# 1977–78 Indianapolis Racers season

The 1977–78 Indianapolis Racers season was the Racers' fourth season of operation in the World Hockey Association.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
| WHA Team | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| Winnipeg Jets | 50 | 28 | 2 | 102 | 381 | 270 | 988 |
| New England Whalers | 44 | 31 | 5 | 93 | 335 | 269 | 1255 |
| Houston Aeros | 42 | 34 | 4 | 88 | 296 | 302 | 1543 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 40 | 37 | 3 | 83 | 349 | 347 | 1185 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 38 | 39 | 3 | 79 | 309 | 307 | 1296 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 36 | 41 | 3 | 75 | 287 | 314 | 2177 |
| Cincinnati Stingers | 35 | 42 | 3 | 73 | 298 | 332 | 1701 |
| Indianapolis Racers | 24 | 51 | 5 | 53 | 267 | 353 | 1189 |
| Soviet All-Stars | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 27 | 36 | 120 |
| Czechoslovakia All-Stars | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 40 | 87 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 12, 1977 | 5–4 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 15, 1977 | 1–5 | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 16, 1977 | 1–9 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | T | October 18, 1977 | 2–2 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 1–2–1 |
| 5 | T | October 21, 1977 | 4–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 1–2–2 |
| 6 | W | October 25, 1977 | 5–4 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 2–2–2 |
| 7 | W | October 26, 1977 | 5–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 3–2–2 |
| 8 | W | October 29, 1977 | 6–2 | Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 4–2–2 |
| 9 | W | November 1, 1977 | 6–3 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 5–2–2 |
| 10 | L | November 4, 1977 | 1–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 5–3–2 |
| 11 | L | November 11, 1977 | 3–5 | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 5–4–2 |
| 12 | L | November 12, 1977 | 3–5 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 5–5–2 |
| 13 | L | November 15, 1977 | 4–6 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 5–6–2 |
| 14 | L | November 18, 1977 | 1–2 | Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 5–7–2 |
| 15 | L | November 19, 1977 | 4–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 5–8–2 |
| 16 | L | November 20, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 5–9–2 |
| 17 | T | November 23, 1977 | 3–3 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 5–9–3 |
| 18 | W | November 24, 1977 | 5–4 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 6–9–3 |
| 19 | L | November 26, 1977 | 5–7 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 6–10–3 |
| 20 | L | November 30, 1977 | 0–3 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 6–11–3 |
| 21 | W | December 1, 1977 | 5–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 7–11–3 |
| 22 | W | December 2, 1977 | 4–2 | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 8–11–3 |
| 23 | L | December 4, 1977 | 0–3 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 8–12–3 |
| 24 | W | December 6, 1977 | 5–2 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 9–12–3 |
| 25 | L | December 9, 1977 | 3–5 | Czechoslovakia (1977–78) | 9–13–3 |
| 26 | L | December 10, 1977 | 3–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 9–14–3 |
| 27 | L | December 11, 1977 | 1–7 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 9–15–3 |
| 28 | L | December 14, 1977 | 1–3 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 9–16–3 |
| 29 | T | December 15, 1977 | 3–3 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 9–16–4 |
| 30 | L | December 18, 1977 | 3–4 | Soviet All-Stars (1977–78) | 9–17–4 |
| 31 | L | December 22, 1977 | 1–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 9–18–4 |
| 32 | L | December 23, 1977 | 3–5 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 9–19–4 |
| 33 | L | December 28, 1977 | 4–5 OT | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 9–20–4 |
| 34 | L | December 29, 1977 | 1–7 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 9–21–4 |
| 35 | L | December 30, 1977 | 5–8 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 9–22–4 |
| 36 | W | January 4, 1978 | 4–1 | Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 10–22–4 |
| 37 | W | January 6, 1978 | 4–3 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 11–22–4 |
| 38 | W | January 7, 1978 | 2–1 OT | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 12–22–4 |
| 39 | L | January 8, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 12–23–4 |
| 40 | W | January 11, 1978 | 2–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 13–23–4 |
| 41 | L | January 14, 1978 | 3–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 13–24–4 |
| 42 | L | January 20, 1978 | 3–4 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 13–25–4 |
| 43 | L | January 21, 1978 | 2–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 13–26–4 |
| 44 | W | January 22, 1978 | 5–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 14–26–4 |
| 45 | L | January 25, 1978 | 2–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 14–27–4 |
| 46 | L | January 30, 1978 | 3–4 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 14–28–4 |
| 47 | L | January 31, 1978 | 4–6 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 14–29–4 |
| 48 | L | February 1, 1978 | 0–8 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 14–30–4 |
| 49 | W | February 3, 1978 | 5–4 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 15–30–4 |
| 50 | L | February 4, 1978 | 2–5 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 15–31–4 |
| 51 | W | February 5, 1978 | 6–1 | Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 16–31–4 |
| 52 | L | February 11, 1978 | 3–5 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 16–32–4 |
| 53 | W | February 15, 1978 | 9–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 17–32–4 |
| 54 | L | February 17, 1978 | 4–5 OT | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 17–33–4 |
| 55 | L | February 18, 1978 | 1–4 | New England Whalers (1977–78) | 17–34–4 |
| 56 | L | February 19, 1978 | 3–4 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 17–35–4 |
| 57 | L | February 25, 1978 | 5–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 17–36–4 |
| 58 | W | February 26, 1978 | 6–3 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 18–36–4 |
| 59 | W | March 1, 1978 | 5–1 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 19–36–4 |
| 60 | W | March 3, 1978 | 8–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 20–36–4 |
| 61 | W | March 4, 1978 | 8–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 21–36–4 |
| 62 | W | March 5, 1978 | 4–2 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 22–36–4 |
| 63 | L | March 8, 1978 | 4–5 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 22–37–4 |
| 64 | L | March 9, 1978 | 5–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 22–38–4 |
| 65 | W | March 11, 1978 | 4–2 | Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 23–38–4 |
| 66 | L | March 12, 1978 | 3–6 | @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) | 23–39–4 |
| 67 | L | March 15, 1978 | 0–7 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 23–40–4 |
| 68 | L | March 16, 1978 | 2–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 23–41–4 |
| 69 | L | March 18, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 23–42–4 |
| 70 | T | March 19, 1978 | 3–3 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 23–42–5 |
| 71 | L | March 21, 1978 | 3–6 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 23–43–5 |
| 72 | L | March 24, 1978 | 0–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 23–44–5 |
| 73 | L | March 28, 1978 | 3–4 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 23–45–5 |
| 74 | L | March 30, 1978 | 1–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) | 23–46–5 |
| 75 | L | April 1, 1978 | 1–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1977–78) | 23–47–5 |
| 76 | W | April 2, 1978 | 6–3 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 24–47–5 |
| 77 | L | April 7, 1978 | 4–6 | Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) | 24–48–5 |
| 78 | L | April 8, 1978 | 3–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) | 24–49–5 |
| 79 | L | April 9, 1978 | 7–9 | Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) | 24–50–5 |
| 80 | L | April 11, 1978 | 3–6 | @ New England Whalers (1977–78) | 24–51–5 |

## Player statistics

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Claude St. Sauveur | C | 72 | 36 | 42 | 78 | 24 | −5 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Morrison | D | 75 | 17 | 40 | 57 | 49 | −32 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Peter Driscoll | LW | 56 | 25 | 21 | 46 | 130 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Rusty Patenaude | RW | 76 | 23 | 19 | 42 | 71 | −20 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Devine | LW | 76 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 141 | −24 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Parizeau | C | 70 | 13 | 27 | 40 | 47 | −13 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Reg Thomas | LW | 49 | 15 | 16 | 31 | 44 | −11 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Claude Larose | LW | 28 | 14 | 16 | 30 | 12 | −15 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Rosaire Paiement | C | 61 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 81 | −13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rene Leclerc | RW | 60 | 12 | 15 | 27 | 31 | −7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Blaine Stoughton | RW | 47 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 28 | −24 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Block | D | 77 | 1 | 25 | 26 | 34 | −39 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Leduc | C | 28 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 38 | −16 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Burgess | LW | 79 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 2 | −30 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Barry Wilkins | D | 79 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 79 | −35 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daryl Maggs | D | 51 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 30 | −27 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Goldsworthy | RW | 32 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John French | C/LW | 74 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 6 | −25 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Dave Fortier | D | 54 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 86 | −17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Sheehan | C | 29 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 6 | −19 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Gilles Marotte | D | 44 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 18 | −17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lynn Powis | C | 14 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 2 | −5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Inkpen | D | 24 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 24 | −5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryon Baltimore | D | 22 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hugh Harris | C | 19 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | −4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad Rhiness | C | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | −4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Spring | RW | 13 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Charles Constantin | LW | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Ray Adduono | C | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | −5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dale Smedsmo | LW | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Prentice | D | 21 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 28 | −4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Dornseif | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Blackwood | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Inness | G | 52 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Irwin | D | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter McDuffe | G | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eddie Mio | G | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Park | G | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Gary Inness | 2850 | 52 | 14 | 30 | 4 | 200 | 4.21 | 0 |
| Eddie Mio | 900 | 17 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 64 | 4.27 | 0 |
| Jim Park | 584 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 41 | 4.21 | 0 |
| Peter McDuffe | 539 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 39 | 4.34 | 0 |
| Team: | 4873 | 80 | 24 | 51 | 5 | 344 | 4.24 | 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;

## Draft picks

Indianapolis's draft picks at the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 5 | Doug Wilson (D) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 2 | 16 | Wayne Ramsey (D) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 4 | 35 | Dale McCourt (F) | Canada | St. Catharines Fincups (OHA) |
| 5 | 44 | Mike Bossy (F) | Canada | Laval National (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 53 | Rick Vasko (D) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 7 | 62 | Brian Drumm (LW) | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |