# 1975–76 San Diego Mariners season

The 1975–76 San Diego Mariners season was the second season of operation of the San Diego Mariners in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Mariners placed third in the Western Division to qualify for the playoffs, losing in the second round to the Houston Aeros.

## Regular season
### Final standings

| Western Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| Houston Aeros | 80 | 53 | 27 | 0 | 106 | 341 | 263 | 1093 |
| Phoenix Roadrunners | 80 | 39 | 35 | 6 | 84 | 302 | 287 | 1292 |
| San Diego Mariners | 80 | 36 | 38 | 6 | 78 | 303 | 290 | 716 |
| Minnesota Fighting Saints | 59 | 30 | 25 | 4 | 64 | 211 | 212 | 1354 |

### Game log

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

## Playoffs
### San Diego Mariners 3, Phoenix Roadrunners 2 - Preliminary Round

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 9 | San Diego Mariners | 2–3 OT | Phoenix Roadrunners | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 10 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 2–4 | San Diego Mariners | 1–1 |
| 3 | April 13 | San Diego Mariners | 4–6 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 1–2 |
| 4 | April 15 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 1–5 | San Diego Mariners | 2–2 |
| 5 | April 17 | San Diego Mariners | 2–1 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 3–2 |

### Houston Aeros 4, San Diego Mariners 2 - Quarterfinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 21 | San Diego Mariners | 6–8 | Houston Aeros | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 23 | San Diego Mariners | 1–3 | Houston Aeros | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 25 | Houston Aeros | 8–4 | San Diego Mariners | 0–3 |
| 4 | April 27 | Houston Aeros | 2–3 | San Diego Mariners | 1–3 |
| 5 | April 28 | San Diego Mariners | 3–2 | Houston Aeros | 2–3 |
| 6 | April 30 | Houston Aeros | 3–2 | San Diego Mariners | 2–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Andre Lacroix | C | 80 | 29 | 72 | 101 | 42 | -29 | 12 | 3 | 3 |
| Ray Adduono | C | 80 | 23 | 67 | 90 | 22 | 29 | 6 | 0 | 2 |
| Norm Ferguson | RW | 79 | 37 | 37 | 74 | 12 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Gene Peacosh | LW | 79 | 37 | 33 | 70 | 35 | -5 | 8 | 0 | 6 |
| Joe Noris | C/D | 80 | 28 | 40 | 68 | 24 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 |
| Kevin Morrison | D | 80 | 22 | 43 | 65 | 56 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| John French | C/LW | 76 | 25 | 39 | 64 | 16 | -2 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Kevin Devine | LW | 80 | 21 | 28 | 49 | 102 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Wayne Rivers | RW | 71 | 19 | 25 | 44 | 24 | -18 | 10 | 0 | 5 |
| Brent Hughes | D | 78 | 7 | 28 | 35 | 63 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Tidey | RW | 74 | 16 | 11 | 27 | 46 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Don Burgess | LW | 73 | 14 | 11 | 25 | 35 | -17 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Bob Wall | D | 68 | 1 | 20 | 21 | 32 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Falkenberg | D | 79 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 31 | -18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike McMahon | D | 69 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 38 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Morenz | C | 40 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 22 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Gary Bredin | RW | 50 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 10 | -12 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Peter McNamee | D | 51 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 27 | -10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Dobek | C | 14 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Walter | C | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Hargreaves | D | 43 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 26 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ernie Wakely | G | 67 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamie Bateman | LW | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Goldthorpe | LW | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Blanchet | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Bye | C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Russ Gillow | G | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Jacquith | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Lalonde | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Ernie Wakely | 3823 | 67 | 35 | 27 | 4 | 208 | 3.26 | 3 |
| Russ Gillow | 1037 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 74 | 4.28 | 0 |
| Bob Blanchet | 32 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7.50 | 0 |
| Team: | 4892 | 80 | 36 | 38 | 6 | 286 | 3.51 | 3 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Ray Adduono | C | 11 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John French | C/LW | 11 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Lacroix | C | 11 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Tidey | RW | 11 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Rivers | RW | 11 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Burgess | LW | 11 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Noris | C/D | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Hughes | D | 10 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Morrison | D | 11 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Devine | LW | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Wall | D | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Morenz | C | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gene Peacosh | LW | 11 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Dobek | C | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Falkenberg | D | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Norm Ferguson | RW | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike McMahon | D | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter McNamee | D | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Russ Gillow | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Hargreaves | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ernie Wakely | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Ernie Wakely | 640 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 39 | 3.66 | 0 |
| Russ Gillow | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 660 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 39 | 3.55 | 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

San Diego's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 12 | Jamie Masters (D) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 2 | 27 | Rick Adduono (C) | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 3 | 42 | Bob Watson (RW) | Canada | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 4 | 57 | Dan Blair (RW) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 5 | 71 | Craig Crawford (C) | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 6 | 85 | Alex Tidey (RW) | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL) |
| 7 | 98 | Rick Lalonde (D) | Canada | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 8 | 110 | Kelly Secord (F) | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 9 | 122 | Alex Forsyth (F) | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OHA) |
| 10 | 135 | Don Edwards (G) | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 11 | 148 | Dale Anderson (D) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 12 | 159 | Bruce O'Grady (F) | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) |