# 1974–75 Chicago Cougars season

The 1974–75 Chicago Cougars season was the Chicago Cougars third and final season of operation in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Cougars finished third in the East, but did not have enough points to qualify for the playoffs.

## Regular season
### Final standings

| Eastern Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| New England Whalers | 78 | 43 | 30 | 5 | 91 | 274 | 279 | 867 |
| Cleveland Crusaders | 78 | 35 | 40 | 3 | 73 | 236 | 258 | 1273 |
| Chicago Cougars | 78 | 30 | 47 | 1 | 61 | 261 | 312 | 1086 |
| Indianapolis Racers | 78 | 18 | 57 | 3 | 39 | 216 | 338 | 970 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 18, 1974 | 2–1 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 20, 1974 | 1–3 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 27, 1974 | 5–6 OT | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 29, 1974 | 2–4 | Houston Aeros (1974–75) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | L | October 30, 1974 | 0–1 | @ Houston Aeros (1974–75) | 1–4–0 |
| 6 | L | October 31, 1974 | 3–4 | @ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) | 1–5–0 |
| 7 | W | November 2, 1974 | 4–3 OT | Toronto Toros (1974–75) | 2–5–0 |
| 8 | L | November 5, 1974 | 4–5 | Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) | 2–6–0 |
| 9 | L | November 10, 1974 | 0–7 | Toronto Toros (1974–75) | 2–7–0 |
| 10 | L | November 12, 1974 | 2–4 | San Diego Mariners (1974–75) | 2–8–0 |
| 11 | L | November 14, 1974 | 2–4 | @ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) | 2–9–0 |
| 12 | L | November 16, 1974 | 2–6 | @ Houston Aeros (1974–75) | 2–10–0 |
| 13 | L | November 19, 1974 | 4–5 | New England Whalers (1974–75) | 2–11–0 |
| 14 | W | November 20, 1974 | 6–4 | Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) | 3–11–0 |
| 15 | W | November 22, 1974 | 5–3 | Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) | 4–11–0 |
| 16 | L | November 23, 1974 | 2–3 | @ New England Whalers (1974–75) | 4–12–0 |
| 17 | L | November 24, 1974 | 5–9 | New England Whalers (1974–75) | 4–13–0 |
| 18 | W | November 27, 1974 | 4–2 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) | 5–13–0 |
| 19 | W | November 28, 1974 | 3–2 | @ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) | 6–13–0 |
| 20 | W | November 30, 1974 | 7–5 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) | 7–13–0 |
| 21 | W | December 5, 1974 | 5–3 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) | 8–13–0 |
| 22 | W | December 7, 1974 | 9–3 | Toronto Toros (1974–75) | 9–13–0 |
| 23 | L | December 8, 1974 | 2–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) | 9–14–0 |
| 24 | L | December 10, 1974 | 2–4 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) | 9–15–0 |
| 25 | W | December 14, 1974 | 6–0 | Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) | 10–15–0 |
| 26 | L | December 17, 1974 | 1–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) | 10–16–0 |
| 27 | W | December 20, 1974 | 5–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) | 11–16–0 |
| 28 | L | December 21, 1974 | 0–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) | 11–17–0 |
| 29 | L | December 22, 1974 | 2–5 | @ Toronto Toros (1974–75) | 11–18–0 |
| 30 | L | December 27, 1974 | 2–4 | @ Toronto Toros (1974–75) | 11–19–0 |
| 31 | W | December 28, 1974 | 5–3 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) | 12–19–0 |
| 32 | L | December 29, 1974 | 3–4 | @ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) | 12–20–0 |
| 33 | W | December 31, 1974 | 4–3 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) | 13–20–0 |
| 34 | T | January 4, 1975 | 4–4 | Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) | 13–20–1 |
| 35 | W | January 5, 1975 | 3–2 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) | 14–20–1 |
| 36 | L | January 7, 1975 | 2–4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) | 14–21–1 |
| 37 | W | January 10, 1975 | 5–2 | Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) | 15–21–1 |
| 38 | W | January 14, 1975 | 5–2 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) | 16–21–1 |
| 39 | L | January 15, 1975 | 5–7 | @ New England Whalers (1974–75) | 16–22–1 |
| 40 | W | January 18, 1975 | 3–2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) | 17–22–1 |
| 41 | L | January 19, 1975 | 2–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) | 17–23–1 |
| 42 | L | January 22, 1975 | 5–8 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) | 17–24–1 |
| 43 | L | January 23, 1975 | 2–4 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) | 17–25–1 |
| 44 | L | January 25, 1975 | 4–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) | 17–26–1 |
| 45 | L | January 26, 1975 | 3–5 | Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) | 17–27–1 |
| 46 | W | January 28, 1975 | 4–3 | Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) | 18–27–1 |
| 47 | L | January 30, 1975 | 2–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) | 18–28–1 |
| 48 | L | February 1, 1975 | 5–6 | Houston Aeros (1974–75) | 18–29–1 |
| 49 | L | February 2, 1975 | 3–4 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) | 18–30–1 |
| 50 | L | February 5, 1975 | 2–4 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) | 18–31–1 |
| 51 | W | February 8, 1975 | 6–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) | 19–31–1 |
| 52 | L | February 9, 1975 | 2–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) | 19–32–1 |
| 53 | L | February 10, 1975 | 1–4 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) | 19–33–1 |
| 54 | L | February 12, 1975 | 3–5 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) | 19–34–1 |
| 55 | W | February 15, 1975 | 5–3 | @ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) | 20–34–1 |
| 56 | L | February 16, 1975 | 3–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) | 20–35–1 |
| 57 | W | February 17, 1975 | 6–5 OT | Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) | 21–35–1 |
| 58 | W | February 20, 1975 | 4–3 OT | @ Toronto Toros (1974–75) | 22–35–1 |
| 59 | W | February 23, 1975 | 2–1 | Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) | 23–35–1 |
| 60 | W | February 25, 1975 | 4–3 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) | 24–35–1 |
| 61 | W | February 26, 1975 | 4–3 | @ New England Whalers (1974–75) | 25–35–1 |
| 62 | L | March 1, 1975 | 2–4 | @ Houston Aeros (1974–75) | 25–36–1 |
| 63 | L | March 2, 1975 | 0–5 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) | 25–37–1 |
| 64 | L | March 9, 1975 | 5–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) | 25–38–1 |
| 65 | L | March 11, 1975 | 1–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) | 25–39–1 |
| 66 | L | March 14, 1975 | 4–5 | Houston Aeros (1974–75) | 25–40–1 |
| 67 | W | March 16, 1975 | 4–2 | San Diego Mariners (1974–75) | 26–40–1 |
| 68 | W | March 17, 1975 | 3–2 | Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) | 27–40–1 |
| 69 | L | March 18, 1975 | 3–7 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) | 27–41–1 |
| 70 | W | March 20, 1975 | 4–2 | @ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) | 28–41–1 |
| 71 | L | March 22, 1975 | 2–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) | 28–42–1 |
| 72 | L | March 23, 1975 | 3–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) | 28–43–1 |
| 73 | L | March 25, 1975 | 4–6 | San Diego Mariners (1974–75) | 28–44–1 |
| 74 | L | March 26, 1975 | 3–4 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) | 28–45–1 |
| 75 | L | March 30, 1975 | 6–7 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) | 28–46–1 |
| 76 | W | April 1, 1975 | 3–2 OT | Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) | 29–46–1 |
| 77 | W | April 4, 1975 | 3–1 | New England Whalers (1974–75) | 30–46–1 |
| 78 | L | April 6, 1975 | 3–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) | 30–47–1 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Gary MacGregor | C | 78 | 42 | 34 | 76 | 26 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Rosaire Paiement | C | 78 | 26 | 48 | 74 | 97 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Rochon | LW | 69 | 27 | 29 | 56 | 19 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Lomenda | RW | 69 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 21 | -2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Liddington | LW | 78 | 23 | 18 | 41 | 27 | -31 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan Popiel | LW | 60 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 74 | -1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Ralph Backstrom | C | 70 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 28 | -28 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Mara | C | 67 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Stapleton | D | 68 | 4 | 30 | 34 | 38 | -9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Darryl Maggs | D | 77 | 6 | 27 | 33 | 137 | | | | |
| Larry Mavety | D | 57 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 126 | -3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Morris | LW | 78 | 15 | 13 | 28 | 110 | -14 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Duke Harris | RW | 54 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 18 | -13 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Coates | LW | 35 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 26 | -6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryon Baltimore | D | 77 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 110 | -24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dunc McCallum | D | 31 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 24 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Gordon | RW | 42 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 10 | -14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rod Zaine | C | 68 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 | -6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jim Watson | D | 57 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 31 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lou Angotti | C/RW | 26 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 9 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Joe Hardy | C | 17 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dick Proceviat | D | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 11 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Benzelock | RW | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Keith Kokkola | D | 33 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 69 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Walter | C | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Dryden | G | 45 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Coutu | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Dumas | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Newton | G | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Pritchard | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Dave Dryden | 2728 | 45 | 18 | 26 | 1 | 176 | 3.87 | 1 |
| Cam Newton | 1905 | 32 | 12 | 20 | 0 | 126 | 3.97 | 0 |
| Rich Coutu | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5.00 | 0 |
| Richard Dumas | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 4694 | 78 | 30 | 47 | 1 | 307 | 3.92 | 1 |
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

Chicago's draft picks at the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| WHA Secret Amateur Draft |||||
| 1 | 8 | Paul McIntosh (D) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| WHA Amateur Draft |||||
| 1 | 10 | Gary MacGregor (C) | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 25 | Tim Burke (D) | United States | University of New Hampshire (ECAC) |
| 3 | 33 | Mark Lomenda (RW) | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 3 | 39 | Garry Lariviere (D) | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 4 | 55 | Paul Evans (C) | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 5 | 69 | Scott Jessee (RW) | United States | Michigan Tech (WCHA) |
| 6 | 84 | Emile DeMoissac (LW) | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 7 | 99 | John Shewchuk (F) | United States | St. Paul Vulcans (MidJHL) |
| 8 | 114 | Mark Trivett (F) | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 129 | Bob Chase (F) | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 10 | 142 | Darrell Traer | Canada | Thunder Bay Hurricanes (MJHL) |
| 11 | 156 | Jim Murray (G) | United States | Michigan Americans (SOJHL) |
| 12 | 169 | Michel Dubois (D) | Canada | Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) |
| 13 | 180 | Reggie Lemelin (G) | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |