# 1972–73 Quebec Nordiques season

The 1972–73 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' first season, as they were one of the original teams in the newly created WHA. The Nordiques franchise was originally awarded to a group in San Francisco, California, and was named the San Francisco Sharks, however, funding collapsed prior to the start of the season, and the WHA sold the organization to a Quebec City group led by Marcel Aubut and Paul Racine. They named the club the Nordiques due to the northern location of the team.

## Regular season

The Nordiques would name former Montreal Canadiens great Maurice Richard the head coach of the club, and played their first ever game on October 11, 1972, losing 2–0 on the road to the Cleveland Crusaders. The Nordiques would win their home opener, shutting out the Alberta Oilers 6–0 at Le Colisée. After the game, Richard would step down from head coaching duties, as he was not comfortable doing the job, and Maurice Filion would take over. The Nords would end up just missing the playoffs, finishing the year with a 33–40–5 record, earning them 71 points, 3 behind the Ottawa Nationals for the final playoff position in the Eastern Division.
Offensively, Quebec was led by defenceman J. C. Tremblay, who led the WHA in assists with 75 and led the Nordiques with 89 points. Alain Caron would score a team high 36 goals. Michel Parizeau and Andre Gaudette would each break the 70 point barrier, recording 73 points and 71 respectively. Pierre Roy would lead the club with 169 penalty minutes, while Michel Rouleau would get 142 in 52 games after being acquired by the Philadelphia Blazers.
In goal, Serge Aubry would get the majority of playing time, earning a club high 25 wins and a team best 3.60 GAA along with 2 shutouts.

### Season standings

Eastern Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts |
| New England Whalers | 78 | 46 | 30 | 2 | 318 | 263 | 858 | 94 |
| Cleveland Crusaders | 78 | 43 | 32 | 3 | 287 | 239 | 1095 | 89 |
| Philadelphia Blazers | 78 | 38 | 40 | 0 | 288 | 305 | 1260 | 76 |
| Ottawa Nationals | 78 | 35 | 39 | 4 | 279 | 301 | 1067 | 74 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 78 | 33 | 40 | 5 | 276 | 313 | 1354 | 71 |
| New York Raiders | 78 | 33 | 43 | 2 | 303 | 334 | 900 | 68 |

## Schedule and results

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

## Player statistics

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| J. C. Tremblay | D | 75 | 14 | 75 | 89 | 32 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Michel Parizeau | C | 75 | 25 | 48 | 73 | 50 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 4 |
| Andre Gaudette | C | 77 | 27 | 44 | 71 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Alain Caron | RW | 68 | 36 | 27 | 63 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 5 |
| Bobby Guindon | LW | 71 | 28 | 28 | 56 | 31 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Rene Leclerc | RW | 67 | 24 | 28 | 52 | 111 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Jean-Guy Gendron | LW | 63 | 17 | 33 | 50 | 113 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean Payette | C | 71 | 15 | 29 | 44 | 46 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Archambault | LW | 57 | 12 | 25 | 37 | 36 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Yves Bergeron | RW | 65 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Francois Lacombe | D | 62 | 10 | 18 | 28 | 123 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rejean Giroux | RW | 59 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 41 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Rouleau | C | 52 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 142 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Frank Golembrosky | RW | 52 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Roy | D | 64 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 169 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Harvey | C | 40 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Pierre Guite | LW | 66 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 136 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Blain | D | 70 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Desjardine | D | 37 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Larose | RW | 28 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guy Dufour | RW | 9 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean-Yves Cartier | D | 15 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Norm Descoteaux | D | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacques Lemelin | G | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brit Selby | LW | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Serge Aubry | G | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 54 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Brodeur | G | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alan Globensky | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike McNamara | C | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Serge Aubry | 3036 | 52 | 25 | 22 | 3 | 182 | 3.60 | 1 |
| Richard Brodeur | 1288 | 24 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 102 | 4.75 | 0 |
| Jacques Lemelin | 434 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 4.01 | 0 |
| Team: | 4758 | 78 | 33 | 40 | 5 | 313 | 3.95 | 1 |
    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;