1973–74 Chicago Cougars season

World Hockey Association team season August 2023 International AmphitheatreRandhurst Ice Arena (five playoff games) 4,924 (54.7%) WHA 1973–74 1973 Chicago Cougars 38–35–5 23–13–3 15–22–2 East 4th 271 273 Jacques Demers (Director of Player Personnel) Pat Stapleton Dick ProceviatBob SicinskiRosaire PaiementReg Fleming Ralph Backstrom (33) Pat Stapleton (52) Ralph Backstrom (83) Larry Mavety (157) Cam Newton (25) Cam Newton (3.14) The 1973–74 Chicago Cougars season was the Chicago Cougars' second season of operation in the World Hockey Association. The team qualified for the playoff and won two playoff series to make it to the Avco Cup Final before losing to the Houston Aeros.World Hockey Association World Hockey Association 1973 WHA 1973-74 Media Guide World Hockey AssociationWorld Hockey Association World Hockey Association 1974 WHA 1974-75 Media Guide World Hockey Association 2 Offseason The Chicago Cougars revamped their lineup during the off-season in hopes of escaping the cellar. The Cougars strengthened their defense by signing National Hockey League all-star defenceman Pat Stapleton from the Chicago Blackhawks as a player-coach, Darryl Maggs from the California Golden Seals and goaltender Cam Newton from the Pittsburgh Penguins. To the forward line, the Cougars signed Ralph Backstrom, also from the Blackhawks, Eric Nesterenko, who had spent a season in Switzerland after a long career with the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs, and junior all-star Frank Rochon from the Sherbrooke Beavers, and acquired Joe Hardy from the Cleveland Crusaders and Duke Harris from the Houston Aeros.New Faces in WHA for '73-74 Hockey Digest Des Moines Norman Jacobs December 1973 Regular season The Cougars scored 26 more goals than the previous season and reduced the goals against by 22 to post a 50% improvement in points and secure the final playoff spot in the East Division by a single point over the Quebec Nordiques. Final standings CHI Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 5px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 5px solid; 1973–74 regular season1973-74 Chicago Cougars Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CHC/1974_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 10, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 2px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||T||October 7, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||0–0–1 |- |2||W||October 11, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||1–0–1 |- |3||L||October 13, 1973||4–6 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||1–1–1 |- |4||L||October 14, 1973||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||1–2–1 |- |5||W||October 18, 1973||7–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||2–2–1 |- |6||L||October 20, 1973||3–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||2–3–1 |- |7||L||October 21, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||2–4–1 |- |8||W||October 25, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||3–4–1 |- |9||W||October 28, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||4–4–1 |- |10||W||October 30, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||5–4–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 2px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |11||W||November 3, 1973||7–4 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||6–4–1 |- |12||W||November 6, 1973||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||7–4–1 |- |13||W||November 10, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||8–4–1 |- |14||L||November 13, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||8–5–1 |- |15||W||November 15, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||9–5–1 |- |16||W||November 17, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||10–5–1 |- |17||L||November 18, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||10–6–1 |- |18||W||November 22, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||11–6–1 |- |19||L||November 24, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||11–7–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 2px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |20||L||December 1, 1973||4–5 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||11–8–1 |- |21||L||December 2, 1973||3–4 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||11–9–1 |- |22||L||December 4, 1973||0–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||11–10–1 |- |23||L||December 8, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||11–11–1 |- |24||L||December 9, 1973||1–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||11–12–1 |- |25||L||December 11, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||11–13–1 |- |26||W||December 15, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||12–13–1 |- |27||W||December 16, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||13–13–1 |- |28||T||December 18, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||13–13–2 |- |29||L||December 21, 1973||1–5 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||13–14–2 |- |30||W||December 23, 1973||6–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||14–14–2 |- |31||L||December 26, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||14–15–2 |- |32||W||December 28, 1973||6–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||15–15–2 |- |33||L||December 29, 1973||0–3 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||15–16–2 |- |34||W||December 30, 1973||5–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||16–16–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 2px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |35||W||January 1, 1974||5–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||17–16–2 |- |36||L||January 5, 1974||5–6 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||17–17–2 |- |37||L||January 6, 1974||0–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||17–18–2 |- |38||T||January 8, 1974||0–0 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||17–18–3 |- |39||L||January 13, 1974||1–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||17–19–3 |- |40||W||January 17, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||18–19–3 |- |41||W||January 19, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||19–19–3 |- |42||W||January 22, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||20–19–3 |- |43||L||January 25, 1974||2–6 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||20–20–3 |- |44||W||January 30, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||21–20–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 2px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |45||L||February 1, 1974||2–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||21–21–3 |- |46||L||February 3, 1974||2–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||21–22–3 |- |47||W||February 5, 1974||3–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||22–22–3 |- |48||L||February 6, 1974||2–7 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||22–23–3 |- |49||W||February 9, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||23–23–3 |- |50||W||February 10, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||24–23–3 |- |51||W||February 12, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||25–23–3 |- |52||L||February 14, 1974||3–5 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||25–24–3 |- |53||L||February 16, 1974||4–5 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||25–25–3 |- |54||L||February 17, 1974||5–6 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||25–26–3 |- |55||L||February 18, 1974||3–4 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||25–27–3 |- |56||W||February 21, 1974||5–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||26–27–3 |- |57||L||February 23, 1974||0–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||26–28–3 |- |58||L||February 24, 1974||1–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||26–29–3 |- |59||W||February 26, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||27–29–3 |- |60||L||February 28, 1974||4–9 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||27–30–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 2px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |61||W||March 1, 1974||7–4 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||28–30–3 |- |62||L||March 3, 1974||4–5 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||28–31–3 |- |63||L||March 5, 1974||2–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||28–32–3 |- |64||W||March 7, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||29–32–3 |- |65||W||March 9, 1974||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||30–32–3 |- |66||W||March 12, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||31–32–3 |- |67||W||March 14, 1974||7–4 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||32–32–3 |- |68||W||March 16, 1974||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||33–32–3 |- |69||W||March 17, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||34–32–3 |- |70||L||March 19, 1974||4–7 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||34–33–3 |- |71||T||March 21, 1974||5–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||34–33–4 |- |72||W||March 23, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||35–33–4 |- |73||T||March 24, 1974||3–3 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||35–33–5 |- |74||W||March 26, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||36–33–5 |- |75||W||March 29, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||37–33–5 |- |76||L||March 31, 1974||1–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||37–34–5 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 2px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |77||W||April 2, 1974||7–3 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||38–34–5 |- |78||L||April 3, 1974||1–3 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||38–35–5 |- |- | 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:#ffc322 5px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 5px solid; 1974 Avco Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 2px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 2px solid; Division Semifinals vs. New England Whalers – Cougars win 4–3 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 6 || Chicago Cougars || 4–6 || New England Whalers || 0–1 |- | 2 || April 7 || Chicago Cougars || 3–4 OT || New England Whalers || 0–2 |- | 3 || April 9 || New England Whalers || 6–8 || Chicago Cougars || 1–2 |- | 4 || April 10 || New England Whalers || 1–2 OT || Chicago Cougars || 2–2 |- | 5 || April 12 || Chicago Cougars || 4–2 || New England Whalers || 2–3 |- | 6 || April 14 || New England Whalers || 2–0 || Chicago Cougars || 3–3 |- | 7 || April 16 || Chicago Cougars || 3–2 || New England Whalers|| 4–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 