contract. The Jets would still win that first game 6–4. Three days later, the Jets would make their home debut losing to the Alberta Oilers 5–2. Bobby Hull won his court battle and joined the Jets 15 games into the season. Bobby Hull captured the WHA's first MVP award, by scoring 51 goals. The Jets won the Western Division with a 43–31–4 record.

Season standings

Schedule and results

|- | 1||W|| October 12, 1972 || 6–4|| align="left"| @ New York Raiders|| 1–0–0 |- | 2||W|| October 13, 1972 || 4–3|| align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints|| 2–0–0 |- | 3||L|| October 15, 1972 || 2–5|| align="left"| Alberta Oilers|| 2–1–0 |- | 4||L|| October 17, 1972 || 2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Alberta Oilers|| 2–2–0 |- | 5||T|| October 20, 1972 || 1–1|| align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints|| 2–2–1 |- | 6||W|| October 22, 1972 || 6–3|| align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers|| 3–2–1 |- | 7||W|| October 24, 1972 || 5–3|| align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers|| 4–2–1 |- | 8||W|| October 27, 1972 || 4–2|| align="left"| Chicago Cougars|| 5–2–1 |- | 9||W|| October 29, 1972 || 5–3|| align="left"| Houston Aeros|| 6–2–1 |- | 10||L|| October 31, 1972 || 1–3|| align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars|| 6–3–1

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| Legend:

Playoffs

In the playoffs, the Jets would beat the Minnesota Fighting Saints in 5 games. In the second round of the playoffs, the Jets beat the Houston Aeros in 4 straight to reach the Avco World Trophy finals. In the finals, the Jets were beaten by the New England Whalers in 5 games.

|- | 1 || April 6 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 1–3 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–0 |- | 2 || April 8 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 2–5 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–0 |- | 3 || April 10 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–6 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 2–1 |- | 4 || April 11 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–2 OT || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 3–1 |- | 5 || April 15 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 5–8 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–1

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| Legend:

Awards and records

  • Bobby Hull, Gary L. Davidson Award

Player statistics

Forwards

a#C600002px}}"Playera#C600002px}}"GPa#C600002px}}"Ga#C600002px}}"Aa#C600002px}}"Ptsa#C600002px}}"PIM
Bobby Hull63515210337
Norm Beaudin78386510315
Chris Bordeleau78475410112
Dan Johnson7619234217
Ab McDonald7717244116
Milt Black7518163414
Wally Boyer696283427
Dunc Rousseau7516173375
Cal Swenson777212819
Jean-Guy Gratton7115122737
Bill Sutherland486162234
Garth Rizzuto6110102032
Freeman Asmundson762141654
Brian Cadle5644839

Defencemen

;Scoring

a#C600002px}}"Playera#C600002px}}"GPa#C600002px}}"Ga#C600002px}}"Aa#C600002px}}"Ptsa#C600002px}}"PIM
Larry Hornung7713455828
Joe Zanussi734212553
Steve Cuddie7771320121
Bob Ash763141739
Bob Woytowich6224647
John Shmyr70002

Goaltending

a#C600002px}}"Playera#C600002px}}"GPa#C600002px}}"MINa#C600002px}}"Wa#C600002px}}"La#C600002px}}"Ta#C600002px}}"SOa#C600002px}}"GAA
Joe Daley2917181710122.89
Ernie Wakely4928942619323.15
Gordon Tumilson313802004.34

References

References

  1. World Hockey Association. (1972). "WHA 1972-73 Media Guide". World Hockey Association.
  2. World Hockey Association. (1973). "WHA 1973-74 Media Guide". World Hockey Association.
  3. "1972-73 Winnipeg Jets Schedule".
  4. "Standard Stats". Hockey Reference.
  5. "Standard Stats". Hockey Reference.
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