1975–76 Quebec Nordiques season

The 1975–76 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques 4th season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Nordiques finished 2nd in the Canadian Division and lost in the Quarter-finals to the Calgary Cowboys 4 games to 1.
==Off-season==
The Nordiques jerseys underwent a significant change from those used in the 1974-75 season. The dark blue was changed to a medium blue that matched the Quebec flag. The shoulder yolks and stripes on the arms and body (except for a fringe at the bottom) were removed. The shoulder fleur-de-lis remained with three more added to both the front and back of the bottom of the jersey. The logo remained the same but in previous seasons, had always been red on both the white and blue jerseys. A white logo, outlined in red, was now placed on the blue away jersey. The numbers and names were no longer highlighted. This design would remain for the rest of the Nordiques time in the WHA and continue on in their career in the NHL. For this season only, a 1976 Montreal Olympic logo was sewn on the front of the red pants.
==Regular Season==
Quebec had a very strong start to the season and battled with the Winnipeg Jets all season long for top of the Canadian Division. Quebec finished the season with a franchise record 50 wins and 104 points, but lagged behind the Jets, who tied the Houston Aeros for the most points in the league with 106. The Nordiques scored a league high 371 goals, and finished with a very impressive record of 33–7–0 at home, tying the Aeros for the best home record in the league.
Offensively, Quebec was led by Marc Tardif, who had the most goals and points in the league with 71 and 148 respectively, while his 77 assists tied teammate J. C. Tremblay for the most in the WHA. Tardif won both the Gordie Howe Trophy as league MVP and the Bill Hunter Trophy as the scoring leader while gaining a First All-Star Team berth. Tremblay finished the year with 89 points, leading the Nordiques blueline, and was also a First Team All-Star. Real Cloutier had a breakout season, scoring 60 goals and 114 points and was named to the Second All-Star team. Chris Bordeleau had 37 goals and 109 points while Rejean Houle and Serge Bernier also finished with over 100 points, as they earned 103 and 102 respectively. Gord Gallant had a team high 297 penalty minutes, while Pierre Roy was not too far behind with 259.
In goal, Richard Brodeur shattered the Nordiques record for wins, earning 44, while he posted a 3.69 GAA and earned 2 shutouts in 69 games. Michel DuGuise backed him up, winning 6 games.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 9 	Winnipeg Jets 	5–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	0–1–0 	0
2 	October 11 	Toronto Toros 	3–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–1–0 	2
3 	October 14 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–1–0 	4
4 	October 18 	Houston Aeros 	2–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–1–0 	6
5 	October 21 	New England Whalers 	1–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–1–0 	8
6 	October 25 	Toronto Toros 	2–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–1–0 	10
7 	October 28 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–5 	Toronto Toros 	5–2–0 	10
8 	October 29 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	New England Whalers 	5–3–0 	10
9 	October 31 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–6 	Cleveland Crusaders 	5–4–0 	10
10	November 1 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–4 	Indianapolis Racers 	6–4–0 	12
11	November 2 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–0 	Winnipeg Jets 	7–4–0 	14
12	November 4 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	8–4–0 	16
13	November 5 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	Calgary Cowboys 	8–5–0 	16
14	November 6 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–3 	Denver Spurs 	9–5–0 	18
15	November 8 	Indianapolis Racers 	2–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	10–5–0 	20
16	November 9 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	3–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	11–5–0 	22
17	November 11	Minnesota Fighting Saints	6–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	12–5–0 	24
18	November 15	Quebec Nordiques 	3–1 	New England Whalers 	13–5–0 	26
19	November 18	Cincinnati Stingers 	4–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	14–5–0 	28
20	November 20	Winnipeg Jets 	3–2 	Quebec Nordiques 	14–6–0 	28
21	November 22	Quebec Nordiques 	9–6 	Cincinnati Stingers 	15–6–0 	30
22	November 23	Quebec Nordiques 	0–4 	Houston Aeros 	15–7–0 	30
23	November 27	Quebec Nordiques 	1–5 	San Diego Mariners 	15–8–0 	30
24	November 29	Quebec Nordiques 	4–4 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	15–8–1 	31
25	November 30	Quebec Nordiques 	2–1 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	16–8–1 	33
26	December 2 	Cleveland Crusaders 	2–9 	Quebec Nordiques 	17–8–1 	35
27	December 5 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–7 	Toronto Toros 	17–9–1 	35
28	December 7 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–2 	Winnipeg Jets 	18–9–1 	37
29	December 9 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–4 	Calgary Cowboys 	18–10–1	37
30	December 10	Quebec Nordiques 	4–7 	Edmonton Oilers 	18–11–1	37
31	December 12	Quebec Nordiques 	4–6 	Toronto Toros 	18–12–1	37
32	December 13	Toronto Toros 	3–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	19–12–1	39
33	December 16	Calgary Cowboys 	3–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	20–12–1	41
34	December 18	Winnipeg Jets 	4–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	21–12–1	43
35	December 20	Calgary Flames 	7–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	22–12–1	45
36	December 21	Quebec Nordiques 	7–11 	Cincinnati Stingers 	22–13–1	45
37	December 23	Quebec Nordiques 	4–10 	San Diego Mariners 	22–14–1	45
38	December 27	Edmonton Oilers 	3–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	23–14–1	47
39	December 28	Quebec Nordiques 	6–1 	Toronto Toros 	24–14–1	49
40	December 30	Quebec Nordiques 	4–4 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	24–14–2	50
41	January 2 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–5 	Cleveland Crusaders 	24–15–2	50
42	January 3 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	4–1 	Quebec Nordiques 	24–16–2	50
43	January 10 	San Diego Mariners 	3–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	25–16–2	52
44	January 15 	Calgary Cowboys 	3–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	26–16–2	54
45	January 17 	Toronto Toros 	3–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	27–16–2	56
46	January 21 	Indianapolis Racers 	2–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	28–16–2	58
47	January 25 	Edmonton Oilers 	6–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	29–16–2	60
48	January 27 	Cincinnati Stingers 	1–9 	Quebec Nordiques 	30–16–2	62
49	January 30 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–3 	Toronto Toros 	30–16–3	63
50	January 31 	Toronto Toros 	4–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	31–16–3	65
51	February 3 	Winnipeg Jets 	4–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	32–16–3	67
52	February 5 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	Indianapolis Racers 	32–17–3	67
53	February 7 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–4 	Calgary Cowboys 	32–17–4	68
54	February 8 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	33–17–4	70
55	February 11	Quebec Nordiques 	6–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	34–17–4	72
56	February 12	Quebec Nordiques 	4–6 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	34–18–4	72
57	February 15	Quebec Nordiques 	4–2 	Houston Aeros 	35–18–4	74
58	February 17	San Diego Mariners 	2–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	36–18–4	76
59	February 22	New England Whalers 	0–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	37–18–4	78
60	February 24	Houston Aeros 	1–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	38–18–4	80
61	February 28	Winnipeg Jets 	4–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	38–19–4	80
62	March 2 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–5 	Toronto Toros 	38–20–4	80
63	March 4 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–4 	Calgary Cowboys 	38–21–4	80
64	March 5 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	39–21–4	82
65	March 7 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	39–22–4	82
66	March 9 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–7 	Calgary Cowboys 	39–23–4	82
67	March 10 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–10 	Winnipeg Jets 	39–24–4	82
68	March 12 	Quebec Nordiques 	10–8 	Winnipeg Jets 	40–24–4	84
69	March 14 	Toronto Toros 	3–1 	Quebec Nordiques 	40–25–4	84
70	March 16 	New England Whalers 	1–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	41–25–4	86
71	March 19 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–3 	Toronto Toros 	42–25–4	88
72	March 20 	Calgary Cowboys 	8–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	42–26–4	88
73	March 21 	Quebec Nordiques 	6–3 	Edmonton Oilers 	43–26–4	90
74	March 23 	Cleveland Crusaders 	3–1 	Quebec Nordiques 	43–27–4	90
75	March 25 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	44–27–4	92
76	March 27 	Calgary Cowboys 	4–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	45–27–4	94
77	March 30 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	46–27–4	96
78	April 1 	Edmonton Oilers 	2–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	47–27–4	98
79	April 3 	Toronto Toros 	1–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	48–27–4	100
80	April 4 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–4 	Toronto Toros 	49–27–4	102
81	April 6 	Toronto Toros 	6–10 	Quebec Nordiques 	50–27–4	104
==Playoffs==
In the playoffs, the Calgary Cowboys met the Nordiques in the Quarter-finals. The series is best known for one of hockey's most legendary brawls. The incident began when Calgary's Rick Jodzio cross-checked Quebec's Marc Tardif in the head, causing both teams to leave their benches. The brawl lasted 20 minutes and ended only when Quebec police gathered at the players benches and escorted the teams back to their dressing rooms. The game resumed following a 20 minute break to allow both teams to cool down, then resumed without eleven players, who were ejected from the game. The incident caught the attention of Quebec's Solicitor General Francois Lalonde, who had the incident investigated as a criminal matter. Jodzio was suspended indefinitely by the league, and later plead guilty in a Quebec court to a charge of assault . Cowboys coach Joe Crozier was suspended for the rest of the series.
===Calgary Cowboys 4, Quebec Nordiques 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 10	Calgary Cowboys 	3–1 	Quebec Nordiques	1–0
2	April 11	Calgary Cowboys 	8–4 	Quebec Nordiques	2–0
3	April 14	Quebec Nordiques	2–3 	Calgary Cowboys 	0–3
4	April 16	Quebec Nordiques	4–3 	Calgary Cowboys 	1–3
5	April 18	Calgary Cowboys 	6–4 	Quebec Nordiques	4–1
==Player Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
# 	Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
8 	Marc Tardif 	81	71	77	148	79
9 	Real Cloutier 	80	60	54	114	27
11	Chris Bordeleau 	74	37	72	109	42
5 	Rejean Houle 	81	51	52	103	61
21	Serge Bernier 	70	34	68	102	91
3 	J.C. Tremblay 	80	12	77	89 	16
19	Steve Sutherland 	74	22	19	41 	197
12	Michel Parizeau 	58	12	27	39 	22
10	Pierre Roy 	78	6 	30	36 	258
15	Rene Leclerc 	42	15	17	32 	35
24	Jean Bernier 	80	4 	26	30 	10
17	Tom Serviss 	71	7 	19	26 	12
16	Gord Gallant 	64	4 	15	19 	297
33	Dale Hoganson 	45	3 	14	17 	18
12	Bob Fitchner 	21	7 	9 	16 	22
14	Charles Constantin	41	8 	7 	15 	77
 	Ted Hampson 	14	4 	10	14 	2
20	Ric Jordan 	54	4 	7 	11 	75
15	Curt Brackenbury 	15	4 	5 	9 	111
 	Bill Prentice 	21	2 	5 	7 	89
7 	Jim Benzelock 	34	2 	5 	7 	6
2 	Alan Globensky 	34	1 	2 	3 	13
 	Michel Dubois 	21	0 	3 	3 	23
30	Richard Brodeur 	69	0 	3 	3 	2
 	Florent Fortier 	4 	1 	1 	2 	0
 	Gary Gresdal 	2 	0 	1 	1 	5
23	Michel Deguise 	18	0 	1 	1 	0
23	Jim Watson 	28	0 	1 	1 	4
 	John Cunniff 	2 	0 	0 	0 	5
1 	Pete Donnelly 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	GAA 	Save %
Richard Brodeur	69	3967	44	21	2	244	2 	3.69	.890
Michel DeGuise 	18	835 	6 	5 	2	60 	0 	4.35	.870
Pete Donnelly 	4 	129 	0 	1 	0	10 	0 	4.65	.846
==Playoff Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Real Cloutier 	5 	4	5	9 	0
Serge Bernier 	5 	2	6	8 	6
Dale Hoganson 	5 	1	3	4 	2
Steve Sutherland	5 	2	1	3 	17
Pierre Roy 	5 	1	2	3 	29
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
Richard Brodeur	5 	299	1	4	22	0 	4.41
==Awards and Records==
*Gordie Howe Trophy (MVP): Marc Tardif
*Bill Hunter Trophy (Scoring Leader): Marc Tardif
*Marc Tardif, Left Wing, WHA First Team All-Star
*J.C. Tremblay, Defense, WHA First Team All-Star
*Real Cloutier, Right Wing, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Draft Picks==
Quebec's draft picks from the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
1 	14 	Pierre Mondou 	 	Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL)
2 	29 	Doug Halward 	 	Peterborough Petes (OHA)
3 	44 	Pierre Giroux 	 	Hull Festivals (QMJHL)
4 	59 	Ted Bulley 	 	Hull Festivals (QMJHL)
5 	73 	Andre LePage 	 	Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL)
6 	87 	Jean Trottier 	 	Laval National (QMJHL)
7 	100	Mike Backman 	 	Montreal Bleu Blanc Rouge (QMJHL)
8 	112	Michel Brisebois	 	Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
9 	124	Michel Hamel 	 	Laval National (QMJHL)
10 	137	Florent Fortier 	 	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
==Farm Teams==
*Maine Nordiques, NAHL
==Gallery==
1975-Nov7-Backstrom-Dion.jpg|Ralph Backstrom scores on Michel DeGuise, November 6, 1975.
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
Quebec Nordiques season, 1975–76
Quebec Nordiques season, 1975–76
Category:Quebec Nordiques seasons