2px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 2px solid; Division Finals vs. Toronto Toros – Cougars win 4–3 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 19 || Chicago Cougars || 4–6 || Toronto Toros || 0–1 |- | 2 || April 22 || Chicago Cougars || 4–3 || Toronto Toros || 1–1 |- | 3 || April 28 || Toronto Toros || 2–3 || Chicago Cougars || 2–1 |- | 4 || April 30 || Toronto Toros || 7–6 || Chicago Cougars || 2–2 |- | 5 || May 1 || Chicago Cougars || 3–5 || Toronto Toros || 2–3 |- | 6 || May 4 || Toronto Toros || 2–9 || Chicago Cougars || 3–3 |- | 7 || May 6 || Chicago Cougars || 5–2 || Toronto Toros || 4–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#ffc322 2px solid; border-bottom:#4B6F44 2px solid; Avco Cup Finals vs. Houston Aeros – Aeros win 4–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || May 12 || Houston Aeros || 3–2 || Chicago Cougars || 0–1 |- | 2 || May 15 || Houston Aeros || 6–1 || Chicago Cougars || 0–2 |- | 3 || May 17 || Chicago Cougars || 4–7 || Houston Aeros || 0–3 |- | 4 || May 19 || Chicago Cougars || 2–6 || Houston Aeros || 0–4 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Ralph Backstrom C 78 33 50 83 260628 Rosaire Paiement C 78 30 43 73 870703 Joe Hardy Joe Hardy (ice hockey) C 77 24 35 59 550402 Pat Stapleton Pat Stapleton (ice hockey) D 78 6 52 58 440210 Larry Mavety D 77 15 36 51 1570404 Bob Liddington LW 73 26 21 47 200412 Bob Sicinski C 69 11 29 40 80101 Jan Popiel LW 63 22 17 39 360604 Bob Whitlock C 52 16 19 35 260612 Rick Morris Rick Morris (ice hockey) LW 76 17 16 33 1400102 Duke Harris RW 64 14 16 30 200301 Daryl Maggs D 78 8 22 30 1480001 Frank Rochon LW 69 12 11 23 270101 Dick Proceviat D 77 2 20 22 550001 Rod Zaine C 77 5 13 18 170010 Reggie Fleming D/LW 45 2 12 14 490102 Brian Coates LW 50 10 3 13 140011 Jim Benzelock RW 53 6 7 13 190000 Don Gordon Don Gordon (ice hockey) RW 23 5 4 9 90300 Eric Nesterenko RW 29 2 5 7 80100 Brian Glenwright LW 15 3 2 5 00001 Jim Watson Jim Watson (ice hockey) D 23 0 5 5 220000 John Shmyr D 43 1 3 4 130001 Lorne Rombough LW 3 1 2 3 00101 Curt Brackenbury RW 4 0 1 1 110000 Gary Connelly RW 4 0 1 1 20000 Cam Newton Cam Newton (ice hockey) G 45 0 1 1 00000 Dave Walter C 4 0 1 1 00000 Ron F. Anderson D 2 0 0 0 00000 Larry Cahan D 3 0 0 0 20000 Rich Coutu G 20 0 0 0 00000 Connie Forey LW 1 0 0 0 00000 Andre Gill Andre Gill (ice hockey) G 13 0 0 0 00000 Jim Jones D 1 0 0 0 00000 Al MacKenzie D 2 0 0 0 00000Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO Cam Newton Cam Newton (ice hockey) 2732 45 25 18 2 143 3.14 1 Rich Coutu 1207 20 9 10 1 75 3.73 0 Andre Gill Andre Gill (ice hockey) 803 13 4 7 2 46 3.44 0 Team: 4742 78 38 35 5 264 3.34 1 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Ralph Backstrom C 18 5 14 19 4001 Rosaire Paiement C 18 9 6 15 16002 Bob Sicinski C 18 6 8 14 0002 Jan Popiel LW 18 8 5 13 12001 Pat Stapleton Pat Stapleton (ice hockey) D 12 0 13 13 36000 Duke Harris RW 18 6 6 12 2000 Don Gordon Don Gordon (ice hockey) RW 18 4 8 12 4000 Joe Hardy Joe Hardy (ice hockey) C 17 4 8 12 13000 Larry Mavety D 18 4 8 12 46001 Bob Liddington LW 18 6 5 11 11000 Daryl Maggs D 18 3 5 8 71000 Rick Morris Rick Morris (ice hockey) LW 18 4 3 7 42000 Jim Watson Jim Watson (ice hockey) D 18 2 3 5 18000 Jim Benzelock RW 18 2 2 4 36000 Reggie Fleming D/LW 12 0 4 4 12000 Dick Proceviat D 13 0 4 4 10000 Frank Rochon LW 9 2 1 3 0001 Rod Zaine C 18 2 1 3 2000 Brian Coates LW 17 0 3 3 35000 Andre Gill Andre Gill (ice hockey) G 11 0 0 0 4000 Cam Newton Cam Newton (ice hockey) G 10 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO Andre Gill Andre Gill (ice hockey) 614 11 6 5 38 3.71 0 Cam Newton Cam Newton (ice hockey) 486 10 2 5 34 4.20 0 Team: 1100 18 8 10 72 3.93 0 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-29 1973-74 Chicago Cougars Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CHC/1974.html 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; Transactions Trades Date Details Ref 1973 05 01 To New York Golden BladesButch Barber To Chicago CougarsWally Olds 1973 07 13 To New York Golden BladesJim McLeod To Chicago Cougarscash 1973 08 01 To Cleveland Crusadersrights to Larry Hillman To Chicago CougarsJoe Hardy 1973 09 01 To Houston Aeroscash To Chicago CougarsDuke Harris 1973 09 01 To Vancouver BlazersEd Hatoum To Chicago Cougarscash 1974 02 20 To Los Angeles SharksBob Whitlock To Chicago CougarsJim WatsonDon Gordon World Hockey Association World Hockey Association 1974 WHA 1974-75 Media Guide World Hockey Association Draft picks Chicago's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/wha1973a.html 1973 WHA Amateur Draft hockeyDB.com December 19, 2018 Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)11Bob Neely (D)CanadaPeterborough Petes (OHA)215Larry Goodenough (D)CanadaLondon Knights (OHA)327Frank Rochon (LW)CanadaSherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)440Terry Ewasiuk (LW)CanadaVictoria Cougars (WCHL)666Keith Smith (D)CanadaBrown University (ECAC)779Dennis Desgagnes (C)CanadaSorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)892J. P. Burgoyne (D)CanadaShawinigan Bruins (QMJHL)9103Gordon Halliday (F)CanadaUniversity of Pennsylvania (ECAC)10114Mike Haramis (RW)CanadaLaval National (QMJHL) See also 1973–74 WHA season References Chic Category:Chicago Cougars seasons Category:1973 in sports in Illinois Category:1974 in sports in Illinois Category:1973 in Chicago Category:1974 in Chicago