# 1976–77 Phoenix Roadrunners season

The 1976–77 Phoenix Roadrunners season was the third and final season of the Phoenix Roadrunners in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Roadrunners finished sixth in the Western Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Western Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| Houston Aeros | 80 | 50 | 24 | 6 | 320 | 241 | 106 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 46 | 32 | 2 | 366 | 291 | 94 |
| San Diego Mariners | 81 | 40 | 37 | 4 | 284 | 283 | 85 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 81 | 34 | 43 | 4 | 243 | 304 | 72 |
| Calgary Cowboys | 81 | 31 | 43 | 7 | 252 | 296 | 69 |
| Phoenix Roadrunners | 80 | 28 | 48 | 4 | 281 | 383 | 60 |

### Game log

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

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Robbie Ftorek | C/LW | 80 | 46 | 71 | 117 | 86 | 26 | 11 | 0 | 5 |
| Del Hall | C | 80 | 38 | 41 | 79 | 30 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Seppo Repo | C | 80 | 29 | 31 | 60 | 10 | −35 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Huston | C | 80 | 20 | 39 | 59 | 10 | −57 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Frank Hughes | LW | 48 | 24 | 29 | 53 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Lauri Mononen | RW | 67 | 21 | 29 | 50 | 10 | −20 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Liddington | LW | 80 | 20 | 24 | 44 | 28 | −22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Juhani Tamminen | RW | 65 | 10 | 29 | 39 | 22 | −23 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Hobin | C | 68 | 17 | 18 | 35 | 14 | −43 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Pekka Rautakallio | D | 78 | 4 | 31 | 35 | 8 | −24 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Garry Lariviere | D | 61 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 48 | −19 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Serge Beaudoin | D | 77 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 136 | −11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Cormier | LW | 58 | 13 | 16 | 29 | 22 | −26 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Gray | RW | 28 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 59 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Niekamp | D | 79 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 91 | −32 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jerry Rollins | D | 63 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 169 | −25 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Hinse | LW | 16 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 4 | −7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Duane Bray | D | 46 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 62 | −41 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al McLeod | D | 29 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 35 | −10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan Popiel | LW | 28 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −24 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Sleep | RW | 13 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Howie Young | D/RW | 26 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 23 | −8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Kurt | G | 33 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Blair Davidson | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Gorman | RW | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Clay Hebenton | G | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Clay Hebenton | 3129 | 56 | 17 | 29 | 3 | 220 | 4.22 | 0 |
| Gary Kurt | 1752 | 33 | 11 | 19 | 1 | 162 | 5.55 | 0 |
| Team: | 4881 | 80 | 28 | 48 | 4 | 382 | 4.70 | 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

Phoenix's draft picks at the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 4 | 42 | Kari Makkonen (F) | Finland | Assat Pori (Liiga) |
| 5 | 54 | Juhani Wallenius (F) | Finland | Lukko Rauma (Liiga) |
| 6 | 66 | Doug Patey (F) | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) |
| 7 | 78 | Mark Davidson (LW) | Canada | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 8 | 90 | Jari Laiho (F) | Finland | Lukko Rauma (Liiga) |
| 9 | 101 | Jouni Rinne (F) | Finland | Lukko Rauma (Liiga) |
| 10 | 112 | Hannu Helander (D) | Finland | Ilves (Liiga) |