# 1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season

The 1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season was the first season of operation of the new Cleveland Crusaders in the new World Hockey Association. The team qualified for the playoffs and won its first series, before losing in the Division semi-final.

## Regular season
### Final 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 :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 11, 1972 | 2–0 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 14, 1972 | 3–2 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | W | October 15, 1972 | 7–5 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 3–0–0 |
| 4 | W | October 17, 1972 | 4–3 OT | New York Raiders (1972–73) | 4–0–0 |
| 5 | W | October 19, 1972 | 3–1 | @ New York Raiders (1972–73) | 5–0–0 |
| 6 | L | October 21, 1972 | 3–5 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 5–1–0 |
| 7 | L | October 24, 1972 | 2–3 OT | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 5–2–0 |
| 8 | W | October 25, 1972 | 8–2 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 6–2–0 |
| 9 | W | October 27, 1972 | 6–0 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 7–2–0 |
| 10 | T | October 29, 1972 | 2–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 7–2–1 |
| 11 | L | November 1, 1972 | 5–7 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 7–3–1 |
| 12 | W | November 4, 1972 | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 8–3–1 |
| 13 | W | November 11, 1972 | 4–1 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 9–3–1 |
| 14 | W | November 12, 1972 | 3–1 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 10–3–1 |
| 15 | L | November 14, 1972 | 3–5 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 10–4–1 |
| 16 | W | November 16, 1972 | 6–3 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 11–4–1 |
| 17 | W | November 17, 1972 | 3–0 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 12–4–1 |
| 18 | L | November 19, 1972 | 2–4 | @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 12–5–1 |
| 19 | W | November 21, 1972 | 5–2 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 13–5–1 |
| 20 | W | November 24, 1972 | 3–2 OT | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 14–5–1 |
| 21 | L | November 25, 1972 | 1–3 | Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 14–6–1 |
| 22 | L | November 27, 1972 | 0–3 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 14–7–1 |
| 23 | L | November 28, 1972 | 1–3 | Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 14–8–1 |
| 24 | L | November 30, 1972 | 2–3 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 14–9–1 |
| 25 | W | December 2, 1972 | 8–2 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 15–9–1 |
| 26 | L | December 3, 1972 | 2–5 | @ New York Raiders (1972–73) | 15–10–1 |
| 27 | W | December 5, 1972 | 4–3 OT | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 16–10–1 |
| 28 | W | December 7, 1972 | 3–1 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 17–10–1 |
| 29 | L | December 9, 1972 | 2–3 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 17–11–1 |
| 30 | L | December 10, 1972 | 3–4 OT | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 17–12–1 |
| 31 | W | December 15, 1972 | 6–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 18–12–1 |
| 32 | L | December 17, 1972 | 2–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 18–13–1 |
| 33 | L | December 19, 1972 | 1–6 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 18–14–1 |
| 34 | W | December 21, 1972 | 6–2 | New York Raiders (1972–73) | 19–14–1 |
| 35 | W | December 23, 1972 | 3–1 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 20–14–1 |
| 36 | W | December 25, 1972 | 8–0 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 21–14–1 |
| 37 | W | December 29, 1972 | 5–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 22–14–1 |
| 38 | W | December 30, 1972 | 4–3 OT | Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 23–14–1 |
| 39 | W | January 11, 1973 | 4–3 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 24–14–1 |
| 40 | L | January 12, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 24–15–1 |
| 41 | L | January 14, 1973 | 1–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 24–16–1 |
| 42 | W | January 16, 1973 | 4–3 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 25–16–1 |
| 43 | W | January 17, 1973 | 5–0 | @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 26–16–1 |
| 44 | W | January 19, 1973 | 4–1 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 27–16–1 |
| 45 | L | January 21, 1973 | 2–3 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 27–17–1 |
| 46 | W | January 23, 1973 | 5–4 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 28–17–1 |
| 47 | L | January 25, 1973 | 4–7 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 28–18–1 |
| 48 | W | January 27, 1973 | 2–1 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 29–18–1 |
| 49 | W | January 29, 1973 | 3–2 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 30–18–1 |
| 50 | L | January 31, 1973 | 1–4 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 30–19–1 |
| 51 | T | February 1, 1973 | 2–2 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 30–19–2 |
| 52 | W | February 2, 1973 | 5–3 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 31–19–2 |
| 53 | W | February 4, 1973 | 3–2 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 32–19–2 |
| 54 | W | February 5, 1973 | 7–5 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 33–19–2 |
| 55 | W | February 10, 1973 | 8–4 | New York Raiders (1972–73) | 34–19–2 |
| 56 | L | February 11, 1973 | 1–6 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 34–20–2 |
| 57 | W | February 12, 1973 | 8–2 | New York Raiders (1972–73) | 35–20–2 |
| 58 | L | February 14, 1973 | 5–6 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 35–21–2 |
| 59 | L | February 17, 1973 | 3–7 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 35–22–2 |
| 60 | W | February 20, 1973 | 5–4 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 36–22–2 |
| 61 | L | February 24, 1973 | 2–5 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 36–23–2 |
| 62 | L | February 25, 1973 | 5–9 | @ New York Raiders (1972–73) | 36–24–2 |
| 63 | L | February 27, 1973 | 1–2 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 36–25–2 |
| 64 | W | March 3, 1973 | 4–3 | @ New York Raiders (1972–73) | 37–25–2 |
| 65 | L | March 7, 1973 | 0–1 OT | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 37–26–2 |
| 66 | L | March 9, 1973 | 4–5 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 37–27–2 |
| 67 | W | March 11, 1973 | 11–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 38–27–2 |
| 68 | L | March 13, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 38–28–2 |
| 69 | L | March 14, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 38–29–2 |
| 70 | L | March 17, 1973 | 0–2 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 38–30–2 |
| 71 | T | March 19, 1973 | 5–5 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 38–30–3 |
| 72 | L | March 20, 1973 | 1–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 38–31–3 |
| 73 | L | March 24, 1973 | 1–2 OT | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 38–32–3 |
| 74 | W | March 25, 1973 | 4–2 | @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 39–32–3 |
| 75 | W | March 26, 1973 | 7–5 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 40–32–3 |
| 76 | W | March 30, 1973 | 4–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 41–32–3 |
| 77 | W | March 31, 1973 | 4–2 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 42–32–3 |
| 78 | W | April 1, 1973 | 5–1 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 43–32–3 |

## Playoffs
### Cleveland Crusaders 4, Philadelphia Blazers 0 - Semifinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 4 | Philadelphia Blazers | 2–3 OT | Cleveland Crusaders | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 7 | Philadelphia Blazers | 7–1 | Cleveland Crusaders | 2–0 |
| 3 | April 8 | Cleveland Crusaders | 3–1 | Philadelphia Blazers | 3–0 |
| 4 | April 11 | Cleveland Crusaders | 6–2 | Philadelphia Blazers | 4–0 |

### New England Whalers 4, Cleveland Crusaders 1 - Division Finals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 18 | Cleveland Crusaders | 2 – 3 | New England Whalers | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 19 | Cleveland Crusaders | 2 – 3 | New England Whalers | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 21 | New England Whalers | 5 – 4 | Cleveland Crusaders | 0–3 |
| 4 | April 22 | New England Whalers | 2 – 5 | Cleveland Crusaders | 1–3 |
| 5 | April 26 | Cleveland Crusaders | 1 – 3 | New England Whalers | 1–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Ron Buchanan | C | 75 | 37 | 44 | 81 | 20 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| Gary Jarrett | LW | 77 | 40 | 39 | 79 | 79 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 7 |
| Jim Wiste | C | 70 | 28 | 43 | 71 | 24 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| Gerry Pinder | LW | 78 | 30 | 36 | 66 | 121 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Paul Andrea | RW | 66 | 21 | 30 | 51 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Hardy | C | 72 | 17 | 33 | 50 | 80 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Shmyr | D | 73 | 5 | 43 | 48 | 169 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ray Clearwater | D | 78 | 11 | 36 | 47 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Erickson | LW | 77 | 15 | 29 | 44 | 23 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Rich Pumple | LW | 77 | 21 | 20 | 41 | 45 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Hodgson | RW | 74 | 15 | 23 | 38 | 93 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Brindley | LW/C | 73 | 15 | 11 | 26 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| John Hanna | D | 66 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 68 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Skip Krake | C | 26 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 61 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Horton | D | 74 | 2 | 17 | 19 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Dillabough | C | 72 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| Wayne Muloin | D | 67 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 62 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ralph Hopiavuori | D | 29 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim McMasters | D | 74 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Rycroft | RW | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerry Cheevers | G | 52 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Whidden | G | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Gerry Cheevers | 3144 | 52 | 32 | 20 | 0 | 149 | 2.84 | 5 |
| Bob Whidden | 1609 | 26 | 11 | 12 | 3 | 88 | 3.28 | 0 |
| Team: | 4753 | 78 | 43 | 32 | 3 | 237 | 2.99 | 5 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Gary Jarrett | LW | 9 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Jim Wiste | C | 9 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Gerry Pinder | LW | 9 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Buchanan | C | 9 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Paul Andrea | RW | 9 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Pumple | LW | 9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Hodgson | RW | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Muloin | D | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Shmyr | D | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grant Erickson | LW | 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ray Clearwater | D | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Skip Krake | C | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Joe Hardy | C | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Dillabough | C | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ralph Hopiavuori | D | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Horton | D | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim McMasters | D | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blake Ball | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Brindley | LW/C | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gerry Cheevers | G | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Gerry Cheevers | 548 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 2.41 | 0 |
| Team: | 548 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 22 | 2.41 | 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;