# 1972–73 New York Raiders season

The 1972–73 New York Raiders season was the inaugural season for the World Hockey Association (WHA) franchise.

## 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 | L | October 12, 1972 | 4–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 14, 1972 | 8–6 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | W | October 15, 1972 | 5–0 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | L | October 17, 1972 | 3–4 OT | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 19, 1972 | 1–3 | Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | W | October 21, 1972 | 3–2 | Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 3–3–0 |
| 7 | L | October 22, 1972 | 4–5 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 3–4–0 |
| 8 | W | October 26, 1972 | 7–6 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 4–4–0 |
| 9 | L | October 28, 1972 | 3–4 OT | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 4–5–0 |
| 10 | W | October 29, 1972 | 7–2 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 5–5–0 |
| 11 | W | November 2, 1972 | 4–2 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 6–5–0 |
| 12 | W | November 3, 1972 | 9–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 7–5–0 |
| 13 | L | November 5, 1972 | 1–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 7–6–0 |
| 14 | L | November 7, 1972 | 2–4 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 7–7–0 |
| 15 | L | November 8, 1972 | 1–2 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 7–8–0 |
| 16 | L | November 11, 1972 | 5–6 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 7–9–0 |
| 17 | L | November 15, 1972 | 4–7 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 7–10–0 |
| 18 | W | November 18, 1972 | 7–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 8–10–0 |
| 19 | W | November 19, 1972 | 5–0 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 9–10–0 |
| 20 | W | November 22, 1972 | 3–1 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 10–10–0 |
| 21 | W | November 25, 1972 | 4–2 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 11–10–0 |
| 22 | L | November 26, 1972 | 2–6 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 11–11–0 |
| 23 | W | November 29, 1972 | 7–6 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 12–11–0 |
| 24 | W | November 30, 1972 | 5–2 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 13–11–0 |
| 25 | L | December 2, 1972 | 2–7 | Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 13–12–0 |
| 26 | W | December 3, 1972 | 5–2 | Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 14–12–0 |
| 27 | W | December 5, 1972 | 6–4 | @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 15–12–0 |
| 28 | L | December 6, 1972 | 3–4 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 15–13–0 |
| 29 | L | December 8, 1972 | 1–3 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 15–14–0 |
| 30 | L | December 9, 1972 | 2–4 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 15–15–0 |
| 31 | W | December 11, 1972 | 8–3 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 16–15–0 |
| 32 | W | December 13, 1972 | 9–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 17–15–0 |
| 33 | W | December 14, 1972 | 4–3 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 18–15–0 |
| 34 | L | December 17, 1972 | 3–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 18–16–0 |
| 35 | W | December 19, 1972 | 7–2 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 19–16–0 |
| 36 | L | December 21, 1972 | 2–6 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 19–17–0 |
| 37 | W | December 22, 1972 | 7–5 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 20–17–0 |
| 38 | L | December 25, 1972 | 2–8 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 20–18–0 |
| 39 | W | December 26, 1972 | 5–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 21–18–0 |
| 40 | L | December 31, 1972 | 0–3 | New England Whalers (1972–73) | 21–19–0 |
| 41 | L | January 1, 1973 | 0–3 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 21–20–0 |
| 42 | W | January 4, 1973 | 9–4 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 22–20–0 |
| 43 | L | January 8, 1973 | 5–6 OT | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 22–21–0 |
| 44 | W | January 10, 1973 | 4–1 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 23–21–0 |
| 45 | L | January 11, 1973 | 1–4 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 23–22–0 |
| 46 | L | January 13, 1973 | 3–4 | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 23–23–0 |
| 47 | T | January 18, 1973 | 4–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 23–23–1 |
| 48 | L | January 22, 1973 | 2–3 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 23–24–1 |
| 49 | L | January 25, 1973 | 2–9 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 23–25–1 |
| 50 | W | January 26, 1973 | 5–4 OT | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 24–25–1 |
| 51 | L | January 28, 1973 | 2–9 | @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 24–26–1 |
| 52 | L | January 30, 1973 | 3–11 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 24–27–1 |
| 53 | L | February 1, 1973 | 5–8 | @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 24–28–1 |
| 54 | L | February 3, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 24–29–1 |
| 55 | W | February 4, 1973 | 5–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 25–29–1 |
| 56 | L | February 6, 1973 | 4–5 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 25–30–1 |
| 57 | W | February 8, 1973 | 3–2 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 26–30–1 |
| 58 | L | February 10, 1973 | 4–8 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 26–31–1 |
| 59 | W | February 11, 1973 | 3–2 | Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 27–31–1 |
| 60 | L | February 12, 1973 | 2–8 | @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 27–32–1 |
| 61 | L | February 16, 1973 | 2–9 | @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 27–33–1 |
| 62 | W | February 21, 1973 | 5–4 | Alberta Oilers (1972–73) | 28–33–1 |
| 63 | W | February 25, 1973 | 9–5 | Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 29–33–1 |
| 64 | L | March 1, 1973 | 1–2 | @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) | 29–34–1 |
| 65 | L | March 3, 1973 | 3–4 | Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) | 29–35–1 |
| 66 | L | March 4, 1973 | 2–4 | Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) | 29–36–1 |
| 67 | T | March 5, 1973 | 4–4 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 29–36–2 |
| 68 | W | March 10, 1973 | 3–2 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 30–36–2 |
| 69 | L | March 11, 1973 | 1–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) | 30–37–2 |
| 70 | W | March 12, 1973 | 8–7 | Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 31–37–2 |
| 71 | W | March 14, 1973 | 5–1 | Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 32–37–2 |
| 72 | L | March 15, 1973 | 2–6 | Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) | 32–38–2 |
| 73 | L | March 17, 1973 | 3–6 | @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) | 32–39–2 |
| 74 | W | March 18, 1973 | 3–2 OT | @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 33–39–2 |
| 75 | L | March 25, 1973 | 4–8 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) | 33–40–2 |
| 76 | L | March 27, 1973 | 3–4 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) | 33–41–2 |
| 77 | L | March 29, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) | 33–42–2 |
| 78 | L | March 30, 1973 | 4–5 OT | @ New England Whalers (1972–73) | 33–43–2 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Ron Ward | C | 77 | 51 | 67 | 118 | 28 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 5 |
| Bobby Sheehan | C | 75 | 35 | 53 | 88 | 17 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 5 |
| Wayne Rivers | RW | 75 | 37 | 40 | 77 | 47 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Gene Peacosh | LW | 67 | 37 | 34 | 71 | 25 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 3 |
| Norm Ferguson | RW | 56 | 28 | 40 | 68 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 5 |
| Ken Block | D | 78 | 5 | 53 | 58 | 43 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Brian Bradley | LW | 78 | 22 | 33 | 55 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Mike Laughton | C | 67 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 44 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Perry | C | 74 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Craig Reichmuth | LW | 73 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 127 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Speer | D | 69 | 3 | 23 | 26 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hal Willis | D | 74 | 3 | 21 | 24 | 159 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Jones | LW | 56 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kent Douglas | D | 60 | 3 | 15 | 18 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wally Olds | D | 61 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Winograd | D | 52 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jamie Kennedy | RW/C | 54 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Garry Peters | C | 23 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Morenz | C | 30 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 23 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Claude Chartre | C | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Alton White | RW | 13 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ted Scharf | RW | 29 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Brown | D | 17 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean Gauthier | D | 31 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jarda Krupicka | RW | 30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete Donnelly | G | 47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Kurt | G | 36 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blaine Rydman | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ian Wilkie | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Pete Donnelly | 2606 | 47 | 22 | 19 | 2 | 155 | 3.57 | 2 |
| Gary Kurt | 1881 | 36 | 10 | 21 | 0 | 150 | 4.78 | 0 |
| Ian Wilkie | 253 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 27 | 6.40 | 0 |
| Team: | 4740 | 78 | 33 | 43 | 2 | 332 | 4.20 | 2 |
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;

## Farm Team

Long Island Ducks, Eastern Hockey League