1974–75 New England Whalers season

The was the 3rd season of the Whalers' franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Whalers finished 1st in the Eastern Division and lost in the Quarter-finals to the Minnesota Fighting Saints 4 games to 2.
==Off-season==
The Whalers away jersey followed suit with the changes made to the home jersey for the 1973-74 season, adding yellow highlights to the stripes, collar, numbers and socks and adopting the large "W" logo with a harpoon and the roundel removed.
==Pre-season==
On September 28, 1974, the Whalers lost an exhibition game 4-2 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
==Regular Season==
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.
===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 	L 	October 15, 1974 	2–6 	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	0–1–0
2 	W 	October 19, 1974 	2–1 OT 	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) 	1–1–0
3 	W 	October 23, 1974 	5–4 	Houston Aeros (1974–75) 	2–1–0
4 	W 	October 26, 1974 	6–1 	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	3–1–0
5 	W 	October 30, 1974 	5–2 	Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	4–1–0
6 	W 	October 31, 1974 	6–1 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	5–1–0
7 	W 	November 2, 1974 	4–2 	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	6–1–0
8 	W 	November 8, 1974 	3–0 	San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	7–1–0
9 	L 	November 9, 1974 	2–4 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	7–2–0
10 	L 	November 12, 1974 	1–6 	@ Houston Aeros (1974–75) 	7–3–0
11 	W 	November 14, 1974 	7–2 	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	8–3–0
12 	L 	November 16, 1974 	3–6 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	8–4–0
13 	W 	November 17, 1974 	6–1 	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	9–4–0
14 	W 	November 19, 1974 	5–4 	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	10–4–0
15 	W 	November 21, 1974 	4–0 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	11–4–0
16 	W 	November 23, 1974 	3–2 	Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	12–4–0
17 	W 	November 24, 1974 	9–5 	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	13–4–0
18 	W 	November 26, 1974 	5–4 OT 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	14–4–0
19 	L 	November 29, 1974 	1–5 	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	14–5–0
20 	L 	December 1, 1974 	4–8 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	14–6–0
21 	L 	December 3, 1974 	1–2 	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	14–7–0
22 	W 	December 4, 1974 	3–2 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	15–7–0
23 	L 	December 5, 1974 	1–9 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	15–8–0
24 	W 	December 7, 1974 	6–3 	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	16–8–0
25 	W 	December 11, 1974 	3–1 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	17–8–0
26 	W 	December 14, 1974 	9–4 	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	18–8–0
27 	W 	December 15, 1974 	4–3 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	19–8–0
28 	T 	December 17, 1974 	2–2 	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	19–8–1
29 	L 	December 20, 1974 	0–3 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	19–9–1
30 	L 	December 21, 1974 	3–5 	Houston Aeros (1974–75) 	19–10–1
31 	L 	December 22, 1974 	1–2 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	19–11–1
32 	L 	December 27, 1974 	3–6 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	19–12–1
33 	L 	December 28, 1974 	1–6 	@ Houston Aeros (1974–75) 	19–13–1
34 	W 	January 3, 1975 	5–3 	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	20–13–1
35 	W 	January 4, 1975 	4–3 OT 	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	21–13–1
36 	L 	January 5, 1975 	3–9 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	21–14–1
37 	L 	January 7, 1975 	3–5 	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	21–15–1
38 	T 	January 9, 1975 	1–1 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	21–15–2
39 	W 	January 11, 1975 	4–3 OT 	San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	22–15–2
40 	W 	January 15, 1975 	7–5 	Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	23–15–2
41 	W 	January 17, 1975 	2–1 	Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	24–15–2
42 	L 	January 18, 1975 	2–8 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	24–16–2
43 	L 	January 19, 1975 	1–3 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	24–17–2
44 	L 	January 24, 1975 	1–4 	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	24–18–2
45 	L 	January 25, 1975 	2–6 	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	24–19–2
46 	W 	January 27, 1975 	2–0 	Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	25–19–2
47 	W 	January 29, 1975 	4–3 	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) 	26–19–2
48 	W 	January 31, 1975 	4–2 	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75) 	27–19–2
49 	W 	February 7, 1975 	5–4 OT 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	28–19–2
50 	L 	February 8, 1975 	1–4 	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	28–20–2
51 	L 	February 9, 1975 	1–5 	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	28–21–2
52 	T 	February 12, 1975 	2–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	28–21–3
53 	W 	February 14, 1975 	4–3 OT 	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75) 	29–21–3
54 	L 	February 18, 1975 	3–6 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	29–22–3
55 	W 	February 21, 1975 	4–2 	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	30–22–3
56 	W 	February 23, 1975 	2–1 OT 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	31–22–3
57 	W 	February 25, 1975 	3–2 	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	32–22–3
58 	L 	February 26, 1975 	3–4 	Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	32–23–3
59 	W 	February 27, 1975 	5–2 	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	33–23–3
60 	T 	March 1, 1975 	4–4 	Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	33–23–4
61 	W 	March 2, 1975 	4–1 	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75) 	34–23–4
62 	L 	March 5, 1975 	3–5 	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75) 	34–24–4
63 	W 	March 8, 1975 	5–4 	@ Houston Aeros (1974–75) 	35–24–4
64 	W 	March 11, 1975 	6–2 	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	36–24–4
65 	T 	March 13, 1975 	5–5 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	36–24–5
66 	W 	March 15, 1975 	6–2 	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	37–24–5
67 	W 	March 16, 1975 	7–5 	Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	38–24–5
68 	L 	March 19, 1975 	1–6 	San Diego Mariners (1974–75) 	38–25–5
69 	L 	March 21, 1975 	3–6 	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	38–26–5
70 	L 	March 22, 1975 	3–5 	Houston Aeros (1974–75) 	38–27–5
71 	W 	March 25, 1975 	5–4 	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75) 	39–27–5
72 	W 	March 27, 1975 	5–3 	Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	40–27–5
73 	L 	March 29, 1975 	3–9 	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75) 	40–28–5
74 	W 	March 30, 1975 	4–3 	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75) 	41–28–5
75 	W 	April 1, 1975 	5–3 	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75) 	42–28–5
76 	W 	April 3, 1975 	4–1 	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75) 	43–28–5
77 	L 	April 4, 1975 	1–3 	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75) 	43–29–5
78 	L 	April 5, 1975 	2–5 	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75) 	43–30–5
==Playoffs==
===Minnesota Fighting Saints 4, New England Whalers 2===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score 	Home 	Record
1	April 9 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	6–5 	New England Whalers 	0–1
2	April 11	Minnesota Fighting Saints	2 – 3 OT	New England Whalers 	1–1
3	April 13	New England Whalers 	3–8 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	1–2
4	April 15	New England Whalers 	5–2 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	2–2
5	April 18	Minnesota Fighting Saints	4–0 	New England Whalers 	2–3
6	April 19	New England Whalers 	1–6 	Minnesota Fighting Saints	2–4
==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
9 	Wayne Carleton 	73 	35 	39 	74 	50 	6 	2 	5 	7 	14
8 	Tom Webster 	66 	40 	24 	64 	52 	3 	0 	2 	2 	0
4 	Larry Pleau 	78 	30 	34 	64 	50 	6 	2 	3 	5 	19
11 	John French 	75 	12 	41 	53 	28 	4 	2 	1 	3 	0
7 	Terry Caffery 	67 	15 	37 	52 	12 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
22 	Don Blackburn 	50 	18 	32 	50 	10 	5 	1 	2 	3 	2
21 	Mike Byers 	72 	22 	26 	48 	10 	6 	2 	2 	4 	2
2 	Rick Ley 	62 	6 	36 	42 	50 	6 	1 	1 	2 	32
3 	Brad Selwood 	77 	4 	35 	39 	117 	5 	1 	0 	1 	11
16 	Fred O'Donnell 	76 	21 	15 	36 	84 	3 	0 	0 	0 	15
15 	Tim Sheehy 	77 	29 	29 	58 	22 	6 	4 	2 	6 	4
19 	Thommy Abrahamsson 	76 	8 	22 	30 	46 	6 	0 	0 	0 	0
5 	Paul Hurley 	75 	3 	26 	29 	36 	6 	0 	1 	1 	4
20 	Gary Swain 	66 	7 	15 	22 	18 	6 	0 	3 	3 	41
10 	Jim Dorey 	31 	5 	17 	22 	43 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
14 	Al Karlander 	48 	7 	14 	21 	2 	5 	0 	3 	3 	0
6 	Ted Green 	57 	6 	14 	20 	29 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0
15 	Ron Climie 	25 	8 	4 	12 	12 	6 	3 	0 	3 	0
27 	Tommy Earl 	72 	3 	8 	11 	20 	6 	1 	1 	2 	12
23 	Nick Fotiu 	61 	2 	2 	4 	144 	4 	2 	0 	2 	27
17 	Alan Hangsleben 	26 	0 	4 	4 	8 	6 	0 	3 	3 	19
 	Bob Charlebois 	8 	1 	0 	1 	0 	4 	1 	0 	1 	0
10, 18	Gerry Methe 	5 	0 	1 	1 	4 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
12 	John Danby 	— 	— 	— 	— 	— 	4 	0 	1 	1 	0
 	Ted Ouimet 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
30 	Bill Berglund 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
30 	Bruce Landon 	7 	0 	0 	0 	0 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
29 	Christer Abrahamsson	16 	0 	0 	0 	0 	— 	— 	— 	— 	—
1 	Al Smith 	59 	0 	0 	0 	18 	6 	0 	0 	0 	2
Statistics for all players reflect only games played with the Whalers.
===Goaltenders===
Player	MIN 	GP	W 	L 	T	GA 	GAA 	SO
 	870 	16	8 	6 	1	47 	3.24	1
 	339 	7 	2 	3 	0	19 	3.36	0
 	3494	59	33	21	4	202	3.47	2
 	36 	2 	0 	0 	0	3 	5.00	0
 	20 	1 	0 	0 	0	3 	9.00	0
Team: 	4759	78	43	20	5	274	3.45	3
==Awards and Records==
*The Whalers did not win any awards this season.
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
*Cape Codders, NAHL
==Gallery==
1974-Oct15-Smith-Mahovlich.jpg|Frank Mahovlich scores on Al Smith, October 15, 1974.
1975-Jan11-Blackburn-Wakely.jpg|Don Blackburn scores the 1st goal in the Hartford Civic Center on Ernie Wakely, January 11, 1975.
==See Also==
*1974–75 WHA season
==References==
* 
New England Whalers season, 1974–75
New England Whalers season, 1974–75
category:Hartford Whalers seasons
category:New England Whalers seasons