1972–73 New England Whalers season

World Hockey Association team season August 2023 Boston Arena (18 games)Boston Garden (21 games and playoffs) 6,981 (67.2%) WHA 1972–73 1972 New England Whalers 46–30–2 30–8–1 16–22–1 yes East 1st Jack Kelley Jack Kelley Ted Green Tommy WilliamsJim DoreyLarry Pleau 318 263 Tom Webster (53) Terry Caffery (61) Tom Webster (103) Brad Selwood (114) Al Smith (31) Al Smith (3.17) The 1972–73 New England Whalers season was the Whalers' first season (based in Boston). The Whalers were competitive from the start, placing first in the Eastern Division to qualify for the playoffs. They then won three playoff series to become the first winner of the Avco World Trophy.World 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 2 Regular season Final standings NEW Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#006C2C 5px solid; border-bottom:#006C2C 5px solid; 1972–73 regular season1972-73 New England Whalers Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NEW/1973_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 18, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; October: 5–4–0 (home: 3–2–0; road: 2–2–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 1 || October 12 || Philadelphia || 3–4 || New England || || 1–0–0 || 2 |- | 2 || October 16 || Chicago || 1–4 || New England || || 2–0–0 || 4 |- | 3 || October 18 || New England || 4–1 || Houston || || 3–0–0 || 6 |- | 4 || October 19 || Quebec || 4–3 || New England || || 3–1–0 || 6 |- | 5 || October 21 || New England || 4–6 || Quebec || || 3–2–0 || 6 |- | 6 || October 23 || Minnesota || 1–5 || New England || || 4–2–0 || 8 |- | 7 || October 24 || New England || 3–2 || Cleveland || OT || 5–2–0 || 10 |- | 8 || October 26 || New England || 6–7 || New York || || 5–3–0 || 10 |- | 9 || October 28 || Alberta || 4–1 || New England || || 5–4–0 || 10 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; November: 8–4–1 (home: 8–0–1; road: 0–4–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 10 || November 1 || Chicago || 2–4 || New England || || 6–4–0 || 12 |- | 11 || November 4 || Philadelphia || 4–8 || New England || || 7–4–0 || 14 |- | 12 || November 6 || Winnipeg || 2–6 || New England || || 8–4–0 || 16 |- | 13 || November 11 || New York || 5–6 || New England || || 9–4–0 || 18 |- | 14 || November 13 || Houston || 4–4 || New England || TIE || 9–4–1 || 19 |- | 15 || November 17 || New England || 0–3 || Cleveland || || 9–5–1 || 19 |- | 16 || November 18 || Ottawa || 2–3 || New England || || 10–5–1 || 21 |- | 17 || November 20 || Ottawa || 5–7 || New England || || 11–5–1 || 23 |- | 18 || November 22 || New England || 1–3 || New York || || 11–6–1 || 23 |- | 19 || November 24 || Alberta || 2–7 || New England || || 12–6–1 || 25 |- | 20 || November 26 || New England || 1–3 || Minnesota || || 12–7–1 || 25 |- | 21 || November 27 || Cleveland || 0–3 || New England || || 13–7–1 || 27 |- | 22 || November 29 || New England || 6–7 || New York || || 13–8–1 || 27 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; December: 11–7–0 (home: 5–3–0; road: 6–4–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 23 || December 1 || New England || 3–5 || Philadelphia || || 13–9–1 || 27 |- | 24 || December 2 || Quebec || 2–7 || New England || || 14–9–1 || 29 |- | 25 || December 4 || Ottawa || 2–7 || New England || || 15–9–1 || 31 |- | 26 || December 6 || New York || 3–4 || New England || || 16–9–1 || 33 |- | 27 || December 7 || New England || 4–2 || Ottawa || || 17–9–1 || 35 |- | 28 || December 9 || New York || 2–4 || New England || || 18–9–1 || 37 |- | 29 || December 11 || Winnipeg || 3–4 || New England || || 19–9–1 || 39 |- | 30 || December 13 || New England || 3–6 || Chicago || || 19–10–1 || 39 |- | 31 || December 14 || New England || 5–2 || Los Angeles || || 20–10–1 || 41 |- | 32 || December 16 || New England || 10–6 || Philadelphia || || 21–10–1 || 43 |- | 33 || December 17 || Philadelphia || 6–3 || New England || || 21–11–1 || 43 |- | 34 || December 19 || New England || 5–7 || New York || || 21–12–1 || 43 |- | 35 || December 21 || New England || 4–5 || Quebec || || 21–13–1 || 43 |- | 36 || December 24 || Los Angeles || 5–3 || New England || || 21–14–1 || 43 |- | 37 || December 25 || New England || 8–2 || New York || || 22–14–1 || 45 |- | 38 || December 28 || New England || 5–3 || Quebec || || 23–14–1 || 47 |- | 39 || December 29 || New York || 4–2 || New England || || 23–15–1 || 47 |- | 40 || December 31 || New England || 3–0 || New York || || 24–15–1 || 49 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; January: 6–4–0 (home: 3–1–0; road: 3–3–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 41 || January 9 || New England || 5–7 || Houston || || 24–16–1 || 49 |- | 42 || January 13 || New York || 3–4 || New England || || 25–16–1 || 51 |- | 43 || January 17 || New England || 4–2 || Chicago || || 26–16–1 || 53 |- | 44 || January 19 || New England || 2–6 || Winnipeg || || 26–17–1 || 53 |- | 45 || January 21 || New England || 7–2 || Winnipeg || || 27–17–1 || 55 |- | 46 || January 24 || Winnipeg || 1–6 || New England || || 28–17–1 || 57 |- | 47 || January 25 || New England || 4–2 || Ottawa || || 29–17–1 || 59 |- | 48 || January 27 || Quebec || 3–1 || New England || || 29–18–1 || 59 |- | 49 || January 29 || New England || 2–3 || Cleveland || || 29–19–1 || 59 |- | 50 || January 31 || Cleveland || 1–4 || New England || || 30–19–1 || 61 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; February: 5–6–1 (home: 2–1–0; road: 3–5–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 51 || February 1 || New England || 5–4 || Houston || OT || 31–19–1 || 63 |- | 52 || February 2 || New England || 1–3 || Los Angeles || || 31–20–1 || 63 |- | 53 || February 4 || New England || 3–4 || Los Angeles || || 31–21–1 || 63 |- | 54 || February 6 || New England || 4–2 || Alberta || || 32–21–1 || 65 |- | 55 || February 7 || New England || 1–3 || Alberta || || 32–22–1 || 65 |- | 56 || February 9 || Ottawa || 7–4 || New England || || 32–23–1 || 65 |- | 57 || February 11 || New England || 2–2 || Quebec || TIE || 32–23–2 || 66 |- | 58 || February 13 || New England || 4–5 || Philadelphia || || 32–24–2 || 66 |- | 59 || February 15 || Los Angeles || 5–6 || New England || || 33–24–2 || 68 |- | 60 || February 17 || New England || 6–4 || Quebec || || 34–24–2 || 70 |- | 61 || February 20 || New England || 2–4 || Philadelphia || || 34–25–2 || 70 |- | 62 || February 23 || Alberta || 2–4 || New England || || 35–25–2 || 72 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; March: 10–5–0 (home: 8–1–0; road: 2–4–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 63 || March 4 || New England || 2–4 || Minnesota || || 35–26–2 || 72 |- | 64 || March 7 || Cleveland || 0–1 || New England || OT || 36–26–2 || 74 |- | 65 || March 9 || Cleveland || 4–5 || New England || || 37–26–2 || 76 |- | 66 || March 10 || Minnesota || 1–3 || New England || || 38–26–2 || 78 |- | 67 || March 13 || New England || 4–3 || Chicago || OT || 39–26–2 || 80 |- | 68 || March 14 || New England || 7–5 || Winnipeg || || 40–21–2 || 82 |- | 69 || March 16 || Minnesota || 4–7 || New England || || 41–26–2 || 84 |- | 70 || March 17 || Philadelphia || 0–4 || New England || || 42–26–2 || 86 |- | 71 || March 20 || Los Angeles || 1–4 || New England || || 43–26–2 || 88 |- | 72 || March 22 || New England || 2–4 || Ottawa || || 43–27–2 || 88 |- | 73 || March 23 || Chicago || 1–3 || New England || || 44–27–2 || 90 |- | 74 || March 26 || New England || 5–7 || Cleveland || || 44–28–2 || 90 |- | 75 || March 27 || Houston || 6–1 || New England || || 44–29–2 || 90 |- | 76 || March 29 || New England || 2–5 || Ottawa || || 44–30–2 || 90 |- | 77 || March 30 || New York || 4–5 || New England || OT || 45–30–2 || 92 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; April: 1–0–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 0–0–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts |- | 78 || April 1 || Quebec || 3–8 || New England || || 46–30–2 || 