# 1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season

The 1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season was the fourth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA) franchise and first in Calgary, Alberta. The Vancouver Blazers relocated to Calgary prior to the season. The Cowboys qualified for the playoffs, losing in the second round to the Winnipeg Jets.

## Regular season

In their first season, the Cowboys were not expected to ice a strong team, having inherited a franchise that finished in a last place tie with the Oilers the previous year. Calgary finished 41–35–4 however, as a 44-goal season by Danny Lawson and 42 goals from Ron Chipperfield helped the Cowboys finish a surprising third in the Canadian division.

### Final standings

| Canadian Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| Winnipeg Jets | 81 | 52 | 27 | 2 | 106 | 345 | 254 | 940 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 81 | 50 | 27 | 4 | 104 | 371 | 316 | 1654 |
| Calgary Cowboys | 80 | 41 | 35 | 4 | 86 | 307 | 282 | 1064 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 81 | 27 | 49 | 5 | 59 | 268 | 345 | 991 |
| Toronto Toros | 81 | 24 | 52 | 5 | 53 | 335 | 398 | 1099 |
| Denver Spurs / Ottawa Civics+ | 41 | 14 | 26 | 1 | 29 | 134 | 172 | 536 |
+team started season in Western Division when playing in Denver; transferred by league to Canadian Division shortly after moving to Ottawa.

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 12, 1975 | 0–2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 14, 1975 | 5–3 | Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 17, 1975 | 2–6 | Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 22, 1975 | 1–2 | Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | L | October 24, 1975 | 3–4 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 1–4–0 |
| 6 | L | October 26, 1975 | 1–3 | @ New England Whalers (1975–76) | 1–5–0 |
| 7 | W | October 29, 1975 | 3–1 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 2–5–0 |
| 8 | W | October 30, 1975 | 7–5 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 3–5–0 |
| 9 | L | November 1, 1975 | 2–3 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 3–6–0 |
| 10 | W | November 2, 1975 | 4–3 OT | New England Whalers (1975–76) | 4–6–0 |
| 11 | T | November 4, 1975 | 4–4 | San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 4–6–1 |
| 12 | W | November 5, 1975 | 4–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 5–6–1 |
| 13 | W | November 7, 1975 | 5–2 | Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 6–6–1 |
| 14 | W | November 11, 1975 | 6–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 7–6–1 |
| 15 | L | November 13, 1975 | 2–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 7–7–1 |
| 16 | W | November 16, 1975 | 5–3 | Houston Aeros (1975–76) | 8–7–1 |
| 17 | L | November 18, 1975 | 2–6 | San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 8–8–1 |
| 18 | W | November 21, 1975 | 6–2 | @ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) | 9–8–1 |
| 19 | W | November 22, 1975 | 6–4 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) | 10–8–1 |
| 20 | W | November 27, 1975 | 5–1 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 11–8–1 |
| 21 | W | November 29, 1975 | 5–4 OT | @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 12–8–1 |
| 22 | L | November 30, 1975 | 2–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 12–9–1 |
| 23 | L | December 3, 1975 | 3–4 | Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 12–10–1 |
| 24 | W | December 5, 1975 | 8–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 13–10–1 |
| 25 | W | December 7, 1975 | 5–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 14–10–1 |
| 26 | W | December 9, 1975 | 4–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 15–10–1 |
| 27 | L | December 11, 1975 | 2–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 15–11–1 |
| 28 | L | December 12, 1975 | 2–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 15–12–1 |
| 29 | T | December 14, 1975 | 3–3 | @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 15–12–2 |
| 30 | L | December 16, 1975 | 3–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 15–13–2 |
| 31 | W | December 19, 1975 | 5–3 | @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 16–13–2 |
| 32 | L | December 20, 1975 | 7–8 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 16–14–2 |
| 33 | W | December 23, 1975 | 10–1 | Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 17–14–2 |
| 34 | W | December 26, 1975 | 5–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 18–14–2 |
| 35 | W | December 28, 1975 | 6–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 19–14–2 |
| 36 | W | January 1, 1976 | 5–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 20–14–2 |
| 37 | W | January 2, 1976 | 3–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 21–14–2 |
| 38 | L | January 3, 1976 | 3–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 21–15–2 |
| 39 | W | January 6, 1976 | 5–0 | Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 22–15–2 |
| 40 | W | January 7, 1976 | 3–1 | Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 23–15–2 |
| 41 | L | January 15, 1976 | 3–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 23–16–2 |
| 42 | W | January 17, 1976 | 4–2 | Houston Aeros (1975–76) | 24–16–2 |
| 43 | W | January 20, 1976 | 10–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 25–16–2 |
| 44 | L | January 21, 1976 | 1–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 25–17–2 |
| 45 | L | January 23, 1976 | 0–2 | @ Houston Aeros (1975–76) | 25–18–2 |
| 46 | L | January 25, 1976 | 3–5 | @ Houston Aeros (1975–76) | 25–19–2 |
| 47 | L | January 28, 1976 | 0–5 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 25–20–2 |
| 48 | L | January 29, 1976 | 0–1 | @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) | 25–21–2 |
| 49 | W | February 3, 1976 | 3–2 | Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 26–21–2 |
| 50 | L | February 5, 1976 | 4–6 | New England Whalers (1975–76) | 26–22–2 |
| 51 | T | February 7, 1976 | 4–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 26–22–3 |
| 52 | L | February 8, 1976 | 4–8 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 26–23–3 |
| 53 | W | February 10, 1976 | 4–3 | Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 27–23–3 |
| 54 | W | February 13, 1976 | 4–3 OT | @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) | 28–23–3 |
| 55 | L | February 15, 1976 | 4–5 OT | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) | 28–24–3 |
| 56 | L | February 18, 1976 | 0–4 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 28–25–3 |
| 57 | L | February 20, 1976 | 3–6 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) | 28–26–3 |
| 58 | W | February 22, 1976 | 4–2 | Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 29–26–3 |
| 59 | T | February 24, 1976 | 3–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 29–26–4 |
| 60 | W | February 25, 1976 | 5–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 30–26–4 |
| 61 | W | February 27, 1976 | 5–4 | Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) | 31–26–4 |
| 62 | L | February 29, 1976 | 2–5 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) | 31–27–4 |
| 63 | W | March 2, 1976 | 6–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 32–27–4 |
| 64 | L | March 3, 1976 | 4–6 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 32–28–4 |
| 65 | W | March 4, 1976 | 4–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 33–28–4 |
| 66 | L | March 6, 1976 | 2–5 | @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 33–29–4 |
| 67 | L | March 7, 1976 | 1–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 33–30–4 |
| 68 | W | March 9, 1976 | 7–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 34–30–4 |
| 69 | W | March 11, 1976 | 2–0 | Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 35–30–4 |
| 70 | W | March 16, 1976 | 4–3 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) | 36–30–4 |
| 71 | L | March 17, 1976 | 2–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 36–31–4 |
| 72 | W | March 20, 1976 | 8–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 37–31–4 |
| 73 | L | March 23, 1976 | 5–6 OT | @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 37–32–4 |
| 74 | W | March 24, 1976 | 7–6 | @ New England Whalers (1975–76) | 38–32–4 |
| 75 | L | March 26, 1976 | 1–4 | @ New England Whalers (1975–76) | 38–33–4 |
| 76 | L | March 27, 1976 | 4–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) | 38–34–4 |
| 77 | W | March 28, 1976 | 5–4 | @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 39–34–4 |
| 78 | W | March 30, 1976 | 6–2 | Toronto Toros (1975–76) | 40–34–4 |
| 79 | W | April 2, 1976 | 4–1 | Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 41–34–4 |
| 80 | L | April 6, 1976 | 3–5 | Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) | 41–35–4 |

## Playoffs

In the playoffs, the Cowboys met the Quebec Nordiques in the first round. The series is best known for one of hockey's most legendary brawls. The incident began when Calgary's Rick Jodzio cross-checked Quebec's Marc Tardif in the head, causing both teams to leave their benches. The brawl lasted 20 minutes, and ended only when Quebec police gathered at the players benches and escorted the teams back to their dressing rooms. The game resumed following a 20-minute break to allow both teams to cool down, then resumed without eleven players who were ejected from the game. The incident caught the attention of Quebec's Solicitor General Fernand Lalonde, who had the incident investigated as a criminal matter. Jodzio was suspended indefinitely by the league, and later pleaded guilty in a Quebec court to a charge of assault over the incident. Cowboys coach Joe Crozier was suspended for the rest of the series.
Calgary went on to defeat the Nordiques, who had finished 18-points ahead of Calgary in the regular season, but were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round. The team never really captured the attention of Calgarians, as fewer than 5,000 fans, on average, attended playoff games against the Jets.

### Calgary Cowboys 4, Quebec Nordiques 1

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 10 | Calgary Cowboys | 3–1 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 11 | Calgary Cowboys | 8–4 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–1 |
| 3 | April 14 | Quebec Nordiques | 2–3 | Calgary Cowboys | 3–1 |
| 4 | April 16 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–3 | Calgary Cowboys | 3–1 |
| 5 | April 18 | Calgary Cowboys | 6–4 | Quebec Nordiques | 4–1 |

### Winnipeg Jets 4, Calgary Cowboys 1

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 23 | Calgary Cowboys | 1–6 | Winnipeg Jets | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 25 | Calgary Cowboys | 2–3 | Winnipeg Jets | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 28 | Winnipeg Jets | 6–3 | Calgary Cowboys | 0–3 |
| 4 | April 30 | Winnipeg Jets | 3–7 | Calgary Cowboys | 1–3 |
| 5 | May 2 | Calgary Cowboys | 0–4 | Winnipeg Jets | 1–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Danny Lawson | RW | 80 | 44 | 52 | 96 | 46 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 5 |
| Ron Chipperfield | C | 75 | 42 | 41 | 83 | 32 | 13 | 19 | 0 | 5 |
| George Morrison | LW | 79 | 25 | 32 | 57 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Butch Deadmarsh | LW | 79 | 26 | 28 | 54 | 196 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| Dick Sentes | LW | 72 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 33 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| Don Tannahill | LW | 78 | 25 | 24 | 49 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Bobby Leiter | C | 51 | 17 | 17 | 34 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Driscoll | LW | 75 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 127 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Larry Israelson | LW | 57 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 26 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Francois Lacombe | D | 71 | 3 | 28 | 31 | 62 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Hull | RW | 58 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 6 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chris Evans | D | 75 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 50 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| John Miszuk | D | 69 | 2 | 21 | 23 | 66 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ray Delorenzi | RW | 39 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Murray Keogan | C | 38 | 7 | 11 | 18 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Terry Caffery | C | 21 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Rick Jodzio | LW | 47 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 137 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Duane Rupp | D | 42 | 0 | 16 | 16 | 33 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gavin Kirk | C | 15 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Derek Haas | C | 30 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hugh Harris | C | 30 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 19 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Lynn Powis | C | 21 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Don McLeod | G | 63 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bernie Lukowich | RW | 15 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 18 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Paul Terbenche | D | 58 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 22 | -3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wally Olds | D | 28 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Reed | D | 29 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harry Howell | D | 31 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Westrum | D | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Gratton | LW | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Yvon Bilodeau | D | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Desjardine | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Gilmour | LW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Humphreys | G | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim McCrimmon | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vic Mercredi | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Warren Miller | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rob Walton | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Wood | G | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Don McLeod | 3534 | 63 | 30 | 27 | 3 | 206 | 3.50 | 1 |
| Wayne Wood | 880 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 3.07 | 1 |
| Ed Humphreys | 441 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 27 | 3.67 | 0 |
| Team: | 4855 | 80 | 41 | 35 | 4 | 278 | 3.44 | 2 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Chris Evans | D | 10 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gavin Kirk | C | 10 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Chipperfield | C | 10 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lynn Powis | C | 10 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny Lawson | RW | 9 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bernie Lukowich | RW | 10 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Driscoll | LW | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Tannahill | LW | 10 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Terbenche | D | 10 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| George Morrison | LW | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Leiter | C | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wally Olds | D | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Duane Rupp | D | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Warren Miller | RW | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Butch Deadmarsh | LW | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don McLeod | G | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Miszuk | D | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dick Sentes | LW | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Westrum | D | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derek Haas | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harry Howell | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ed Humphreys | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Israelson | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Jodzio | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Francois Lacombe | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Don McLeod | 579 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 37 | 3.83 | 0 |
| Ed Humphreys | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 599 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 37 | 3.71 | 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

Calgary's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 7 | Denny McLean (LW) | Canada | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 3 | 37 | Alex Pirus (C) | Canada | University of Notre Dame (WCHA) |
| 4 | 52 | Rick Piche (D) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 5 | 67 | Terry Bucyk (RW) | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL) |
| 6 | 80 | Pat Hughes (F) | Canada | University of Michigan (WCHA) |
| 7 | 94 | Greg Smith (D) | Canada | Colorado College (WCHA) |
| 8 | 106 | Doug Lindskog (LW) | Canada | University of Michigan (WCHA) |
| 9 | 118 | Paul Clarke (RW) | Canada | University of Notre Dame (WCHA) |
| 10 | 131 | Randy Koch (F) | United States | University of Vermont (ECAC) |
| 11 | 144 | Dan Tsubouchi (RW) | Canada | St. Louis University (CCHA) |
| 12 | 155 | Bill Anderson (D) | Canada | St. Louis University (CCHA) |
| 13 | 165 | Doug Hanson | Canada | |
| 14 | 172 | Darrell Ferner (C) | Canada | Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL) |