# 1973–74 Cleveland Crusaders season

The 1973–74 Cleveland Crusaders season was the Cleveland Crusaders' second season of operation in the World Hockey Association. The Crusaders placed second in the Eastern Division, qualifying for the playoffs. The Crusaders lost in the first round to the Toronto Toros.

## Regular season
### 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 6, 1973 | 2–2 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 0–0–1 |
| 2 | W | October 13, 1973 | 6–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 1–0–1 |
| 3 | W | October 14, 1973 | 3–2 OT | Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 2–0–1 |
| 4 | W | October 20, 1973 | 6–4 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 3–0–1 |
| 5 | W | October 21, 1973 | 2–0 | @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 4–0–1 |
| 6 | L | October 23, 1973 | 3–4 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 4–1–1 |
| 7 | W | October 26, 1973 | 3–1 | Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 5–1–1 |
| 8 | T | October 27, 1973 | 2–2 | Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 5–1–2 |
| 9 | W | October 31, 1973 | 6–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 6–1–2 |
| 10 | L | November 3, 1973 | 4–7 | Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 6–2–2 |
| 11 | L | November 4, 1973 | 5–7 | @ New England Whalers (1973–74) | 6–3–2 |
| 12 | W | November 10, 1973 | 4–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 7–3–2 |
| 13 | L | November 11, 1973 | 4–6 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 7–4–2 |
| 14 | W | November 13, 1973 | 5–2 | @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 8–4–2 |
| 15 | W | November 16, 1973 | 4–3 OT | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 9–4–2 |
| 16 | L | November 18, 1973 | 2–8 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 9–5–2 |
| 17 | L | November 20, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 9–6–2 |
| 18 | L | November 21, 1973 | 2–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 9–7–2 |
| 19 | L | November 23, 1973 | 2–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 9–8–2 |
| 20 | W | November 24, 1973 | 2–1 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 10–8–2 |
| 21 | T | November 29, 1973 | 4–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 10–8–3 |
| 22 | W | December 1, 1973 | 4–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 11–8–3 |
| 23 | W | December 2, 1973 | 3–0 | Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 12–8–3 |
| 24 | L | December 6, 1973 | 2–3 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 12–9–3 |
| 25 | W | December 8, 1973 | 2–1 OT | New England Whalers (1973–74) | 13–9–3 |
| 26 | L | December 9, 1973 | 2–3 | @ New England Whalers (1973–74) | 13–10–3 |
| 27 | L | December 12, 1973 | 2–4 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 13–11–3 |
| 28 | L | December 13, 1973 | 1–3 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 13–12–3 |
| 29 | W | December 15, 1973 | 4–3 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 14–12–3 |
| 30 | T | December 16, 1973 | 2–2 | @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 14–12–4 |
| 31 | W | December 22, 1973 | 2–1 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 15–12–4 |
| 32 | W | December 23, 1973 | 4–2 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 16–12–4 |
| 33 | L | December 26, 1973 | 3–5 | Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 16–13–4 |
| 34 | L | December 27, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 16–14–4 |
| 35 | W | December 29, 1973 | 3–0 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 17–14–4 |
| 36 | L | December 30, 1973 | 2–6 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 17–15–4 |
| 37 | L | January 1, 1974 | 0–3 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 17–16–4 |
| 38 | W | January 5, 1974 | 1–0 | New England Whalers (1973–74) | 18–16–4 |
| 39 | W | January 6, 1974 | 11–3 | Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 19–16–4 |
| 40 | T | January 8, 1974 | 0–0 | @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 19–16–5 |
| 41 | W | January 12, 1974 | 5–4 | Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 20–16–5 |
| 42 | W | January 13, 1974 | 4–2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 21–16–5 |
| 43 | L | January 18, 1974 | 3–7 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 21–17–5 |
| 44 | L | January 20, 1974 | 2–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 21–18–5 |
| 45 | L | January 23, 1974 | 3–6 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 21–19–5 |
| 46 | W | January 24, 1974 | 5–3 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 22–19–5 |
| 47 | L | January 26, 1974 | 0–4 | @ New England Whalers (1973–74) | 22–20–5 |
| 48 | L | January 27, 1974 | 3–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 22–21–5 |
| 49 | W | January 30, 1974 | 5–1 | Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 23–21–5 |
| 50 | L | February 2, 1974 | 2–4 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 23–22–5 |
| 51 | W | February 3, 1974 | 3–1 | New England Whalers (1973–74) | 24–22–5 |
| 52 | L | February 5, 1974 | 1–4 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 24–23–5 |
| 53 | L | February 8, 1974 | 2–4 | New England Whalers (1973–74) | 24–24–5 |
| 54 | W | February 9, 1974 | 4–3 | Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 25–24–5 |
| 55 | L | February 15, 1974 | 2–6 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 25–25–5 |
| 56 | W | February 16, 1974 | 5–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 26–25–5 |
| 57 | W | February 17, 1974 | 6–5 | Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 27–25–5 |
| 58 | L | February 19, 1974 | 5–6 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 27–26–5 |
| 59 | W | February 23, 1974 | 7–3 | Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 28–26–5 |
| 60 | L | February 24, 1974 | 1–2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 28–27–5 |
| 61 | T | February 28, 1974 | 6–6 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) | 28–27–6 |
| 62 | L | March 1, 1974 | 4–7 | @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 28–28–6 |
| 63 | T | March 3, 1974 | 3–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 28–28–7 |
| 64 | W | March 5, 1974 | 6–3 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 29–28–7 |
| 65 | W | March 7, 1974 | 4–2 | @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) | 30–28–7 |
| 66 | W | March 8, 1974 | 4–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 31–28–7 |
| 67 | L | March 10, 1974 | 3–8 | @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) | 31–29–7 |
| 68 | W | March 13, 1974 | 4–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) | 32–29–7 |
| 69 | T | March 16, 1974 | 4–4 | New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 32–29–8 |
| 70 | L | March 17, 1974 | 3–4 | @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 32–30–8 |
| 71 | W | March 19, 1974 | 7–4 | @ Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 33–30–8 |
| 72 | L | March 20, 1974 | 4–5 | Houston Aeros (1973–74) | 33–31–8 |
| 73 | W | March 23, 1974 | 3–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) | 34–31–8 |
| 74 | T | March 24, 1974 | 3–3 | Chicago Cougars (1973–74) | 34–31–9 |
| 75 | W | March 27, 1974 | 5–4 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) | 35–31–9 |
| 76 | L | March 28, 1974 | 2–3 | @ New England Whalers (1973–74) | 35–32–9 |
| 77 | W | March 30, 1974 | 5–4 OT | Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) | 36–32–9 |
| 78 | W | March 31, 1974 | 4–2 | @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) | 37–32–9 |

## Playoffs
### Toronto Toros 4, Cleveland Crusaders 1 - Division Semifinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 7 | Cleveland Crusaders | 0–4 | Toronto Toros | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 9 | Cleveland Crusaders | 3–4 | Toronto Toros | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 12 | Toronto Toros | 4–2 | Cleveland Crusaders | 0–3 |
| 4 | April 13 | Toronto Toros | 2–3 OT | Cleveland Crusaders | 1–3 |
| 5 | April 15 | Cleveland Crusaders | 1–4 | Toronto Toros | 1–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Gary Jarrett | LW | 75 | 31 | 39 | 70 | 68 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 4 |
| Jim Wiste | C | 76 | 23 | 35 | 58 | 26 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| Gerry Pinder | LW | 73 | 23 | 33 | 56 | 90 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Skip Krake | C | 69 | 20 | 36 | 56 | 94 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Grant Erickson | LW | 78 | 23 | 27 | 50 | 26 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Ron Buchanan | C | 49 | 18 | 27 | 45 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Paul Shmyr | D | 78 | 13 | 31 | 44 | 165 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Edur | D | 76 | 7 | 31 | 38 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ray Clearwater | D | 68 | 12 | 23 | 35 | 47 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Paul Andrea | RW | 69 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| Russ Walker | RW | 76 | 15 | 14 | 29 | 117 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Ron Ward | C | 23 | 19 | 7 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Larry Hillman | D | 44 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Brindley | LW/C | 30 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Bill Heindl | LW | 67 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Robbie Neale | C | 43 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Bill Young | LW | 53 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Muloin | D | 76 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Norm Cournoyer | C | 13 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Hillman | D | 66 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Pumple | LW | 17 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Hodgson | RW | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ralph Hopiavuori | D | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Morgan | LW | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Whidden | G | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ray Adduono | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad Buetow | D | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerry Cheevers | G | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim McMasters | D | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glen Shirton | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Gerry Cheevers | 3562 | 59 | 30 | 20 | 6 | 180 | 3.03 | 4 |
| Bob Whidden | 1232 | 22 | 7 | 12 | 3 | 80 | 3.90 | 1 |
| Team: | 4794 | 78 | 37 | 32 | 9 | 260 | 3.25 | 5 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Paul Shmyr | D | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Ward | C | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Edur | D | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Jarrett | LW | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Erickson | LW | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Andrea | RW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Morgan | LW | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Muloin | D | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Russ Walker | RW | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Brindley | LW/C | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Heindl | LW | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ralph Hopiavuori | D | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Skip Krake | C | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Wiste | C | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Buchanan | C | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerry Cheevers | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ray Clearwater | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Hillman | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robbie Neale | C | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerry Pinder | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Gerry Cheevers | 303 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 3.56 | 0 |
| Team: | 303 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 3.56 | 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

Cleveland's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 10 | Lanny McDonald (F) | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 2 | 24 | George Pesut (D) | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 3 | 36 | Robbie Neale (F) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 4 | 49 | Russ Walker (RW) | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 5 | 62 | Rich Latulippe (F) | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 75 | Bob Smulders (F) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 7 | 88 | Ron Serafini (D) | United States | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 8 | 100 | Michel Latrielle (D) | Canada | Montreal Red White and Blue (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 111 | Bruce Greig (LW) | Canada | Vancouver Nats (WCHL) |
| 10 | 120 | Henry Durkin (G) | Canada | Swift Current Broncos (WCHL) |