1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season

The 1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season was the 1st season of the Jets franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Jets finished 1st in the Western Division and lost in the Avco Cup Finals to the New England Whalers 4 games to 1.
==Off-season==
The Jets' first signing was Norm Beaudin ("the Original Jet").
Long unhappy because of his relatively poor NHL salary in the period when he was hockey's preeminent superstar, Hull responded to overtures from the upstart World Hockey Association's Winnipeg Jets in 1972 by jesting that he'd jump to them for a million dollars, a sum then considered absurd. Gathering the other league owners together to contribute to the unprecedented amount on the grounds that inking such a major star would give instant credibility to the new rival league that was competing directly against the entrenched NHL, Jets' owner Ben Hatskin agreed to Hull's request.
 
A ten year contract for $2.75 million, an unprecedented sum, was offered. For the first five seasons, Hull would receive a salary of $250,000 per year to play. For the latter five seasons, he was meant to receive $100,000 each year to work in their front office. The contract included the clause that he could not be traded against his wishes. To sign the contract, on June 27, 1972, Hull flew into St. Paul, Minnesota so that he would receive a U.S. tax break. As the 95th signee of the WHA, he used 11 pens to represent the 11 clubs in the new WHA. In return, the clubs all pitched in to pay Hull's signing bonus. At a press conference, 33-year-old Hull received an oversized check for $1 million. Although his debut with Winnipeg was held up in litigation by the NHL, Hull instantly became the WHA's greatest star.
The Jets inaugural jersey colours were dark blue, white and red with a primarily white home jersey and a primarily dark blue away jersey. They'd stay with these colours throughout the club's existence. The white jersey had blue shoulder yolks while the away jersey had no yolks. Both jerseys had stripes on the arms and body. The jerseys had two features that existed for this season only. First, the nameplates on the backs were highlighted and featured a unique font. Second, the team's logo was a slanted "JETS" with a small hockey player to the left.
==Pre-Season==
The Jets played five exhibition game in October 1972 finishing with a 2-3 record.
October 1, 1972: Jets 5, Minnesota Fighting Saints 7 @Duluth
October 3, 1972: Jets 2, Minnesota Fighting Saints 5 @ Winnipeg 
October 4, 1972: Jets 3, Alberta Oilers 6 @ Edmonton 
October 5, 1972: Jets 2, Los Angeles Sharks 1 @ Regina 
October 8, 1972: Jets 6, Los Angeles Sharks 5 @ Winnipeg
==Regular Season==
When the Jets played their first game on October 12, 1972 in New York against the Raiders, the Jets were without Bobby Hull. He was in court battling his former team, the Chicago Black Hawks over his new contract. The Jets would still win that first game 6–4. Three days later, the Jets made their home debut losing to the Alberta Oilers 5–2. 
Bobby Hull won his court battle and joined the Jets after missing 14 regular season games. He made his debut on the road on November 8, 1972 as the Jets lost to the Quebec Nordiques 3-2 with Hull assisting on a goal by Dan Johnson. At home on November 12 against the Los Angeles Sharks, Hull scored his first goal for the Jets. He added another and an assist in a 5-2 victory. In a replay at home the next night, Ernie Wakely recorded the first shutout in Jets history as they thumped the Sharks 8-0 with Hull scoring 2 goals and an assist.
Goalie Gordon Tumilson played the only 3 games of his professional career in this season. A 4-3 loss on December 1, 1972 versus the Ottawa Nationals, a 7-4 loss on December 13 to the Philadelphia Blazers in which he played 18 minutes and, the last game of the regular season against Philadelphia, a 4-2 loss.
On March 28, 1973, Bobby Hull returned to Chicago to face the Cougars, having scored 49 goals. Hull potted his 50th of the season and when the game went into overtime, won it for the Jets with his 51st. At the end of the regular season, Bobby Hull had scored 51 goals and 103 points. He captured the WHA's first MVP award and was a First Team All-Star. The Jets won the Western Division with a 43–31–4 record.
