# 1976–77 Indianapolis Racers season

The 1976–77 Indianapolis Racers season was the Racers' third season of operation in the World Hockey Association.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Eastern Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| Quebec Nordiques | 81 | 47 | 31 | 3 | 353 | 295 | 97 |
| Cincinnati Stingers | 81 | 39 | 37 | 5 | 354 | 303 | 83 |
| Indianapolis Racers | 81 | 36 | 37 | 8 | 276 | 305 | 80 |
| New England Whalers | 81 | 35 | 40 | 6 | 275 | 290 | 76 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 81 | 31 | 46 | 4 | 289 | 309 | 66 |
| Minnesota Fighting Saints | 42 | 19 | 18 | 5 | 136 | 129 | 43 |

### Game log

Regular season schedule :
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 8, 1976 | 4–3 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 10, 1976 | 1–4 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | W | October 15, 1976 | 6–5 OT | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | L | October 17, 1976 | 2–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 19, 1976 | 1–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | T | October 21, 1976 | 4–4 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 2–3–1 |
| 7 | L | October 23, 1976 | 1–3 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 2–4–1 |
| 8 | L | October 27, 1976 | 1–5 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 2–5–1 |
| 9 | W | October 29, 1976 | 6–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 3–5–1 |
| 10 | L | November 3, 1976 | 2–8 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 3–6–1 |
| 11 | W | November 4, 1976 | 5–2 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 4–6–1 |
| 12 | L | November 7, 1976 | 0–3 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 4–7–1 |
| 13 | L | November 9, 1976 | 2–7 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 4–8–1 |
| 14 | T | November 10, 1976 | 3–3 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 4–8–2 |
| 15 | L | November 13, 1976 | 3–7 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 4–9–2 |
| 16 | W | November 14, 1976 | 3–1 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 5–9–2 |
| 17 | W | November 16, 1976 | 5–3 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 6–9–2 |
| 18 | W | November 19, 1976 | 4–0 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 7–9–2 |
| 19 | W | November 20, 1976 | 8–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 8–9–2 |
| 20 | W | November 23, 1976 | 4–3 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 9–9–2 |
| 21 | W | November 24, 1976 | 6–4 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 10–9–2 |
| 22 | L | November 25, 1976 | 0–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 10–10–2 |
| 23 | W | November 27, 1976 | 8–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 11–10–2 |
| 24 | W | November 28, 1976 | 4–3 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 12–10–2 |
| 25 | W | December 2, 1976 | 2–1 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 13–10–2 |
| 26 | W | December 4, 1976 | 5–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 14–10–2 |
| 27 | W | December 7, 1976 | 3–2 OT | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 15–10–2 |
| 28 | W | December 10, 1976 | 3–2 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 16–10–2 |
| 29 | L | December 12, 1976 | 1–3 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 16–11–2 |
| 30 | L | December 16, 1976 | 3–5 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 16–12–2 |
| 31 | W | December 17, 1976 | 5–4 OT | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 17–12–2 |
| 32 | W | December 19, 1976 | 3–2 OT | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 18–12–2 |
| 33 | L | December 26, 1976 | 1–2 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 18–13–2 |
| 34 | L | December 28, 1976 | 3–4 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 18–14–2 |
| 35 | W | January 2, 1977 | 4–1 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 19–14–2 |
| 36 | L | January 4, 1977 | 1–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 19–15–2 |
| 37 | L | January 8, 1977 | 3–4 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 19–16–2 |
| 38 | L | January 9, 1977 | 3–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 19–17–2 |
| 39 | W | January 11, 1977 | 4–3 OT | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 20–17–2 |
| 40 | W | January 13, 1977 | 4–1 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 21–17–2 |
| 41 | L | January 14, 1977 | 5–9 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 21–18–2 |
| 42 | W | January 15, 1977 | 6–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 22–18–2 |
| 43 | T | January 21, 1977 | 1–1 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 22–18–3 |
| 44 | T | January 22, 1977 | 3–3 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 22–18–4 |
| 45 | L | January 23, 1977 | 2–6 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 22–19–4 |
| 46 | L | January 25, 1977 | 1–2 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 22–20–4 |
| 47 | L | January 28, 1977 | 5–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 22–21–4 |
| 48 | W | January 30, 1977 | 5–0 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 23–21–4 |
| 49 | L | February 1, 1977 | 4–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 23–22–4 |
| 50 | W | February 2, 1977 | 6–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 24–22–4 |
| 51 | W | February 5, 1977 | 5–2 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 25–22–4 |
| 52 | T | February 6, 1977 | 5–5 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 25–22–5 |
| 53 | T | February 8, 1977 | 4–4 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 25–22–6 |
| 54 | L | February 9, 1977 | 0–9 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 25–23–6 |
| 55 | L | February 11, 1977 | 1–5 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 25–24–6 |
| 56 | W | February 12, 1977 | 5–1 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 26–24–6 |
| 57 | L | February 13, 1977 | 5–7 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 26–25–6 |
| 58 | L | February 17, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 26–26–6 |
| 59 | L | February 19, 1977 | 5–6 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 26–27–6 |
| 60 | T | February 20, 1977 | 2–2 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 26–27–7 |
| 61 | L | February 22, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 26–28–7 |
| 62 | W | February 25, 1977 | 3–2 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 27–28–7 |
| 63 | L | February 27, 1977 | 1–2 | @ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 27–29–7 |
| 64 | W | March 4, 1977 | 7–4 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 28–29–7 |
| 65 | L | March 5, 1977 | 0–6 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 28–30–7 |
| 66 | W | March 6, 1977 | 3–2 OT | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 29–30–7 |
| 67 | L | March 10, 1977 | 3–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 29–31–7 |
| 68 | W | March 12, 1977 | 7–2 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 30–31–7 |
| 69 | L | March 13, 1977 | 0–5 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 30–32–7 |
| 70 | W | March 15, 1977 | 3–1 | Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) | 31–32–7 |
| 71 | W | March 17, 1977 | 5–2 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 32–32–7 |
| 72 | L | March 18, 1977 | 5–7 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 32–33–7 |
| 73 | L | March 20, 1977 | 3–8 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 32–34–7 |
| 74 | W | March 22, 1977 | 3–1 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 33–34–7 |
| 75 | W | March 24, 1977 | 4–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 34–34–7 |
| 76 | W | March 26, 1977 | 4–2 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 35–34–7 |
| 77 | L | March 27, 1977 | 3–7 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 35–35–7 |
| 78 | T | March 30, 1977 | 5–5 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 35–35–8 |
| 79 | L | April 2, 1977 | 2–3 OT | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 35–36–8 |
| 80 | W | April 3, 1977 | 7–3 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 36–36–8 |
| 81 | L | April 6, 1977 | 3–7 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 36–37–8 |

## Playoffs
### Indianapolis Racers 4, Cincinnati Stingers 0 – Division Quarterfinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 9 | Indianapolis Racers | 4–3 | Cincinnati Stingers | 1–0 |
| 2 | April 12 | Indianapolis Racers | 7–2 | Cincinnati Stingers | 2–0 |
| 3 | April 14 | Cincinnati Stingers | 3–5 | Indianapolis Racers | 3–0 |
| 4 | April 16 | Cincinnati Stingers | 1–3 | Indianapolis Racers | 4–0 |

### Quebec Nordiques 4, Indianapolis Racers 1 – Division Semifinals

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 23 | Indianapolis Racers | 1–3 | Quebec Nordiques | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 25 | Indianapolis Racers | 3–8 | Quebec Nordiques | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 28 | Quebec Nordiques | 6–5 | Indianapolis Racers | 0–3 |
| 4 | April 30 | Quebec Nordiques | 0–2 | Indianapolis Racers | 1–3 |
| 5 | May 2 | Indianapolis Racers | 3–8 | Quebec Nordiques | 1–4 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Daryl Maggs | D | 81 | 16 | 55 | 71 | 114 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| Blair MacDonald | RW | 81 | 34 | 30 | 64 | 28 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| Hugh Harris | C | 46 | 21 | 35 | 56 | 21 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Rene Leclerc | RW | 68 | 25 | 30 | 55 | 43 | −7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Reg Thomas | LW | 79 | 25 | 30 | 55 | 34 | −9 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Parizeau | C | 75 | 18 | 37 | 55 | 39 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Stapleton | D | 81 | 8 | 45 | 53 | 29 | −28 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Gene Peacosh | LW | 64 | 22 | 26 | 48 | 21 | −1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Karlander | C | 65 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 23 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Rosaire Paiement | C | 67 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 91 | −3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Sicinski | C | 60 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 14 | −8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian McDonald | C | 50 | 15 | 13 | 28 | 48 | −20 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Frank Rochon | LW | 57 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 8 | −13 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Lomenda | RW | 56 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 14 | −11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Inkpen | D | 32 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryon Baltimore | D | 55 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 63 | −22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dick Proceviat | D | 55 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 33 | −7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Block | D | 52 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 25 | −12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kim Clackson | D | 71 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 168 | −9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Zuke | C | 15 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Coates | LW | 16 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryan Campbell | C | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | −8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary MacGregor | C | 16 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | −11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Harbaruk | RW | 27 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | −16 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Mavety | D | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Randy Burchell | G | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Park | G | 31 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andy Brown | G | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Dion | G | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Hoganson | G | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Michel Dion | 2286 | 42 | 17 | 19 | 3 | 128 | 3.36 | 1 |
| Jim Park | 1727 | 31 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 114 | 3.96 | 1 |
| Paul Hoganson | 395 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 3.65 | 0 |
| Andy Brown | 430 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 3.63 | 0 |
| Randy Burchell | 136 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3.53 | 0 |
| Team: | 4974 | 81 | 36 | 37 | 8 | 300 | 3.62 | 2 |
Playoffs :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Reg Thomas | LW | 9 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blair MacDonald | RW | 9 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Parizeau | C | 8 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Pat Stapleton | D | 9 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian McDonald | C | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Gene Peacosh | LW | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Daryl Maggs | D | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rosaire Paiement | C | 9 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Lomenda | RW | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Karlander | C | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Sicinski | C | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Harbaruk | RW | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rene Leclerc | RW | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ken Block | D | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Inkpen | D | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kim Clackson | D | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Hoganson | G | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Rochon | LW | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bryon Baltimore | D | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Dion | G | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hugh Harris | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Paul Hoganson | 348 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 2.93 | 1 |
| Michel Dion | 245 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 4.16 | 0 |
| Team: | 593 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 34 | 3.44 | 1 |
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

Indianapolis's draft picks at the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 4 | Bobby Simpson (LW) | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 15 | Alex McKendry (F) | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHA) |
| 4 | 40 | Dave Dornseif (D) | United States | Providence College (ECAC) |
| 5 | 52 | Jean Gagnon (D) | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 64 | Joe Kowal (LW) | Canada | Hamilton Fincups (OHA) |
| 7 | 76 | Greg Malone (C) | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 8 | 88 | Jim Kirkpatrick (D) | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 9 | 99 | Rik Garcia (D) | Canada | Hull Festivals (QMJHL) |
| 10 | 110 | Remi Levesque (C) | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |