# 1976–77 Calgary Cowboys season

The 1976–77 Calgary Cowboys season was the Calgary Cowboys' fifth and final season of operation in the World Hockey Association, and their second season in Calgary. The Cowboys failed to make the playoffs and folded after the season.

## 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 | L | October 8, 1976 | 1–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 9, 1976 | 2–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | L | October 12, 1976 | 2–6 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 0–3–0 |
| 4 | L | October 13, 1976 | 1–2 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 0–4–0 |
| 5 | L | October 16, 1976 | 2–4 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 0–5–0 |
| 6 | L | October 21, 1976 | 2–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 0–6–0 |
| 7 | T | October 22, 1976 | 2–2 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 0–6–1 |
| 8 | W | October 24, 1976 | 6–0 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 1–6–1 |
| 9 | W | October 26, 1976 | 9–3 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 2–6–1 |
| 10 | W | October 30, 1976 | 6–4 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 3–6–1 |
| 11 | W | November 2, 1976 | 4–3 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 4–6–1 |
| 12 | W | November 4, 1976 | 4–2 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 5–6–1 |
| 13 | W | November 7, 1976 | 4–2 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 6–6–1 |
| 14 | W | November 11, 1976 | 7–5 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 7–6–1 |
| 15 | L | November 14, 1976 | 0–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 7–7–1 |
| 16 | L | November 16, 1976 | 2–4 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 7–8–1 |
| 17 | W | November 18, 1976 | 2–1 OT | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 8–8–1 |
| 18 | W | November 19, 1976 | 4–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 9–8–1 |
| 19 | L | November 21, 1976 | 1–5 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 9–9–1 |
| 20 | L | November 23, 1976 | 1–3 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 9–10–1 |
| 21 | T | November 24, 1976 | 3–3 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 9–10–2 |
| 22 | L | November 27, 1976 | 0–2 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 9–11–2 |
| 23 | L | December 1, 1976 | 4–8 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 9–12–2 |
| 24 | L | December 2, 1976 | 1–2 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 9–13–2 |
| 25 | L | December 3, 1976 | 4–6 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 9–14–2 |
| 26 | W | December 5, 1976 | 6–0 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 10–14–2 |
| 27 | L | December 8, 1976 | 2–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 10–15–2 |
| 28 | L | December 10, 1976 | 2–4 | @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 10–16–2 |
| 29 | W | December 11, 1976 | 3–0 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 11–16–2 |
| 30 | W | December 18, 1976 | 4–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 12–16–2 |
| 31 | L | December 21, 1976 | 1–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 12–17–2 |
| 32 | W | December 23, 1976 | 2–1 | Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) | 13–17–2 |
| 33 | W | December 26, 1976 | 6–3 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 14–17–2 |
| 34 | W | January 1, 1977 | 5–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 15–17–2 |
| 35 | L | January 5, 1977 | 3–4 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 15–18–2 |
| 36 | L | January 7, 1977 | 1–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 15–19–2 |
| 37 | W | January 8, 1977 | 4–3 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 16–19–2 |
| 38 | L | January 11, 1977 | 3–4 OT | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 16–20–2 |
| 39 | L | January 14, 1977 | 3–5 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 16–21–2 |
| 40 | W | January 15, 1977 | 5–3 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 17–21–2 |
| 41 | W | January 16, 1977 | 5–4 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 18–21–2 |
| 42 | T | January 21, 1977 | 1–1 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 18–21–3 |
| 43 | L | January 22, 1977 | 3–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 18–22–3 |
| 44 | L | January 23, 1977 | 5–10 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 18–23–3 |
| 45 | W | January 25, 1977 | 7–3 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 19–23–3 |
| 46 | L | January 29, 1977 | 4–6 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 19–24–3 |
| 47 | T | January 30, 1977 | 1–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 19–24–4 |
| 48 | L | February 1, 1977 | 1–6 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 19–25–4 |
| 49 | L | February 2, 1977 | 4–6 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 19–26–4 |
| 50 | W | February 5, 1977 | 4–1 | @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 20–26–4 |
| 51 | L | February 6, 1977 | 4–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 20–27–4 |
| 52 | W | February 11, 1977 | 3–1 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 21–27–4 |
| 53 | L | February 13, 1977 | 2–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 21–28–4 |
| 54 | T | February 15, 1977 | 2–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 21–28–5 |
| 55 | L | February 16, 1977 | 3–7 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 21–29–5 |
| 56 | W | February 18, 1977 | 5–3 | Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 22–29–5 |
| 57 | L | February 20, 1977 | 0–5 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 22–30–5 |
| 58 | W | February 23, 1977 | 3–2 | Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 23–30–5 |
| 59 | L | February 25, 1977 | 2–3 | New England Whalers (1976–77) | 23–31–5 |
| 60 | W | February 27, 1977 | 2–1 | Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 24–31–5 |
| 61 | W | March 1, 1977 | 6–1 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 25–31–5 |
| 62 | W | March 3, 1977 | 4–2 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 26–31–5 |
| 63 | W | March 6, 1977 | 4–2 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 27–31–5 |
| 64 | W | March 9, 1977 | 4–3 | San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 28–31–5 |
| 65 | L | March 11, 1977 | 1–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 28–32–5 |
| 66 | L | March 12, 1977 | 2–9 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 28–33–5 |
| 67 | L | March 15, 1977 | 1–3 | @ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) | 28–34–5 |
| 68 | L | March 16, 1977 | 3–4 | @ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) | 28–35–5 |
| 69 | L | March 18, 1977 | 1–3 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 28–36–5 |
| 70 | L | March 19, 1977 | 0–8 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) | 28–37–5 |
| 71 | L | March 20, 1977 | 0–9 | @ New England Whalers (1976–77) | 28–38–5 |
| 72 | L | March 22, 1977 | 4–7 | @ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 28–39–5 |
| 73 | L | March 25, 1977 | 2–4 | @ Houston Aeros (1976–77) | 28–40–5 |
| 74 | L | March 26, 1977 | 2–4 | @ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) | 28–41–5 |
| 75 | W | March 27, 1977 | 5–4 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 29–41–5 |
| 76 | W | March 29, 1977 | 9–5 | Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) | 30–41–5 |
| 77 | W | April 1, 1977 | 3–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 31–41–5 |
| 78 | T | April 2, 1977 | 4–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) | 31–41–6 |
| 79 | L | April 3, 1977 | 4–6 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 31–42–6 |
| 80 | T | April 5, 1977 | 4–4 | Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) | 31–42–7 |
| 81 | L | April 7, 1977 | 4–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) | 31–43–7 |

## Player stats

Regular season :
Scoring :
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Lynn Powis | C | 63 | 30 | 30 | 60 | 40 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Warren Miller | RW | 80 | 23 | 32 | 55 | 51 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Chipperfield | C | 81 | 27 | 27 | 54 | 32 | −10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Driscoll | LW | 76 | 23 | 29 | 52 | 120 | −8 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny Lawson | RW | 64 | 24 | 19 | 43 | 26 | −13 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Chris Evans | D | 81 | 7 | 27 | 34 | 60 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Kryskow | LW | 45 | 16 | 17 | 33 | 47 | −14 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Paul Terbenche | D | 80 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 30 | −14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Don Tannahill | LW | 72 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 4 | −9 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Butch Deadmarsh | LW | 38 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 77 | −5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| George Morrison | LW | 63 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 10 | −10 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| John Miszuk | D | 79 | 2 | 26 | 28 | 57 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Ford | D | 54 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 14 | −8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dick Sentes | LW | 29 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 8 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rich Lemieux | C | 33 | 6 | 11 | 17 | 9 | −4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| John Arbour | D | 37 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 38 | −26 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Connelly | C | 25 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | −2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Ward | C | 9 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Jodzio | LW | 46 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 61 | −13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Veli-Pekka Ketola | C | 17 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 2 | −17 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Don McLeod | G | 67 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jacques Locas | C | 22 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | −5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Micheletti | D | 14 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 10 | −5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Hurley | D | 34 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 32 | −8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Mayer | RW | 21 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 | −9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Serviss | C | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andre Deschamps | LW | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 19 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Claude St. Sauveur | C | 17 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wayne Morrin | D | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 25 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| George Pesut | D | 17 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce Greig | LW | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Boyd | C | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | −7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Hull | RW | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Walsh | C | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | −3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny Gruen | LW | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bernie Lukowich | RW | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Baird | D | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Bromley | G | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Israelson | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ric Jordan | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | −9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Doug Lindskog | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | −1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltending :
| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Don McLeod | 3701 | 67 | 25 | 34 | 5 | 210 | 3.40 | 3 |
| Gary Bromley | 1237 | 28 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 79 | 3.83 | 0 |
| Team: | 4938 | 81 | 31 | 43 | 7 | 289 | 3.51 | 3 |
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 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 18 | David Shand (D) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 4 | 43 | Alain Belanger (RW) | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 55 | Bruce Baker (RW) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 6 | 67 | Lorry Gloeckner (D) | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 7 | 79 | Phil Verchota (F) | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 8 | 91 | Don Jackson (D) | United States | University of Notre Dame (WCHA) |
| 9 | 102 | Rob Palmer (D) | Canada | University of Michigan (WCHA) |
| 10 | 113 | Cal Sandbeck (D) | United States | University of Denver (WCHA) |