# 1973–74 Chicago Cougars season

The 1973–74 Chicago Cougars season was the Chicago Cougars' second season of operation in the World Hockey Association. The team qualified for the playoff and won two playoff series to make it to the Avco Cup Final before losing to the Houston Aeros.

## Offseason

The Chicago Cougars revamped their lineup during the off-season in hopes of escaping the cellar. The Cougars strengthened their defense by signing National Hockey League all-star defenceman Pat Stapleton from the Chicago Blackhawks as a player-coach, Darryl Maggs from the California Golden Seals and goaltender Cam Newton from the Pittsburgh Penguins. To the forward line, the Cougars signed Ralph Backstrom, also from the Blackhawks, Eric Nesterenko, who had spent a season in Switzerland after a long career with the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs, and junior all-star Frank Rochon from the Sherbrooke Beavers, and acquired Joe Hardy from the Cleveland Crusaders and Duke Harris from the Houston Aeros.

## Regular season

The Cougars scored 26 more goals than the previous season and reduced the goals against by 22 to post a 50% improvement in points and secure the final playoff spot in the East Division by a single point over the Quebec Nordiques.

### Final standings

Eastern Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PIM | Pts |
| New England Whalers | 78 | 43 | 31 | 4 | 291 | 260 | 875 | 90 |
| Toronto Toros | 78 | 41 | 33 | 4 | 304 | 272 | 871 | 86 |
| Cleveland Crusaders | 78 | 37 | 32 | 9 | 266 | 264 | 1007 | 83 |
| Chicago Cougars | 78 | 38 | 35 | 5 | 271 | 273 | 1041 | 81 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 78 | 38 | 36 | 4 | 306 | 280 | 909 | 80 |
| NY Golden Blades / Jersey Knights | 78 | 32 | 42 | 4 | 268 | 313 | 933 | 68 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | T | October 7, 1973 | 4–4 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 0–0–1 |
| 2 | W | October 11, 1973 | 4–3 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 1–0–1 |
| 3 | L | October 13, 1973 | 4–6 | @ New England Whalers (1973–74) | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | L | October 14, 1973 | 2–3 OT | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 1–2–1 |
| 5 | W | October 18, 1973 | 7–2 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | L | October 20, 1973 | 3–4 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 2–3–1 |
| 7 | L | October 21, 1973 | 1–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 2–4–1 |
| 8 | W | October 25, 1973 | 4–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 3–4–1 |
| 9 | W | October 28, 1973 | 3–2 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 4–4–1 |
| 10 | W | October 30, 1973 | 4–1 | Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 5–4–1 |
| 11 | W | November 3, 1973 | 7–4 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 6–4–1 |
| 12 | W | November 6, 1973 | 5–4 OT | Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 7–4–1 |
| 13 | W | November 10, 1973 | 3–2 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 8–4–1 |
| 14 | L | November 13, 1973 | 2–5 | Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 8–5–1 |
| 15 | W | November 15, 1973 | 3–2 | Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 9–5–1 |
| 16 | W | November 17, 1973 | 5–2 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 10–5–1 |
| 17 | L | November 18, 1973 | 3–5 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 10–6–1 |
| 18 | W | November 22, 1973 | 4–3 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 11–6–1 |
| 19 | L | November 24, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 11–7–1 |
| 20 | L | December 1, 1973 | 4–5 OT | Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 11–8–1 |
| 21 | L | December 2, 1973 | 3–4 | @ New England Whalers (1973–74) | 11–9–1 |
| 22 | L | December 4, 1973 | 0–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 11–10–1 |
| 23 | L | December 8, 1973 | 1–3 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 11–11–1 |
| 24 | L | December 9, 1973 | 1–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 11–12–1 |
| 25 | L | December 11, 1973 | 3–5 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 11–13–1 |
| 26 | W | December 15, 1973 | 5–2 | Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 12–13–1 |
| 27 | W | December 16, 1973 | 3–2 | @ New England Whalers (1973–74) | 13–13–1 |
| 28 | T | December 18, 1973 | 3–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 13–13–2 |
| 29 | L | December 21, 1973 | 1–5 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 13–14–2 |
| 30 | W | December 23, 1973 | 6–5 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 14–14–2 |
| 31 | L | December 26, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 14–15–2 |
| 32 | W | December 28, 1973 | 6–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 15–15–2 |
| 33 | L | December 29, 1973 | 0–3 | @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 15–16–2 |
| 34 | W | December 30, 1973 | 5–3 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 16–16–2 |
| 35 | W | January 1, 1974 | 5–4 | Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 17–16–2 |
| 36 | L | January 5, 1974 | 5–6 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 17–17–2 |
| 37 | L | January 6, 1974 | 0–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 17–18–2 |
| 38 | T | January 8, 1974 | 0–0 | Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 17–18–3 |
| 39 | L | January 13, 1974 | 1–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 17–19–3 |
| 40 | W | January 17, 1974 | 5–2 | @ New England Whalers (1973–74) | 18–19–3 |
| 41 | W | January 19, 1974 | 5–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 19–19–3 |
| 42 | W | January 22, 1974 | 5–3 | New England Whalers (1973–74) | 20–19–3 |
| 43 | L | January 25, 1974 | 2–6 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 20–20–3 |
| 44 | W | January 30, 1974 | 4–2 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 21–20–3 |
| 45 | L | February 1, 1974 | 2–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 21–21–3 |
| 46 | L | February 3, 1974 | 2–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 21–22–3 |
| 47 | W | February 5, 1974 | 3–1 | Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 22–22–3 |
| 48 | L | February 6, 1974 | 2–7 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 22–23–3 |
| 49 | W | February 9, 1974 | 5–2 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 23–23–3 |
| 50 | W | February 10, 1974 | 4–2 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 24–23–3 |
| 51 | W | February 12, 1974 | 3–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 25–23–3 |
| 52 | L | February 14, 1974 | 3–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 25–24–3 |
| 53 | L | February 16, 1974 | 4–5 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 25–25–3 |
| 54 | L | February 17, 1974 | 5–6 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 25–26–3 |
| 55 | L | February 18, 1974 | 3–4 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 25–27–3 |
| 56 | W | February 21, 1974 | 5–4 | Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 26–27–3 |
| 57 | L | February 23, 1974 | 0–3 | New England Whalers (1973–74) | 26–28–3 |
| 58 | L | February 24, 1974 | 1–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 26–29–3 |
| 59 | W | February 26, 1974 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 27–29–3 |
| 60 | L | February 28, 1974 | 4–9 | Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 27–30–3 |
| 61 | W | March 1, 1974 | 7–4 | Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 28–30–3 |
| 62 | L | March 3, 1974 | 4–5 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 28–31–3 |
| 63 | L | March 5, 1974 | 2–3 | New England Whalers (1973–74) | 28–32–3 |
| 64 | W | March 7, 1974 | 3–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 29–32–3 |
| 65 | W | March 9, 1974 | 5–4 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 30–32–3 |
| 66 | W | March 12, 1974 | 5–3 | New England Whalers (1973–74) | 31–32–3 |
| 67 | W | March 14, 1974 | 7–4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 32–32–3 |
| 68 | W | March 16, 1974 | 4–3 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 33–32–3 |
| 69 | W | March 17, 1974 | 4–2 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 34–32–3 |
| 70 | L | March 19, 1974 | 4–7 | Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 34–33–3 |
| 71 | T | March 21, 1974 | 5–5 | Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 34–33–4 |
| 72 | W | March 23, 1974 | 4–1 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 35–33–4 |
| 73 | T | March 24, 1974 | 3–3 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) | 35–33–5 |
| 74 | W | March 26, 1974 | 4–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 36–33–5 |
| 75 | W | March 29, 1974 | 5–2 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 37–33–5 |
| 76 | L | March 31, 1974 | 1–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 37–34–5 |
| 77 | W | April 2, 1974 | 7–3 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 38–34–5 |
| 78 | L | April 3, 1974 | 1–3 | @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 38–35–5 |

## Playoffs
### Chicago Cougars 4, New England Whalers 3 - Division Quarterfinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 6 | Chicago Cougars | 4 – 6 | New England Whalers | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 7 | Chicago Cougars | 3 – 4 OT | New England Whalers | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 9 | New England Whalers | 6 – 8 | Chicago Cougars | 1–2 |
| 4 | April 10 | New England Whalers | 1 – 2 OT | Chicago Cougars | 2–2 |
| 5 | April 12 | Chicago Cougars | 4 – 2 | New England Whalers | 2–3 |
| 6 | April 14 | New England Whalers | 2 – 0 | Chicago Cougars | 3–3 |
| 7 | April 16 | Chicago Cougars | 3 – 2 | New England Whalers | 4–3 |

### Chicago Cougars 4, Toronto Toros 3 - Semifinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 19 | Chicago Cougars | 4–6 | Toronto Toros | 0-1 |
| 2 | April 22 | Chicago Cougars | 4–3 | Toronto Toros | 1-1 |
| 3 | April 28 | Toronto Toros | 2–3 | Chicago Cougars | 2-1 |
| 4 | April 30 | Toronto Toros | 7–6 | Chicago Cougars | 2-2 |
| 5 | May 1 | Chicago Cougars | 3–5 | Toronto Toros | 2-3 |
| 6 | May 4 | Toronto Toros | 2–9 | Chicago Cougars | 3-3 |
| 7 | May 6 | Chicago Cougars | 5–2 | Toronto Toros | 4-3 |

