# 1972–73 Alberta Oilers season

The 1972–73 Alberta Oilers season was the Oilers' first season, as one of twelve inaugural franchises of the newly formed World Hockey Association (WHA).

## Regular season

The Oilers victory over the Ottawa Nationals on October 11, 1972, was the first game in league history, with Ron Anderson scoring the first goal.
Jim Harrison led the team in scoring, with 39 goals and 86 points. On January 30, 1973, in an 11–3 defeat of the New York Raiders, Harrison set a major professional hockey record with 10 points (3G, 7A) in a single game. That feat was later matched by Darryl Sittler on February 7, 1976, in a National Hockey League game.
The Oilers posted a winning record in the regular season, with 38 wins, 37 losses and 3 ties. The Minnesota Fighting Saints finished with an identical record, so a single game playoff was contested to decide fourth place in the Western Division. The Fighting Saints defeated the Oilers 4–2 on a neutral site rink (in Calgary), ending the Oilers season.

### Season standings
## Playoffs

The Oilers and the Minnesota Fighting Saints were tied at the end of the season. They had the same number of victories and points, and they had both won four games against each other. Subsequently, it was decided that the two teams would play a one-game playoff to decide the final spot in the playoffs, to be played in Calgary. The Oilers lost the game, and the Fighting Saints went on to play in the Quarterfinals.
1973 Avco Cup Playoffs :

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties In Minutes
| Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Jim Harrison | 66 | 39 | 47 | 86 | 93 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Al Hamilton | 78 | 11 | 50 | 61 | 124 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ross Perkins | 71 | 21 | 37 | 58 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Ed Patenaude | 78 | 29 | 27 | 56 | 59 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Ron Walters | 78 | 28 | 26 | 54 | 37 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Bob Wall | 78 | 16 | 29 | 45 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Val Fonteyne | 77 | 7 | 32 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eddie Joyal | 71 | 22 | 16 | 38 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Hicke | 73 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Carlin | 65 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Barrie | 54 | 9 | 22 | 31 | 111 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
| Ron Anderson | 73 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 43 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Baird | 75 | 14 | 15 | 29 | 112 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Bob Falkenberg | 77 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Carlyle | 67 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 35 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dennis Kassian | 50 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Bob McAneeley | 51 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Bernie Blanchette$^†$ | 23 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Roger Cote | 60 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 46 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Fisher | 40 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Jack Norris | 64 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Benzelock$^‡$ | 26 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Derek Harker$^‡$ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ken Brown | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
$^†$Denotes player traded to the Oilers mid-season. $^‡$Denotes player traded away mid-season. Statistics for all players reflect only games played with the Oilers.

### Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | SV% | GAA | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
| Jack Norris | 64 | 3705 | 28 | 29 | 3 | 189 | 1 | 0.903 | 3.06 | 1 | 59 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0.833 | 4.07 |
| Ken Brown | 20 | 1034 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 63 | 1 | 0.883 | 3.65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

## Awards and records

Four Oilers were selected to play in the mid-season All-Star Game on January 6:
* Jack Norris (G)
* Al Hamilton (D)
* Bob Wall (D)
* Jim Harrison (C)

### Milestones

Regular Season :
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Ron Anderson | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| Bill Hicke | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| Eddie Joyal | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| Ron Walters | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| Jim Benzelock | 1st WHA Game | October 11, 1972 |
| Roger Côté | 1st WHA Game | October 11, 1972 |
| Bob Falkenberg | 1st WHA Game | October 11, 1972 |
| Dennis Kassian | 1st WHA Game | October 11, 1972 |
| Ed Patenaude | 1st WHA Game | October 11, 1972 |
| Ken Brown | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Win | October 11, 1972 |
| Steve Carlyle | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| John Fisher | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| Val Fonteyne | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| Al Hamilton | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| Bob McAneeley | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| Bob Wall | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| Jim Harrison | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 11, 1972 |
| Jack Norris | 1st WHA Game | October 13, 1972 |
| Roger Côté | 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Point | October 15, 1972 |
| Val Fonteyne | 1st WHA Goal | October 15, 1972 |
| Eddie Joyal | 1st WHA Assist | October 15, 1972 |
| Ron Walters | 1st WHA Assist | October 15, 1972 |
| Ron Anderson | 1st WHA Assist | October 17, 1972 |
| Jack Norris | 1st WHA Win | October 17, 1972 |
| Brian Carlin | 1st WHA Game | October 20, 1972 |
| Bob Falkenberg | 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 20, 1972 |
| Ed Patenaude | 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 20, 1972 |
| Ron Walters | 1st WHA Hat-trick | October 20, 1972 |
| Brian Carlin | 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Point | October 24, 1972 |
| Bill Hicke | 1st WHA Assist | October 24, 1972 |
| Ross Perkins | 1st WHA Game | October 27, 1972 |
| Dennis Kassian | 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Point | October 28, 1972 |
| Ross Perkins | 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 28, 1972 |
| Ken Baird | 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | October 29, 1972 |
| Doug Barrie | 1st WHA Game | October 29, 1972 |
| Ross Perkins | 1st WHA Goal | October 29, 1972 |
| Doug Barrie | 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Point | November 3, 1972 |
| Brian Carlin | 1st WHA Assist | November 3, 1972 |
| Bob Wall | 1st WHA Goal | November 3, 1972 |
| Dennis Kassian | 1st WHA Assist | November 5, 1972 |
| Doug Barrie | 1st WHA Assist | November 5, 1972 |
| Steve Carlyle | 1st WHA Goal | November 7, 1972 |
| Al Hamilton | 1st WHA Goal | November 7, 1972 |
| Ken Baird | 1st WHA Goal | November 9, 1972 |
| Bob Falkenberg | 1st WHA Goal | November 11, 1972 |
| Jim Benzelock | 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | November 25, 1972 |
| Bob McAneeley | 1st WHA Goal | November 30, 1972 |
| Jim Benzelock | 1st WHA Goal | December 12, 1972 |
| Roger Côté | 1st WHA Assist | December 21, 1972 |
| Jim Harrison | 1st WHA Gordie Howe hat trick | December 21, 1972 |
| Ross Perkins | 1st WHA Hat-Trick | January 1, 1973 |
| Jack Norris | 1st WHA Assist | January 16, 1973 |
| Jim Harrison | 1st WHA Hat-Trick | January 30, 1973 |
| Jack Norris | 1st WHA Shutout | February 9, 1973 |
| Al Hamilton | 100th WHA PIM | February 27, 1973 |
| Ken Baird | 100th WHA PIM | March 17, 1973 |
| Ken Brown | 1st WHA Shutout | March 17, 1973 |
| Jim Harrison | 2nd WHA Gordie Howe hat trick | March 17, 1973 |
| Doug Barrie | 100th WHA PIM | March 28, 1973 |
| Ken Baird | 1st WHA Game | TBD |
| Derek Harker | 1st WHA Game | TBD |
Playoffs :
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Ron Anderson | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Doug Barrie | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Brian Carlin | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Steve Carlyle | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Roger Côté | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Bob Falkenberg | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Val Fonteyne | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Al Hamilton | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Bill Hicke | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Eddie Joyal | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Jack Norris | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Ross Perkins | 1st WHA Game | April 4, 1973 |
| Ken Baird | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Point | April 4, 1973 |
| Ron Walters | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Goal 1st WHA Point | April 4, 1973 |
| Jim Harrison | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | April 4, 1973 |
| Dennis Kassian | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | April 4, 1973 |
| Ed Patenaude | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | April 4, 1973 |
| Bob Wall | 1st WHA Game 1st WHA Assist 1st WHA Point | April 4, 1973 |

## Transactions
### Draft picks

The WHA General Player Draft was held on February 12–13, 1972 to stock each new WHA team with their initial rosters. The Oilers selected four NHL players with their "priority" selections:
* Norm Ullman, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
* Bobby Clarke, C, Philadelphia Flyers
* Bruce MacGregor, RW, New York Rangers
* Phil Myre, G, Montreal Canadiens
Ullman and MacGregor would eventually play for the Oilers, but not for the 1972–73 season. Both were Edmonton-born players who finished their playing careers with the Oilers after long NHL careers.
The Oilers selected an additional 96 players in subsequent rounds of the draft. Of those, 22 players would play for the Oilers, 16 in the 1972–73 season.
| Player | Pos | Team | League | Joined Oilers |
| Rounds 1-10 |||||
| Garnet Bailey | LW | Boston Bruins | NHL | 1978–79 |
| Doug Barrie | D | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 1972–73 |
| Ross Perkins | C | Fort Worth Wings | CHL | 1972–73 |
| Rounds 11-20 |||||
| Ron Anderson | RW | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 1972–73 |
| Len Lunde | LW | Ilves Tampere | SM-sarja | 1973–74 |
| Rounds 21-50 |||||
| Ken Baird | D | California Golden Seals | NHL | 1972–73 |
| Jim Benzelock | RW | Dayton Gems | IHL | 1972–73 |
| Brian Carlin | LW | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 1972–73 |
| Bob Falkenberg | D | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1972–73 |
| Val Fonteyne | LW | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 1972–73 |
| Del Hall | LW | California Golden Seals | NHL | 1977–78 |
| Al Hamilton | D | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | 1972–73 |
| Eddie Joyal | C | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 1972–73 |
| Kerry Ketter | D | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | AHL | 1975–76 |
| Barry Long | D | Portland Buckaroos | WHL | 1974–75 |
| Glen Sather | LW | New York Rangers | NHL | 1976–77 |
| Ron Walters | C | Tidewater Wings | AHL | 1972–73 |
| Rounds 51-70 |||||
| Roger Cote | D | Cleveland Barons | AHL | 1972–73 |
| Bob McAneeley | LW | University of British Columbia | CWUAA | 1972–73 |
| Ed Patenaude | RW | Fort Wayne Komets | IHL | 1972–73 |
| Bob Wall | D | Detroit Red Wings | NHL | 1972–73 |
| Rounds 71+ |||||
| John Fisher | C | Fort Worth Wings | CHL | 1972–73 |

### Trades

| Date | To Alberta Oilers | Traded to | Traded for |
| May 1972 | Jim Harrison | Calgary Broncos | Cash |
| May 1972 | Dennis Kassian | Houston Aeros | Cash |
| June 1972 | Future considerations | Quebec Nordiques | François Lacombe |
| July 1972 | Darryl Sittler Steve Carlyle | Cleveland Crusaders | Jocelyn Hardy Doug Brindley Bill Horton Rich Pumple |
| August 1972 | Jack Norris Ken Brown | Cleveland Crusaders | Bob Whidden |
| August 1972 | Future considerations | Quebec Nordiques | John Gravel Jean-Yves Cartier |
| September 1972 | Cash | Ottawa Nationals | Gilles Gratton |
| November 3, 1972 (1972-11-03) | Cash | Philadelphia Blazers | Derek Harker |
| December 27, 1972 (1972-12-27) | Bernie Blanchette | Chicago Cougars | Jim Benzelock |

### Free Agents

| Date | Player | Former team |
| September 11, 1972 (1972-09-11) | Bill Hicke | Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL) |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term |
| 1972 | Len Lunde | 2-year |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Doug Barrie | |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Brian Carlin | |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Roger Côté | |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Al Hamilton | 5-year |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Eddie Joyal | 3-year |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Ross Perkins | 3-year |
| June 6, 1972 (1972-06-06) | Bob Wall | |
| June 7, 1972 (1972-06-07) | Jim Benzelock | 3-year |
| June 7, 1972 (1972-06-07) | Bob Falkenberg | 3-year |
| June 20, 1972 (1972-06-20) | Jim Harrison | 4-year |
| July 6, 1972 (1972-07-06) | Ken Baird | 3-year |
| July 6, 1972 (1972-07-06) | Derek Harker | |
| July 6, 1972 (1972-07-06) | Bob McAneeley | |
| July 6, 1972 (1972-07-06) | Ed Patenaude | |
| July 27, 1972 (1972-07-27) | Ron Walters | |
| August 4, 1972 (1972-08-04) | Ken Brown | 3-year |
| August 4, 1972 (1972-08-04) | Jack Norris | |
| August 21, 1972 (1972-08-21) | Ron Anderson | |
| August 21, 1972 (1972-08-21) | Steve Carlyle | 3-year |
| September 4, 1972 (1972-09-04) | Val Fonteyne | 2-year |
| September 18, 1972 (1972-09-18) | Dennis Kassian | 2-year |
| October 1972 | John Fisher | |