# 1972–73 Ottawa Nationals season

The 1972–73 Ottawa Nationals season was the Nationals' only season, as they were one of the original teams in the newly created WHA. The Nationals played most of the season in Ottawa, but transferred their playoff games to Toronto. Due to low attendance in Ottawa, an arena lease dispute, and much better attendance in their two playoff games in Toronto, where they averaged over 5000 fans per game, the Nationals relocated to Toronto permanently beginning in the next season. The club was renamed the Toronto Toros.

## Offseason

The Nationals were originally owned by Doug Michel, with rumours he would place the team in either Hamilton or Toronto, however, and he placed the club in Ottawa. After the team was placed to play in Ottawa, Nick Trbovich became the majority owner, with Michel running hockey operations. The club was placed in the six team Eastern Division, with the top four clubs earning a playoff berth.
The Nationals hired former Toronto Maple Leaf Billy Harris to coach the team. Ottawa's most significant signing was Wayne Carleton, who had previously played with the Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and California Golden Seals in the NHL.

## Regular season

The first game in WHA history was a match between the Nationals and the Alberta Oilers at the Civic Centre, which Alberta won 7–4, on October 11, 1972. Ottawa recorded their first victory in their fourth game, a 6-2 decision over the Chicago Cougars. The Nationals reached a season high two games over .500 with a 12-10-1 record, before falling into a long slump in which the club won only seven games in their next 31, and dropped into last place in the Eastern Division. Ottawa would play very good hockey down the stretch, winning two-thirds of its remaining games, and finished the season at 35-39-4, earning 74 points and the fourth and final playoff position.
Attendance was an issue for the club, as they drew an average of just over 3000 fans per game, competing against the very popular Ottawa 67's OHA team.
Offensively, Ottawa was led by Carleton, who scored a team high 42 goals and 49 assists for 91 points, which ranked him tenth in league scoring. Twenty-year-old Gavin Kirk earned 68 points in 78 games, while Bob Charlebois earned 64 points. Brian Gibbons had 42 points to lead the team's defencemen, while Rick Cunningham had a team high 121 penalty minutes.
In goal, Gilles Gratton had the majority of playing time, winning 25 games and posting a 3.71 GAA. Veteran Les Binkley backed him up, earning 10 wins and a GAA of 3.72.

### 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 |

### Game log

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

## Playoffs

The Nationals would open the playoffs with a best of seven series against the New England Whalers, who had a league high 94 points. The series opened up with two games in New England, and the Whalers took advantage of their home ice, defeating Ottawa 6-3 and 4–3 to take a two-game series lead. The series moved to Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, as the Nationals ownership decided to move their playoff games from Ottawa due to attendance problems. The Nationals use their "home ice" advantage in the third game, defeating the Whalers 4–2 to get back into the series, however, New England easily defeated Ottawa in the fourth game 7–3 to take a 3–1 series lead. The Whalers would close out the series in the fifth game back in New England, as they beat Ottawa 5–4 in overtime to eliminate the Nationals.

### New England Whalers 4, Ottawa Nationals 1

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 7 | Ottawa Nationals | 3–6 | New England Whalers | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 8 | Ottawa Nationals | 3–4 | New England Whalers | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 10 | New England Whalers | 2–4 | Ottawa Nationals | 1-2 |
| 4 | April 12 | New England Whalers | 7–3 | Ottawa Nationals | 1–3 |
| 5 | April 14 | Ottawa Nationals | 4–5 | New England Whalers | 1-4 |

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Wayne Carleton | 75 | 42 | 49 | 91 | 42 |
| Gavin Kirk | 78 | 28 | 40 | 68 | 54 |
| Bob Charlebois | 78 | 24 | 40 | 64 | 28 |
| Guy Trottier | 72 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 25 |
| Bob Leduc | 78 | 22 | 33 | 55 | 71 |
| Steve King | 69 | 18 | 34 | 52 | 28 |
| Tom Martin | 74 | 19 | 27 | 46 | 27 |
| Brian Gibbons | 73 | 7 | 35 | 42 | 62 |
| Rick Sentes | 74 | 22 | 19 | 41 | 78 |
| Rick Cunningham | 78 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 121 |
| Jack Gibson | 59 | 22 | 13 | 35 | 48 |
| Ron Climie | 31 | 12 | 19 | 31 | 2 |
| Brian Conacher | 69 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 32 |
| Ken Stephanson | 77 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 93 |
| Tom Simpson | 57 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 44 |
| Mike Boland | 41 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 44 |
| Mike Amodeo | 61 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 77 |
| Steve Warr | 72 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 79 |
| Chris Meloff | 28 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 40 |
| Ron Riley | 22 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| John Donnelly | 15 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 44 |
| Merv Haney | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Gilles Gratton | 51 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Frank Blum | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Les Binkley | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA | Save % |
| Gilles Gratton | 51 | 3021 | 25 | 22 | 3 | 187 | 0 | 3.71 | .882 |
| Les Binkley | 30 | 1709 | 10 | 17 | 1 | 106 | 0 | 3.72 | .882 |
| Frank Blum | 2 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6.43 | .824 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Wayne Carleton | 3 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Gavin Kirk | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 |
| Tom Martin | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| Rick Sentes | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Brian Conacher | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Brian Gibbons | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 |
| Guy Trottier | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Bob Charlebois | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Rick Cunningham | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Ken Stephanson | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Bob Leduc | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Ron Climie | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Jack Gibson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Tom Simpson | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mike Amodeo | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Steve King | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Les Binkley | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Boland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilles Gratton | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Riley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Warr | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Les Binkley | 4 | 223 | 1 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 4.57 |
| Gilles Gratton | 2 | 87 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 4.83 |