# 1975–76 Quebec Nordiques season

The 1975–76 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques fourth season, as they were coming off their best season to date in 1974–75, earning 92 points and finishing on top of the Canadian Division in the regular season, and making it to the Avco Cup finals in the playoffs, where they were swept by the Houston Aeros.
Quebec would have a very strong start to the season, and would battle with the Winnipeg Jets all season long on top of the Canadian Division. Quebec would finish the season with a franchise record 50 wins and 104 points, but would finish behind the Jets, who tied the Houston Aeros with the most points in the league at 106. The Nordiques scored a league high 371 goals, and finished with a very impressive record of 33–7–0 at home, tying the Aeros for the best home record in the league.
Offensively, Quebec was led by Marc Tardif, who had the most goals and points in the league with 71 and 148 respectively, while his 77 assists tied teammate J. C. Tremblay for the most in the WHA. Tremblay would finish the year with 89 points, leading the Nordiques blueline. Real Cloutier had a breakout season, scoring 60 goals and earning 114 points, as did Chris Bordeleau, who had 37 goals and 109 points. Rejean Houle and Serge Bernier also finished with over 100 points, as they earned 103 and 102 respectively. Gord Gallant had a team high 297 penalty minutes, while Pierre Roy was not too far behind with 259.
In goal, Richard Brodeur shattered the Nordiques record for wins, earning 44, while he posted a 3.69 GAA and earned 2 shutouts in 69 games. Michel DeGuise backed him up, winning 6 games.
In the opening round of the playoffs, Quebec would face the Calgary Cowboys, who finished the season 3rd in the Canadian Division with 86 points, which was 18 fewer than the Nordiques. Calgary would quiet the Nordiques home crowd in the first game, beating Quebec 3–1, then the Cowboys would win the second game by a score of 8–4 to take a 2–0 series lead. Quebec would fall behind 3–0 in the series after Calgary took the third game by a 3–2 score. The Nordiques managed to squeak out a 4–3 win in the fourth game, however, Calgary would end the series with a 6–4 win at Le Colisée in the fifth game, ending the Nordiques season much sooner than anyone expected.

## Season standings

| Canadian Division | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Winnipeg Jets | 81 | 52 | 27 | 2 | 345 | 254 | 106 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 81 | 50 | 27 | 4 | 371 | 316 | 104 |
| Calgary Cowboys | 80 | 41 | 35 | 4 | 307 | 282 | 86 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 81 | 27 | 49 | 5 | 268 | 345 | 59 |
| Toronto Toros | 81 | 24 | 52 | 5 | 335 | 398 | 53 |

## Schedule and results

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record | Pts |
| 1 | October 9 | Winnipeg Jets | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 0–1–0 | 0 |
| 2 | October 11 | Toronto Toros | 3–7 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–1–0 | 2 |
| 3 | October 14 | Edmonton Oilers | 5–8 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–1–0 | 4 |
| 4 | October 18 | Houston Aeros | 2–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 3–1–0 | 6 |
| 5 | October 21 | New England Whalers | 1–6 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–1–0 | 8 |
| 6 | October 25 | Toronto Toros | 2–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 5–1–0 | 10 |
| 7 | October 28 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–5 | Toronto Toros | 5–2–0 | 10 |
| 8 | October 29 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–4 | New England Whalers | 5–3–0 | 10 |
| 9 | October 31 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–6 | Cleveland Crusaders | 5–4–0 | 10 |
| 10 | November 1 | Quebec Nordiques | 5–4 | Indianapolis Racers | 6–4–0 | 12 |
| 11 | November 2 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–0 | Winnipeg Jets | 7–4–0 | 14 |
| 12 | November 4 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–3 | Edmonton Oilers | 8–4–0 | 16 |
| 13 | November 5 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–4 | Calgary Cowboys | 8–5–0 | 16 |
| 14 | November 6 | Quebec Nordiques | 5–3 | Denver Spurs | 9–5–0 | 18 |
| 15 | November 8 | Indianapolis Racers | 2–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 10–5–0 | 20 |
| 16 | November 9 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 3–7 | Quebec Nordiques | 11–5–0 | 22 |
| 17 | November 11 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 6–8 | Quebec Nordiques | 12–5–0 | 24 |
| 18 | November 15 | Quebec Nordiques | 3–1 | New England Whalers | 13–5–0 | 26 |
| 19 | November 18 | Cincinnati Stingers | 4–6 | Quebec Nordiques | 14–5–0 | 28 |
| 20 | November 20 | Winnipeg Jets | 3–2 | Quebec Nordiques | 14–6–0 | 28 |
| 21 | November 22 | Quebec Nordiques | 9–6 | Cincinnati Stingers | 15–6–0 | 30 |
| 22 | November 23 | Quebec Nordiques | 0–4 | Houston Aeros | 15–7–0 | 30 |
| 23 | November 27 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–5 | San Diego Mariners | 15–8–0 | 30 |
| 24 | November 29 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–4 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 15–8–1 | 31 |
| 25 | November 30 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–1 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 16–8–1 | 33 |
| 26 | December 2 | Cleveland Crusaders | 2–9 | Quebec Nordiques | 17–8–1 | 35 |
| 27 | December 5 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–7 | Toronto Toros | 17–9–1 | 35 |
| 28 | December 7 | Quebec Nordiques | 3–2 | Winnipeg Jets | 18–9–1 | 37 |
| 29 | December 9 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–4 | Calgary Cowboys | 18–10–1 | 37 |
| 30 | December 10 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–7 | Edmonton Oilers | 18–11–1 | 37 |
| 31 | December 12 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–6 | Toronto Toros | 18–12–1 | 37 |
| 32 | December 13 | Toronto Toros | 3–6 | Quebec Nordiques | 19–12–1 | 39 |
| 33 | December 16 | Calgary Cowboys | 3–7 | Quebec Nordiques | 20–12–1 | 41 |
| 34 | December 18 | Winnipeg Jets | 4–5 | Quebec Nordiques | 21–12–1 | 43 |
| 35 | December 20 | Calgary Flames | 7–8 | Quebec Nordiques | 22–12–1 | 45 |
| 36 | December 21 | Quebec Nordiques | 7–11 | Cincinnati Stingers | 22–13–1 | 45 |
| 37 | December 23 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–10 | San Diego Mariners | 22–14–1 | 45 |
| 38 | December 27 | Edmonton Oilers | 3–6 | Quebec Nordiques | 23–14–1 | 47 |
| 39 | December 28 | Quebec Nordiques | 6–1 | Toronto Toros | 24–14–1 | 49 |
| 40 | December 30 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 24–14–2 | 50 |
| 41 | January 2 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–5 | Cleveland Crusaders | 24–15–2 | 50 |
| 42 | January 3 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 4–1 | Quebec Nordiques | 24–16–2 | 50 |
| 43 | January 10 | San Diego Mariners | 3–4 | Quebec Nordiques | 25–16–2 | 52 |
| 44 | January 15 | Calgary Cowboys | 3–5 | Quebec Nordiques | 26–16–2 | 54 |
| 45 | January 17 | Toronto Toros | 3–4 | Quebec Nordiques | 27–16–2 | 56 |
| 46 | January 21 | Indianapolis Racers | 2–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 28–16–2 | 58 |
| 47 | January 25 | Edmonton Oilers | 6–7 | Quebec Nordiques | 29–16–2 | 60 |
| 48 | January 27 | Cincinnati Stingers | 1–9 | Quebec Nordiques | 30–16–2 | 62 |
| 49 | January 30 | Quebec Nordiques | 3–3 | Toronto Toros | 30–16–3 | 63 |
| 50 | January 31 | Toronto Toros | 4–8 | Quebec Nordiques | 31–16–3 | 65 |
| 51 | February 3 | Winnipeg Jets | 4–5 | Quebec Nordiques | 32–16–3 | 67 |
| 52 | February 5 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–4 | Indianapolis Racers | 32–17–3 | 67 |
| 53 | February 7 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–4 | Calgary Cowboys | 32–17–4 | 68 |
| 54 | February 8 | Quebec Nordiques | 5–4 | Edmonton Oilers | 33–17–4 | 70 |
| 55 | February 11 | Quebec Nordiques | 6–4 | Winnipeg Jets | 34–17–4 | 72 |
| 56 | February 12 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–6 | Minnesota Fighting Saints | 34–18–4 | 72 |
| 57 | February 15 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–2 | Houston Aeros | 35–18–4 | 74 |
| 58 | February 17 | San Diego Mariners | 2–5 | Quebec Nordiques | 36–18–4 | 76 |
| 59 | February 22 | New England Whalers | 0–4 | Quebec Nordiques | 37–18–4 | 78 |
| 60 | February 24 | Houston Aeros | 1–4 | Quebec Nordiques | 38–18–4 | 80 |
| 61 | February 28 | Winnipeg Jets | 4–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 38–19–4 | 80 |
| 62 | March 2 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–5 | Toronto Toros | 38–20–4 | 80 |
| 63 | March 4 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–4 | Calgary Cowboys | 38–21–4 | 80 |
| 64 | March 5 | Quebec Nordiques | 5–4 | Edmonton Oilers | 39–21–4 | 82 |
| 65 | March 7 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–4 | Edmonton Oilers | 39–22–4 | 82 |
| 66 | March 9 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–7 | Calgary Cowboys | 39–23–4 | 82 |
| 67 | March 10 | Quebec Nordiques | 3–10 | Winnipeg Jets | 39–24–4 | 82 |
| 68 | March 12 | Quebec Nordiques | 10–8 | Winnipeg Jets | 40–24–4 | 84 |
| 69 | March 14 | Toronto Toros | 3–1 | Quebec Nordiques | 40–25–4 | 84 |
| 70 | March 16 | New England Whalers | 1–5 | Quebec Nordiques | 41–25–4 | 86 |
| 71 | March 19 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–3 | Toronto Toros | 42–25–4 | 88 |
| 72 | March 20 | Calgary Cowboys | 8–7 | Quebec Nordiques | 42–26–4 | 88 |
| 73 | March 21 | Quebec Nordiques | 6–3 | Edmonton Oilers | 43–26–4 | 90 |
| 74 | March 23 | Cleveland Crusaders | 3–1 | Quebec Nordiques | 43–27–4 | 90 |
| 75 | March 25 | Edmonton Oilers | 5–7 | Quebec Nordiques | 44–27–4 | 92 |
| 76 | March 27 | Calgary Cowboys | 4–6 | Quebec Nordiques | 45–27–4 | 94 |
| 77 | March 30 | Edmonton Oilers | 3–8 | Quebec Nordiques | 46–27–4 | 96 |
| 78 | April 1 | Edmonton Oilers | 2–7 | Quebec Nordiques | 47–27–4 | 98 |
| 79 | April 3 | Toronto Toros | 1–5 | Quebec Nordiques | 48–27–4 | 100 |
| 80 | April 4 | Quebec Nordiques | 5–4 | Toronto Toros | 49–27–4 | 102 |
| 81 | April 6 | Toronto Toros | 6–10 | Quebec Nordiques | 50–27–4 | 104 |

## Playoffs
### Calgary Cowboys 4, Quebec Nordiques 1

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 10 | Calgary Cowboys | 3–1 | Quebec Nordiques | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 11 | Calgary Cowboys | 8–4 | Quebec Nordiques | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 14 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–3 | Calgary Cowboys | 0–3 |
| 4 | April 16 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–3 | Calgary Cowboys | 1–3 |
| 5 | April 18 | Calgary Cowboys | 6–4 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–4 |

## Season stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Marc Tardif | 81 | 71 | 77 | 148 | 79 |
| Real Cloutier | 80 | 60 | 54 | 114 | 27 |
| Chris Bordeleau | 74 | 37 | 72 | 109 | 42 |
| Rejean Houle | 81 | 51 | 52 | 103 | 61 |
| Serge Bernier | 70 | 34 | 68 | 102 | 91 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA | Save % |
| Richard Brodeur | 69 | 3967 | 44 | 21 | 2 | 244 | 2 | 3.69 | .890 |
| Michel DeGuise | 18 | 835 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 60 | 0 | 4.35 | .870 |
| Pete Donnelly | 4 | 129 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 4.65 | .846 |

## Playoff stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Real Cloutier | 5 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
| Serge Bernier | 5 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| Dale Hoganson | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Steve Sutherland | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| Pierre Roy | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 29 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Richard Brodeur | 5 | 299 | 1 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 4.41 |

## Draft picks

Quebec's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 14 | Pierre Mondou | Canada | Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 29 | Doug Halward | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 3 | 44 | Pierre Giroux | Canada | Hull Festivals (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 59 | Ted Bulley | Canada | Hull Festivals (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 73 | Andre LePage | Canada | Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 87 | Jean Trottier | Canada | Laval National (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 100 | Mike Backman | Canada | Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL) |
| 8 | 112 | Michel Brisebois | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 124 | Michel Hamel | Canada | Laval National (QMJHL) |
| 10 | 137 | Florent Fortier | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |