1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season

World Hockey Association team season August 2023 WHA 1975–76 1975 Calgary Cowboys 41–35–4 25–13–2 16–22–2 Canadian 3rd 307 282 Joe Crozier Danny Lawson Ron ChipperfieldButch DeadmarshPaul Terbenche Stampede Corral Danny Lawson (44) Danny Lawson (52) Danny Lawson (96) Butch Deadmarsh (196) Don McLeod (30) Wayne Wood (3.07) 1974–75 The 1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season was the fourth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA) franchise and first in Calgary, Alberta. The Vancouver Blazers relocated to Calgary prior to the season. The Cowboys qualified for the playoffs, losing in the second round to the Winnipeg Jets. 2 Regular season In their first season, the Cowboys were not expected to ice a strong team,Jerry Kirshenbaum 1975–76 WHA preview http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1090372/index.htm https://archive.today/20120526092107/http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1090372/index.htm dead 2012-05-26 Sports Illustrated 1975-10-20 2008-04-04 having inherited a franchise that finished in a last place tie with the Oilers the previous year.Bilych George Corral roost for old Eagles Calgary Herald 1975-05-07 53 Calgary finished 41–35–4 however, as a 44-goal season by Danny Lawson and 42 goals from Ron Chipperfield helped the Cowboys finish a surprising third in the Canadian division.Sandor 2005 95 Final standings CAL Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 5px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 5px solid; 1975–76 regular season1975-76 Calgary Cowboys Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CGC/1976_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 10, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 2px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||L||October 12, 1975||0–2 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||0–1–0 |- |2||W||October 14, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||1–1–0 |- |3||L||October 17, 1975||2–6 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||1–2–0 |- |4||L||October 22, 1975||1–2 || align="left"| Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) ||1–3–0 |- |5||L||October 24, 1975||3–4 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||1–4–0 |- |6||L||October 26, 1975||1–3 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1975–76) ||1–5–0 |- |7||W||October 29, 1975||3–1 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||2–5–0 |- |8||W||October 30, 1975||7–5 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||3–5–0 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 2px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |9||L||November 1, 1975||2–3 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||3–6–0 |- |10||W||November 2, 1975||4–3 OT|| align="left"| New England Whalers (1975–76) ||4–6–0 |- |11||T||November 4, 1975||4–4 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||4–6–1 |- |12||W||November 5, 1975||4–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||5–6–1 |- |13||W||November 7, 1975||5–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||6–6–1 |- |14||W||November 11, 1975||6–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||7–6–1 |- |15||L||November 13, 1975||2–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||7–7–1 |- |16||W||November 16, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1975–76) ||8–7–1 |- |17||L||November 18, 1975||2–6 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||8–8–1 |- |18||W||November 21, 1975||6–2 || align="left"| @ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) ||9–8–1 |- |19||W||November 22, 1975||6–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||10–8–1 |- |20||W||November 27, 1975||5–1 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||11–8–1 |- |21||W||November 29, 1975||5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||12–8–1 |- |22||L||November 30, 1975||2–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||12–9–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 2px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |23||L||December 3, 1975||3–4 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||12–10–1 |- |24||W||December 5, 1975||8–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||13–10–1 |- |25||W||December 7, 1975||5–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||14–10–1 |- |26||W||December 9, 1975||4–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||15–10–1 |- |27||L||December 11, 1975||2–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||15–11–1 |- |28||L||December 12, 1975||2–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||15–12–1 |- |29||T||December 14, 1975||3–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||15–12–2 |- |30||L||December 16, 1975||3–7 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||15–13–2 |- |31||W||December 19, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||16–13–2 |- |32||L||December 20, 1975||7–8 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||16–14–2 |- |33||W||December 23, 1975||10–1 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||17–14–2 |- |34||W||December 26, 1975||5–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||18–14–2 |- |35||W||December 28, 1975||6–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||19–14–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 2px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |36||W||January 1, 1976||5–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||20–14–2 |- |37||W||January 2, 1976||3–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||21–14–2 |- |38||L||January 3, 1976||3–6 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||21–15–2 |- |39||W||January 6, 1976||5–0 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||22–15–2 |- |40||W||January 7, 1976||3–1 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||23–15–2 |- |41||L||January 15, 1976||3–5 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||23–16–2 |- |42||W||January 17, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1975–76) ||24–16–2 |- |43||W||January 20, 1976||10–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||25–16–2 |- |44||L||January 21, 1976||1–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||25–17–2 |- |45||L||January 23, 1976||0–2 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1975–76) ||25–18–2 |- |46||L||January 25, 1976||3–5 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1975–76) ||25–19–2 |- |47||L||January 28, 1976||0–5 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||25–20–2 |- |48||L||January 29, 1976||0–1 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||25–21–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 2px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |49||W||February 3, 1976||3–2 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||26–21–2 |- |50||L||February 5, 1976||4–6 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1975–76) ||26–22–2 |- |51||T||February 7, 1976||4–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||26–22–3 |- |52||L||February 8, 1976||4–8 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||26–23–3 |- |53||W||February 10, 1976||4–3 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||27–23–3 |- |54||W||February 13, 1976||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||28–23–3 |- |55||L||February 15, 1976||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||28–24–3 |- |56||L||February 18, 1976||0–4 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||28–25–3 |- |57||L||February 20, 1976||3–6 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||28–26–3 |- |58||W||February 22, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||29–26–3 |- |59||T||February 24, 1976||3–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||29–26–4 |- |60||W||February 25, 1976||5–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||30–26–4 |- |61||W||February 27, 1976||5–4 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||31–26–4 |- |62||L||February 29, 1976||2–5 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||31–27–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 2px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |63||W||March 2, 1976||6–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||32–27–4 |- |64||L||March 3, 1976||4–6 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||32–28–4 |- |65||W||March 4, 1976||4–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||33–28–4 |- |66||L||March 6, 1976||2–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||33–29–4 |- |67||L||March 7, 1976||1–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||33–30–4 |- |68||W||March 9, 1976||7–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||34–30–4 |- |69||W||March 11, 1976||2–0 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||35–30–4 |- |70||W||March 16, 1976||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||36–30–4 |- |71||L||March 17, 1976||2–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||36–31–4 |- |72||W||March 20, 1976||8–7 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||37–31–4 |- |73||L||March 23, 1976||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||37–32–4 |- |74||W||March 24, 1976||7–6 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1975–76) ||38–32–4 |- |75||L||March 26, 1976||1–4 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1975–76) ||38–33–4 |- |76||L||March 27, 1976||4–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||38–34–4 |- |77||W||March 28, 1976||5–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||39–34–4 |- |78||W||March 30, 1976||6–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||40–34–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 2px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |79||W||April 2, 1976||4–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||41–34–4 |- |80||L||April 6, 1976||3–5 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||41–35–4 |- |- | 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 playoffs, the Cowboys met the Quebec Nordiques in the first round. The series is best known for one of hockey's most legendary brawls.Randy Sportak Wanna be a Cowboy http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Columnists/Sportak/2005/01/29/pf-914049.html Calgary Sun 2005-01-29 2008-04-04April 2026 medicmedic The incident began when Calgary's Rick Jodzio cross-checked Quebec's Marc Tardif in the head, causing both teams to leave their benches.Bilych George Cowboys, Nordiques brawl gives hockey a black eye Calgary Herald 1976-04-12 1 The brawl lasted 20 minutes, and ended only when Quebec police gathered at the players benches and escorted the teams back to their dressing rooms.Willes 2004 167 The game resumed following a 20-minute break to allow both teams to cool down, then resumed without eleven players who were ejected from the game. The incident caught the attention of Quebec's Solicitor General Fernand Lalonde, who had the incident investigated as a criminal matter. Jodzio was suspended indefinitely by the league, and later pleaded guilty in a Quebec court to a charge of assault over the incident.Willes 2004 168 Cowboys coach Joe Crozier was suspended for the rest of the series. Calgary went on to defeat the Nordiques, who had finished 18-points ahead of Calgary in the regular season, but were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round. The team never really captured the attention of Calgarians, as fewer than 5,000 fans, on average, attended playoff games against the Jets.Sandor 2005 96 background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 5px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 5px solid; 1976 Avco Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 2px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. Quebec Nordiques – Cowboys win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 10 || Calgary Cowboys || 3–1 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–0 |- | 2 || April 11 || Calgary Cowboys || 8–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–1 |- | 3 || April 14 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–3 || Calgary Cowboys || 3–1 |- | 4 || April 16 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–3 || Calgary Cowboys || 3–1 |- | 5 || April 18 || Calgary Cowboys || 6–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#EC1C24 2px solid; border-bottom:#EC1C24 2px solid; Semifinals vs. Winnipeg Jets – Jets win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 23 || Calgary Cowboys || 1–6 || Winnipeg Jets || 0–1 |- | 2 || April 25 || Calgary Cowboys || 2–3 || Winnipeg Jets || 0–2 |- | 3 || April 28 || Winnipeg Jets || 6–3 || Calgary Cowboys || 0–3 |- | 4 || April 30 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–7 || Calgary Cowboys || 1–3 |- | 5 || May 2 || Calgary Cowboys || 0–4 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–4 |- |- | 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 Danny Lawson RW 80 44 52 96 4613745 Ron Chipperfield C 75 42 41 83 32131905 George Morrison George Morrison (ice hockey) LW 79 25 32 57 135710 Butch Deadmarsh LW 79 26 28 54 1965524 Dick Sentes LW 72 25 24 49 339705 Don Tannahill LW 78 25 24 49 106155 Bobby Leiter C 51 17 17 34 86600 Peter Driscoll LW 75 16 18 34 12712206 Larry Israelson LW 57 10 22 32 2610101 Francois Lacombe François Lacombe D 71 3 28 31 6211100 Steve Hull RW 58 11 15 26 6-2000 Chris Evans Chris Evans (ice hockey) D 75 3 20 23 5012100 John Miszuk D 69 2 21 23 6631000 Ray Delorenzi RW 39 8 12 20 47010 Murray Keogan C 38 7 11 18 190002 Terry Caffery C 21 5 13 18 43102 Rick Jodzio LW 47 10 7 17 1375002 Duane Rupp D 42 0 16 16 33-6000 Gavin Kirk Gavin Kirk (ice hockey) C 15 7 8 15 148101 Derek Haas Derek Haas (ice hockey) C 30 5 9 14 65000 Hugh Harris Hugh Harris (ice hockey) C 30 5 9 14 19-7002 Lynn Powis C 21 4 10 14 22010 Don McLeod G 63 0 13 13 40000 Bernie Lukowich RW 15 5 2 7 18-5001 Paul Terbenche D 58 2 4 6 22-3010 Wally Olds D 28 0 5 5 64000 Bill Reed D 29 0 5 5 143000 Harry Howell Harry Howell (ice hockey) D 31 0 3 3 64000 Pat Westrum D 9 0 2 2 232000 Bill Gratton LW 6 0 1 1 2-2000 Yvon Bilodeau D 4 0 0 0 2-4000 Ken Desjardine D 1 0 0 0 00000 Dave Gilmour Dave Gilmour (ice hockey b. 1950) LW 1 0 0 0 0-2000 Ed Humphreys G 8 0 0 0 00000 Jim McCrimmon D 5 0 0 0 21000 Vic Mercredi C 3 0 0 0 290000 Warren Miller Warren Miller (ice hockey) RW 3 0 0 0 00000 Rob Walton ice hockey C 2 0 0 0 00000 Wayne Wood G 19 0 0 0 40000Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO Don McLeod 3534 63 30 27 3 206 3.50 1 Wayne Wood 880 19 9 3 1 45 3.07 1 Ed Humphreys 441 8 2 5 0 27 3.67 0 Team: 4855 80 41 35 4 278 3.44 2 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Chris Evans Chris Evans (ice hockey) D 10 5 5 10 4000 Gavin Kirk Gavin Kirk (ice hockey) C 10 4 6 10 19000 Ron Chipperfield C 10 5 4 9 6000 Lynn Powis C 10 5 4 9 2000 Danny Lawson RW 9 4 4 8 19000 Bernie Lukowich RW 10 3 4 7 8000 Peter Driscoll LW 10 2 5 7 41000 Don Tannahill LW 10 2 5 7 8000 Paul Terbenche D 10 0 6 6 6000 George Morrison George Morrison (ice hockey) LW 10 3 2 5 0000 Bobby Leiter C 3 2 0 2 0000 Wally Olds D 9 0 2 2 4000 Duane Rupp D 7 0 2 2 0000 Warren Miller Warren Miller (ice hockey) RW 10 1 0 1 28000 Butch Deadmarsh LW 8 0 1 1 14000 Don McLeod G 10 0 1 1 4000 John Miszuk D 10 0 1 1 10000 Dick Sentes LW 8 0 1 1 8000 Pat Westrum D 6 0 1 1 19000 Derek Haas Derek Haas (ice hockey) C 1 0 0 0 0000 Harry Howell Harry Howell (ice hockey) D 2 0 0 0 2000 Ed Humphreys G 1 0 0 0 0000 Larry Israelson LW 3 0 0 0 0000 Rick Jodzio LW 2 0 0 0 14000 Francois Lacombe François Lacombe D 8 0 0 0 2000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO Don McLeod 579 10 5 5 37 3.83 0 Ed Humphreys 20 1 0 0 0 0.00 0 Team: 599 10 5 5 37 3.71 0 hockey-reference.com 2009-07-02 1975-76 Calgary Cowboys Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CGC/1976.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; Draft picks Calgary's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/wha1975a.html 1975 WHA Amateur Draft hockeyDB.com December 19, 2018 Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)17Denny McLean (LW)CanadaCalgary Centennials (WCHL)337Alex Pirus (C)CanadaUniversity of Notre Dame (WCHA)452Rick Piche (D)CanadaBrandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)567Terry Bucyk (RW)CanadaLethbridge Broncos (WCHL)680Pat Hughes (F)CanadaUniversity of Michigan (WCHA)794Greg Smith (D)CanadaColorado College (WCHA)8106Doug Lindskog (LW)CanadaUniversity of Michigan (WCHA)9118Paul Clarke (RW)CanadaUniversity of Notre Dame (WCHA)10131Randy Koch (F)United StatesUniversity of Vermont (ECAC)11144Dan Tsubouchi (RW)CanadaSt. Louis University (CCHA)12155Bill Anderson (D)CanadaSt. Louis University (CCHA)13165Doug Hanson Canada14172Darrell Ferner (C)CanadaKamloops Chiefs (WCHL) See also 1975–76 WHA season Notes References November 2009 Sandor Steven 2005 The Battle of Alberta: A Century of Hockey's Greatest Rivalry 1-894974-01-8 Willes Ed 2004 The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association McClelland & Stewart 0-7710-8947-3 Cal Cal Category:Calgary Cowboys Category:1970s in Calgary Category:1975 in sports in Alberta Category:1976 in sports in Alberta