1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season

The 1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season was the fourth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA) franchise and first in Calgary, Alberta. The Vancouver Blazers relocated to Calgary prior to the season. The Cowboys qualified for the playoffs, losing in the second round to the Winnipeg Jets.

1975–76 Calgary Cowboys
Division3rd Canadian
1975–76 record41–35–4
Goals for307
Goals against282
Team information
CoachJoe Crozier
CaptainDanny Lawson
Alternate captainsRon Chipperfield
Butch Deadmarsh
Paul Terbenche

Offseason

Regular season

In their first season, the Cowboys were not expected to ice a strong team,[1] having inherited a franchise that finished in a last place tie with the Oilers the previous year.[2] Calgary finished 41–35–4 however, as a 44-goal season by Danny Lawson and 42 goals from Ron Chipperfield helped the Cowboys finish a surprising third in the Canadian division.[3]

Final standings
Canadian Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Winnipeg Jets8152272106345254940
Quebec Nordiques81502741043713161654
Calgary Cowboys8041354863072821064
Edmonton Oilers812749559268345991
Toronto Toros8124525533353981099
Denver Spurs / Ottawa Civics+411426129134172536

+team started season in Western Division when playing in Denver; transferred by league to Canadian Division shortly after moving to Ottawa.

Game log
Regular season schedule
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 12, 19750–2Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)0–1–0
2WOctober 14, 19755–3Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)1–1–0
3LOctober 17, 19752–6Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)1–2–0
4LOctober 22, 19751–2Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76)1–3–0
5LOctober 24, 19753–4Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)1–4–0
6LOctober 26, 19751–3@ New England Whalers (1975–76)1–5–0
7WOctober 29, 19753–1@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)2–5–0
8WOctober 30, 19757–5@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)3–5–0
9LNovember 1, 19752–3@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)3–6–0
10WNovember 2, 19754–3 OTNew England Whalers (1975–76)4–6–0
11TNovember 4, 19754–4San Diego Mariners (1975–76)4–6–1
12WNovember 5, 19754–2Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)5–6–1
13WNovember 7, 19755–2Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)6–6–1
14WNovember 11, 19756–3Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)7–6–1
15LNovember 13, 19752–4Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)7–7–1
16WNovember 16, 19755–3Houston Aeros (1975–76)8–7–1
17LNovember 18, 19752–6San Diego Mariners (1975–76)8–8–1
18WNovember 21, 19756–2@ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76)9–8–1
19WNovember 22, 19756–4@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)10–8–1
20WNovember 27, 19755–1@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)11–8–1
21WNovember 29, 19755–4 OT@ San Diego Mariners (1975–76)12–8–1
22LNovember 30, 19752–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)12–9–1
23LDecember 3, 19753–4Toronto Toros (1975–76)12–10–1
24WDecember 5, 19758–3Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)13–10–1
25WDecember 7, 19755–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)14–10–1
26WDecember 9, 19754–1Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)15–10–1
27LDecember 11, 19752–3Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)15–11–1
28LDecember 12, 19752–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)15–12–1
29TDecember 14, 19753–3@ Toronto Toros (1975–76)15–12–2
30LDecember 16, 19753–7@ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)15–13–2
31WDecember 19, 19755–3@ Toronto Toros (1975–76)16–13–2
32LDecember 20, 19757–8@ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)16–14–2
33WDecember 23, 197510–1Toronto Toros (1975–76)17–14–2
34WDecember 26, 19755–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)18–14–2
35WDecember 28, 19756–4Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)19–14–2
36WJanuary 1, 19765–1Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)20–14–2
37WJanuary 2, 19763–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)21–14–2
38LJanuary 3, 19763–6Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)21–15–2
39WJanuary 6, 19765–0Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)22–15–2
40WJanuary 7, 19763–1Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)23–15–2
41LJanuary 15, 19763–5@ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)23–16–2
42WJanuary 17, 19764–2Houston Aeros (1975–76)24–16–2
43WJanuary 20, 197610–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)25–16–2
44LJanuary 21, 19761–4@ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)25–17–2
45LJanuary 23, 19760–2@ Houston Aeros (1975–76)25–18–2
46LJanuary 25, 19763–5@ Houston Aeros (1975–76)25–19–2
47LJanuary 28, 19760–5@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)25–20–2
48LJanuary 29, 19760–1@ San Diego Mariners (1975–76)25–21–2
49WFebruary 3, 19763–2Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)26–21–2
50LFebruary 5, 19764–6New England Whalers (1975–76)26–22–2
51TFebruary 7, 19764–4Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)26–22–3
52LFebruary 8, 19764–8@ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)26–23–3
53WFebruary 10, 19764–3Toronto Toros (1975–76)27–23–3
54WFebruary 13, 19764–3 OT@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)28–23–3
55LFebruary 15, 19764–5 OT@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)28–24–3
56LFebruary 18, 19760–4@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)28–25–3
57LFebruary 20, 19763–6Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)28–26–3
58WFebruary 22, 19764–2Toronto Toros (1975–76)29–26–3
59TFebruary 24, 19763–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)29–26–4
60WFebruary 25, 19765–2Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)30–26–4
61WFebruary 27, 19765–4Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)31–26–4
62LFebruary 29, 19762–5Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)31–27–4
63WMarch 2, 19766–3Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)32–27–4
64LMarch 3, 19764–6@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)32–28–4
65WMarch 4, 19764–1Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)33–28–4
66LMarch 6, 19762–5@ Toronto Toros (1975–76)33–29–4
67LMarch 7, 19761–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)33–30–4
68WMarch 9, 19767–4Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)34–30–4
69WMarch 11, 19762–0Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)35–30–4
70WMarch 16, 19764–3 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)36–30–4
71LMarch 17, 19762–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)36–31–4
72WMarch 20, 19768–7@ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)37–31–4
73LMarch 23, 19765–6 OT@ Toronto Toros (1975–76)37–32–4
74WMarch 24, 19767–6@ New England Whalers (1975–76)38–32–4
75LMarch 26, 19761–4@ New England Whalers (1975–76)38–33–4
76LMarch 27, 19764–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)38–34–4
77WMarch 28, 19765–4@ Toronto Toros (1975–76)39–34–4
78WMarch 30, 19766–2Toronto Toros (1975–76)40–34–4
79WApril 2, 19764–1Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)41–34–4
80LApril 6, 19763–5Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)41–35–4

[4]

Playoffs

In the playoffs, the Cowboys met the Quebec Nordiques in the first round. The series is best known for one of hockey's most legendary brawls.[5] The incident began when Calgary's Rick Jodzio cross-checked Quebec's Marc Tardif in the head, causing both teams to leave their benches.[6] The brawl lasted 20 minutes, and ended only when Quebec police gathered at the players benches and escorted the teams back to their dressing rooms.[7] The game resumed following a 20-minute break to allow both teams to cool down, then resumed without eleven players who were ejected from the game.[6] The incident caught the attention of Quebec's Solicitor General Fernand Lalonde, who had the incident investigated as a criminal matter.[6] Jodzio was suspended indefinitely by the league, and later pleaded guilty in a Quebec court to a charge of assault over the incident.[8] Cowboys coach Joe Crozier was suspended for the rest of the series.[7]

Calgary went on to defeat the Nordiques, who had finished 18-points ahead of Calgary in the regular season, but were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round. The team never really captured the attention of Calgarians, as fewer than 5,000 fans, on average, attended playoff games against the Jets.[9]

Calgary Cowboys 4, Quebec Nordiques 1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 10Calgary Cowboys3–1Quebec Nordiques1–0
2April 11Calgary Cowboys8–4Quebec Nordiques2–1
3April 14Quebec Nordiques2–3Calgary Cowboys3–1
4April 16Quebec Nordiques4–3Calgary Cowboys3–1
5April 18Calgary Cowboys6–4Quebec Nordiques4–1

Winnipeg Jets 4, Calgary Cowboys 1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 23Calgary Cowboys1–6Winnipeg Jets0–1
2April 25Calgary Cowboys2–3Winnipeg Jets0–2
3April 28Winnipeg Jets6–3Calgary Cowboys0–3
4April 30Winnipeg Jets3–7Calgary Cowboys1–3
5May 2Calgary Cowboys0–4Winnipeg Jets1–4

