1974–75 WHA season

The 1974-75 WHA season was the 3rd season of the World Hockey Association. Fourteen teams each played 78 games. The Houston Aeros defeated the Quebec Nordiques 4 games to 0 in the Finals to win their 2nd Avco World Trophy.
==Off-season==
The Cleveland Crusaders moved into the new Coliseum at Richfield which at the time, was the most luxurious in hockey. The facilities far surpassed the Cleveland Arena which had become decrepit and the area was notorious for the high level of crime. Several Crusaders players experienced theft of their cars and mugging outside the old Cleveland Arena.The Rebel League, Ed Willis, McClelland & Stewart Ltd, 1994, p.110
==Pre-season==
The first set of exhibition games between the NHL and WHA were held. The NHL was victorious in the series, winning 5 and losing 2 games.
September 26, 1974: Houston Aeros 5, St. Louis Blues 3
September 28, 1974: Philadelphia Flyers 4, New England Whalers 2
September 29, 1974: Atlanta Flames 3, Winnipeg Jets 1
October 5, 1974: San Diego Mariners 4, California Golden Seals 3
October 6, 1974: Minnesota North Stars 5, Toronto Toros 3
October 6, 1974: Vancouver Canucks 4, Edmonton Oilers 3
October 6, 1974: Pittsburgh Penguins 5, Cleveland Crusaders 3
==Regular Season==
The WHA expanded by adding the Indianapolis Racers and Phoenix Roadrunners, and splitting into 3 divisions (Western, Eastern, and Canadian). The top two teams in each division qualified for the playoffs along with the two next best teams overall. Prior to the season, Southern California welcomed the New Jersey Knights, who moved to San Diego and became the Mariners, and said goodbye to the Los Angeles Sharks, who moved to Detroit and became the Michigan Stags. Midway through the season, the Stags moved to Baltimore and became the Blades. They folded for good after the season. The Chicago Cougars also folded at season's end.
The only shutout in Michigan Stags history occurred on December 19, 1974 in a 1-0 victory over the Cleveland Crusaders. In a game marred by multiple brawls, Stags goalie Paul Hoganson out-dueled All-Star goalie Gerry Cheevers and made 32 saves.
On January 11, 1975 the Whalers played their first game at the new Hartford Civic Center after playing the previous 2-1/2 seasons at the Boston Garden. The Whalers defeated the San Diego Mariners 4-3 in overtime with Garry Swain scoring the winner.
During the intermission of the March 25, 1975 game between the Toronto Toros and Vancouver Blazers, a breakaway exhibition was held between daredevil Evel Knievel and Toros goaltender Les Binkley. Wearing a Toros #13 jersey, Knievel (who had played semi-pro hockey in Montana) deked Binkley out and scored.
===Final Standings===
===Scoring Leaders===
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player 	Team 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
André Lacroix 	San Diego Mariners 	78	41	106	147	63
Bobby Hull 	Winnipeg Jets 	78	77	65 	142	41
Serge Bernier 	Quebec Nordiques 	76	54	68 	122	75
Ulf Nilsson 	Winnipeg Jets 	78	26	94 	120	79
Larry Lund 	Houston Aeros 	78	33	75 	108	68
Wayne Rivers 	San Diego Mariners 	78	54	53 	107	52
Anders Hedberg	Winnipeg Jets 	65	53	47 	100	45
Gordie Howe 	Houston Aeros 	75	34	65 	99 	84
Wayne Dillon 	Toronto Toros 	77	29	66 	95 	22
Mike Walton 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	75	48	45 	93 	33
===Goaltending Leaders===
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties, GA = Goals against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Player 	Team 	GP	Min 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	SV% 	GAA
Ron Grahame 	Houston Aeros 	43	2590	33	10	0	131	4 	90.0	3.03
Bob Whidden 	Cleveland Crusaders 	29	1654	9 	16	1	89 	0 	91.2	3.23
Wayne Rutledge	Houston Aeros 	35	2092	20	15	0	113	2 	89.2	3.24
Ernie Wakely 	Winnipeg - San Diego 	41	2418	23	15	2	131	3 	90.0	3.25
Gerry Cheevers	Cleveland Crusaders 	52	3076	26	24	2	167	4 	90.5	3.26
Jack Norris 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	33	1962	14	15	4	107	1 	89.1	3.27
John Garrett 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	58	3294	30	23	2	180	2 	90.5	3.28
Gary Kurt 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	47	2841	25	16	4	156	2 	88.5	3.27
Jacques Plante	Edmonton Oilers 	40	1592	15	14	1	88 	1 	89.0	3.32
Don McLeod 	Vancouver Blazers 	71	4124	32	35	2	230	1 	89.1	3.35
===All-Star Game===
On January 21, 1975 at the Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, a team comprised of the Western Division All-Stars defeated the Eastern Division All-Stars 6-4 before a crowd of 15,326 spectators. Rejean Houle of the Quebec Nordiques, who scored twice and had an assist in a losing effort, was the game MVP.
==Avco World Trophy Playoffs==
Eight teams qualified for the playoffs, the top two teams in each division and the next two teams with the highest point totals. The teams were then pooled together, according to point totals, to determine Quarter-finals match-ups. The three division winners were guaranteed the top three seeds, according to their point totals. Teams were not "re-seeded" after the Quarter-finals round.
===Avco World Trophy Finals===
The Aeros swept the Quebec Nordiques in the Avco World Trophy Finals. Gordie Howe led the series in scoring with 5 goals and 8 points. Aeros goalie Ron Grahame was named the WHA Playoff MVP.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 3 	Quebec Nordiques	2–6 	Houston Aeros 	1–0
2	May 6 	Quebec Nordiques	3–5 	Houston Aeros 	2–0
3	May 10	Houston Aeros 	2–0 	Quebec Nordiques	3–0
4	May 12	Houston Aeros 	7–2 	Quebec Nordiques	4–0
==WHA Awards==
Avco World Trophy: 	Houston Aeros
Gary L. Davidson Award (MVP): 	Bobby Hull, Winnipeg Jets
Bill Hunter Trophy (Scoring Leader): 	Andre Lacroix, San Diego Mariners
Lou Kaplan Trophy (Rookie of the Year): 	Anders Hedberg, Winnipeg Jets
Ben Hatskin Trophy (Best Goaltender): 	Ron Grahame, Houston Aeros
Dennis A. Murphy Trophy (Best Defenseman): 	J. C. Tremblay, Quebec Nordiques
Paul Deneau Trophy (Most Gentlemenly): 	Mike Rogers, Edmonton Oilers
Robert Schmertz Memorial Trophy (Coach of the Year):	Sandy Hucul, Phoenix Roadrunners
WHA Playoff MVP: 	Ron Grahame, Houston Aeros
==All-Star Teams==
Position 	First Team 	Second Team
Centre 	Andre Lacroix, San Diego 	Serge Bernier, Quebec
Right Wing	Gordie Howe, Houston Aeros	Anders Hedberg, Winnipeg
Left Wing 	Bobby Hull, Winnipeg 	Marc Tardif, Quebec
Defence 	J. C. Tremblay, Quebec 	Poul Popiel, Houston
Defence 	Kevin Morrison, San Diego 	Barry Long, Edmonton
Goaltender	Ron Grahame, Houston 	Gerry Cheevers, Cleveland
==Gallery==
1974-Oct15-Smith-Mahovlich.jpg|Frank Mahovlich scores on Al Smith, October 15, 1974.
1974-Oct16-Lacroix-Ftorek.jpg|Ceremonial face-off at the Roadrunners first home game between Andre Lacroix and Robbie Ftorek, October 16, 1974.
1974-Nov2-Desjardins-Hampson.jpg|Gerry Desjardins and Ted Hampson, November 2, 1974.
1974-Nov13-McLeod-McKenzie-Farda-Price.jpg|Don McLeod, John McKenzie, Richard Farda, Pat Price, November 13, 1974.
1974-Nov13-McLeod-Pelyk-Henderson.jpg|Don McLeod, Mike Pelyk, Paul Henderson, November 13, 1974.
1974-Nov26-Henderson-Curran-Dillon.jpg|Paul Henderson, goalie Mike Curran, Wayne Dillon, November 26, 1974.
1974-Dec2-Dillon-Hinse-Lund-Gratton.jpg|Larry Lund scores on Gilles Gratton as Wayne Dillon and Andre Hinse look on, December 2, 1974.
1975-Jan8-Hull-Garrett.jpg|Bobby Hull, John Garrett, January 8, 1975.
1975-Jan9-Miszuk-Nilsson-Hedberg-Hoganson.jpg|Stags John Miszuk and goalie Paul Hoganson, Jets Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg during the last victory in Stags history, January 9, 1975.
1975-Jan10-Hargreaves-Henderson.jpg|Paul Henderson (wearing a cage to protect his broken nose) and Jim Hargreaves, January 10, 1975.
1975-Jan11-Blackburn-Wakely.jpg|Don Blackburn scores the 1st goal in the Hartford Civic Center on Ernie Wakely, January 11, 1975.
1975-Feb20-Maggs-Cuddie-Dryden.jpg|Daryl Maggs, Steve Cuddie, Dave Dryden, February 20, 1975.
1975-Feb26-Mahovlich-Wakely-Dillon.jpg|Frank Mahovlich scores on Ernie Wakely as Wayne Dillon looks on, February 26, 1975.
1975-Mar4-Cuddie-Andrascik-Serviss-Amadeo-Binkley.jpg|Steve Cuddie, Steve Andrascik, Tom Serviss, Mike Amodeo, Les Binkley, March 4, 1975.
1975-Apr2-Lacombe-Brodeur.jpg|Richard Brodeur makes a save behind #4 Francois Lacombe, April 2, 1974.
1975-Apr4-Cuddy-Hull-Dorey-Shaw.jpg|Steve Cuddie, Bobby Hull, Jim Dorey, goalie Jim Shaw, April 4, 1975.
1974-75-Nilsson-Odrowski-Hedberg-Ftorek-Hull.jpg|Ulf Nilsson, Gerry Odrowski, Anders Hedberg, Robbie Ftorek, Bobby Hull in 1974-75 action.
1975-May1-Parizeau goal.gif|Michel Parizeau scores the series winner, Game 6 of the 1975 Semi-finals, May 1, 1975.
==Video==
Over an hour of game action from the February 2, 1975 Cleveland Crusaders-Quebec Nordiques match.
1975 02 02 QUEBEC AT CLEVELAND WHA
==References==
*WHA Database
Category:1975 in hockey
Category:List of WHA Seasons