1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season

World Hockey Association team season August 2023 WHA 1972–73 1972 Cleveland Crusaders 43–32–3 26–11–2 17–21–1 East 2nd Chuck Catto (Director of Player Personnel) Bill Needham Paul Shmyr John HannaSkip KrakeWayne Muloin 287 239 Cleveland Arena 5,287 (55.7%) Gary Jarrett (40) Ron Buchanan (44) Ron Buchanan (81) Paul Shmyr (169) Gerry Cheevers (32) Gerry Cheevers (2.84) The 1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season was the first season of operation of the new Cleveland Crusaders in the new World Hockey Association. The team qualified for the playoffs and won its first series, before losing in the Division semi-final. 2 Regular season Final standings CLE Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#34027C 5px solid; border-bottom:#000000 5px solid; 1972–73 regular season1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CLC/1973_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 10, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#34027C 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||W||October 11, 1972||2–0 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||1–0–0 |- |2||W||October 14, 1972||3–2 || align="left"| Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||2–0–0 |- |3||W||October 15, 1972||7–5 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||3–0–0 |- |4||W||October 17, 1972||4–3 OT|| align="left"| New York Raiders (1972–73) ||4–0–0 |- |5||W||October 19, 1972||3–1 || align="left"| @ New York Raiders (1972–73) ||5–0–0 |- |6||L||October 21, 1972||3–5 || align="left"| Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||5–1–0 |- |7||L||October 24, 1972||2–3 OT|| align="left"| New England Whalers (1972–73) ||5–2–0 |- |8||W||October 25, 1972||8–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||6–2–0 |- |9||W||October 27, 1972||6–0 || align="left"| Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||7–2–0 |- |10||T||October 29, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||7–2–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#34027C 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |11||L||November 1, 1972||5–7 || align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||7–3–1 |- |12||W||November 4, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||8–3–1 |- |13||W||November 11, 1972||4–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||9–3–1 |- |14||W||November 12, 1972||3–1 || align="left"| @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||10–3–1 |- |15||L||November 14, 1972||3–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) ||10–4–1 |- |16||W||November 16, 1972||6–3 || align="left"| Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||11–4–1 |- |17||W||November 17, 1972||3–0 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1972–73) ||12–4–1 |- |18||L||November 19, 1972||2–4 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||12–5–1 |- |19||W||November 21, 1972||5–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||13–5–1 |- |20||W||November 24, 1972||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||14–5–1 |- |21||L||November 25, 1972||1–3 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||14–6–1 |- |22||L||November 27, 1972||0–3 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1972–73) ||14–7–1 |- |23||L||November 28, 1972||1–3 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||14–8–1 |- |24||L||November 30, 1972||2–3 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||14–9–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#34027C 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |25||W||December 2, 1972||8–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||15–9–1 |- |26||L||December 3, 1972||2–5 || align="left"| @ New York Raiders (1972–73) ||15–10–1 |- |27||W||December 5, 1972||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||16–10–1 |- |28||W||December 7, 1972||3–1 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||17–10–1 |- |29||L||December 9, 1972||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||17–11–1 |- |30||L||December 10, 1972||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) ||17–12–1 |- |31||W||December 15, 1972||6–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||18–12–1 |- |32||L||December 17, 1972||2–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||18–13–1 |- |33||L||December 19, 1972||1–6 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||18–14–1 |- |34||W||December 21, 1972||6–2 || align="left"| New York Raiders (1972–73) ||19–14–1 |- |35||W||December 23, 1972||3–1 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) ||20–14–1 |- |36||W||December 25, 1972||8–0 || align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||21–14–1 |- |37||W||December 29, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||22–14–1 |- |38||W||December 30, 1972||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||23–14–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#34027C 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |39||W||January 11, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) ||24–14–1 |- |40||L||January 12, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||24–15–1 |- |41||L||January 14, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||24–16–1 |- |42||W||January 16, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||25–16–1 |- |43||W||January 17, 1973||5–0 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||26–16–1 |- |44||W||January 19, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||27–16–1 |- |45||L||January 21, 1973||2–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||27–17–1 |- |46||W||January 23, 1973||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||28–17–1 |- |47||L||January 25, 1973||4–7 || align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||28–18–1 |- |48||W||January 27, 1973||2–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||29–18–1 |- |49||W||January 29, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1972–73) ||30–18–1 |- |50||L||January 31, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1972–73) ||30–19–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#34027C 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |51||T||February 1, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||30–19–2 |- |52||W||February 2, 1973||5–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||31–19–2 |- |53||W||February 4, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||32–19–2 |- |54||W||February 5, 1973||7–5 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||33–19–2 |- |55||W||February 10, 1973||8–4 || align="left"| New York Raiders (1972–73) ||34–19–2 |- |56||L||February 11, 1973||1–6 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||34–20–2 |- |57||W||February 12, 1973||8–2 || align="left"| New York Raiders (1972–73) ||35–20–2 |- |58||L||February 14, 1973||5–6 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||35–21–2 |- |59||L||February 17, 1973||3–7 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) ||35–22–2 |- |60||W||February 20, 1973||5–4 || align="left"| Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||36–22–2 |- |61||L||February 24, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||36–23–2 |- |62||L||February 25, 1973||5–9 || align="left"| @ New York Raiders (1972–73) ||36–24–2 |- |63||L||February 27, 1973||1–2 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||36–25–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#34027C 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |64||W||March 3, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Raiders (1972–73) ||37–25–2 |- |65||L||March 7, 1973||0–1 OT|| align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1972–73) ||37–26–2 |- |66||L||March 9, 1973||4–5 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1972–73) ||37–27–2 |- |67||W||March 11, 1973||11–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||38–27–2 |- |68||L||March 13, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||38–28–2 |- |69||L||March 14, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||38–29–2 |- |70||L||March 17, 1973||0–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||38–30–2 |- |71||T||March 19, 1973||5–5 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||38–30–3 |- |72||L||March 20, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||38–31–3 |- |73||L||March 24, 1973||1–2 OT|| align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73) ||38–32–3 |- |74||W||March 25, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||39–32–3 |- |75||W||March 26, 1973||7–5 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1972–73) ||40–32–3 |- |76||W||March 30, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||41–32–3 |- |77||W||March 31, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||42–32–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#34027C 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |78||W||April 1, 1973||5–1 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||43–32–3 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#34027C 5px solid; border-bottom:#000000 5px solid; 1973 Avco Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#6F2DA8 2px solid; border-bottom:#6F2DA8 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Blazers – Crusaders win 4–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 4 || Philadelphia Blazers || 2–3 OT || Cleveland Crusaders || 1–0 |- | 2 || April 7 || Philadelphia Blazers || 7–1 || Cleveland Crusaders || 2–0 |- | 3 || April 8 || Cleveland Crusaders || 3–1 || Philadelphia Blazers || 3–0 |- | 4 || April 11 || Cleveland Crusaders || 6–2 || Philadelphia Blazers || 4–0 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#34027C 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; Semifinals vs. New England Whalers – Whalers win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 18 || Cleveland Crusaders || 2 – 3 || New England Whalers || 0–1 |- | 2 || April 19 || Cleveland Crusaders || 2 – 3 || New England Whalers || 0–2 |- | 3 || April 21 || New England Whalers || 5 – 4 || Cleveland Crusaders || 0–3 |- | 4 || April 22 || New England Whalers || 2 – 5 || Cleveland Crusaders || 1–3 |- | 5 || April 26 || Cleveland Crusaders || 1 – 3 || New England Whalers || 1–4 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Players + Regular seasonStandard Stats https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CLC/1973.html Hockey Reference Player Position GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points PIM Penalty minutes +/- Plus/Minus PPG Power play goals SHG Short-handed goals GWG Game-winning goals Ron Buchanan C 75 37 44 81 200605 Gary Jarrett LW 77 40 39 79 790807 Jim Wiste C 70 28 43 71 240403 Gerry Pinder LW 78 30 36 66 1210733 Paul Andrea RW 66 21 30 51 120700 Joe Hardy Joe Hardy (ice hockey) C 72 17 33 50 800100 Paul Shmyr D 73 5 43 48 1690010 Ray Clearwater D 78 11 36 47 410100 Grant Erickson LW 77 15 29 44 230210 Rich Pumple LW 77 21 20 41 450500 Ted Hodgson RW 74 15 23 38 930200 Doug Brindley LW/C 73 15 11 26 60200 John Hanna John Hanna (ice hockey) D 66 6 20 26 680300 Skip Krake C 26 9 10 19 610200 Bill Horton Bill Horton (ice hockey) D 74 2 17 19 550000 Bob Dillabough C 72 8 8 16 80160 Wayne Muloin D 67 2 13 15 620000 Ralph Hopiavuori D 29 4 5 9 440000 Jim McMasters D 74 1 7 8 370000 Al Rycroft RW 7 0 2 2 00000 Gerry Cheevers G 52 0 1 1 300000 Bob Whidden G 26 0 0 0 50000 + Avco Cup playoffs Player Position GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points PIM Penalty minutes PPG Power play goals SHG Short-handed goals GWG Game-winning goals Gary Jarrett LW 9 8 3 11 19301 Jim Wiste C 9 3 8 11 13101 Gerry Pinder LW 9 2 9 11 30100 Ron Buchanan C 9 7 3 10 0101 Paul Andrea RW 9 2 8 10 2100 Rich Pumple LW 9 3 5 8 11100 Ted Hodgson RW 9 1 3 4 13100 Wayne Muloin D 9 1 3 4 14000 Paul Shmyr D 8 1 3 4 19000 Grant Erickson LW 9 2 1 3 2001 Ray Clearwater D 9 1 2 3 8000 Skip Krake C 9 1 2 3 27001 Joe Hardy Joe Hardy (ice hockey) C 7 0 2 2 0000 Bob Dillabough C 9 1 0 1 0010 Ralph Hopiavuori D 8 0 1 1 6000 Bill Horton Bill Horton (ice hockey) D 9 0 1 1 10000 Jim McMasters D 9 0 1 1 6000 Blake Ball D 2 0 0 0 0000 Doug Brindley LW/C 9 0 0 0 6000 Gerry Cheevers G 9 0 0 0 4000 Goaltending Player MIN Minutes GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties GA Goals allowed GAA Goals Against Average SO Shutouts Gerry Cheevers 3144 52 32 20 0 149 2.84 5 Bob Whidden 1609 26 11 12 3 88 3.28 0 Team: 4753 78 43 32 3 237 2.99 5 Playoffs Player MIN Minutes GP Games played W Wins L Losses GA Goals allowed GAA Goals Against Average Gerry Cheevers 548 9 5 4 22 2.41 Team: 548 9 5 4 22 2.41 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-30 1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CLC/1973.htmlWorld Hockey Association World Hockey Association 1972 WHA 1972-73 Media Guide World Hockey AssociationWorld Hockey Association World Hockey Association 1973 WHA 1973-74 Media Guide World Hockey Association Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals       MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; See also 1972–73 WHA season References Category:Cleveland Crusaders seasons Cleve