1978–79 Quebec Nordiques season

World Hockey Association team season March 2026 August 2023 WHA 1978–79 1978 Quebec Nordiques WHA 2nd 41–34–5 24–13–4 17–21–1 288 271 Maurice Filion Jacques Demers Marc Tardif Serge BernierReal CloutierBob Fitchner Colisée de Québec Real Cloutier (75) Marc Tardif (55) Real Cloutier (129) Marc Tardif (+25) Paul Baxter (240) Richard Brodeur (25) Richard Brodeur (3.11) The 1978–79 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' seventh season in the WHA, were coming off of a 40–37–3 record in the 1977–78 season and a loss in the playoff semi-finals. The Nordiques improved to 41–34–5 to qualify for the playoffs, but lost in the first round to eventual Avco Cup champions Winnipeg Jets. After the season was finished, the WHA announced that four of its teams, the Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, New England Whalers and Winnipeg Jets would be admitted to the National Hockey League as expansion teams for the 1979–80 NHL season, and that the WHA would cease operations. During their seven seasons in the WHA, Quebec had a record of 295–237–24, while winning the 1977 Avco Cup. 2 Off-season During the off-season, the league would lose the Houston Aeros, as they elected to fold as the club was not part of an NHL-WHA merger, leaving the WHA with seven teams. The league also announced that games against all-star teams from the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and Finland would once again count in the standings. The Nordiques would hire a new head coach, as Jacques Demers would take over from Maurice Filion, who ended the previous season as the interim head coach. Demers had previously coached the Indianapolis Racers and Cincinnati Stingers. Regular season The Nordiques would start the season slowly, going winless in their opening five games, however, the team snapped out of their slump, winning ten of their next thirteen games to push themselves over the .500 mark. Quebec would stay consistent throughout the season, easily clinching a playoff berth, as the Nordiques would finish the season with a 41-34-5 record, finishing second in the league behind the Edmonton Oilers, who had eleven more points than Quebec. Offensively, Quebec was led by Real Cloutier, who won the Bill Hunter Trophy by earning a league high 129 points. It was the fourth year in a row that a player from the Nordiques (Marc Tardif in 1976 and 1978, and Cloutier in 1977) would win that award. Cloutier scored a team record 75 goals, and added 54 assists. Marc Tardif had another solid season, scoring 41 goals and 96 points, while Serge Bernier added 36 goals and 82 points. Rich Leduc joined the 30 goal club, as he registered 30 goals and 62 points. On defence, Paul Baxter led the way, scoring 10 goals and 46 points, as well as a team high 240 PIM. Forty-year-old J. C. Tremblay had a productive year, earning 44 points in 56 games. In goal, Richard Brodeur and Jim Corsi split the action, with Brodeur winning a team high 25 games, as well as a club best 3.11 GAA. Corsi had 16 victories and a 3.30 GAA, while both goaltenders earned three shutouts. Season standings QUE Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#0065BD 5px solid; border-bottom:#D52B1E 5px solid; 1978–79 regular season1978-79 Quebec Nordiques Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/QBN/1979_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 19, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; October Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- | 1 || October 15 || New England Whalers || 6–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 0–1–0 || 0 |- | 2 || October 17 || Cincinnati Stingers || 5–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 0–1–1 || 1 |- | 3 || October 18 || Indianapolis Racers || 4–0 || Quebec Nordiques || 0–2–1 || 1 |- | 4 || October 21 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–7 || New England Whalers || 0–3–1 || 1 |- | 5 || October 22 || Birmingham Bulls || 8–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 0–4–1 || 1 |- | 6 || October 25 || Cincinnati Stingers || 3–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–4–1 || 3 |- | 7 || October 26 || New England Whalers || 5–8 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–4–1 || 5 |- | 8 || October 28 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–4 || Cincinnati Stingers || 2–5–1 || 5 |- | 9 || October 29 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–2 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–5–1 || 7 |- |10 || October 31 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–4 || Edmonton Oilers || 4–5–1 || 9 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0065BD 2px solid; border-bottom:#D52B1E 2px solid; November Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |11 || November 3 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–2 || Birmingham Bulls || 5–5–1 || 11 |- |12 || November 4 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–1 || Birmingham Bulls || 6–5–1 || 13 |- |13 || November 5 || Edmonton Oilers || 0–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–5–1 || 15 |- |14 || November 7 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–1 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–6–1 || 15 |- |15 || November 8 || Edmonton Oilers || 6–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–7–1 || 15 |- |16 || November 11 || Indianapolis Racers || 2–8 || Quebec Nordiques || 8–7–1 || 17 |- |17 || November 12 || Quebec Nordiques || 6–4 || Winnipeg Jets || 9–7–1 || 19 |- |18 || November 15 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 10–7–1 || 21 |- |19 || November 21 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–4 || Edmonton Oilers || 10–8–1 || 21 |- |20 || November 24 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–4 || Edmonton Oilers || 10–9–1 || 21 |- |21 || November 26 || Winnipeg Jets || 2–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 10–9–2 || 22 |- |22 || November 29 || Birmingham Bulls || 4–7 || Quebec Nordiques || 11–9–2 || 24 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0065BD 2px solid; border-bottom:#D52B1E 2px solid; December Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |23 || December 2 || Cincinnati Stingers || 0–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 12–9–2 || 26 |- |24 || December 3 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 13–9–2 || 28 |- |25 || December 6 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 14–9–2 || 30 |- |26 || December 9 || Cincinnati Stingers || 3–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 15–9–2 || 32 |- |27 || December 10 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–4 || Winnipeg Jets || 15–9–3 || 33 |- |28 || December 12 || Soviet All-Stars || 6–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 15–10–3 || 33 |- |29 || December 14 || Birmingham Bulls || 2–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 16–10–3 || 35 |- |30 || December 16 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–2 || New England Whalers || 16–11–3 || 35 |- |31 || December 17 || New England Whalers || 4–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 16–11–4 || 36 |- |32 || December 22 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–1 || Birmingham Bulls || 17–11–4 || 38 |- |33 || December 23 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–6 || Cincinnati Stingers || 17–12–4 || 38 |- |34 || December 28 || Czechoslovak All-Stars || 0–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 18–12–4 || 40 |- |35 || December 30 || Birmingham Bulls || 2–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 19–12–4 || 42 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0065BD 2px solid; border-bottom:#D52B1E 2px solid; January Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |36 || January 7 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–3 || Winnipeg Jets || 19–13–4 || 42 |- |37 || January 9 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–3 || Cincinnati Stingers || 20–13–4 || 44 |- |38 || January 12 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–1 || Cincinnati Stingers || 21–13–4 || 46 |- |39 || January 18 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–2 || New England Whalers || 22–13–4 || 48 |- |40 || January 20 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–10 || Quebec Nordiques || 23–13–4 || 50 |- |41 || January 21 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–3 || Winnipeg Jets || 23–14–4 || 50 |- |42 || January 23 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–5 || Birmingham Bulls || 24–14–4 || 52 |- |43 || January 27 || Winnipeg Jets || 4–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 24–15–4 || 52 |- |44 || January 30 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–2 || Birmingham Bulls || 24–16–4 || 52 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0065BD 2px solid; border-bottom:#D52B1E 2px solid; February Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |45 || February 1 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–7 || Birmingham Bulls || 24–17–4 || 52 |- |46 || February 2 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–4 || New England Whalers || 24-18–4 || 52 |- |47 || February 4 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 25–18–4 || 54 |- |48 || February 6 || New England Whalers || 5–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 25–19–4 || 54 |- |49 || February 9 || Quebec Nordiques || 0–3 || Edmonton Oilers || 25–20–4 || 54 |- |50 || February 13 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–6 || Edmonton Oilers || 25–21–4 || 54 |- |51 || February 17 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–4 || New England Whalers || 25–22–4 || 54 |- |52 || February 18 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–2 || Cincinnati Stingers || 26–22–4 || 56 |- |53 || February 20 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–3 || Birmingham Bulls || 27–22–4 || 58 |- |54 || February 23 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–5 || New England Whalers || 27–23–4 || 58 |- |55 || February 24 || New England Whalers || 0–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 28–23–4 || 60 |- |56 || February 25 || Cincinnati Stingers || 1–1 || Quebec Nordiques || 28–23–5 || 61 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0065BD 2px solid; border-bottom:#D52B1E 2px solid; March Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |57 || March 3 || Birmingham Bulls || 2–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 29–23–5 || 63 |- |58 || March 4 || Birmingham Bulls || 4–5 || Quebec Nordiques || 30–23–5 || 65 |- |59 || March 6 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 31–23–5 || 67 |- |60 || March 7 || Edmonton Oilers || 3–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 32–23–5 || 69 |- |61 || March 9 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–1 || New England Whalers || 33–23–5 || 71 |- |62 || March 10 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–5 || Cincinnati Stingers || 33–24–5 || 71 |- |63 || March 11 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–7 || Winnipeg Jets || 33–25–5 || 71 |- |64 || March 14 || Quebec Nordiques || 4-2 || Winnipeg Jets || 34–25–5 || 73 |- |65 || March 16 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–6 || Edmonton Oilers || 34–26–5 || 73 |- |66 || March 18 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–2 || Edmonton Oilers || 35–26-5 || 75 |- |67 || March 20 || New England Whalers || 7–6 || Quebec Nordiques || 35–27–5 || 75 |- |68 || March 23 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–5 || New England Whalers || 35–28–5 || 75 |- |69 || March 24 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–2 || Cincinnati Stingers || 36–28–5 || 77 |- |70 || March 25 || Birmingham Bulls || 2–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 37–28–5 || 79 |- |71 || March 28 || Edmonton Oilers || 0-3 || Quebec Nordiques || 38–28–5 || 81 |- |72 || March 30 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–0 || Winnipeg Jets || 39–28–5 || 83 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0065BD 2px solid; border-bottom:#D52B1E 2px solid; April Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points |- |73 || April 1 || Winnipeg Jets || 7–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 39–29–5 || 83 |- |74 || April 3 || Quebec Nordiques || 3–5 || Birmingham Bulls || 39–30–5 || 83 |- |75 || April 4 || Edmonton Oilers || 2–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 40–30–5 || 85 |- |76 || April 7 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–6 || Cincinnati Stingers || 40–31–5 || 85 |- |77 || April 10 || New England Whalers || 5–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 40–32–5 || 85 |- |78 || April 11 || Cincinnati Stingers || 6–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 40–33–5 || 85 |- |79 || April 15 || Cincinnati Stingers || 2–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 41–33–5 || 87 |- |80 || April 17 || New England Whalers || 6–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 41–34–5 || 87 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs In the opening round of the playoffs, Quebec would face the Winnipeg Jets in a best of seven semi-final series. The Jets finished the season with a 39-35-6 record, earning 84 points, and a third-place finish. The series opened with two games in Quebec, however, the Jets struck first, easily dominating the Nordiques in the series opener, by winning the game 6-3, before crushing Quebec in the second game 9-2 to take a two-game series lead. The series moved to Winnipeg for the next two games, and the Jets would stay hot, as they continued to dominate the Nordiques in the third and fourth games of the series, winning them 9-5 and 6-2 respectively to sweep Quebec out of the playoffs. background:#fff; border-top:#0065BD 5px solid; border-bottom:#D52B1E 5px solid; 1979 Avco Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#0065BD 2px solid; border-bottom:#D52B1E 2px solid; Semifinals vs. (3) Winnipeg Jets – Jets win 4–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 23 || Winnipeg Jets || 6–3 || Quebec Nordiques || 0–1 |- | 2 || April 25 || Winnipeg Jets || 9–2 || Quebec Nordiques || 0–2 |- | 3 || April 27 || Quebec Nordiques || 5–9 || Winnipeg Jets || 0–3 |- | 4 || April 29 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–6 || Winnipeg Jets || 0–4 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Players + Regular season Player Position GP Games played G Goals A AssistsPts Points PIM Penalty minutes+/- Plus/Minus PPG Power play goals SHG Short-handed goals GWG Game-winning goals Real Cloutier Réal Cloutier RW 77 75 54 129 48232100 Marc Tardif LW 74 41 55 96 98251200 Serge Bernier RW 65 36 46 82 717930 Rich LeDuc C 61 30 32 62 30-11210 Paul Baxter D 76 10 36 46 240-5600 Bob Fitchner C 79 10 35 45 69-3100 J. C. Tremblay D 56 6 38 44 810000 Garry Lariviere D 50 5 33 38 54-11100 Paulin Bordeleau RW 77 17 12 29 441210 Alain Cote Alain Côté (ice hockey b. 1957) LW 79 14 13 27 23-7010 Curt Brackenbury RW 70 13 13 26 155-5100 Danny Geoffrion RW 77 12 14 26 74-2000 Francois Lacombe François Lacombe D 78 3 21 24 444000 Dale Hoganson D 69 2 19 21 171100 Christian Bordeleau C 16 5 12 17 06000 Norm Dube LW 36 2 13 15 46000 Gilles Bilodeau LW 36 3 6 9 1412000 Wally Weir D 68 2 7 9 1669000 Kevin Morrison D 27 2 5 7 14-2100 Richard David LW 14 0 4 4 43000 Richard Brodeur G 42 0 3 3 20000 Jim Corsi Jim Corsi (ice hockey) G 40 0 2 2 200000 Jim Dorey D 32 0 2 2 17-5000 Pierre Lagace LW 21 0 1 1 120000 Kevin Devine Kevin Devine (ice hockey) LW 5 0 0 0 6-3000 Rene Leclerc RW 23 0 0 0 8-2000 Jean-Louis Levasseur G 3 0 0 0 00000 + Avco Cup playoffs Player PositionGP Games played G Goals A AssistsPts Points PIM Penalty minutes PPG Power play goals SHG Short-handed goals GWG Game-winning goals Marc Tardif LW 4 6 2 8 4000 Real Cloutier Réal Cloutier RW 4 2 2 4 2000 Bob Fitchner C 4 1 3 4 0000 Danny Geoffrion RW 4 1 2 3 2000 Curt Brackenbury RW 4 1 1 2 2000 Paul Baxter D 4 0 2 2 7000 Rich LeDuc C 4 0 2 2 0000 Paulin Bordeleau RW 4 1 0 1 0000 Francois Lacombe François Lacombe D 4 0 1 1 7000 Pierre Lagace LW 3 0 1 1 2000 Garry Lariviere D 4 0 1 1 2000 Wally Weir D 4 0 1 1 4000 Serge Bernier RW 1 0 0 0 2000 Gilles Bilodeau LW 3 0 0 0 25000 Richard Brodeur G 3 0 0 0 0000 Jim Corsi Jim Corsi (ice hockey) G 2 0 0 0 2000 Alain Cote Alain Côté (ice hockey b. 1957) LW 4 0 0 0 2000 Jim Dorey D 3 0 0 0 0000 Dale Hoganson D 4 0 0 0 2000 Rene Leclerc RW 4 0 0 0 0000 Jean-Louis Levasseur G 1 0 0 0 2000 Goaltending + Regular season Player MIN Minutes GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties GA Goals allowed GAA Goals Against Average SO Shutouts Richard Brodeur 2433 42 25 13 3 126 3.11 3 Jim Corsi Jim Corsi (ice hockey) 2291 40 16 20 1 126 3.30 3 Jean-Louis Levasseur 140 3 0 1 1 14 6.00 0 Team: 4864 80 41 34 5 266 3.28 6 + Avco Cup playoffsPlayer MIN Minutes GP Games played W Wins L Losses GA Goals allowed GAA Goals Against Average SO Shutouts Richard Brodeur 114 3 0 2 14 7.37 0 Jim Corsi Jim Corsi (ice hockey) 66 2 0 1 7 6.36 0 Jean-Louis Levasseur 59 1 0 1 8 8.14 0 Team: 239 4 0 4 29 7.28 0 hockey-reference.com 2009-07-28 1978-79 Quebec Nordiques Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/QBN/1979.html See also 1978–79 WHA season References Category:Quebec Nordiques seasons Que Quebec Category:1978 in sports in Quebec Category:1979 in sports in Quebec Category:1970s in Quebec City