# 1976–77 Birmingham Bulls season

The 1976–77 Birmingham Bulls season was the Bulls' first season of operation in Birmingham, Alabama after the Toronto Toros relocated from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Eastern Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| Quebec Nordiques | 81 | 47 | 31 | 3 | 353 | 295 | 97 |
| Cincinnati Stingers | 81 | 39 | 37 | 5 | 354 | 303 | 83 |
| Indianapolis Racers | 81 | 36 | 37 | 8 | 276 | 305 | 80 |
| New England Whalers | 81 | 35 | 40 | 6 | 275 | 290 | 76 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 81 | 31 | 46 | 4 | 289 | 309 | 66 |
| Minnesota Fighting Saints | 42 | 19 | 18 | 5 | 136 | 129 | 43 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 8, 1976 | 4–2 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 10, 1976 | 3–4 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | W | October 12, 1976 | 6–2 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | T | October 14, 1976 | 7–7 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | L | October 16, 1976 | 0–3 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | L | October 17, 1976 | 1–6 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 2–3–1 |
| 7 | L | October 19, 1976 | 5–6 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 2–4–1 |
| 8 | W | October 21, 1976 | 8–5 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 3–4–1 |
| 9 | W | October 23, 1976 | 3–1 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 4–4–1 |
| 12 | L | October 28, 1976 | 3–4 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 4–7–1 |
| 13 | L | October 30, 1976 | 4–5 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 4–8–1 |
| 14 | L | November 2, 1976 | 3–4 OT | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 4–9–1 |
| 15 | W | November 4, 1976 | 5–3 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 5–9–1 |
| 16 | L | November 6, 1976 | 5–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 5–10–1 |
| 17 | L | November 9, 1976 | 3–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 5–11–1 |
| 18 | L | November 11, 1976 | 2–3 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 5–12–1 |
| 19 | L | November 13, 1976 | 2–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 5–13–1 |
| 20 | L | November 16, 1976 | 4–5 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 5–14–1 |
| 21 | L | November 17, 1976 | 4–6 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 5–15–1 |
| 22 | L | November 19, 1976 | 0–4 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 5–16–1 |
| 23 | W | November 21, 1976 | 4–3 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 6–16–1 |
| 24 | W | November 23, 1976 | 3–1 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 7–16–1 |
| 25 | L | November 25, 1976 | 3–5 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 7–17–1 |
| 26 | L | November 27, 1976 | 1–2 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 7–18–1 |
| 27 | L | November 28, 1976 | 1–3 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 7–19–1 |
| 28 | W | November 30, 1976 | 3–1 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 8–19–1 |
| 29 | L | December 2, 1976 | 3–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 8–20–1 |
| 30 | L | December 7, 1976 | 2–3 OT | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 8–21–1 |
| 31 | W | December 10, 1976 | 5–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 9–21–1 |
| 32 | L | December 12, 1976 | 3–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 9–22–1 |
| 33 | L | December 15, 1976 | 5–6 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 9–23–1 |
| 34 | W | December 17, 1976 | 4–3 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 10–23–1 |
| 35 | L | December 18, 1976 | 2–6 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 10–24–1 |
| 36 | L | December 19, 1976 | 2–3 OT | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 10–25–1 |
| 37 | W | December 21, 1976 | 3–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 11–25–1 |
| 38 | W | December 22, 1976 | 6–2 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 12–25–1 |
| 39 | W | December 26, 1976 | 6–2 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 13–25–1 |
| 40 | L | December 30, 1976 | 2–4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 13–26–1 |
| 41 | L | January 2, 1977 | 1–3 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 13–27–1 |
| 42 | W | January 4, 1977 | 8–5 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 14–27–1 |
| 43 | L | January 7, 1977 | 1–7 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 14–28–1 |
| 44 | L | January 9, 1977 | 1–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 14–29–1 |
| 45 | W | January 12, 1977 | 4–3 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 15–29–1 |
| 46 | L | January 14, 1977 | 3–5 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 15–30–1 |
| 47 | L | January 16, 1977 | 2–5 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 15–31–1 |
| 48 | L | January 21, 1977 | 1–6 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 15–32–1 |
| 49 | W | January 23, 1977 | 6–2 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 16–32–1 |
| 50 | W | January 27, 1977 | 3–0 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 17–32–1 |
| 51 | W | January 30, 1977 | 7–1 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 18–32–1 |
| 52 | W | February 1, 1977 | 4–3 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 19–32–1 |
| 53 | W | February 2, 1977 | 3–2 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 20–32–1 |
| 54 | W | February 4, 1977 | 7–0 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 21–32–1 |
| 55 | L | February 5, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 21–33–1 |
| 56 | L | February 9, 1977 | 3–4 OT | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 21–34–1 |
| 57 | L | February 12, 1977 | 2–3 OT | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 21–35–1 |
| 58 | W | February 16, 1977 | 7–2 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 22–35–1 |
| 59 | W | February 18, 1977 | 3–2 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 23–35–1 |
| 60 | T | February 20, 1977 | 2–2 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 23–35–2 |
| 61 | T | February 22, 1977 | 4–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 23–35–3 |
| 62 | W | February 24, 1977 | 10–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 24–35–3 |
| 63 | L | February 26, 1977 | 3–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 24–36–3 |
| 64 | W | February 27, 1977 | 4–0 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 25–36–3 |
| 65 | L | March 3, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 25–37–3 |
| 66 | L | March 6, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 25–38–3 |
| 67 | W | March 9, 1977 | 4–3 OT | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 26–38–3 |
| 68 | W | March 11, 1977 | 6–3 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 27–38–3 |
| 69 | L | March 12, 1977 | 2–7 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 27–39–3 |
| 70 | L | March 13, 1977 | 4–7 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 27–40–3 |
| 71 | W | March 15, 1977 | 4–2 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 28–40–3 |
| 72 | L | March 17, 1977 | 2–5 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 28–41–3 |
| 73 | L | March 20, 1977 | 3–4 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 28–42–3 |
| 74 | W | March 22, 1977 | 7–4 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 29–42–3 |
| 75 | W | March 23, 1977 | 4–0 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 30–42–3 |
| 76 | L | March 24, 1977 | 2–6 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 30–43–3 |
| 77 | W | March 27, 1977 | 7–3 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 31–43–3 |
| 78 | L | March 29, 1977 | 2–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 31–44–3 |
| 79 | L | April 2, 1977 | 5–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 31–45–3 |
| 80 | T | April 5, 1977 | 4–4 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 31–45–4 |
| 81 | L | April 6, 1977 | 4–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 31–46–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mark Napier | RW | 80 | 60 | 36 | 96 | 24 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 6 |
| Vaclav Nedomansky | RW | 81 | 36 | 33 | 69 | 10 | −13 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Peter Marrin | C | 79 | 23 | 37 | 60 | 36 | −7 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Lou Nistico | C | 79 | 20 | 36 | 56 | 166 | −9 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Dale Hoganson | D | 81 | 7 | 48 | 55 | 48 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Henderson | RW | 81 | 23 | 25 | 48 | 30 | −9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jeff Jacques | RW | 79 | 21 | 27 | 48 | 92 | −1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tim Sheehy | RW | 50 | 26 | 21 | 47 | 44 | −2 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| John Stewart | C | 52 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 32 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Farda | C | 48 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 2 | −23 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Turkiewicz | D | 80 | 6 | 25 | 31 | 54 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Gavin Kirk | C | 29 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 34 | −6 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean-Guy Lagace | D | 78 | 2 | 25 | 27 | 110 | −8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Mahovlich | LW | 17 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 12 | −1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Gorman | RW | 52 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 38 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Gord Gallant | LW | 34 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 62 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Simpson | RW | 25 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 10 | −12 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Westrum | D | 34 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 48 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean-Luc Phaneuf | RW | 30 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 2 | −4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilles Bilodeau | LW | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 133 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Cunningham | D | 63 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 75 | −18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Ball | D | 23 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Garrett | G | 65 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Carleton | LW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ray McKay | D | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | −5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Folco | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Hart | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Heaver | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keith Kokkola | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Marsh | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerry Rollins | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Buzz Schneider | LW | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Stewart | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Syvret | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Wood | G | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| John Garrett | 3803 | 65 | 24 | 34 | 4 | 224 | 3.53 | 4 |
| Wayne Wood | 1132 | 23 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 78 | 4.13 | 0 |
| Team: | 4935 | 81 | 31 | 46 | 4 | 302 | 3.67 | 4 |
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

Birmingham's draft picks (selected while still known as the Toronto Toros) at the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 8 | Bjorn Johansson (D) | Sweden | Orebro IK (Sweden D1) |
| 2 | 11 | Kent Nilsson (F) | Sweden | Djurgardens IF (Elitserien) |
| 2 | 21 | Peter Lee (LW) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 3 | 24 | Paul Gardner (C) | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 4 | 35 | Don Lemieux (D) | Canada | Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 59 | Dan Djakalovic (F) | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 7 | 71 | Mike McEwen (D) | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 8 | 83 | Mike Kitchen (D) | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 9 | 94 | Marc Desforges (F) | Canada | Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) |
| 10 | 105 | Brian Dillon (F) | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |