1976–77 New England Whalers season

The 1976–77 New England Whalers season was the 5th season of the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Whalers finished 4th in the Eastern Division and lost in the Quarter-finals to the Quebec Nordiques 4 games to 1.
==Off-season==
The Whalers jerseys were the same design as in the 1974-75 season.
==Regular Season==
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	L 	October 8, 1976 	0–2 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	0–1–0
2 	L 	October 10, 1976 	2–5 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 	0–2–0
3 	L 	October 16, 1976 	2–8 	Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	0–3–0
4 	T 	October 19, 1976 	4–4 	@ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	0–3–1
5 	W 	October 22, 1976 	5–2 	Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	1–3–1
6 	W 	October 23, 1976 	5–4 	Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	2–3–1
7 	L 	October 26, 1976 	0–1 	Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	2–4–1
8 	W 	October 29, 1976 	5–1 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	3–4–1
9 	W 	October 30, 1976 	5–4 	Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	4–4–1
10 	W 	November 5, 1976 	4–3 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	5–4–1
11 	L 	November 7, 1976 	2–4 	@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	5–5–1
12 	L 	November 9, 1976 	4–5 OT 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 	5–6–1
13 	T 	November 11, 1976 	3–3 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77)	5–6–2
14 	L 	November 12, 1976 	1–3 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	5–7–2
15 	W 	November 16, 1976 	5–4 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	6–7–2
16 	W 	November 17, 1976 	6–4 	Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	7–7–2
17 	L 	November 19, 1976 	3–7 	Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 	7–8–2
18 	T 	November 20, 1976 	3–3 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 	7–8–3
19 	L 	November 23, 1976 	3–4 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	7–9–3
20 	W 	November 25, 1976 	5–3 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	8–9–3
21 	L 	November 27, 1976 	1–3 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 	8–10–3
22 	L 	November 28, 1976 	3–4 	Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	8–11–3
23 	L 	November 30, 1976 	1–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	8–12–3
24 	W 	December 1, 1976 	8–4 	Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	9–12–3
25 	T 	December 3, 1976 	5–5 	Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	9–12–4
26 	L 	December 4, 1976 	2–6 	Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 	9–13–4
27 	L 	December 7, 1976 	2–4 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77)	9–14–4
28 	W 	December 8, 1976 	5–1 	Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	10–14–4
29 	W 	December 11, 1976 	3–2 	San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	11–14–4
30 	L 	December 12, 1976 	1–5 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	11–15–4
31 	W 	December 14, 1976 	3–1 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	12–15–4
32 	L 	December 17, 1976 	4–5 OT 	Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	12–16–4
33 	W 	December 18, 1976 	6–2 	Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	13–16–4
34 	L 	December 21, 1976 	0–4 	@ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	13–17–4
35 	W 	December 23, 1976 	5–3 	@ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	14–17–4
36 	W 	December 26, 1976 	3–2 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77) 	15–17–4
37 	L 	December 28, 1976 	4–5 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77)	15–18–4
38 	W 	December 30, 1976 	6–4 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	16–18–4
39 	W 	January 2, 1977 	3–2 	Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	17–18–4
40 	L 	January 4, 1977 	3–5 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	17–19–4
41 	L 	January 5, 1977 	1–2 	San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	17–20–4
42 	L 	January 7, 1977 	3–7 	Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	17–21–4
43 	L 	January 8, 1977 	3–4 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	17–22–4
44 	L 	January 11, 1977 	2–8 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	17–23–4
45 	L 	January 13, 1977 	1–4 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	17–24–4
46 	L 	January 14, 1977 	3–5 	Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	17–25–4
47 	L 	January 20, 1977 	4–5 	Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	17–26–4
48 	T 	January 22, 1977 	3–3 	Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	17–26–5
49 	W 	January 23, 1977 	4–3 OT 	Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	18–26–5
50 	L 	January 25, 1977 	2–4 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	18–27–5
51 	W 	January 27, 1977 	5–3 	@ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	19–27–5
52 	W 	January 28, 1977 	6–2 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	20–27–5
53 	L 	January 30, 1977 	0–5 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	20–28–5
54 	L 	February 1, 1977 	3–4 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	20–29–5
55 	L 	February 4, 1977 	1–4 	@ Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	20–30–5
56 	L 	February 5, 1977 	3–8 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	20–31–5
57 	T 	February 6, 1977 	5–5 	Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	20–31–6
58 	W 	February 10, 1977 	6–3 	Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 	21–31–6
59 	L 	February 12, 1977 	1–5 	Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	21–32–6
60 	W 	February 13, 1977 	5–4 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77) 	22–32–6
61 	W 	February 17, 1977 	4–2 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	23–32–6
62 	L 	February 18, 1977 	2–3 	Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	23–33–6
63 	W 	February 20, 1977 	5–0 	@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	24–33–6
64 	L 	February 22, 1977 	3–4 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	24–34–6
65 	W 	February 25, 1977 	3–2 	@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	25–34–6
66 	W 	February 27, 1977 	3–2 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77) 	26–34–6
67 	W 	March 2, 1977 	2–0 	San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	27–34–6
68 	W 	March 4, 1977 	3–2 	Houston Aeros (1976–77) 	28–34–6
69 	W 	March 6, 1977 	6–2 	Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	29–34–6
70 	L 	March 9, 1977 	3–4 OT 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	29–35–6
71 	L 	March 11, 1977 	3–6 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77) 	29–36–6
72 	L 	March 13, 1977 	3–5 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	29–37–6
73 	W 	March 18, 1977 	3–1 	Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	30–37–6
74 	W 	March 20, 1977 	9–0 	Calgary Cowboys (1976–77) 	31–37–6
75 	L 	March 24, 1977 	4–5 	Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	31–38–6
76 	L 	March 26, 1977 	2–4 	Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	31–39–6
77 	W 	March 27, 1977 	5–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1976–77) 	32–39–6
78 	W 	March 29, 1977 	5–4 	@ San Diego Mariners (1976–77) 	33–39–6
79 	W 	March 31, 1977 	6–2 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77) 	34–39–6
80 	W 	April 2, 1977 	3–2 OT 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77) 	35–39–6
81 	L 	April 5, 1977 	2–7 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77) 	35–40–6
==Playoffs==
The Nordiques defeated the Whalers 4–1 and would go on to win the league championship.
===Quebec Nordiques 4, New England Whalers 1===
Game	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	Series
1 	April 9 	New England Whalers	2–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	0–1
2 	April 12	New England Whalers	3–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	0–2
3 	April 14	Quebec Nordiques 	4 – 3 OT	New England Whalers	0–3
4 	April 16	Quebec Nordiques 	4–6 	New England Whalers	1–3
5 	April 19	New England Whalers	0–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–4
==Player Stats==
===Skaters===
Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties In Minutes
# 	Player 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
# 	Player 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts 	PIM
8 	Tom Webster 	70 	36 	49 	85 	43 	5 	1 	1 	2 	0
17	Mike Rogers 	78 	25 	57 	82 	10 	5 	1 	1 	2 	2
16	George Lyle 	75 	39 	33 	72 	62 	5 	1 	0 	1 	4
9 	Ralph Backstrom 	77 	17 	31 	48 	30 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0
7 	Gordie Roberts 	77 	13 	33 	46 	169 	5 	2 	2 	4 	2
15	Dave Keon 	34 	14 	25 	39 	8 	5 	3 	1 	4 	0
4 	Larry Pleau 	78 	11 	21 	32 	22 	5 	1 	0 	1 	0
19	John McKenzie 	34 	11 	19 	30 	25 	5 	2 	1 	3 	8
6 	Thommy Abrahamsson 	64 	6 	24 	30 	33 	5 	0 	3 	3 	0
27	Tommy Earl 	54 	9 	14 	23 	37 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
2 	Rick Ley 	55 	2 	21 	23 	102 	5 	0 	4 	4 	4
10	Alan Hangsleben 	74 	13 	9 	22 	79 	4 	0 	0 	0 	9
19	Danny Arndt 	46 	8 	14 	22 	11 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
12	Mike Antonovich 	26 	12 	9 	21 	10 	5 	2 	2 	4 	4
14	Doug Roberts 	64 	3 	18 	21 	22 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
12	Gary MacGregor 	30 	8 	8 	16 	4 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
22	Brett Callighen 	33 	6 	10 	16 	41 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
3 	Brad Selwood 	41 	4 	12 	16 	71 	5 	0 	0 	0 	2
26	Steve Carlson 	31 	4 	9 	13 	40 	5 	0 	0 	0 	9
23	Jack Carlson 	35 	7 	5 	12 	81 	5 	1 	1 	2 	9
21	Dan Bolduc 	33 	8 	3 	11 	15 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
5 	Ron Busniuk 	55 	1 	9 	10 	141 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
11	Dave Hynes 	22 	5 	4 	9 	4 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
22	Bill Butters 	26 	1 	8 	9 	65 	5 	0 	1 	1 	15
12	Rosaire Paiement 	13 	5 	2 	7 	12 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
20	Gary Swain 	26 	5 	2 	7 	6 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
24	Dale Smedsmo 	15 	2 	0 	2 	54 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1 	Christer Abrahamsson	45 	0 	1 	1 	2 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
24	Dave Hanson 	1 	0 	0 	0 	9 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	Ron Climie 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
25	Jim Troy 	7 	0 	0 	0 	7 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
35	Cap Raeder 	23 	0 	0 	0 	4 	3 	0 	1 	1 	0
30	Bruce Landon 	26 	0 	0 	0 	2 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
Statistics for all players reflect only games played with the Whalers.
===Goaltenders===
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T	GA 	GAA 	SO
 	1328	26	12	10	1	69 	3.12	2
 	1118	23	8 	8 	1	59 	3.17	1
 	2484	45	15	22	4	159	3.84	0
==Awards and Records==
*Lou Kaplan Trophy (Rookie of the Year): George Lyle
*Paul Deneau Trophy (Most Gentlemenly): Dave Keon
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
New England's draft picks at the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/Junior/Club Team (League)
2 	13 	Mike Fidler (LW) 	 	Boston University Terriers (ECAC)
3 	26 	Fred Williams (C) 	 	Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)
3 	31 	Dave Debol (C) 	 	Michigan Wolverines (WCHA)
4 	38 	Mike Kaszycki (F) 	 	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)
5 	49 	Bill Baker (D) 	 	Minnesota Golden Gophers (WCHA)
5 	50 	Mike Liut (G) 	 	Bowling Green Falcons (CCHA)
6 	62 	Dwight Schofield (D)	 	London Knights (OHA)
7 	74 	Warren Young (F) 	 	Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA)
8 	86 	Ken Morrow (D) 	 	Bowling Green Falcons (CCHA)
9 	97 	Ed Clarey (F) 	 	Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)
10 	108	Jon Hammond (LW) 	 	Regina Pats (WCHL)
==Farm Teams==
*Rhode Island Reds, NAHL
==See Also==
*1976–77 WHA season
==References==
* 
New England Whalers season, 1976–77
New England Whalers season, 1976–77
category:Hartford Whalers seasons
category:New England Whalers seasons