94 |- |- | 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:#009A44 5px solid; border-bottom:#000000 5px solid; 1973 Avco Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; Eastern Division Semifinals vs. Ottawa Nationals – Whalers win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 7 || Ottawa Nationals || 3–6 || New England Whalers ||1–0 |- | 2 || April 8 || Ottawa Nationals || 3 – 4 OT || New England Whalers || 2–0 |- | 3 || April 10 || New England Whalers || 2–4 || Ottawa Nationals || 2–1 |- | 4 || April 12 || New England Whalers || 7 – 3 OT || Ottawa Nationals || 3–1 |- | 5 || April 14 || Ottawa Nationals || 4–5 || New England Whalers || 4–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; Eastern Division Finals vs. Cleveland Crusaders – Whalers win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 18 || Cleveland Crusaders || 2–3 || New England Whalers || 1–0 |- | 2 || April 19 || Cleveland Crusaders|| 2–3 || New England Whalers ||2–0 |- | 3 || April 21 || New England Whalers || 5–4 || Cleveland Crusaders|| 3–0 |- | 4 || April 22 || New England Whalers || 2–5 || Cleveland Crusaders|| 3–1 |- | 5 || April 26 || Cleveland Crusaders || 1–3 || New England Whalers ||4–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#009A44 2px solid; border-bottom:#000000 2px solid; Avco World Trophy Finals vs. Winnipeg Jets – Whalers win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 29 || Winnipeg Jets|| 2–7 || New England Whalers || 1–0 |- | 2 || May 2 || New England Whalers || 7–4 || Winnipeg Jets|| 2–0 |- | 3 || May 3 || New England Whalers || 3–4 || Winnipeg Jets|| 2–1 |- | 4 || May 5 || Winnipeg Jets|| 2–4 || New England Whalers || 3–1 |- | 5 || May 6 || Winnipeg Jets|| 6–9 || New England Whalers || 4–1 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Skaters + Regular seasonStandard Stats https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NEW/1973.html Hockey Reference Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points PIM Penalty minutesTom Webster 77 53 50 103 89Terry Caffery 74 39 61 100 14Larry Pleau 78 39 48 87 42Tim Sheehy 78 33 38 71 30Jim Dorey 75 7 56 63 95John French 74 24 35 59 43Ted Green 78 16 30 46 47Kevin Ahearn 78 20 22 42 18Brit Selby 65 13 29 42 48John Danby 77 14 23 37 10Brad Selwood 75 13 21 34 114Tommy Williams 69 10 21 31 14Rick Ley 76 3 27 30 108Tom Earl 77 10 13 23 4Mike Hyndman 59 4 14 18 21Paul Hurley 78 3 15 18 58Dick Sarrazin 35 47 11 0Mike Byers 19 6 4 10 4John Cunniff 33 3 5 8 16Guy Smith 22 3 3 6 6Ric Jordan 34 1 5 6 12Bruce Landon 30 0 1 1 8Al Smith 51 0 1 1 39 Total 78 318 529 847 840 Goaltenders + Regular Season PlayerGP Games played W WinL LossT Tie GA Goals againstGAA Goals against average SO Shutouts MIN MinutesAl Smith 51 31 19 1 162 3.18 3 3,059Bruce Landon 30 15 11 1 100 3.59 1 1,671 Total 78 46 30 2 262 3.32 4 4,730 Playoffs + Playoffs Player GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points PIM Penalty minutesTom Webster 15 12 14 26 6Tim Sheehy 15 9 14 23 13Larry Pleau 15 12 7 19 15Jim Dorey 15 3 16 19 41Tommy Williams 15 6 11 17 2John French 15 3 11 14 2Mike Byers 12 6 5 11 6Rick Ley 15 3 7 10 24Terry Caffery 8 3 7 10 0Brad Selwood 15 3 5 8 22Paul Hurley 15 0 7 7 14Brit Selby 13 3 4 7 13Ted Green 12 1 5 6 25Tommy Earl 15 2 3 5 10Kevin Ahearn 14 1 2 3 9John Cunniff 13 1 1 2 2Guy Smith 11 2 0 2 4Al Smith 15 0 1 1 12Ric Jordan 4 0 0 0 0John Danby 8 0 0 0 0 Total 15 70 120 190 220 Goaltenders + Playoffs PlayerGP Games played W WinL Loss SH ShotsSV Saves SO Shutouts Al Smith 15 12 3 430 381 0 Total 15 12 3 430 381 0 Awards and records Terry Caffery, Lou Kaplan Trophy (Rookie of the Year) Jack Kelley, Howard Baldwin Trophy (Coach of the Year) Tom Webster, WHA All-Star Team (Second Team, RW) Jim Dorey, WHA All-Star Team (Second Team, D) 1973 WHA All-Star Game (January 6, 1973) Al Smith Rick Ley Jim Dorey Larry Pleau Terry Caffery Tom Webster See also 1972–73 WHA season References New Category:New England Whalers seasons New England New England