1972–73 Alberta Oilers season

The 1972–73 Alberta Oilers season was the 1st season of the Oilers franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Oilers finished 5th in the Western Division and lost in a 1 game playoff tie-breaker to the Minnesota Fighting Saints.
==Off-season==
The Oilers inaugural jersey colours were blue, white and orange with a primarily white home jersey and a primarily orange away jersey. The sleeve numbers were placed on the shoulders. The logo had a white background with an orange oil drop and blue "OILERS" elongated to appear to be dripping. The logo colour scheme would change for the 1974-75 season.
Unusually, the jersey back had "ALBERTA" nameplates instead of the player's names. This was modified later in the season to a the player's names in a unique font.
==Regular Season==
The Oilers victory over the Ottawa Nationals on October 11, 1972 was the first game in league history, with Ron Anderson scoring the first goal.
Jim Harrison led the team in scoring, with 39 goals and 86 points. On January 30, 1973, in an 11–3 defeat of the New York Raiders, Harrison set a professional hockey record with 10 points (3G, 7A) in a single game. That feat was later matched by Darryl Sittler on February 7, 1976 in a National Hockey League game.
The Oilers leaned heavily on goalie Jack Norris who led the league in games played (64) and was 5th in goals against average (3.06). Norris wore an unusual mask with a large nose and smile painted on.
The Oilers posted a winning record in the regular season, with 38 wins, 37 losses and 3 ties. The Minnesota Fighting Saints finished with an identical record, so a single game playoff was contested to decide fourth place in the Western Division. The Fighting Saints defeated the Oilers 4–2 on a neutral site rink (in Calgary), ending the Oilers season.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
# 	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record 	Pts
1 	October 11 	Alberta Oilers 	7–4 	Ottawa Nationals 	1–0–0 	2
2 	October 13 	Alberta Oilers 	0–6 	Quebec Nordiques 	1–1–0 	2
3 	October 14 	Alberta Oilers 	2–3 	Cleveland Crusaders 	1–2–0 	2
4 	October 15 	Alberta Oilers 	5–2 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–2–0 	4
5 	October 17 	Winnipeg Jets 	3–2 	Alberta Oilers 	3–2–0 	6
6 	October 20 	Philadelphia Blazers 	4–1 	Alberta Oilers 	4–2–0 	8
7 	October 24 	Chicago Cougars 	3–3 	Alberta Oilers 	4–2–1 	9
8 	October 27 	Alberta Oilers 	0–6 	Cleveland Crusaders 	4–3–1 	9
9 	October 28 	Alberta Oilers 	4–1 	New England Whalers 	5–3–1 	11
10	October 29 	Alberta Oilers 	2–7 	New York Raiders 	5–4–1 	11
11	October 31 	Houston Aeros 	3–4 	Alberta Oilers 	5–5–1 	11
12	November 3 	Houston Aeros 	4–3 	Alberta Oilers 	6–5–1 	13
13	November 5 	Ottawa Nationals 	3–5 	Alberta Oilers 	6–6–1 	13
14	November 7 	New York Raiders 	4–2 	Alberta Oilers 	7–6–1 	15
15	November 9 	Los Angeles Sharks 	7–2 	Alberta Oilers 	8–6–1 	17
16	November 11	Los Angeles Sharks 	5–3 	Alberta Oilers 	9–6–1 	19
17	November 12	Cleveland Crusaders 	1–3 	Alberta Oilers 	9–7–1 	19
18	November 15	Winnipeg Jets 	3–1 	Alberta Oilers 	10–7–1 	21
19	November 17	Chicago Cougars 	3–1 	Alberta Oilers 	11–7–1 	23
20	November 21	Alberta Oilers 	3–4 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	11–8–1 	23
21	November 22	Alberta Oilers 	4–5 	Philadelphia Blazers 	11–9–1 	23
22	November 24	Alberta Oilers 	2–7 	New England Whalers 	11–10–1	23
23	November 25	Alberta Oilers 	2–4 	New York Raiders 	11–11–1	23
24	November 26	Alberta Oilers 	2–1 	Ottawa Nationals 	12–11–1	25
25	November 28	Alberta Oilers 	0–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	12–12–1	25
26	November 30	Winnipeg Jets 	3–3 	Alberta Oilers 	12–12–2	26
27	December 1 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	4–6 	Alberta Oilers 	12–13–2	26
28	December 3 	Quebec Nordiques 	2–6 	Alberta Oilers 	12–14–2	26
29	December 8 	Alberta Oilers 	2–4 	Los Angeles Sharks 	12–15–2	26
30	December 10	Alberta Oilers 	3–5 	Los Angeles Sharks 	12–16–2	26
31	December 12	Alberta Oilers 	4–6 	Houston Aeros 	12–17–2	26
32	December 13	Alberta Oilers 	3–2 	Houston Aeros 	13–17–2	28
33	December 15	Ottawa Nationals 	3–4 	Alberta Oilers 	13–18–2	28
34	December 17	Ottawa Nationals 	3–1 	Alberta Oilers 	14–18–2	30
35	December 21	New England Whalers 	5–4 	Alberta Oilers 	15–18–2	32
36	December 23	Alberta Oilers 	2–3 	Chicago Cougars 	15–19–2	32
37	December 25	Alberta Oilers 	2–3 	Chicago Cougars 	15–20–2	32
38	January 1 	Winnipeg Jets 	7–3 	Alberta Oilers 	16–20–2	34
39	January 10 	Alberta Oilers 	1–6 	Winnipeg Jets 	16–21–2	34
40	January 12 	Alberta Oilers 	2–1 	Los Angeles Sharks 	17–21–2	36
41	January 13 	Alberta Oilers 	4–3 	Los Angeles Sharks 	18–21–2	38
42	January 15 	Los Angeles Sharks 	1–4 	Alberta Oilers 	18–22–2	38
43	January 16 	Los Angeles Sharks 	6–5 	Alberta Oilers 	19–22–2	40
44	January 20 	Chicago Cougars 	4–6 	Alberta Oilers 	19–23–2	40
45	January 22 	Chicago Cougars 	6–1 	Alberta Oilers 	20–23–2	42
46	January 27 	Philadelphia Blazers 	0–1 	Alberta Oilers 	20–24–2	42
47	January 28 	Philadelphia Blazers 	4–2 	Alberta Oilers 	21–24–2	44
48	January 30 	New York Raiders 	11–3 	Alberta Oilers 	22–24–2	46
49	February 1 	New York Raiders 	8–5 	Alberta Oilers 	23–24–2	48
50	February 2 	Alberta Oilers 	4–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	24–24–2	50
51	February 4 	Winnipeg Jets 	3–5 	Alberta Oilers 	24–25–2	50
52	February 6 	New England Whalers 	2–4 	Alberta Oilers 	24–26–2	50
53	February 7 	New England Whalers 	3–1 	Alberta Oilers 	25–26–2	52
54	February 9 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	6–0 	Alberta Oilers 	26–26–2	54
55	February 11	Minnesota Fighting Saints	7–5 	Alberta Oilers 	27–26–2	56
56	February 13	Houston Aeros 	5–3 	Alberta Oilers 	28–26–2	58
57	February 15	Houston Aeros 	3–5 	Alberta Oilers 	28–27–2	58
58	February 20	Alberta Oilers 	4–5 	Cleveland Crusaders 	28–28–2	58
59	February 21	Alberta Oilers 	4–5 	New York Raiders 	28–29–2	58
60	February 23	Alberta Oilers 	2–4 	New England Whalers 	28–30–2	58
61	February 25	Alberta Oilers 	2–3 	Ottawa Nationals 	28–31–2	58
62	February 27	Alberta Oilers 	4–5 	Houston Aeros 	28–32–2	58
63	February 28	Alberta Oilers 	2–3 	Houston Aeros 	28–33–2	58
64	March 6 	Alberta Oilers 	3–4 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	28–34–2	58
65	March 8 	Alberta Oilers 	3–2 	Chicago Cougars 	29–34–2	60
66	March 10 	Alberta Oilers 	5–4 	Chicago Cougars 	30–34–2	62
67	March 11 	Alberta Oilers 	1–2 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	30–35–2	62
68	March 13 	Cleveland Crusaders 	4–2 	Alberta Oilers 	31–35–2	64
69	March 14 	Cleveland Crusaders 	4–2 	Alberta Oilers 	32–35–2	66
70	March 16 	Quebec Nordiques 	4–2 	Alberta Oilers 	33–35–2	68
71	March 17 	Quebec Nordiques 	3–0 	Alberta Oilers 	34–35–2	70
72	March 20 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	5–3 	Alberta Oilers 	35–35–2	72
73	March 22 	Alberta Oilers 	1–1 	Winnipeg Jets 	35–35–3	73
74	March 24 	Alberta Oilers 	4–5 	Quebec Nordiques 	35–36–3	73
75	March 25 	Alberta Oilers 	5–4 	Quebec Nordiques 	36–36–3	75
76	March 28 	Philadelphia Blazers 	2–1 	Alberta Oilers 	37–36–3	77
77	March 29 	Philadelphia Blazers 	1–2 	Alberta Oilers 	37–37–3	77
78	March 30 	Alberta Oilers 	5–3 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	38–37–3	79
==Playoffs==
===Minnesota Fighting Saints 1, Alberta Oilers 0===
The Minnesota Fighting Saints and the Minnesota Fighting Saints were tied at the end of the season. They had the same number of victories and points, and they had both won four games against each other. Subsequently, it was decided that the two teams would play a one game playoff to decide the final spot in the playoffs, to be played in Calgary.
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 4	Minnesota Fighting Saints	4–2 	Alberta Oilers	0–1
==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
7 	Jim Harrison 	66 	39 	47 	86 	93 	1 	0 	1 	1 	2
3 	Al Hamilton 	78 	11 	50 	61 	124 	1 	0 	0 	0 	2
9 	Ross Perkins 	71 	21 	37 	58 	19 	1 	0 	0 	0 	2
17	Ed Patenaude 	78 	29 	27 	56 	59 	1 	0 	1 	1 	4
11	Ron Walters 	78 	28 	26 	54 	37 	1 	1 	0 	1 	0
4 	Bob Wall 	78 	16 	29 	45 	20 	1 	0 	1 	1 	0
8 	Val Fonteyne 	77 	7 	32 	39 	2 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
16	Eddie Joyal 	71 	22 	16 	38 	16 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
12	Bill Hicke 	73 	14 	24 	38 	20 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
14	Brian Carlin 	65 	12 	22 	34 	6 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
5 	Doug Barrie 	54 	9 	22 	31 	111 	1 	0 	0 	0 	22
10	Ron Anderson 	73 	14 	15 	29 	43 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
19	Ken Baird 	75 	14 	15 	29 	112 	1 	1 	0 	1 	6
6 	Bob Falkenberg 	77 	6 	23 	29 	44 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
20	Steve Carlyle 	67 	7 	10 	17 	35 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
15	Dennis Kassian 	50 	6 	7 	13 	14 	1 	0 	1 	1 	0
18	Bob McAneeley 	51 	5 	7 	12 	24 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
21	Bernie Blanchette	23 	5 	4 	9 	2 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
2 	Roger Cote 	60 	3 	5 	8 	46 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
22	John Fisher 	40 	0 	5 	5 	0 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
30	Jack Norris 	64 	0 	3 	3 	2 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
21	Jim Benzelock 	26 	1 	1 	2 	10 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
27	Derek Harker 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1 	Ken Brown 	20 	0 	0 	0 	2 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
†Denotes player traded to the Oilers mid-season.
‡Denotes player traded away mid-season.
Statistics for all players reflect only games played with the Oilers.
===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
30	Jack Norris	64 	3705 	28 	29 	3 	189 	1 	0.903 	3.06 	1 	59 	0 	1 	4 	0 	0.833 	4.07
1 	Ken Brown 	20 	1034 	10 	8 	0 	63 	1 	0.883 	3.65 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
==Awards and Records==
*Jim Harrison, WHA Record, Most Points in a game (10)
*Four Oilers were selected to play in the mid-season All-Star Game on January 6: Jack Norris (G), Al Hamilton (D), Bob Wall (D), Jim Harrison (C)
==Transactions==
===Draft Picks===
The WHA General Player Draft was held on February 12–13, 1972 to stock each new WHA team with their initial rosters. The Oilers selected four NHL players with their "priority" selections:
* Norm Ullman, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
* Bobby Clarke, C, Philadelphia Flyers
* Bruce MacGregor, RW, New York Rangers
* Phil Myre, G, Montreal Canadiens
Ullman and MacGregor would eventually play for the Oilers, but not during the 1972–73 season. Both were Edmonton-born players who finished their playing careers with the Oilers after long NHL careers.
The Oilers selected an additional 96 players in subsequent rounds of the draft. Of those, 22 players would play for the Oilers, 16 in the 1972–73 season.
Player	Pos	Team 	League 	Joined Oilers
 	RW 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	1972–73
 	LW 	Boston Bruins 	NHL 	1978–79
 	D 	California Golden Seals 	NHL 	1972–73
 	D 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	1972–73
 	RW 	Dayton Gems 	IHL 	1972–73
 	LW 	Los Angeles Kings 	NHL 	1972–73
 	D 	Cleveland Barons 	AHL 	1972–73
 	D 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	1972–73
 	C 	Fort Worth Wings 	CHL 	1972–73
 	LW 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	NHL 	1972–73
 	LW 	California Golden Seals 	NHL 	1977–78
 	D 	Buffalo Sabres 	NHL 	1972–73
 	C 	Philadelphia Flyers 	NHL 	1972–73
 	D 	Nova Scotia Voyageurs 	AHL 	1975–76
 	D 	Portland Buckaroos 	WHL 	1974–75
 	LW 	Ilves Tampere 	SM-sarja	1973–74
 	LW 	University of British Columbia	CWUAA 	1972–73
 	RW 	Fort Wayne Komets 	IHL 	1972–73
 	C 	Fort Worth Wings 	CHL 	1972–73
 	LW 	New York Rangers 	NHL 	1976–77
 	D 	Detroit Red Wings 	NHL 	1972–73
 	C 	Tidewater Wings 	AHL 	1972–73
===Trades===
Date 	To Alberta Oilers 	Traded to 	Traded for
May 1972 	Jim Harrison 	Calgary Broncos 	Cash
May 1972 	Dennis Kassian 	Houston Aeros 	Cash
June 1972 	Future considerations	Quebec Nordiques 	François Lacombe
June 1972 	Jack Norris 	Cleveland Crusaders 	Cash
July 1972 	Steve Carlyle 	Cleveland Crusaders 	Cash
July 1972 	Ken Brown 	Cleveland Crusaders 	Cash
July 1972 	Future considerations	Cleveland Crusaders 	Joe Hardy
August 1972 	Cash 	Cleveland Crusaders 	Doug Brindley
September 1972 	Cash 	Ottawa Nationals 	Gilles Gratton
November 1972 	Cash 	Philadelphia Blazers	Derek Harker
December 27, 1972	Bernie Blanchette 	Chicago Cougars 	Jim Benzelock
===Free Agents===
* Bill Hicke signed September 1972
==Gallery==
1972-Nov21-Hampson OT-Norris.jpg|Ted Hampson scores the OT winner on Jack Norris, November 21, 1972.
1973-Harrison-Mosdell-Parent.jpg|Jim Harrison, Wayne Mosdell, Bernie Parent in 1972-73 season action.
72-73WHAEdmontonGameAd.jpg
72-73WHAExhSaskatoonGameAd.jpg|Pre-season @ Saskatoon
72-73WHAExhRegiaGameAd.jpg|Pre-season @ Regina
==References==
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Alberta Oilers season, 1972–73
Alberta Oilers season, 1972–73
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons