1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season

The 1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season was the 1st season of operation of the Cleveland Crusaders in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Crusaders finished 3rd in the Eastern Division and lost in the Semi-finals to the New England Whalers 4 games to 1.
==Off-season==
The Crusaders biggest signing was goalie Gerry Cheevers, who signed a five year deal for $200,000 per season while the Boston Bruins offered $80,000. Cheevers was a First Team All-Star and won the Ben Hatskin Trophy as the best goaltender in the 1972-73 WHA season while earning a Second All-Star Team berth in 1973-74.
The Crusaders played at the Cleveland Arena which had become decrepit and had chicken wire instead of Plexiglas on top of the boards. The area was notorious for the high level of crime. Several Crusaders players experienced theft of their cars and mugging outside the arena.The Rebel League, Ed Willis, McClelland & Stewart Ltd, 1994, p.110
The Crusaders inaugural jersey colours were purple, white and black with a primarily white home jersey and a primarily purple away jersey. They'd stay with these colours throughout the club's four year existence. The jersey numbers and names were not outlined. Shoulders yolks and three stripes on the arms and body completed the design. The logo featured a white knight on a horse with a black shield against a purple background. These jerseys would remain unchanged until the 1975-76 season.
==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 	W 	October 11, 1972 	2–0 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	1–0–0
2 	W 	October 14, 1972 	3–2 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	2–0–0
3 	W 	October 15, 1972 	7–5 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	3–0–0
4 	W 	October 17, 1972 	4–3 OT 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	4–0–0
5 	W 	October 19, 1972 	3–1 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	5–0–0
6 	L 	October 21, 1972 	3–5 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	5–1–0
7 	L 	October 24, 1972 	2–3 OT 	New England Whalers (1972–73) 	5–2–0
8 	W 	October 25, 1972 	8–2 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	6–2–0
9 	W 	October 27, 1972 	6–0 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	7–2–0
10 	T 	October 29, 1972 	2–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	7–2–1
11 	L 	November 1, 1972 	5–7 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	7–3–1
12 	W 	November 4, 1972 	5–3 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	8–3–1
13 	W 	November 11, 1972 	4–1 	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	9–3–1
14 	W 	November 12, 1972 	3–1 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	10–3–1
15 	L 	November 14, 1972 	3–5 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	10–4–1
16 	W 	November 16, 1972 	6–3 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	11–4–1
17 	W 	November 17, 1972 	3–0 	New England Whalers (1972–73) 	12–4–1
18 	L 	November 19, 1972 	2–4 	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	12–5–1
19 	W 	November 21, 1972 	5–2 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	13–5–1
20 	W 	November 24, 1972 	3–2 OT 	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	14–5–1
21 	L 	November 25, 1972 	1–3 	Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	14–6–1
22 	L 	November 27, 1972 	0–3 	@ New England Whalers (1972–73) 	14–7–1
23 	L 	November 28, 1972 	1–3 	Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	14–8–1
24 	L 	November 30, 1972 	2–3 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	14–9–1
25 	W 	December 2, 1972 	8–2 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	15–9–1
26 	L 	December 3, 1972 	2–5 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	15–10–1
27 	W 	December 5, 1972 	4–3 OT 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	16–10–1
28 	W 	December 7, 1972 	3–1 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	17–10–1
29 	L 	December 9, 1972 	2–3 OT 	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	17–11–1
30 	L 	December 10, 1972 	3–4 OT 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	17–12–1
31 	W 	December 15, 1972 	6–3 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	18–12–1
32 	L 	December 17, 1972 	2–3 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	18–13–1
33 	L 	December 19, 1972 	1–6 	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	18–14–1
34 	W 	December 21, 1972 	6–2 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	19–14–1
35 	W 	December 23, 1972 	3–1 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) 	20–14–1
36 	W 	December 25, 1972 	8–0 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	21–14–1
37 	W 	December 29, 1972 	5–3 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	22–14–1
38 	W 	December 30, 1972 	4–3 OT 	Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	23–14–1
39 	W 	January 11, 1973 	4–3 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	24–14–1
40 	L 	January 12, 1973 	3–5 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	24–15–1
41 	L 	January 14, 1973 	1–3 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	24–16–1
42 	W 	January 16, 1973 	4–3 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	25–16–1
43 	W 	January 17, 1973 	5–0 	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	26–16–1
44 	W 	January 19, 1973 	4–1 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	27–16–1
45 	L 	January 21, 1973 	2–3 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	27–17–1
46 	W 	January 23, 1973 	5–4 OT 	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	28–17–1
47 	L 	January 25, 1973 	4–7 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	28–18–1
48 	W 	January 27, 1973 	2–1 	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	29–18–1
49 	W 	January 29, 1973 	3–2 	New England Whalers (1972–73) 	30–18–1
50 	L 	January 31, 1973 	1–4 	@ New England Whalers (1972–73) 	30–19–1
51 	T 	February 1, 1973 	2–2 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	30–19–2
52 	W 	February 2, 1973 	5–3 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	31–19–2
53 	W 	February 4, 1973 	3–2 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	32–19–2
54 	W 	February 5, 1973 	7–5 	Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	33–19–2
55 	W 	February 10, 1973 	8–4 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	34–19–2
56 	L 	February 11, 1973 	1–6 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	34–20–2
57 	W 	February 12, 1973 	8–2 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	35–20–2
58 	L 	February 14, 1973 	5–6 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	35–21–2
59 	L 	February 17, 1973 	3–7 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) 	35–22–2
60 	W 	February 20, 1973 	5–4 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	36–22–2
61 	L 	February 24, 1973 	2–5 	Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	36–23–2
62 	L 	February 25, 1973 	5–9 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	36–24–2
63 	L 	February 27, 1973 	1–2 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	36–25–2
64 	W 	March 3, 1973 	4–3 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	37–25–2
65 	L 	March 7, 1973 	0–1 OT 	@ New England Whalers (1972–73) 	37–26–2
66 	L 	March 9, 1973 	4–5 	@ New England Whalers (1972–73) 	37–27–2
67 	W 	March 11, 1973 	11–2 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	38–27–2
68 	L 	March 13, 1973 	2–4 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	38–28–2
69 	L 	March 14, 1973 	2–4 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	38–29–2
70 	L 	March 17, 1973 	0–2 	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	38–30–2
71 	T 	March 19, 1973 	5–5 	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	38–30–3
72 	L 	March 20, 1973 	1–4 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	38–31–3
73 	L 	March 24, 1973 	1–2 OT 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) 	38–32–3
74 	W 	March 25, 1973 	4–2 	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	39–32–3
75 	W 	March 26, 1973 	7–5 	New England Whalers (1972–73) 	40–32–3
76 	W 	March 30, 1973 	4–2 	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 	41–32–3
77 	W 	March 31, 1973 	4–2 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	42–32–3
78 	W 	April 1, 1973 	5–1 	Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	43–32–3
==Playoffs==
===Cleveland Crusaders 4, Philadelphia Blazers 0===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	Record
1	April 4 	Philadelphia Blazers	2–3 OT	Cleveland Crusaders 	1–0
2	April 7 	Philadelphia Blazers	7–1 	Cleveland Crusaders 	2–0
3	April 8 	Cleveland Crusaders 	3–1 	Philadelphia Blazers	3–0
4	April 11	Cleveland Crusaders 	6–2 	Philadelphia Blazers	4–0
===New England Whalers 4, Cleveland Crusaders 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 18	Cleveland Crusaders	2 – 3	New England Whalers	0–1
2	April 19	Cleveland Crusaders	2 – 3	New England Whalers	0–2
3	April 21	New England Whalers	5 – 4	Cleveland Crusaders	0–3
4	April 22	New England Whalers	2 – 5	Cleveland Crusaders	1–3
5	April 26	Cleveland Crusaders	1 – 3	New England Whalers	1–4
==Player Stats==
Regular Season	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Scoring 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
# 	Player	Pos 	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
10 	 	C 	75	37	44	81 	20 	0 	6 	0 	5
12 	 	LW 	77	40	39	79 	79 	0 	8 	0 	7
14 	 	C 	70	28	43	71 	24 	0 	4 	0 	3
7 	 	LW 	78	30	36	66 	121	0 	7 	3 	3
21 	 	RW 	66	21	30	51 	12 	0 	7 	0 	0
25 	 	C 	72	17	33	50 	80 	0 	1 	0 	0
3 	 	D 	73	5 	43	48 	169	0 	0 	1 	0
6 	 	D 	78	11	36	47 	41 	0 	1 	0 	0
16 	 	LW 	77	15	29	44 	23 	0 	2 	1 	0
23 	 	LW 	77	21	20	41 	45 	0 	5 	0 	0
11 	 	RW 	74	15	23	38 	93 	0 	2 	0 	0
9 	 	LW/C	73	15	11	26 	6 	0 	2 	0 	0
2 	 	D 	66	6 	20	26 	68 	0 	3 	0 	0
17 	 	C 	26	9 	10	19 	61 	0 	2 	0 	0
26 	 	D 	74	2 	17	19 	55 	0 	0 	0 	0
24 	 	C 	72	8 	8 	16 	8 	0 	1 	6 	0
5 	 	D 	67	2 	13	15 	62 	0 	0 	0 	0
4 	 	D 	29	4 	5 	9 	44 	0 	0 	0 	0
22 	 	D 	74	1 	7 	8 	37 	0 	0 	0 	0
21 	 	RW 	7 	0 	2 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
30 	 	G 	52	0 	1 	1 	30 	0 	0 	0 	0
1 	 	G 	26	0 	0 	0 	5 	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
 	LW 	9 	8	3	11 	19 	3 	0 	1
 	C 	9 	3	8	11 	13 	1 	0 	1
 	LW 	9 	2	9	11 	30 	1 	0 	0
 	C 	9 	7	3	10 	0 	1 	0 	1
 	RW 	9 	2	8	10 	2 	1 	0 	0
 	LW 	9 	3	5	8 	11 	1 	0 	0
 	RW 	9 	1	3	4 	13 	1 	0 	0
 	D 	9 	1	3	4 	14 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	8 	1	3	4 	19 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	9 	2	1	3 	2 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	9 	1	2	3 	8 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	9 	1	2	3 	27 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	7 	0	2	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	9 	1	0	1 	0 	0 	1 	0
 	D 	8 	0	1	1 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	9 	0	1	1 	10 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	9 	0	1	1 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	2 	0	0	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	LW/C	9 	0	0	0 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	9 	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==
*Paul Shmyr, Defense, WHA First Team All-Star
*Gerry Cheevers, Goalie, WHA First Team All-Star
*Gary Jarrett, Left Wing, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
==Gallery==
1972-Oct2-Cheevers-Morenz.jpg|Brian Morenz and Gerry Cheevers, October 2, 1972.
Alton White-Jarrett.jpg|Alton White and Gary Jarrett in 1972-73 action.
==See Also==
*1972–73 WHA season
==References==
Cleveland Crusaders season, 1972–73
Cleveland Crusaders season, 1972–73
category:Cleveland Crusaders seasons