1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season
Encyclopedia
The 1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season was their first season in the World Hockey Association
(WHA). The Jets' first signing was Norm Beaudin
("the Original Jet") and their first major signing was Bobby Hull
.
'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 the sum and signed Hull for a contract worth $1,000,000 over ten years. Although his debut with Winnipeg was held up in litigation by the NHL, Hull instantly became the WHA's greatest star.
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 would make their home debut losing to the Alberta Oilers
5–2. Bobby Hull won his court battle and joined the Jets 15 games into the season. Bobby Hull captured the WHA's first MVP award, by scoring 51 goals. The Jets won the Western Division with a 43–31–4 record.
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.
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
(WHA). The Jets' first signing was Norm Beaudin
Norm Beaudin
Norman Joseph Andrew Beaudin is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 25 games in the National Hockey League and 335 in the World Hockey Association, most notably for the Winnipeg Jets. He also played for the Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues...
("the Original Jet") and their first major signing was Bobby Hull
Bobby Hull
Robert Marvin "Bobby" Hull, OC is a former Canadian ice hockey player. He is regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time and perhaps the greatest left winger to ever play the game. Hull was famous for his blonde hair, blinding skating speed, and having the hardest shot, earning...
.
Bobby Hull
Long unhappy because of his relatively poor salary in the period when he was hockey's preeminent superstar, Hull responded to overtures from the upstart World Hockey AssociationWorld Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
'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
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, Jets' owner Ben Hatskin
Ben Hatskin
Benjamin Hatskin was a Canadian businessman and the founder of the Winnipeg Jets.-Early life and education:...
agreed to the sum and signed Hull for a contract worth $1,000,000 over ten years. Although his debut with Winnipeg was held up in litigation by the NHL, Hull instantly became the WHA's greatest star.
Regular season
When the Jets played their first game on October 12 in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
against the Raiders, the Jets were without Bobby Hull. He was in court battling his former team, the Chicago Black Hawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
over his new contract. The Jets would still win that first game 6–4. Three days later, the Jets would make their home debut losing to the Alberta Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
5–2. Bobby Hull won his court battle and joined the Jets 15 games into the season. Bobby Hull captured the WHA's first MVP award, by scoring 51 goals. The Jets won the Western Division with a 43–31–4 record.
Forwards
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Hull Bobby Hull Robert Marvin "Bobby" Hull, OC is a former Canadian ice hockey player. He is regarded as one of the greatest ice hockey players of all time and perhaps the greatest left winger to ever play the game. Hull was famous for his blonde hair, blinding skating speed, and having the hardest shot, earning... |
63 | 51 | 52 | 103 | 37 |
| Norm Beaudin Norm Beaudin Norman Joseph Andrew Beaudin is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played 25 games in the National Hockey League and 335 in the World Hockey Association, most notably for the Winnipeg Jets. He also played for the Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues... |
78 | 38 | 65 | 103 | 15 |
| Chris Bordeleau Christian Bordeleau Christian Gerrard "Chris, Pepe" Bordeleau is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.Bordeleau started his National Hockey League career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1969. He also played for the Chicago Black Hawks and St. Louis Blues... |
78 | 47 | 54 | 101 | 12 |
| Dan Johnson Dan Johnson (ice hockey) Daniel Douglas "Danny" Johnson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who spent three seasons in the National Hockey League and another three seasons in the World Hockey Association during the 1970s... |
76 | 19 | 23 | 42 | 17 |
| Ab McDonald Ab McDonald Alvin Brian "Ab" McDonald is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.McDonald began his National Hockey League career with the Montreal Canadiens in 1958 and retired in 1972. He also played for the Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins, Pittsburgh Penguins, and the St. Louis Blues... |
77 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 16 |
| Milt Black Milt Black Milt Black is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He played in 186 games in the World Hockey Association with the Winnipeg Jets.-External links:... |
75 | 18 | 16 | 34 | 14 |
| Wally Boyer Wally Boyer Walter Boyer is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre.-Career:Wally Boyer was known as a creative playmaker and talented penalty killer throughout his NHL career... |
69 | 6 | 28 | 34 | 27 |
| Dunc Rousseau Dunc Rousseau Dunc Rousseau is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward. He played 135 games in the World Hockey Association with the Winnipeg Jets.-Awards and achievements:*MJHL Second All-Star Team... |
75 | 16 | 17 | 33 | 75 |
| Cal Swenson Cal Swenson Cal Swenson is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward.Swenson was born in Watson, Saskatchewan. He played 102 games in the World Hockey Association with the Winnipeg Jets.-Awards and achievements:... |
77 | 7 | 21 | 28 | 19 |
| Jean Guy Gratton | 71 | 15 | 12 | 27 | 37 |
| Bill Sutherland Bill Sutherland William Fraser Sutherland is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre and a former National Hockey League coach... |
48 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 34 |
| Garth Rizzuto Garth Rizzuto Garth Alexander Rizzuto is a retired professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association during the early 1970s.... |
61 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 32 |
| Freeman Asmundson | 76 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 54 |
| Brian Cadle Brian Cadle Brian Cadle is a former World Hockey Association left winger for the Winnipeg Jets.-External links:... |
56 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 39 |
Defencemen
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; A= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larry Hornung Larry Hornung Larry John Hornung was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 48 games in the National Hockey League and 371 games in the World Hockey Association. He was born in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan and played for the Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, San Diego Mariners, and St... |
77 | 13 | 45 | 58 | 28 |
| Joe Zanussi Joe Zanussi Joseph Lawrence Zanussi is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 149 games in the World Hockey Association and 87 games in the National Hockey League... |
73 | 4 | 21 | 25 | 53 |
| Steve Cuddie Steve Cuddie Steve Cuddie is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played 221 games in the World Hockey Association for the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Toros.-External links:... |
77 | 7 | 13 | 20 | 121 |
| Bob Ash Bob Ash Bob Ash is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played 200 games in the World Hockey Association with the Winnipeg Jets and Indianapolis Racers, scoring six goals and 46 assists.-Awards and achievements:... |
76 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 39 |
| Bob Woytowich Bob Woytowich Robert Ivan Woytowich was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman.Woytowich started his National Hockey League career with the Boston Bruins in 1964. He would also play for the Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Los Angeles Kings. He left for World Hockey Association after the 1972 season... |
62 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 47 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Daley Joe Daley For the professional golfer, see Joe Daley Thomas Joseph Daley is a former National Hockey League and World Hockey Association goalkeeper for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings, and Winnipeg Jets.... |
29 | 1718 | 17 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2.89 |
| Ernie Wakely Ernie Wakely Ernest Alfred Linton Wakely is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Wakely was a goaltender in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues... |
49 | 2894 | 26 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 3.15 |
| Gordon Tumilson | 3 | 138 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4.34 |
Playoffs
In the playoffs, the Jets would beat the Minnesota Fighting SaintsMinnesota Fighting Saints
The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and...
in 5 games. In the second round of the playoffs, the Jets beat the Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros (WHA)
The Houston Aeros were a professional ice hockey team in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1978.-Franchise history:The Aeros became one of the original franchises in the World Hockey Association when the Dayton Arrows franchise was moved to Houston in 1972...
in 4 straight to reach the Avco World Trophy
Avco World Trophy
The Avco World Trophy, also known as the Avco Cup, was the championship trophy of the original World Hockey Association . The trophy's naming rights were sold to the former Avco Corporation , a defense contractor who bought the rights to advertise their consumer finance division...
finals. In the finals, the Jets were beaten by the New England Whalers in 5 games.