### Houston Aeros 4, Chicago Cougars 0 - Avco Cup Finals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | May 12 | Houston Aeros | 3–2 | Chicago Cougars | 0–1 |
| 2 | May 15 | Houston Aeros | 6–1 | Chicago Cougars | 0–2 |
| 3 | May 17 | Chicago Cougars | 4–7 | Houston Aeros | 0–3 |
| 4 | May 19 | Chicago Cougars | 2–6 | Houston Aeros | 0–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Ralph Backstrom | C | 78 | 33 | 50 | 83 | 26 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| Rosaire Paiement | C | 78 | 30 | 43 | 73 | 87 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| Joe Hardy | C | 77 | 24 | 35 | 59 | 55 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Pat Stapleton | D | 78 | 6 | 52 | 58 | 44 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Larry Mavety | D | 77 | 15 | 36 | 51 | 157 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Bob Liddington | LW | 73 | 26 | 21 | 47 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Bob Sicinski | C | 69 | 11 | 29 | 40 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jan Popiel | LW | 63 | 22 | 17 | 39 | 36 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| Bob Whitlock | C | 52 | 16 | 19 | 35 | 26 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| Rick Morris | LW | 76 | 17 | 16 | 33 | 140 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Duke Harris | RW | 64 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Daryl Maggs | D | 78 | 8 | 22 | 30 | 148 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Frank Rochon | LW | 69 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Dick Proceviat | D | 77 | 2 | 20 | 22 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rod Zaine | C | 77 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Reggie Fleming | D/LW | 45 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 49 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Brian Coates | LW | 50 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jim Benzelock | RW | 53 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Gordon | RW | 23 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Eric Nesterenko | RW | 29 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Glenwright | LW | 15 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jim Watson | D | 23 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Shmyr | D | 43 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Lorne Rombough | LW | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Curt Brackenbury | RW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Connelly | RW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Newton | G | 45 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Walter | C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron F. Anderson | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Cahan | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Coutu | G | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Connie Forey | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Gill | G | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Jones | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al MacKenzie | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Cam Newton | 2732 | 45 | 25 | 18 | 2 | 143 | 3.14 | 1 |
| Rich Coutu | 1207 | 20 | 9 | 10 | 1 | 75 | 3.73 | 0 |
| Andre Gill | 803 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 46 | 3.44 | 0 |
| Team: | 4742 | 78 | 38 | 35 | 5 | 264 | 3.34 | 1 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Ralph Backstrom | C | 18 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rosaire Paiement | C | 18 | 9 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Bob Sicinski | C | 18 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Jan Popiel | LW | 18 | 8 | 5 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pat Stapleton | D | 12 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Duke Harris | RW | 18 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Gordon | RW | 18 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Hardy | C | 17 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Mavety | D | 18 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 46 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bob Liddington | LW | 18 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daryl Maggs | D | 18 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Morris | LW | 18 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Watson | D | 18 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Benzelock | RW | 18 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reggie Fleming | D/LW | 12 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dick Proceviat | D | 13 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Rochon | LW | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Rod Zaine | C | 18 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Coates | LW | 17 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Gill | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cam Newton | G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Andre Gill | 614 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 38 | 3.71 | 0 |
| Cam Newton | 486 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 34 | 4.20 | 0 |
| Team: | 1100 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 72 | 3.93 | 0 |
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;

## Transactions
### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| May 1, 1973 (1973-05-01) | To New York Golden BladesButch Barber | To Chicago CougarsWally Olds |
| July 13, 1973 (1973-07-13) | To New York Golden BladesJim McLeod | To Chicago Cougarscash |
| August 1, 1973 (1973-08-01) | To Cleveland Crusadersrights to Larry Hillman | To Chicago CougarsJoe Hardy |
| September 1, 1973 (1973-09-01) | To Houston Aeroscash | To Chicago CougarsDuke Harris |
| September 1, 1973 (1973-09-01) | To Vancouver BlazersEd Hatoum | To Chicago Cougarscash |
| February 20, 1974 (1974-02-20) | To Los Angeles SharksBob Whitlock | To Chicago CougarsJim Watson Don Gordon |
Draft picks
Chicago's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.
Round
Player
Nationality
College/Junior/Club team (League)
11Bob Neely (D) CanadaPeterborough Petes (OHA)
215Larry Goodenough (D) CanadaLondon Knights (OHA)
327Frank Rochon (LW) CanadaSherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
440Terry Ewasiuk (LW) CanadaVictoria Cougars (WCHL)
666Keith Smith (D) CanadaBrown University (ECAC)
779Dennis Desgagnes (C) CanadaSorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
892J. P. Burgoyne (D) CanadaShawinigan Bruins (QMJHL)
9103Gordon Halliday (F) CanadaUniversity of Pennsylvania (ECAC)
10114Mike Haramis (RW) CanadaLaval National (QMJHL) :