1972–73 New England Whalers season

The was the 1st season of the Whalers' franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Whalers finished 1st in the Eastern Division and then won three playoff series to become the first winner of the Avco World Trophy.
==Off-season==
Whalers GM Jack Kelley targeted American born players for signing, particularly those from the New England area. Larry Pleau, a Boston native, was the first player signed by the Whalers, on April 19, 1972. Kevin Ahearn, John Cunniff, Paul Hurley and Tim Sheehy, who all played for the Boston College Eagles, and Tom Williams and Ted Green, who had played for the Boston Bruins, were also signed. Green became the team's first captain.
The Whalers jersey colours were forest green and white with a primarily white home jersey and a primarily green away jersey. Jersye numbers and names were not outlined. Single stripes, a whale on each shoulder and a roundel logo with a large "W", a narrow black horizontal harpoon and "NEW ENGLAND WHALERS" spelt around the roundel completed the design.
==Regular Season==
Playing in Boston, Massachusetts, the Whalers divided their home games between the aging Boston Arena and the Boston Garden, home of the 1972 Stanley Cup champions Boston Bruins. The Whalers won their home opener 4-3 against the Derek Sanderson led Philadelphia Blazers on October 12, 1972.
The 1972-73 season was the best in the Whalers WHA history as they garnered 94 points to lead the league. Terry Caffery won the Lou Kaplan Trophy as Rookie of the Year and Jack Kelley, the Howard Baldwin Trophy as Coach of the Year. Tom Webster led the Whalers in scoring with 53 goals (2nd in the league), 103 points and was voted a Second Team All-Star. Defenseman Rick Ley was also voted a Second Team All-Star.
===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 	W 	October 12, 1972 	4–3 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	1–0–0
2 	W 	October 16, 1972 	4–1 	Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	2–0–0
3 	W 	October 18, 1972 	4–1 	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	3–0–0
4 	L 	October 19, 1972 	3–4 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	3–1–0
5 	L 	October 21, 1972 	4–6 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	3–2–0
6 	W 	October 23, 1972 	5–1 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) 	4–2–0
7 	W 	October 24, 1972 	3–2 OT 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	5–2–0
8 	L 	October 26, 1972 	6–7 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	5–3–0
9 	L 	October 28, 1972 	1–4 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	5–4–0
10 	W 	November 1, 1972 	4–2 	Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	6–4–0
11 	W 	November 4, 1972 	8–4 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	7–4–0
12 	W 	November 6, 1972 	6–2 	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	8–4–0
13 	W 	November 11, 1972 	6–5 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	9–4–0
14 	T 	November 13, 1972 	4–4 	Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	9–4–1
15 	L 	November 17, 1972 	0–3 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	9–5–1
16 	W 	November 18, 1972 	3–2 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	10–5–1
17 	W 	November 20, 1972 	7–5 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	11–5–1
18 	L 	November 22, 1972 	1–3 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	11–6–1
19 	W 	November 24, 1972 	7–2 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	12–6–1
20 	L 	November 26, 1972 	1–3 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	12–7–1
21 	W 	November 27, 1972 	3–0 	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	13–7–1
22 	L 	November 29, 1972 	6–7 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	13–8–1
23 	L 	December 1, 1972 	3–5 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	13–9–1
24 	W 	December 2, 1972 	7–2 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	14–9–1
25 	W 	December 4, 1972 	7–2 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	15–9–1
26 	W 	December 6, 1972 	4–3 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	16–9–1
27 	W 	December 7, 1972 	4–2 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	17–9–1
28 	W 	December 9, 1972 	4–2 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	18–9–1
29 	W 	December 11, 1972 	4–3 	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	19–9–1
30 	L 	December 13, 1972 	3–6 	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	19–10–1
31 	W 	December 14, 1972 	5–2 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	20–10–1
32 	W 	December 16, 1972 	10–6 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	21–10–1
33 	L 	December 17, 1972 	3–6 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	21–11–1
34 	L 	December 19, 1972 	5–7 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	21–12–1
35 	L 	December 21, 1972 	4–5 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	21–13–1
36 	L 	December 24, 1972 	3–5 	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	21–14–1
37 	W 	December 25, 1972 	8–2 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	22–14–1
38 	W 	December 28, 1972 	5–3 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	23–14–1
39 	L 	December 29, 1972 	2–4 	Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	23–15–1
40 	W 	December 31, 1972 	3–0 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	24–15–1
41 	L 	January 9, 1973 	5–7 	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	24–16–1
42 	W 	January 13, 1973 	4–3 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	25–16–1
43 	W 	January 17, 1973 	4–2 	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	26–16–1
44 	L 	January 19, 1973 	2–6 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	26–17–1
45 	W 	January 21, 1973 	7–2 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	27–17–1
46 	W 	January 24, 1973 	6–1 	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	28–17–1
47 	W 	January 25, 1973 	4–2 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	29–17–1
48 	L 	January 27, 1973 	1–3 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	29–18–1
49 	L 	January 29, 1973 	2–3 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	29–19–1
50 	W 	January 31, 1973 	4–1 	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	30–19–1
51 	W 	February 1, 1973 	5–4 OT 	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	31–19–1
52 	L 	February 2, 1973 	1–3 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	31–20–1
53 	L 	February 4, 1973 	3–4 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	31–21–1
54 	W 	February 6, 1973 	4–2 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	32–21–1
55 	L 	February 7, 1973 	1–3 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	32–22–1
56 	L 	February 9, 1973 	4–7 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	32–23–1
57 	T 	February 11, 1973 	2–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	32–23–2
58 	L 	February 13, 1973 	4–5 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	32–24–2
59 	W 	February 15, 1973 	6–5 	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	33–24–2
60 	W 	February 17, 1973 	6–4 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	34–24–2
61 	L 	February 20, 1973 	2–4 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	34–25–2
62 	W 	February 23, 1973 	4–2 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	35–25–2
63 	L 	March 4, 1973 	2–4 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	35–26–2
64 	W 	March 7, 1973 	1–0 OT 	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	36–26–2
65 	W 	March 9, 1973 	5–4 	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	37–26–2
66 	W 	March 10, 1973 	3–1 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) 	38–26–2
67 	W 	March 13, 1973 	4–3 OT 	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	39–26–2
68 	W 	March 14, 1973 	7–5 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	40–26–2
69 	W 	March 16, 1973 	7–4 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) 	41–26–2
70 	W 	March 17, 1973 	4–0 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	42–26–2
71 	W 	March 20, 1973 	4–1 	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	43–26–2
72 	L 	March 22, 1973 	2–4 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	43–27–2
73 	W 	March 23, 1973 	3–1 	Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	44–27–2
74 	L 	March 26, 1973 	5–7 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	44–28–2
75 	L 	March 27, 1973 	1–6 	Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	44–29–2
76 	L 	March 29, 1973 	2–5 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	44–30–2
77 	W 	March 30, 1973 	5–4 OT 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	45–30–2
78 	W 	April 1, 1973 	8–3 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	46–30–2
==Playoffs==
===New England Whalers 4, Ottawa Nationals 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	Record
1	April 7 	Ottawa Nationals 	3–6 	New England Whalers	1–0
2	April 8 	Ottawa Nationals 	3 – 4 OT	New England Whalers	2–0
3	April 10	New England Whalers	2–4 	Ottawa Nationals 	2–1
4	April 12	New England Whalers	7 – 3 OT	Ottawa Nationals 	3–1
5	April 14	Ottawa Nationals 	4–5 	New England Whalers	4–1
===New England Whalers 4, Cleveland Crusaders 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 18	Cleveland Crusaders	2–3 	New England Whalers	1–0
2	April 19	Cleveland Crusaders	2–3 	New England Whalers	2–0
3	April 21	New England Whalers	5–4 	Cleveland Crusaders	3–0
4	April 22	New England Whalers	2–5 	Cleveland Crusaders	3–1
5	April 26	Cleveland Crusaders	1–3 	New England Whalers	4–1
===New England Whalers 4, Winnipeg Jets 1===
Larry Pleau scored a Hat trick in the deciding Game 5. 
As the Avco World Trophy had not been created in time for the 1973 Finals, a trophy was bought from a Boston sporting goods store as a substitute.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 29	Winnipeg Jets 	2–7 	New England Whalers	0–1
2	May 2 	New England Whalers	7–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	0–2
3	May 3 	New England Whalers	3–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	1–2
4	May 5 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–4 	New England Whalers	1–3
5	May 6 	Winnipeg Jets 	6–9 	New England Whalers	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 	77 	53 	50 	103 	89 	15 	12 	14 	26 	6
7 	Terry Caffery	74 	39 	61 	100 	14 	8 	3 	7 	10 	0
4 	Larry Pleau 	78 	39 	48 	87 	42 	15 	12 	7 	19 	15
15	Tim Sheehy 	78 	33 	38 	71 	30 	15 	9 	14 	23 	13
10	Jim Dorey 	75 	7 	56 	63 	95 	15 	3 	16 	19 	41
11	John French 	74 	24 	35 	59 	43 	15 	3 	11 	14 	2
6 	Ted Green 	78 	16 	30 	46 	47 	12 	1 	5 	6 	25
14	Kevin Ahearn 	78 	20 	22 	42 	18 	14 	1 	2 	3 	9
18	Brit Selby 	65 	13 	29 	42 	48 	13 	3 	4 	7 	13
12	John Danby 	77 	14 	23 	37 	10 	8 	0 	0 	0 	0
3 	Brad Selwood 	75 	13 	21 	34 	114 	15 	3 	5 	8 	22
9 	Tom Williams 	69 	10 	21 	31 	14 	15 	6 	11 	17 	2
2 	Rick Ley 	76 	3 	27 	30 	108 	15 	3 	7 	10 	24
27	Tommy Earl 	77 	10 	13 	23 	4 	15 	2 	3 	5 	10
21	Mike Hyndman 	59 	4 	14 	18 	21 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
5 	Paul Hurley 	78 	3 	15 	18 	78 	15 	0 	7 	7 	14
16	Dick Sarrazin	35 	4 	7 	11 	0 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
21	Mike Byers 	19 	6 	4 	10 	4 	12 	6 	5 	11 	6
17	John Cunniff 	33 	3 	5 	8 	16 	13 	1 	1 	2 	2
19	Guy Smith 	22 	3 	3 	6 	6 	11 	2 	0 	2 	4
20	Ric Jordan 	34 	1 	5 	6 	12 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
30	Bruce Landon 	30 	0 	0 	1 	8 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1 	Al Smith 	51 	0 	1 	1 	39 	15 	0 	1 	1 	12
Statistics for all players reflect only games played with the Whalers.
===Goaltenders===
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
# 	Player 	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Regular Season	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs	Playoffs
# 	Player 	GP 	TOI 	W 	L 	T 	GA 	SO 	SV% 	GAA 	GP 	TOI 	W 	L 	GA 	SO 	SV% 	GAA
1 	Al Smith 	51 	3059 	31 	19 	1 	162 	3 	0.894 	3.17 	15 	909 	12 	3 	49 	0 	0.886 	3.20
30	Bruce Landon	30 	1671 	15 	11 	1 	100 	1 	0.887 	3.59 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
==Awards and Records==
*Avco World Trophy: New England Whalers
*Lou Kaplan Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Terry Caffery
*Howard Baldwin Trophy (Coach of the Year): Jack Kelley
*Tom Webster, Right Wing, WHA Second Team All-Star
*Jim Dorey, Defense, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
==Gallery==
1972-Oct12-Green-Sanderson faceoff.jpg|Ceremonial face-off between former Boston Bruins teammates Ted Green and Derek Sanderson at the Whalers first game, October 12, 1972.
1972-Oct12-Pleau Parent.jpg|Larry Pleau scores the winner in the first WHA game for the Whalers and Blazers, October 12, 1972.
1972-Dec9-Green-Douglas.jpg|Ted Green and Kent Douglas, December 9, 1972.
1972-73-Whalers-Nords.jpg|The Whalers top line of Larry Pleau, Tom Webster and Terry Caffery attack goalie Serge Aubry in 1972-73 season action.
1973-May6-Green WHA trophy.jpg|Whalers captain Ted Green with the substitute Avco World Trophy, May 6, 1973.
==Video==
Nearly 17 minutes of game action from the April 8, 1973 Quarter-finals Game 2 New England Whalers-Ottawa Nationals.
1973 04 08 Ottawa Nationals at New England Whalers
==See Also==
*1972–73 WHA season
==References==
* 
New England Whalers season, 1972–73
New England Whalers season, 1972–73
category:Hartford Whalers seasons
category:New England Whalers seasons