===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 	6-4 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	1–0–0
2 	W 	October 13, 1972 	4-3 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	2–0–0
3 	L 	October 15, 1972 	2-5 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	2–1–0
4 	L 	October 17, 1972 	2-3 (OT) 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	2–2–0
5 	T 	October 20, 1972 	1-1 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) 	2–2–1
6 	W 	October 22, 1972 	6-3 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	3–2–1
7 	W 	October 24, 1972 	5-3 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	4–2–1
8 	W 	October 27, 1972 	4-2 	Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	5–2–1
9 	W 	October 29, 1972 	5-3 	Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	6–2–1
10 	L 	October 31, 1972 	1-3 	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	6–3–1
11 	L 	November 1, 1972 	0-3 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	6–4–1
12 	L 	November 3, 1972 	6-9 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	6–5–1
13 	W 	November 5, 1972 	3-1 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	7–5–1
14 	L 	November 6, 1972 	2-6 	@ New England Whalers (1972–73) 	7–6–1
15 	L 	November 8, 1972 	2-3 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	7–7–1
16 	W 	November 9, 1972 	4-1 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	8–7–1
17 	L 	November 10, 1972 	1-5 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) 	8–8–1
18 	W 	November 12, 1972 	5-2 	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	9–8–1
19 	W 	November 14, 1972 	8-0 	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	10–8–1
20 	L 	November 15, 1972 	1-3 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	10–9–1
21 	W 	November 17, 1972 	5-1 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	11–9–1
22 	W 	November 19, 1972 	4-3 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	12–9–1
23 	W 	November 21, 1972 	4-2 	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	13–9–1
24 	L 	November 23, 1972 	5-6 (OT) 	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	13–10–1
25 	W 	November 24, 1972 	5-3 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	14–10–1
26 	W 	November 26, 1972 	4-1 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	15–10–1
27 	W 	November 28, 1972 	3-0 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	16–10–1
28 	T 	November 30, 1972 	3-3 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	16–10–2
29 	L 	December 1, 1972 	3-4 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	16–11–2
30 	W 	December 3, 1972 	5-1 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) 	17–11–2
31 	L 	December 5, 1972 	2-4 	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	17–12–2
32 	W 	December 6, 1972 	7-1 	Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	18–12–2
33 	W 	December 8, 1972 	6-2 	Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	19–12–2
34 	W 	December 9, 1972 	3–2 (OT) 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	20–12–2
35 	L 	December 11, 1972 	3-4 	@ New England Whalers (1972–73) 	20–13–2
36 	L 	December 13, 1972 	4-7 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	20–14–2
37 	L 	December 15, 1972 	4-6 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	20–15–2
38 	W 	December 17, 1972 	4-3 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	21–15–2
39 	L 	December 21, 1972 	0-3 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	21–16–2
40 	L 	December 22, 1972 	2-3 	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	21–17–2
41 	W 	December 26, 1972 	3-2 	Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	22–17–2
42 	L 	January 1, 1973 	3-7 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	22–18–2
43 	W 	January 7, 1973 	6-2 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	23–18–2
44 	W 	January 10, 1973 	6-1 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	24–18–2
45 	W 	January 12, 1973 	5-3 	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	25–18–2
46 	W 	January 14, 1973 	3-1 	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	26–18–2
47 	W 	January 16, 1973 	3-1 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) 	27–18–2
48 	W 	January 19, 1973 	6-2 	New England Whalers (1972–73) 	28–18–2
49 	L 	January 21, 1973 	2-7 	New England Whalers (1972–73) 	28–19–2
50 	L 	January 23, 1973 	4-5 (OT) 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	28–20–2
51 	L 	January 24, 1973 	1-6 	@ New England Whalers (1972–73) 	28–21–2
52 	T 	January 26, 1973 	2-2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	28–21–3
53 	W 	January 28, 1973 	5-4 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	29–21–3
54 	L 	February 2, 1973 	3-4 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	29–22–3
55 	W 	February 4, 1973 	5-3 	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	30–22–3
56 	L 	February 7, 1973 	2-5 	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	30–23–3
57 	W 	February 8, 1973 	3-1 	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	31–23–3
58 	W 	February 10, 1973 	6-5 (OT) 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	32–23–3
59 	W 	February 11, 1973 	3-0 	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	33–23–3
60 	W 	February 15, 1973 	7-2 	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	34–23–3
61 	W 	February 16, 1973 	7-0 	Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	35–23–3
62 	W 	February 18, 1973 	4-2 	Houston Aeros (1972–73) 	36–23–3
63 	W 	February 25, 1973 	5-3 	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	37–23–3
64 	W 	February 27, 1973 	5-1 	Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	38–23–3
65 	W 	March 2, 1973 	2-1 	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	39–23–3
66 	W 	March 4, 1973 	2-1 	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 	40–23–3
67 	L 	March 6, 1973 	2-5 	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	40–24–3
68 	W 	March 8, 1973 	7-4 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 	41–24–3
69 	L 	March 10, 1973 	2-3 (OT) 	@ New York Raiders (1972–73) 	41–25–3
70 	L 	March 11, 1973 	2-11 	Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	41–26–3
71 	L 	March 14, 1973 	5-7 	New England Whalers (1972–73) 	41–27–3
72 	L 	March 16, 1973 	1-6 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	41–28–3
73 	L 	March 18, 1973 	2-4 	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 	41–29–3
74 	T 	March 22, 1973 	1-1 	Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 	41–29–4
75 	W 	March 25, 1973 	8-4 	New York Raiders (1972–73) 	42–29–4
76 	W 	March 28, 1973 	4-3 (OT) 	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 	43–29–4
77 	L 	March 30, 1973 	2-4 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 	43–30–4
78 	L 	April 1, 1973 	2-4 	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 	43–31–4
==Playoffs==
In the playoffs, the Jets beat the Minnesota Fighting Saints in 5 games. In the second round of the playoffs, the Jets beat the Houston Aeros in 4 straight to reach the Avco World Trophy finals. In the Finals, the Jets were beaten by the New England Whalers in 5 games.
===Winnipeg Jets 4, Minnesota Fighting Saints 1===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	Record
1	April 6 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	1–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	1–0
2	April 8 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	2–5 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–0
3	April 10	Winnipeg Jets 	4–6 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	2–1
4	April 11	Winnipeg Jets 	3–2 OT	Minnesota Fighting Saints	3–1
5	April 15	Minnesota Fighting Saints	5–8 	Winnipeg Jets 	4–1
===Winnipeg Jets 4, Houston Aeros 0===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 20	Houston Aeros	1–5 	Winnipeg Jets	1–0
2	April 22	Houston Aeros	0–2 	Winnipeg Jets	2–0
3	April 24	Winnipeg Jets	4–2 	Houston Aeros	3–0
4	April 26	Winnipeg Jets	3–0 	Houston Aeros	4–0
===New England Whalers 4, Winnipeg Jets 1===
#	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==
===Forwards===
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
# 	Player 	GP	G 	A 	PTS	PIM
9 	Bobby Hull 	63	51	52	103	37
11	Norm Beaudin 	78	38	65	103	15
7 	Christian Bordeleau 	78	47	54	101	12
17	Dan Johnson 	76	19	23	42 	17
14	Ab McDonald 	77	17	24	41 	16
19	Milt Black 	75	18	16	34 	14
8 	Wally Boyer 	69	6 	28	34 	27
12	Dunc Rousseau 	75	16	17	33 	75
18	Cal Swenson 	77	7 	21	28 	19
16	Jean Guy Gratton 	71	15	12	27 	37
10	Bill Sutherland 	48	6 	16	22 	34
15	Garth Rizzuto 	61	10	10	20 	32
22	Freeman "Duke" Asmundson	76	2 	14	16 	54
27	Brian Cadle 	56	4 	4 	8 	39
===Defencemen===
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
# 	Player 	GP	G 	A 	PTS	PIM
5 	Larry Hornung	77	13	45	58 	28
4 	Joe Zanussi 	73	4 	21	25 	53
6 	Steve Cuddie 	77	7 	13	20 	121
3 	Bob Ash 	76	3 	14	17 	39
2 	Bob Woytowich	62	2 	4 	6 	47
24	John Shmyr 	7 	0 	0 	0 	2
===Goaltending===
Note: GP= Games played; MIN= Minutes; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against
# 	Player 	GP	MIN 	W 	L 	T	SO	GAA
1 	Joe Daley 	29	1718	17	10	1	2 	2.89
30 	Ernie Wakely 	49	2894	26	19	3	2 	3.15
24, 28	Gordon Tumilson	3 	138 	0 	2 	0	0 	4.34
==Awards and Records==
*Gary L. Davidson Award (MVP): Bobby Hull
*Bobby Hull, Left Wing, WHA First Team All-Star
*Larry Hornung, Defense, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Gallery==
1972-Dec22-Anderson-Hull-Mavety.jpg|Ron Anderson, Bobby Hull, Larry Mavety, December 22, 1972.
Gord Tumilson-1Dec1972.jpg|Gordon Tumilson in his 1st WHA game, December 1, 1972.
1974-Jan7-Swenson-Asmundson-McCartan.jpg|Cal Swenson, Freeman "Duke" Asmundson, Jack McCartan, January 7, 1973.
1972-73-Hull-Olds-Rousseau-Donnelly.jpg|Bobby Hull, Wally Olds, Dunc Rousseau, Pete Donnelly in 1972-73 action.
72-73WHAExhRegiaGameAd.jpg|Pre-season @ Regina
==Video==
48 minutes of game action from the October 27, 1972 Chicago Cougars-Winnipeg Jets match.
WHA- Oct.27-1972 Chicago Cougars - Winnipeg Jets
==References==
*Winnipeg Jets Memorial Site
*Jets on Hockey Database
*Jets on Sports Encyclopedia
Category:Winnipeg Jets seasons
Winnipeg Jets season, 1972–73
Winnipeg Jets season, 1972–73