1976–77 Quebec Nordiques season

The 1976–77 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques 5th season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Nordiques finished 1st in the Eastern Division and defeated the Winnipeg Jets 4 games to 3 in the Finals to win their 1st Avco World Trophy.
==Off-season==
During the off-season, the league saw the Toronto Toros move to Birmingham, Alabama, and be renamed the Birmingham Bulls, while the Cleveland Crusaders moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to become the second version of the Minnesota Fighting Saints. The league was back to twelve teams from fourteen the previous season, as the original Fighting Saints and Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics franchise folded midway through the 1975-76 season. The Nordiques would move from the Canadian Division to the Eastern Division, joining the Birmingham Bulls, Cincinnati Stingers, Indianapolis Racers, Minnesota Fighting Saints and New England Whalers in the division.
The Nordiques also made a head coaching change after their disappointing playoff appearance, as head coach Jean-Guy Gendron was relieved of his duties, and former Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Marc Boileau was his replacement.
The Nordiques jerseys remained the same design as in the 1975-76 season.
==Regular Season==
Quebec would have a very strong start to the season, winning eight of their first nine games to take a lead in the Eastern Division. The Nordiques would cool off, as they had a record of 8-11-1 in their next twenty games, however, Quebec snapped out of their slump and won nine games in a row to take control of the Division. The Nordiques would finish the season on top of the Eastern Division with a 47-31-3 record, earning 97 points, which was fourteen points higher than the second place Cincinnati Stingers.
Offensively, Quebec was led by Real Cloutier, who won the Bill Hunter Trophy awarded to the player who leads the league in scoring. Cloutier scored 66 goals and 75 assists for a league best 141 points. Marc Tardif scored 49 goals and 109 points despite missing 19 games, while Christian Bordeleau 32 goals and tied Cloutier with a team high 75 assists to earn 107 points for the season. Serge Bernier narrowly missed out on the 100 point club, as he scored 43 goals and 96 points in 74 games. On defense, newly acquired Jim Dorey led the blueline with 47 points in 73 games, while J. C. Tremblay had another productive season, earning 35 points in 53 games. Paul Baxter had a team high 244 penalty minutes, which was the second highest total in the league.
In goal, Richard Brodeur had the majority of playing time, winning 29 games, while posting a team best 3.45 GAA, along with 2 shutouts. Ed Humphreys and Serge Aubry split the backup duties, with Humphreys winning twelve games and a 3.58 GAA, while Aubry won six games with a 3.98 GAA.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 9 	Calgary Cowboys 	2–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–0–0 	2
2 	October 10 	Birmingham Bulls 	3–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–0–0 	4
3 	October 12 	San Diego Mariners 	4–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–0–0 	6
4 	October 16 	Quebec Nordiques 	8–2 	New England Whalers 	4–0–0 	8
5 	October 17 	Cincinnati Stingers 	5–2 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–1–0 	8
6 	October 19 	Quebec Nordiques 	6–5 	Birmingham Bulls 	5–1–0 	10
7 	October 21 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–2 	Calgary Cowboys 	6–1–0 	12
8 	October 23 	Houston Aeros 	2–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	7–1–0 	14
9 	October 26 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	3–11 	Quebec Nordiques 	8–1–0 	16
10	October 29 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–6 	Indianapolis Racers 	8–2–0 	16
11	October 30 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	1–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	9–2–0 	18
12	November 2 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	5–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	9–3–0 	18
13	November 6 	Birmingham Bulls 	5–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	10–3–0 	20
14	November 9 	Birmingham Bulls 	3–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	11–3–0 	22
15	November 13	Minnesota Fighting Saints	4–2 	Quebec Nordiques 	11–4–0 	22
16	November 14	Indianapolis Racers 	3–1 	Quebec Nordiques 	11–5–0 	22
17	November 16	Quebec Nordiques 	4–8 	Winnipeg Jets 	11–6–0 	22
18	November 18	Quebec Nordiques 	9–5 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	12–6–0 	24
19	November 19	Quebec Nordiques 	1–4 	Calgary Cowboys 	12–7–0 	24
20	November 21	Quebec Nordiques 	5–8 	Edmonton Oilers 	12–8–0 	24
21	November 23	Winnipeg Jets 	4–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	13–8–0 	26
22	November 25	Quebec Nordiques 	5–0 	Indianapolis Racers 	14–8–0 	28
23	November 26	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	14–9–0 	28
24	November 27	Indianapolis Racers 	8–2 	Quebec Nordiques 	14–10–0	28
25	November 30	New England Whalers 	1–2 	Quebec Nordiques 	15–10–0	30
26	December 3 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–5 	New England Whalers 	15–10–1	31
27	December 5 	Winnipeg Jets 	4–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	16–10–1	33
28	December 7 	Edmonton Oilers 	4–2 	Quebec Nordiques 	16–11–1	33
29	December 9 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–4 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	17–11–1	35
30	December 11	Houston Aeros 	1–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	18–11–1	37
31	December 12	New England Whalers 	1–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	19–11–1	39
32	December 14	New England Whalers 	3–1 	Quebec Nordiques 	19–12–1	39
33	December 18	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	Calgary Cowboys 	19–13–1	39
34	December 19	Quebec Nordiques 	3–5 	San Diego Mariners 	19–14–1	39
35	December 21	Quebec Nordiques 	2–3 	Birmingham Bulls 	19–15–1	39
36	December 22	Quebec Nordiques 	4–3 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	20–15–1	41
37	December 26	Quebec Nordiques 	12–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	21–15–1	43
38	December 28	Quebec Nordiques 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers 	22–15–1	45
39	January 4 	New England Whalers 	3–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	23–15–1	47
40	January 7 	Quebec Nordiques 	7–3 	New England Whalers 	24–15–1	49
41	January 9 	San Diego Mariners 	2–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	25–15–1	51
42	January 20 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–4 	New England Whalers 	26–15–1	53
43	January 22 	Calgary Cowboys 	3–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	27–15–1	55
44	January 25 	Indianapolis Racers 	1–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	28–15–1	57
45	January 26 	Edmonton Oilers 	5–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	28–16–1	57
46	January 28 	Quebec Nordiques 	6–5 	Indianapolis Racers 	29–16–1	59
47	January 29 	Cincinnati Stingers 	2–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	30–16–1	61
48	February 1 	Indianapolis Racers 	4–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	31–16–1	63
49	February 2 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–6 	Indianapolis Racers 	31–17–1	63
50	February 4 	Quebec Nordiques 	0–7 	Birmingham Bulls 	31–18–1	63
51	February 6 	Cincinnati Stingers 	1–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	32–18–1	65
52	February 8 	Winnipeg Jets 	7–2 	Quebec Nordiques 	32–19–1	65
53	February 11	Quebec Nordiques 	5–1 	Indianapolis Racers 	33–19–1	67
54	February 12	Quebec Nordiques 	3–7 	Houston Aeros 	33–20–1	67
55	February 15	Quebec Nordiques 	2–4 	Houston Aeros 	33–21–1	67
56	February 16	Quebec Nordiques 	4–2 	San Diego Mariners 	34–21–1	69
57	February 19	Quebec Nordiques 	1–3 	Cincinnati Stingers 	34–22–1	69
58	February 22	Indianapolis Racers 	2–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	35–22–1	71
59	February 24	Quebec Nordiques 	6–10 	Birmingham Bulls 	35–23–1	71
60	February 25	Quebec Nordiques 	2–5 	Cincinnati Stingers 	35–24–1	71
61	February 26	Birmingham Bulls 	3–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	36–24–1	73
62	March 1 	Quebec Nordiques 	5–4 	Edmonton Oilers 	37–24–1	75
63	March 2 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–4 	Winnipeg Jets 	37–25–1	75
64	March 5 	San Diego Mariners 	0–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	38–25–1	77
65	March 6 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–6 	New England Whalers 	38–26–1	77
66	March 8 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	2–9 	Quebec Nordiques 	39–26–1	79
67	March 12 	Edmonton Oilers 	3–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	39–26–2	80
68	March 13 	New England Whalers 	3–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	40–26–2	82
69	March 15 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–4 	Houston Aeros 	40–27–2	82
70	March 17 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–3 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	41–27–2	84
71	March 18 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–7 	Cincinnati Stingers 	41–28–2	84
72	March 19 	Calgary Cowboys 	0–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	42–28–2	86
73	March 22 	Houston Aeros 	2–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	43–28–2	88
74	March 23 	Quebec Nordiques 	6–4 	Cincinnati Stingers 	44–28–2	90
75	March 24 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–4 	Indianapolis Racers 	44–29–2	90
76	March 26 	Cincinnati Stingers 	6–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	44–30–2	90
77	March 27 	Cincinnati Stingers 	0–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	45–30–2	92
78	April 2 	Quebec Nordiques 	6–5 	Phoenix Roadrunners 	46–30–2	94
79	April 3 	Quebec Nordiques 	0–7 	San Diego Mariners 	46–31–2	94
80	April 5 	New England Whalers 	2–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	47–31–2	96
81	April 6 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–2 	Cincinnati Stingers 	47–31–3	97
==Playoffs==
===Quebec Nordiques 4, New England Whalers 1===
In the Quarter-finals, Quebec would face the New England Whalers in a best of seven series. The Whalers finished the year with a record of 35-40-6, earning 76 points, which was 21 fewer than the Nordiques. The series opened with two games at Le Colisee, with Quebec winning them both, by scores of 5-2 and 7-3, to take the series lead. The series moved over to New England for the next two games, however, Quebec stayed hot and defeated the Whalers 4-3 in overtime in the third game to take a 3-0 lead in the series. New England fought off elimination in the fourth game, defeating the Nordiques 6-4, however, in the fifth game played back in Quebec, the Nordiques shutout New England 3-0 to win the series.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 9 	New England Whalers	2–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–0
2	April 12	New England Whalers	3–7 	Quebec Nordiques 	2-0
3	April 14	Quebec Nordiques 	4–3 	New England Whalers	3-0
4	April 16	Quebec Nordiques 	4–6 	New England Whalers	3-1
5	April 19	New England Whalers	0–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–1
===Quebec Nordiques 4, Indianapolis Racers 1===
In the Eastern Division finals, the Nordiques faced off against the Indianapolis Racers, who finished the regular season in third place in the Eastern Division with a 36-37-8 record. The Racers swept the second place Cincinnati Stingers in the opening round to advance to the division finals. The series opened with two games in Quebec, and the Nordiques stayed unbeaten on home ice during the post-season, as they defeated Indianapolis 3-1 and 8-3 to take the early series lead. The series shifted over to Indianapolis for the next two games, but the Nordiques won the third game, defeating the Racers 6-5 in overtime to put them on the brink of elimination. Indianapolis finally managed to win a game in the fourth game of the series, shutting out the Nordiques 2-0, however, with the series back in Quebec for the fifth game, the Nordiques remained hot on home ice, easily winning the game 8-3, and advancing to the Avco World Trophy Finals.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 23	Indianapolis Racers	1–3 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–0
2	April 25	Indianapolis Racers	3–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	2-0
3	April 28	Quebec Nordiques 	6–5 	Indianapolis Racers	3-0
4	April 30	Quebec Nordiques 	0–2 	Indianapolis Racers	3-1
5	May 2 	Indianapolis Racers	3–8 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–1
===Quebec Nordiques 4, Winnipeg Jets 3===
The Finals pitted the 1976 AVCO World Trophy winning Winnipeg Jets against the Quebec Nordiques. The series was characterized by wild swings in scoring with each team winning games by lopsided margins. 
The deciding Game 7 was initially a tight, close-checking game with no scoring in the first period. The Nordiques scored two quick goals to start the second period and then added a third at 6:29. The Jets Dan Labraaten cut into the Nordiques lead at 8:39 to make it 3-1. Less than a minute later, J.C. Tremblay fired a shot from center ice that beat Jets goalie Joe Daley. Totally deflated, the Jets surrendered four more goals before scoring a consolation marker, losing 8-2. Serge Bernier won the WHA Playoff MVP trophy, as he scored 36 points for the Nordiques in 17 post season games.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 11	Winnipeg Jets 	2–1 	Quebec Nordiques	1-0
2	May 15	Winnipeg Jets 	1–6 	Quebec Nordiques	1-1
3	May 18	Quebec Nordiques	1–6 	Winnipeg Jets 	1-2
4	May 20	Quebec Nordiques	4–2 	Winnipeg Jets 	2-2
5	May 22	Winnipeg Jets 	3–8 	Quebec Nordiques	2-3
6	May 24	Quebec Nordiques	3–12 	Winnipeg Jets 	3-3
7	May 26	Winnipeg Jets 	2–8 	Quebec Nordiques	3-4
==Player Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
# 	Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
9 	Real Cloutier 	76	66	75	141	39
8 	Marc Tardif 	62	49	60	109	65
11	Chris Bordeleau 	72	32	75	107	34
21	Serge Bernier 	74	43	53	96 	94
17	Paulin Bordeleau 	80	42	41	83 	52
7 	Jim Dorey 	73	13	34	47 	102
18	Andre Boudrias 	74	12	31	43 	12
12	Bob Fitchner 	81	9 	30	39 	105
3 	J.C. Tremblay 	53	4 	31	35 	16
20	Norm Dube 	39	15	18	33 	8
14	Charles Constantin	77	14	19	33 	93
15	Curt Brackenbury 	77	16	13	29 	146
22	Francois Lacombe 	81	5 	22	27 	86
4 	Paul Baxter 	66	6 	17	23 	244
16	Richard Grenier 	34	11	9 	20 	4
2 	Wally Weir 	69	3 	17	20 	197
19	Steve Sutherland 	36	6 	9 	15 	34
24	Jean Bernier 	42	2 	13	15 	23
10	Pierre Roy 	29	3 	5 	8 	50
6 	Pierre Guite 	35	2 	6 	8 	67
5 	Garry Lariviere 	15	0 	3 	3 	8
25	Serge Aubry 	21	0 	1 	1 	0
30	Ed Humphreys 	22	0 	1 	1 	0
1 	Richard Brodeur 	57	0 	1 	1 	0
20	Michel Dubois 	4 	0 	0 	0 	0
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L 	T	GA 	SO	GAA 	Save %
Richard Brodeur	53	2906	29	18	2	167	2 	3.45	.880
Ed Humphreys 	22	1240	12	8 	1	74 	1 	3.58	.880
Serge Aubry 	21	769 	6 	5 	0	51 	1 	3.98	.862
==Playoff Stats==
===Scoring Leaders===
Player 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
Serge Bernier 	17	14	22	36 	10
Real Cloutier 	17	14	13	27 	10
Paulin Bordeleau	16	12	9 	21 	12
Norm Dube 	14	3 	12	15 	11
Andre Boudrias 	17	3 	12	15 	6
===Goaltending===
Player 	GP	TOI 	W 	L	GA	SO	GAA 	Save %
Serge Aubry 	3 	18 	0 	0	0 	0 	0.00	1.000
Richard Brodeur	17	1007	12	5	55	1 	3.28	.882
==Awards and Records==
*Avco World Trophy: Quebec Nordiques
*Bill Hunter Trophy (Scoring Leader): Real Cloutier
*WHA Playoff MVP: Serge Bernier
*Marc Tardif, Left Wing, WHA First Team All-Star
*Real Cloutier, Right Wing, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Draft Picks==
Quebec's draft picks from the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.
Round	# 	Player 	Nationality	College/junior/club team (league)
1 	10 	Rick Green 	 	London Knights (OMJHL)
2 	19 	Bob Manno 	 	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OMJHL)
3 	32 	Al Glendenning 	 	Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
4 	44 	Maurice Barrette 	 	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
5 	56 	Garth MacGuigan 	 	Montreal Juniors (QMJHL)
6 	68 	Claude Periard 	 	Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
7 	80 	Denis Charbonneau	 	Laval National (QMJHL)
10 	114	Pierre Brassard 	 	Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)
==Farm Teams==
*Maine Nordiques, NAHL
==Video==
Game 7 of the 1977 Avco World Trophy Finals, May 26, 1977
1977 WHA AVCO Cup Finals G 7 Winnipeg @ Quebec 5 26 1977
==References==
*SHRP Sports
*The Internet Hockey Database
Quebec Nordiques season, 1976–77
Quebec Nordiques season, 1976–77
Category:Quebec Nordiques seasons