1973–74 Chicago Cougars season

The 1973–74 Chicago Cougars season was the Chicago Cougars' second season of operation in the World Hockey Association. The team qualified for the playoff and won two playoff series to make it to the Avco Cup Final before losing to the Houston Aeros.[1][2]

1973–74 Chicago Cougars
Division4th East
1973–74 record38–35–5
Home record23-13-3
Road record15-22-2
Goals for271
Goals against273
Team information
General managerJacques Demers (Director of Player Personnel)
CoachPat Stapleton
Alternate captainsDick Proceviat
Bob Sicinski
Rosaire Paiement
Reg Fleming
ArenaInternational Amphitheatre
Randhurst Ice Arena (five playoff games)
Average attendance4,924 (54.7%)
Team leaders
GoalsRalph Backstrom (33)
AssistsPat Stapleton (52)
PointsRalph Backstrom (83)
Penalty minutesLarry Mavety (157)
WinsCam Newton (25)
Goals against averageCam Newton (3.14)

Offseason

The Chicago Cougars revamped their lineup during the off-season in hopes of escaping the cellar. The Cougars strengthened their defense by signing National Hockey League all-star defenceman Pat Stapleton from the Chicago Blackhawks as a player-coach, Darryl Maggs from the California Golden Seals and goaltender Cam Newton from the Pittsburgh Penguins. To the forward line, the Cougars signed Ralph Backstrom, also from the Blackhawks, Eric Nesterenko, who had spent a season in Switzerland after a long career with the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs, and junior all-star Frank Rochon from the Sherbrooke Beavers, and acquired Joe Hardy from the Cleveland Crusaders and Duke Harris from the Houston Aeros.[3]

Regular season

The Cougars scored 26 more goals than the previous season and reduced the goals against by 22 to post a 50% improvement in points and secure the final playoff spot in the East Division by a single point over the Quebec Nordiques.

Final standings
Eastern Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
New England Whalers784331429126087590
Toronto Toros784133430427287186
Cleveland Crusaders7837329266264100783
Chicago Cougars7838355271273104181
Quebec Nordiques783836430628090980
NY Golden Blades / Jersey Knights783242426831393368

Game log
Regular season schedule
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1TOctober 7, 19734–4@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)0–0–1
2WOctober 11, 19734–3@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)1–0–1
3LOctober 13, 19734–6@ New England Whalers (1973–74)1–1–1
4LOctober 14, 19732–3 OT@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)1–2–1
5WOctober 18, 19737–2@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)2–2–1
6LOctober 20, 19733–4@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)2–3–1
7LOctober 21, 19731–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)2–4–1
8WOctober 25, 19734–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)3–4–1
9WOctober 28, 19733–2@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)4–4–1
10WOctober 30, 19734–1Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)5–4–1
11WNovember 3, 19737–4@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)6–4–1
12WNovember 6, 19735–4 OTLos Angeles Sharks (1973–74)7–4–1
13WNovember 10, 19733–2Toronto Toros (1973–74)8–4–1
14LNovember 13, 19732–5Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)8–5–1
15WNovember 15, 19733–2Houston Aeros (1973–74)9–5–1
16WNovember 17, 19735–2Toronto Toros (1973–74)10–5–1
17LNovember 18, 19733–5@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)10–6–1
18WNovember 22, 19734–3@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)11–6–1
19LNovember 24, 19733–5@ Houston Aeros (1973–74)11–7–1
20LDecember 1, 19734–5 OTLos Angeles Sharks (1973–74)11–8–1
21LDecember 2, 19733–4@ New England Whalers (1973–74)11–9–1
22LDecember 4, 19730–2Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)11–10–1
23LDecember 8, 19731–3New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)11–11–1
24LDecember 9, 19731–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)11–12–1
25LDecember 11, 19733–5Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)11–13–1
26WDecember 15, 19735–2Houston Aeros (1973–74)12–13–1
27WDecember 16, 19733–2@ New England Whalers (1973–74)13–13–1
28TDecember 18, 19733–3Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)13–13–2
29LDecember 21, 19731–5@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)13–14–2
30WDecember 23, 19736–5@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)14–14–2
31LDecember 26, 19732–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)14–15–2
32WDecember 28, 19736–4Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)15–15–2
33LDecember 29, 19730–3@ Houston Aeros (1973–74)15–16–2
34WDecember 30, 19735–3@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)16–16–2
35WJanuary 1, 19745–4Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)17–16–2
36LJanuary 5, 19745–6Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)17–17–2
37LJanuary 6, 19740–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)17–18–2
38TJanuary 8, 19740–0Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)17–18–3
39LJanuary 13, 19741–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)17–19–3
40WJanuary 17, 19745–2@ New England Whalers (1973–74)18–19–3
41WJanuary 19, 19745–2Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)19–19–3
42WJanuary 22, 19745–3New England Whalers (1973–74)20–19–3
43LJanuary 25, 19742–6@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)20–20–3
44WJanuary 30, 19744–2@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)21–20–3
45LFebruary 1, 19742–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)21–21–3
46LFebruary 3, 19742–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)21–22–3
47WFebruary 5, 19743–1Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)22–22–3
48LFebruary 6, 19742–7@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)22–23–3
49WFebruary 9, 19745–2New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)23–23–3
50WFebruary 10, 19744–2@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)24–23–3
51WFebruary 12, 19743–2Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)25–23–3
52LFebruary 14, 19743–5Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)25–24–3
53LFebruary 16, 19744–5Toronto Toros (1973–74)25–25–3
54LFebruary 17, 19745–6@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)25–26–3
55LFebruary 18, 19743–4@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)25–27–3
56WFebruary 21, 19745–4Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)26–27–3
57LFebruary 23, 19740–3New England Whalers (1973–74)26–28–3
58LFebruary 24, 19741–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74)26–29–3
59WFebruary 26, 19744–2Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74)27–29–3
60LFebruary 28, 19744–9Houston Aeros (1973–74)27–30–3
61WMarch 1, 19747–4Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)28–30–3
62LMarch 3, 19744–5Toronto Toros (1973–74)28–31–3
63LMarch 5, 19742–3New England Whalers (1973–74)28–32–3
64WMarch 7, 19743–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74)29–32–3
65WMarch 9, 19745–4 OTWinnipeg Jets (1973–74)30–32–3
66WMarch 12, 19745–3New England Whalers (1973–74)31–32–3
67WMarch 14, 19747–4Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74)32–32–3
68WMarch 16, 19744–3 OTQuebec Nordiques (1973–74)33–32–3
69WMarch 17, 19744–2@ Toronto Toros (1973–74)34–32–3
70LMarch 19, 19744–7Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)34–33–3
71TMarch 21, 19745–5Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)34–33–4
72WMarch 23, 19744–1New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)35–33–4
73TMarch 24, 19743–3@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74)35–33–5
74WMarch 26, 19744–2Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)36–33–5
75WMarch 29, 19745–2@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74)37–33–5
76LMarch 31, 19741–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74)37–34–5
77WApril 2, 19747–3New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)38–34–5
78LApril 3, 19741–3@ Houston Aeros (1973–74)38–35–5

[4]

Playoffs

Chicago Cougars 4, New England Whalers 3 - Division Quarterfinals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 6Chicago Cougars4 – 6New England Whalers0–1
2April 7Chicago Cougars3 – 4 OTNew England Whalers0–2
3April 9New England Whalers6 – 8Chicago Cougars1–2
4April 10New England Whalers1 – 2 OTChicago Cougars2–2
5April 12Chicago Cougars4 – 2New England Whalers2–3
6April 14New England Whalers2 – 0Chicago Cougars3–3
7April 16Chicago Cougars3 – 2New England Whalers4–3

Chicago Cougars 4, Toronto Toros 3 - Semifinals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 19Chicago Cougars4–6Toronto Toros0-1
2April 22Chicago Cougars4–3Toronto Toros1-1
3April 28Toronto Toros2–3Chicago Cougars2-1
4April 30Toronto Toros7–6Chicago Cougars2-2
5May 1Chicago Cougars3–5Toronto Toros2-3
6May 4Toronto Toros2–9Chicago Cougars3-3
7May 6Chicago Cougars5–2Toronto Toros4-3

Houston Aeros 4, Chicago Cougars 0 - Avco Cup Finals
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1May 12Houston Aeros3–2Chicago Cougars0–1
2May 15Houston Aeros6–1Chicago Cougars0–2
3May 17Chicago Cougars4–7Houston Aeros0–3
4May 19Chicago Cougars2–6Houston Aeros0–4

Player stats
Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Ralph BackstromC78335083260628
Rosaire PaiementC78304373870703
Joe HardyC77243559550402
Pat StapletonD7865258440210
Larry MavetyD771536511570404
Bob LiddingtonLW73262147200412
Bob SicinskiC6911294080101
Jan PopielLW63221739360604
Bob WhitlockC52161935260612
Rick MorrisLW761716331400102
Duke HarrisRW64141630200301
Daryl MaggsD78822301480001
Frank RochonLW69121123270101
Dick ProceviatD7722022550001
Rod ZaineC7751318170010
Reggie FlemingD/LW4521214490102
Brian CoatesLW5010313140011
Jim BenzelockRW536713190000
Don GordonRW2354990300
Eric NesterenkoRW2925780100
Brian GlenwrightLW1532500001
Jim WatsonD23055220000
John ShmyrD43134130001
Lorne RomboughLW312300101
Curt BrackenburyRW4011110000
Gary ConnellyRW401120000
Cam NewtonG4501100000
Dave WalterC401100000
Ron F. AndersonD200000000
Larry CahanD300020000
Rich CoutuG2000000000
Connie ForeyLW100000000
Andre GillG1300000000
Jim JonesD100000000
Al MacKenzieD200000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Cam Newton273245251821433.141
Rich Coutu1207209101753.730
Andre Gill80313472463.440
Team:474278383552643.341
Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Ralph BackstromC18514194001
Rosaire PaiementC18961516002
Bob SicinskiC1868140002
Jan PopielLW18851312001
Pat StapletonD120131336000
Duke HarrisRW1866122000
Don GordonRW1848124000
Joe HardyC17481213000
Larry MavetyD18481246001
Bob LiddingtonLW18651111000
Daryl MaggsD1835871000
Rick MorrisLW1843742000
Jim WatsonD1823518000
Jim BenzelockRW1822436000
Reggie FlemingD/LW1204412000
Dick ProceviatD1304410000
Frank RochonLW92130001
Rod ZaineC182132000
Brian CoatesLW1703335000
Andre GillG110004000
Cam NewtonG100000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Andre Gill6141165383.710
Cam Newton4861025344.200
Team:110018810723.930

[5]

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;

Awards and records

Transactions

Trades
DateDetailsRef
May 1, 1973 (1973-05-01) To New York Golden Blades
Butch Barber		 To Chicago Cougars
Wally Olds
July 13, 1973 (1973-07-13) To New York Golden Blades
Jim McLeod		 To Chicago Cougars
cash
August 1, 1973 (1973-08-01) To Cleveland Crusaders
rights to Larry Hillman		 To Chicago Cougars
Joe Hardy
September 1, 1973 (1973-09-01) To Houston Aeros
cash		 To Chicago Cougars
Duke Harris
September 1, 1973 (1973-09-01) To Vancouver Blazers
Ed Hatoum		 To Chicago Cougars
cash
February 20, 1974 (1974-02-20) To Los Angeles Sharks
Bob Whitlock		 To Chicago Cougars
Jim Watson
Don Gordon		 [6]

See also

References
  1. World Hockey Association (1973). WHA 1973-74 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  2. World Hockey Association (1974). WHA 1974-75 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  3. "New Faces in WHA for '73-74". Hockey Digest. Des Moines: Norman Jacobs. December 1973.
  4. "1973–74 Chicago Cougars Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  5. "1973-74 Chicago Cougars Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  6. World Hockey Association (1974). WHA 1974-75 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  7. "1973 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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