Player stats
Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Danny LawsonRW804452964613745
Ron ChipperfieldC7542418332131905
George MorrisonLW79253257135710
Butch DeadmarshLW792628541965524
Dick SentesLW72252449339705
Don TannahillLW78252449106155
Bobby LeiterC5117173486600
Peter DriscollLW7516183412712206
Larry IsraelsonLW571022322610101
Francois LacombeD71328316211100
Steve HullRW581115266-2000
Chris EvansD75320235012100
John MiszukD69221236631000
Ray DelorenziRW398122047010
Murray KeoganC3871118190002
Terry CafferyC215131843102
Rick JodzioLW47107171375002
Duane RuppD420161633-6000
Gavin KirkC157815148101
Derek HaasC30591465000
Hugh HarrisC30591419-7002
Lynn PowisC214101422010
Don McLeodG630131340000
Bernie LukowichRW1552718-5001
Paul TerbencheD5824622-3010
Wally OldsD2805564000
Bill ReedD29055143000
Harry HowellD3103364000
Pat WestrumD9022232000
Bill GrattonLW60112-2000
Yvon BilodeauD40002-4000
Ken DesjardineD100000000
Dave GilmourLW10000-2000
Ed HumphreysG800000000
Jim McCrimmonD500021000
Vic MercrediC3000290000
Warren MillerRW300000000
Rob WaltonC200000000
Wayne WoodG1900040000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Don McLeod353463302732063.501
Wayne Wood88019931453.071
Ed Humphreys4418250273.670
Team:485580413542783.442
Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Chris EvansD1055104000
Gavin KirkC10461019000
Ron ChipperfieldC105496000
Lynn PowisC105492000
Danny LawsonRW944819000
Bernie LukowichRW103478000
Peter DriscollLW1025741000
Don TannahillLW102578000
Paul TerbencheD100666000
George MorrisonLW103250000
Bobby LeiterC32020000
Wally OldsD90224000
Duane RuppD70220000
Warren MillerRW1010128000
Butch DeadmarshLW801114000
Don McLeodG100114000
John MiszukD1001110000
Dick SentesLW80118000
Pat WestrumD601119000
Derek HaasC10000000
Harry HowellD20002000
Ed HumphreysG10000000
Larry IsraelsonLW30000000
Rick JodzioLW200014000
Francois LacombeD80002000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Don McLeod5791055373.830
Ed Humphreys2010000.000
Team:5991055373.710

[10]

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;

Draft picks

Calgary's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.[11]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
17Denny McLean (LW) CanadaCalgary Centennials (WCHL)
337Alex Pirus (C) CanadaUniversity of Notre Dame (WCHA)
452Rick Piche (D) CanadaBrandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
567Terry Bucyk (RW) CanadaLethbridge Broncos (WCHL)
680Pat Hughes (F) CanadaUniversity of Michigan (WCHA)
794Greg Smith (D) CanadaColorado College (WCHA)
8106Doug Lindskog (LW) CanadaUniversity of Michigan (WCHA)
9118Paul Clarke (RW) CanadaUniversity of Notre Dame (WCHA)
10131Randy Koch (F) United StatesUniversity of Vermont (ECAC)
11144Dan Tsubouchi (RW) CanadaSt. Louis University (CCHA)
12155Bill Anderson (D) CanadaSt. Louis University (CCHA)
13165Doug Hanson Canada
14172Darrell Ferner (C) CanadaKamloops Chiefs (WCHL)

See also

Notes
  1. Kirshenbaum, Jerry (October 20, 1975). "1975–76 WHA preview". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on May 26, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2008.
  2. Bilych, George (May 7, 1975). "Corral roost for old Eagles". Calgary Herald. p. 53.
  3. Sandor 2005, p. 95
  4. "1975–76 Calgary Cowboys Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  5. Sportak, Randy (January 29, 2005). "Wanna be a Cowboy". Calgary Sun. Retrieved April 4, 2008.
  6. Bilych, George (April 12, 1976). "Cowboys, Nordiques brawl gives hockey a black eye". Calgary Herald. p. 1.
  7. Willes 2004, p. 167
  8. Willes 2004, p. 168
  9. Sandor 2005, p. 96
  10. "1975-76 Calgary Cowboys Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  11. "1975 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.

References
  • Sandor, Steven (2005), The Battle of Alberta: A Century of Hockey's Greatest Rivalry, ISBN 1-894974-01-8
  • Willes, Ed (2004), The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association, McClelland & Stewart, ISBN 0-7710-8947-3
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