# 1975–76 New England Whalers season

The 1975–76 New England Whalers season was the Whalers' fourth season of play in the World Hockey Association. The Whalers once again made the playoffs but fell short of winning the Avco Cup, falling in the semi-finals to the Houston Aeros.

## Regular season
### Final standings

| Eastern Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| Indianapolis Racers | 80 | 35 | 39 | 6 | 76 | 245 | 247 | 1301 |
| Cleveland Crusaders | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 75 | 273 | 279 | 1356 |
| New England Whalers | 80 | 33 | 40 | 7 | 73 | 255 | 290 | 1012 |
| Cincinnati Stingers | 80 | 35 | 44 | 1 | 71 | 285 | 340 | 1344 |

## Schedule and results

1975–76 regular season :
October
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
1LOctober 11, 19750–5Houston Aeros (1975–76)0–1–0
2WOctober 15, 19755–4 OTEdmonton Oilers (1975–76)1–1–0
3WOctober 18, 19753–1Toronto Toros (1975–76)2–1–0
4LOctober 21, 19751–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)2–2–0
5WOctober 24, 19755–4@ Toronto Toros (1975–76)3–2–0
6WOctober 26, 19753–1Calgary Cowboys (1975–76)4–2–0
7WOctober 29, 19754–2Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)5–2–0
8TOctober 31, 19752–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)5–2–1 :
November
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
9LNovember 2, 19753–4 OT@ Calgary Cowboys (1975–76)5–3–1
10LNovember 4, 19752–3 OT@ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)5–4–1
11WNovember 6, 19758–3Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)6–4–1
12LNovember 8, 19752–3Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)6–5–1
13LNovember 9, 19752–4@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)6–6–1
14WNovember 12, 19754–1Houston Aeros (1975–76)7–6–1
15LNovember 15, 19751–3Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)7–7–1
16LNovember 19, 19751–3@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)7–8–1
17LNovember 20, 19750–2Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)7–9–1
18WNovember 22, 19757–5Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)8–9–1
19LNovember 23, 19752–3Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)8–10–1
20LNovember 25, 19752–3 OT@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)8–11–1
21WNovember 28, 19757–3Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76)9–11–1
22LNovember 29, 19752–3Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)9–12–1 :
December
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
23WDecember 2, 19755–2@ Houston Aeros (1975–76)10–12–1
24LDecember 4, 19754–5@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)10–13–1
25LDecember 6, 19751–4@ San Diego Mariners (1975–76)10–14–1
26LDecember 7, 19751–5@ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76)10–15–1
27WDecember 10, 19753–2Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)11–15–1
28WDecember 13, 19755–4Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)12–15–1
29TDecember 14, 19752–2@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)12–15–2
30TDecember 17, 19750–0@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76)12–15–3
31WDecember 19, 19754–2Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)13–15–3
32LDecember 20, 19752–4@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)13–16–3
33WDecember 22, 19754–1@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)14–16–3
34WDecember 26, 19754–3Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)15–16–3
35WDecember 28, 19754–0Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)16–16–3
36WDecember 30, 19755–3San Diego Mariners (1975–76)17–16–3 :
January
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
37WJanuary 3, 19763–2Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)18–16–3
38LJanuary 4, 19762–3@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)18–17–3
39WJanuary 7, 19763–2@ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76)19–17–3
40LJanuary 9, 19763–5San Diego Mariners (1975–76)19–18–3
41WJanuary 11, 19768–4San Diego Mariners (1975–76)20–18–3
42WJanuary 15, 19765–2Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)21–18–3
43LJanuary 16, 19763–4@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)21–19–3
44LJanuary 18, 19760–8@ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)21–20–3
45TJanuary 20, 19764–4@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)21–20–4
46LJanuary 21, 19763–9@ Houston Aeros (1975–76)21–21–4
47TJanuary 23, 19762–2@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)21–21–5
48LJanuary 24, 19763–6@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)21–22–5
49WJanuary 28, 19766–4Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)22–22–5
50LJanuary 30, 19763–6Winnipeg Jets (1975–76)22–23–5 :
February
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
51WFebruary 1, 19767–5@ Toronto Toros (1975–76)23–23–5
52LFebruary 3, 19760–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76)23–24–5
53WFebruary 5, 19766–4@ Calgary Cowboys (1975–76)24–24–5
54WFebruary 7, 19767–3Toronto Toros (1975–76)25–24–5
55LFebruary 8, 19761–6Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)25–25–5
56LFebruary 13, 19761–5Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)25–26–5
57WFebruary 15, 19763–2@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)26–26–5
58LFebruary 17, 19763–4@ Houston Aeros (1975–76)26–27–5
59LFebruary 19, 19763–10@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)26–28–5
60LFebruary 22, 19760–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)26–29–5
61LFebruary 25, 19762–5@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)26–30–5
62LFebruary 26, 19762–5Houston Aeros (1975–76)26–31–5
63TFebruary 28, 19764–4Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)26–31–6 :
March
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
64WMarch 2, 19764–3@ San Diego Mariners (1975–76)27–31–6
65LMarch 4, 19762–8@ San Diego Mariners (1975–76)27–32–6
66WMarch 6, 19765–3@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)28–32–6
67LMarch 7, 19763–5@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)28–33–6
68LMarch 10, 19762–3Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76)28–34–6
69WMarch 12, 19768–2Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)29–34–6
70WMarch 13, 19765–1@ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76)30–34–6
71LMarch 16, 19761–5@ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76)30–35–6
72LMarch 17, 19762–5Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)30–36–6
73WMarch 19, 19766–5 OTCincinnati Stingers (1975–76)31–36–6
74TMarch 20, 19761–1Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)31–36–7
75LMarch 24, 19766–7Calgary Cowboys (1975–76)31–37–7
76WMarch 26, 19764–1Calgary Cowboys (1975–76)32–37–7
77LMarch 28, 19761–3Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)32–38–7
78LMarch 31, 19761–5@ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76)32–39–7 :
April
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
79WApril 3, 19765–2@ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)33–39–7
80LApril 4, 19762–4Indianapolis Racers (1975–76)33–40–7 :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## Playoffs

1976 Avco Cup playoffs :
Preliminary Round vs. Cleveland Crusaders – Whalers win 3–0
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeSeries
1April 9Cleveland Crusaders3–5New England Whalers1–0
2April 10New England Whalers6–1Cleveland Crusaders2–0
3April 11New England Whalers3–2Cleveland Crusaders3–0 :
Quarterfinals vs. Indianapolis Racers – Whalers win 4–3
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeSeries
1April 16New England Whalers4–1Indianapolis Racers1–0
2April 17New England Whalers0–4Indianapolis Racers1–1
3April 21Indianapolis Racers0–3New England Whalers2–1
4April 23Indianapolis Racers1–2New England Whalers3–1
5April 24New England Whalers0–4Indianapolis Racers3–2
6April 27Indianapolis Racers5–3New England3–3
7April 29New England Whalers6–0Indianapolis Racers4–3 :
Semifinals vs. Houston Aeros – Aeros win 4–3
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeSeries
1May 5New England Whalers4–2Houston Aeros1–0
2May 7New England Whalers2–5Houston Aeros1–1
3May 9Houston Aeros1–4New England Whalers2–1
4May 11Houston Aeros4–3New England Whalers2–2
5May 13New England Whalers2–4Houston Aeros3–2
6May 15Houston Aeros1–6New England Whalers3–3
7May 16New England Whalers0–2Houston Aeros3–4 :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Roster

Updated June 5, 1976.
| No. | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
| 1 | Christer Abrahamsson | G | L | 29 | 1974 | Leksand, Sweden |
| 6 | Thommy Abrahamsson | D | L | 29 | 1974 | Leksand, Sweden |
| 19 | Danny Arndt | LW | L | 21 | 1975 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| 9 | Ralph Backstrom | C | L | 38 | 1975 | Kirkland Lake, Ontario |
| 22 | Don Blackburn | LW | L | 38 | 1973 | Kirkland Lake, Ontario |
| 21 | Dan Bolduc | RW | L | 23 | 1975 | Waterville, Maine |
| 22 | Don Borgeson | LW | L | 31 | 1975 | North Battleford, Saskatchewan |
| 5 | Ron Busniuk | D | R | 27 | 1975 | Fort William, Ontario |
| 21 | Mike Byers | RW | R | 29 | 1973 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 7 | Terry Caffery | C | R | 27 | 1972 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 9 | Wayne Carleton | C | L | 29 | 1974 | Sudbury, Ontario |
| 18 | Bob Charlebois | LW | L | 32 | 1973 | Cornwall, Ontario |
| 15 | Ron Climie | LW | L | 26 | 1975 | Hamilton, Ontario |
| 12 | John Danby | C | R | 27 | 1972 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 27 | Tommy Earl | LW | R | 28 | 1972 | Niagara Falls, Ontario |
| 23 | Nick Fotiu | LW | L | 27 | 1974 | Staten Island, New York |
| 26 | Marty Gateman | D | L | 23 | 1975 | Southampton, Ontario |
| 10 | Alan Hangsleben | D | L | 23 | 1975 | Warroad, Minnesota |
| 29 | Paul Hoganson | G | L | 26 | 1975 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 5 | Paul Hurley | D | R | 29 | 1972 | Melrose, Massachusetts |
| 30 | Bruce Landon | G | L | 26 | 1972 | Kingston, Ontario |
| 2 | Rick Ley | D | L | 27 | 1972 | Orillia, Ontario |
| 11 | Bob McManama | C | L | 24 | 1975 | Belmont, Massachusetts |
| 16 | Fred O'Donnell | RW | R | 26 | 1974 | Kingston, Ontario |
| 12 | Rosaire Paiement | C | R | 27 | 1975 | Earlton, Ontario |
| 4 | Larry Pleau | LW | L | 29 | 1972 | Lynn, Massachusetts |
| 35 | Cap Raeder | G | L | 22 | 1975 | Needham, Massachusetts |
| – | Steve Richardson | LW | L | 27 | 1975 | Olds, Alberta |
| 14 | Doug Roberts | D | R | 33 | 1975 | Detroit, Michigan |
| 7 | Gordie Roberts | D | L | 18 | 1975 | Detroit, Michigan |
| 17 | Mike Rogers | C | L | 21 | 1975 | Calgary, Alberta |
| 3 | Brad Selwood | D | L | 28 | 1972 | Leamington, Ontario |
| 20 | Garry Swain | C | L | 28 | 1974 | Welland, Ontario |
| 25 | Jim Troy | RW | R | 23 | 1975 | Boston, Massachusetts |
| 8 | Tom Webster | RW | R | 27 | 1972 | Kirkland Lake, Ontario |

## Draft picks

New England's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 13 | Terry McDonald (C) | Canada | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 2 | 28 | Danny Arndt (LW) | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 3 | 43 | Matti Hagman (C) | Finland | HIFK (SM-sarja) |
| 4 | 58 | Derek Spring (F) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 5 | 72 | Gary McFadyen (RW) | Canada | Hull Festivals (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 86 | Terry Martin (F) | Canada | London Knights (OHA) |
| 7 | 99 | John Tweedle (F) | Canada | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |
| 8 | 111 | Mike Harazny (D) | Canada | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 9 | 123 | Dave Norris (LW) | Canada | Hamilton Fincups (OHA) |
| 10 | 136 | Paul Stevenson (F) | United States | Brown University (ECAC) |
| 11 | 149 | Clark Jantzie (F) | Canada | University of Alberta (CWUAA) |