1973–74 Chicago Cougars season

The 1973–74 Chicago Cougars season was the Cougars' 2nd season in the WHA. The Cougars finished 4th in the East Division and lost in the Avco Cup Finals to the Houston Aeros 4 games to 0.
==Off-season==
The Cougars jersey was the same design as in the 1972-73 season except for the addition of outlining to the numbers.
==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 	T 	October 7, 1973 	4–4 	@ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 	0–0–1
2 	W 	October 11, 1973 	4–3 	@ New York Golden Blades (1973–74) 	1–0–1
3 	L 	October 13, 1973 	4–6 	@ New England Whalers (1973–74) 	1–1–1
4 	L 	October 14, 1973 	2–3 OT 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 	1–2–1
5 	W 	October 18, 1973 	7–2 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 	2–2–1
6 	L 	October 20, 1973 	3–4 	@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 	2–3–1
7 	L 	October 21, 1973 	1–4 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 	2–4–1
8 	W 	October 25, 1973 	4–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 	3–4–1
9 	W 	October 28, 1973 	3–2 	@ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 	4–4–1
10 	W 	October 30, 1973 	4–1 	Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 	5–4–1
11 	W 	November 3, 1973 	7–4 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 	6–4–1
12 	W 	November 6, 1973 	5–4 OT 	Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 	7–4–1
13 	W 	November 10, 1973 	3–2 	Toronto Toros (1973–74) 	8–4–1
14 	L 	November 13, 1973 	2–5 	Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 	8–5–1
15 	W 	November 15, 1973 	3–2 	Houston Aeros (1973–74) 	9–5–1
16 	W 	November 17, 1973 	5–2 	Toronto Toros (1973–74) 	10–5–1
17 	L 	November 18, 1973 	3–5 	@ New York Golden Blades (1973–74) 	10–6–1
18 	W 	November 22, 1973 	4–3 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 	11–6–1
19 	L 	November 24, 1973 	3–5 	@ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 	11–7–1
20 	L 	December 1, 1973 	4–5 OT 	Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 	11–8–1
21 	L 	December 2, 1973 	3–4 	@ New England Whalers (1973–74) 	11–9–1
22 	L 	December 4, 1973 	0–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 	11–10–1
23 	L 	December 8, 1973 	1–3 	New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 	11–11–1
24 	L 	December 9, 1973 	1–6 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 	11–12–1
25 	L 	December 11, 1973 	3–5 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 	11–13–1
26 	W 	December 15, 1973 	5–2 	Houston Aeros (1973–74) 	12–13–1
27 	W 	December 16, 1973 	3–2 	@ New England Whalers (1973–74) 	13–13–1
28 	T 	December 18, 1973 	3–3 	Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 	13–13–2
29 	L 	December 21, 1973 	1–5 	@ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74)	13–14–2
30 	W 	December 23, 1973 	6–5 	@ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 	14–14–2
31 	L 	December 26, 1973 	2–4 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 	14–15–2
32 	W 	December 28, 1973 	6–4 	Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 	15–15–2
33 	L 	December 29, 1973 	0–3 	@ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 	15–16–2
34 	W 	December 30, 1973 	5–3 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 	16–16–2
35 	W 	January 1, 1974 	5–4 	Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 	17–16–2
36 	L 	January 5, 1974 	5–6 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 	17–17–2
37 	L 	January 6, 1974 	0–4 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 	17–18–2
38 	T 	January 8, 1974 	0–0 	Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 	17–18–3
39 	L 	January 13, 1974 	1–3 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 	17–19–3
40 	W 	January 17, 1974 	5–2 	@ New England Whalers (1973–74) 	18–19–3
41 	W 	January 19, 1974 	5–2 	Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 	19–19–3
42 	W 	January 22, 1974 	5–3 	New England Whalers (1973–74) 	20–19–3
43 	L 	January 25, 1974 	2–6 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 	20–20–3
44 	W 	January 30, 1974 	4–2 	@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 	21–20–3
45 	L 	February 1, 1974 	2–3 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 	21–21–3
46 	L 	February 3, 1974 	2–4 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 	21–22–3
47 	W 	February 5, 1974 	3–1 	Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 	22–22–3
48 	L 	February 6, 1974 	2–7 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 	22–23–3
49 	W 	February 9, 1974 	5–2 	New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 	23–23–3
50 	W 	February 10, 1974 	4–2 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 	24–23–3
51 	W 	February 12, 1974 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 	25–23–3
52 	L 	February 14, 1974 	3–5 	Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 	25–24–3
53 	L 	February 16, 1974 	4–5 	Toronto Toros (1973–74) 	25–25–3
54 	L 	February 17, 1974 	5–6 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 	25–26–3
55 	L 	February 18, 1974 	3–4 	@ New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 	25–27–3
56 	W 	February 21, 1974 	5–4 	Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 	26–27–3
57 	L 	February 23, 1974 	0–3 	New England Whalers (1973–74) 	26–28–3
58 	L 	February 24, 1974 	1–3 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 	26–29–3
59 	W 	February 26, 1974 	4–2 	Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 	27–29–3
60 	L 	February 28, 1974 	4–9 	Houston Aeros (1973–74) 	27–30–3
61 	W 	March 1, 1974 	7–4 	Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 	28–30–3
62 	L 	March 3, 1974 	4–5 	Toronto Toros (1973–74) 	28–31–3
63 	L 	March 5, 1974 	2–3 	New England Whalers (1973–74) 	28–32–3
64 	W 	March 7, 1974 	3–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 	29–32–3
65 	W 	March 9, 1974 	5–4 OT 	Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 	30–32–3
66 	W 	March 12, 1974 	5–3 	New England Whalers (1973–74) 	31–32–3
67 	W 	March 14, 1974 	7–4 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 	32–32–3
68 	W 	March 16, 1974 	4–3 OT 	Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 	33–32–3
69 	W 	March 17, 1974 	4–2 	@ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 	34–32–3
70 	L 	March 19, 1974 	4–7 	Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 	34–33–3
71 	T 	March 21, 1974 	5–5 	Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 	34–33–4
72 	W 	March 23, 1974 	4–1 	New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 	35–33–4
73 	T 	March 24, 1974 	3–3 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 	35–33–5
74 	W 	March 26, 1974 	4–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 	36–33–5
75 	W 	March 29, 1974 	5–2 	@ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 	37–33–5
76 	L 	March 31, 1974 	1–4 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 	37–34–5
77 	W 	April 2, 1974 	7–3 	New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 	38–34–5
78 	L 	April 3, 1974 	1–3 	@ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 	38–35–5
==Playoffs==
The International Amphitheatre was unavailable for the second round because it had booked a production of Peter Pan, featuring former Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby in the title role. Though the team did negotiate for use of Chicago Stadium, the home of the rival Chicago Black Hawks of the NHL and the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls, it too was unavailable because both those teams were playing in their own playoffs. The team briefly considered playing the matches at the Cleveland Arena before deciding to go to stay in Illinois at a public skating rink, the Randhurst Ice Arena, adjacent to Mount Prospect's Randhurst Mall. Though the arena could only hold 2000 spectators, the team played its three home matches of the series in Randhurst.
===Chicago Cougars 4, New England Whalers 3===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	Record
1	April 6 	Chicago Cougars 	4 – 6 	New England Whalers	0–1
2	April 7 	Chicago Cougars 	3 – 4 OT	New England Whalers	0–2
3	April 9 	New England Whalers	6 – 8 	Chicago Cougars 	1–2
4	April 10	New England Whalers	1 – 2 OT	Chicago Cougars 	2–2
5	April 12	Chicago Cougars 	4 – 2 	New England Whalers	2–3
6	April 14	New England Whalers	2 – 0 	Chicago Cougars 	3–3
7	April 16	Chicago Cougars 	3 – 2 	New England Whalers	4–3
===Chicago Cougars 4, Toronto Toros 3===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 19	Chicago Cougars	4–6 	Toronto Toros 	1-0
2	April 22	Chicago Cougars	4–3 	Toronto Toros 	1-1
3	April 28	Toronto Toros 	2–3 	Chicago Cougars	1-2
4	April 30	Toronto Toros 	7–6 	Chicago Cougars	2-2
5	May 1 	Chicago Cougars	3–5 	Toronto Toros 	3-2
6	May 4 	Toronto Toros 	2–9 	Chicago Cougars	3-3
7	May 6 	Chicago Cougars	5–2 	Toronto Toros 	3-4
===Houston Aeros 4, Chicago Cougars 0===
When the Cougars won their series versus Toronto, the Peter Pan show had moved on, and the International Amphitheatre should have been available. However, the Amphitheatre had a portable ice surface. For reasons that were never stated, the Amphitheatre staff decided the hockey season was over so uncovered and dismantled the copper pipes used to chill the ice. The Cougars had no choice but to return to the Randhurst Ice Arena, a 2,000 seat public skating rink, for the Finals. The Cougars never quite recovered from the public relations disaster. One sports reporter had quipped, "The Cougars were beaten by the greatest lightweight of them all - Peter Pan."
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 12	Houston Aeros 	3–2 	Chicago Cougars	1–0
2	May 15	Houston Aeros 	6–1 	Chicago Cougars	2–0
3	May 17	Chicago Cougars	4–7 	Houston Aeros 	3–0
4	May 19	Chicago Cougars	2–6 	Houston Aeros 	4–0
==Player Stats==
Regular Season	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Scoring 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
# 	Player	Pos 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
14 	 	C 	78	33	50	83 	26 	0 	6 	2 	8
9 	 	C 	78	30	43	73 	87 	0 	7 	0 	3
25 	 	C 	77	24	35	59 	55 	0 	4 	0 	2
12 	 	D 	78	6 	52	58 	44 	0 	2 	1 	0
21 	 	D 	77	15	36	51 	157	0 	4 	0 	4
7 	 	LW 	73	26	21	47 	20 	0 	4 	1 	2
17 	 	C 	69	11	29	40 	8 	0 	1 	0 	1
19 	 	LW 	63	22	17	39 	36 	0 	6 	0 	4
16 	 	C 	52	16	19	35 	26 	0 	6 	1 	2
10 	 	LW 	76	17	16	33 	140	0 	1 	0 	2
20 	 	RW 	64	14	16	30 	20 	0 	3 	0 	1
4 	 	D 	78	8 	22	30 	148	0 	0 	0 	1
23 	 	LW 	69	12	11	23 	27 	0 	1 	0 	1
3 	 	D 	77	2 	20	22 	55 	0 	0 	0 	1
8 	 	C 	77	5 	13	18 	17 	0 	0 	1 	0
6 	 	D/LW	45	2 	12	14 	49 	0 	1 	0 	2
11 	 	LW 	50	10	3 	13 	14 	0 	0 	1 	1
22 	 	RW 	53	6 	7 	13 	19 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	 	RW 	23	5 	4 	9 	9 	0 	3 	0 	0
15 	 	RW 	29	2 	5 	7 	8 	0 	1 	0 	0
24 	 	LW 	15	3 	2 	5 	0 	0 	0 	0 	1
5 	 	D 	23	0 	5 	5 	22 	0 	0 	0 	0
2 	 	D 	43	1 	3 	4 	13 	0 	0 	0 	1
 	 	LW 	3 	1 	2 	3 	0 	0 	1 	0 	1
18 	 	RW 	4 	0 	1 	1 	11 	0 	0 	0 	0
6 	 	RW 	4 	0 	1 	1 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	 	C 	4 	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
30 	 	G 	45	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	 	LW 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	 	D 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
5 	 	D 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	 	D 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
5 	 	D 	3 	0 	0 	0 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
1 	 	G 	13	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
31 	 	G 	20	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Playoffs	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Scoring 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
# 	Player	Pos 	GP	G	A 	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
14 	 	C 	18	5	14	19 	4 	0 	0 	1
9 	 	C 	18	9	6 	15 	16 	0 	0 	2
17 	 	C 	18	6	8 	14 	0 	0 	0 	2
19 	 	LW 	18	8	5 	13 	12 	0 	0 	1
12 	 	D 	12	0	13	13 	36 	0 	0 	0
20 	 	RW 	18	6	6 	12 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	 	RW 	18	4	8 	12 	4 	0 	0 	0
25 	 	C 	17	4	8 	12 	13 	0 	0 	0
21 	 	D 	18	4	8 	12 	46 	0 	0 	1
7 	 	LW 	18	6	5 	11 	11 	0 	0 	0
4 	 	D 	18	3	5 	8 	71 	0 	0 	0
10 	 	LW 	18	4	3 	7 	42 	0 	0 	0
5 	 	D 	18	2	3 	5 	18 	0 	0 	0
22 	 	RW 	18	2	2 	4 	36 	0 	0 	0
6 	 	D/LW	12	0	4 	4 	12 	0 	0 	0
3 	 	D 	13	0	4 	4 	10 	0 	0 	0
23 	 	LW 	9 	2	1 	3 	0 	0 	0 	1
8 	 	C 	18	2	1 	3 	2 	0 	0 	0
11 	 	LW 	17	0	3 	3 	35 	0 	0 	0
30 	 	G 	10	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
1 	 	G 	11	0	0 	0 	4 	0 	0 	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 
==Awards and Records==
*Dennis A. Murphy Trophy: Pat Stapleton
*Paul Deneau Trophy: Ralph Backstrom
*Pat Stapleton, Defense, WHA First Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
*Long Island Cougars, NAHL
==Gallery==
1974-May15-Game2-Gordie-Duke Harris-McLeod-Marty-Backstrom.jpg|Gordie Howe, Duke Harris, Don McLeod, Marty Howe, Ralph Backstrom, 1974 Finals Game 2, May 15, 1974.
==See Also==
*1973–74 WHA season
==References==
Chicago Cougars season, 1973–74
Chicago Cougars season, 1973–74
category:Chicago Cougars seasons