1973–74 Toronto Toros season

Last updated • 4 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

1973–74 Toronto Toros
League4th WHA
Division2nd Eastern
1973–74 record41–33–4
Home record25–11–3
Road record16–22–1
Goals for304
Goals against272
Team information
General managerA.J. (Buck) Houle
Coach Billy Harris
Captain Wayne Carleton
Alternate captains Bob Leduc
Brian Gibbons (unconfirmed)
Gavin Kirk
Arena Varsity Arena (30 games)
Ottawa Civic Center (9 games)
Average attendance4,291 (73.5%)
Team leaders
Goals Wayne Carleton (37)
Assists Wayne Carleton (55)
Points Wayne Carleton (92)
Penalty minutes Rick Cunningham (88)
Wins Gilles Gratton (26)
Goals against average Les Binkley (3.27)
  1972–73
1974–75  

The 1973–74 Toronto Toros season was the team's first season in Toronto, as they spent their inaugural season as the Ottawa Nationals in 1972–73. [1] [2]

Contents

Offseason

The Nationals were moved to Toronto and sold to John F. Bassett, son of former Toronto Maple Leafs part owner John W. H. Bassett. The new owner renamed team the Toros, as its short for Toronto, and it is also a Spanish bull. To attract attention, Bassett signed 18-year-old Toronto Marlboros star Wayne Dillon, and former Maple Leafs defenseman Carl Brewer to anchor the blueline. The Toros also thought they had a deal to sign Maple Leafs star player Darryl Sittler to a five-year, $1 million contract, however, Sittler decided to return to the Leafs.

The Toros originally planned to move the team into a renovated CNE Coliseum, while Bill Ballard, the son of Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard and was running Maple Leaf Gardens due to his father being in prison, was opposed of the renovation and wanted the team to play in the Gardens. The Toros decided to spend the season at Varsity Arena, which seated 4,860 fans.

As the Ottawa Nationals the previous season, the team finished in fourth place in the Eastern Division with a 35-39-4 record, losing to the New England Whalers in the first round of the playoffs.

Regular season

The first game for the Toros was played on October 7, 1973, at Varsity Arena, with Toronto tying the Chicago Cougars 4-4. The Toros would get off to a sluggish start, going 0-2-2 in their first four games before defeating the Los Angeles Sharks 3-0 on the road. The team continued to slump, and through their first twelve games, sat with a record of 2-7-3. Toronto would break out of their slump though, and post a record of 17-11-0 in their next 28 games to go over the .500 for the first time. The Toros would keep up their great play, and end the season in second place in the Eastern Division, with a 41-33-4 record, earning 86 points, which was a twelve-point improvement over the previous season. Head coach Billy Harris won the Howard Baldwin Trophy, presented to the Coach of the Year.

Offensively, Toronto was led by Wayne Carleton, who finished with a team high 37 goals and 92 points and finished sixth in league scoring. Gavin Kirk had another solid season, earning 68 points in 78 games, while rookie Wayne Dillon earned 65 points in 71 games. The defense was led by Brian Gibbons, who had 35 points, while Carl Brewer chipped in with 25 points. Rick Cunningham led the Toros with 88 penalty minutes.

In goal, Gilles Gratton had the majority of playing time, winning 26 games while posting a GAA of 3.53, along with two shutouts. Les Binkley backed him up, winning 14 games with a team best 3.27 GAA, and a shutout.

Season standings

Eastern Division
GPWLTGFGAPIMPts
New England Whalers 784331429126087590
Toronto Toros 784133430427287186
Cleveland Crusaders 7837329266264100783
Chicago Cougars 7838355271273104181
Quebec Nordiques 783836430628090980
NY Golden Blades / Jersey Knights 783242426831393368

Game log

Regular season schedule
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPts
1October 7 Chicago Cougars 4–4Toronto Toros0–0–11
2October 9 New York Golden Blades 3–3Toronto Toros0–0–22
3October 11 Quebec Nordiques 4–1Toronto Toros0–1–22
4October 14 Minnesota Fighting Saints 5–2Toronto Toros0–2–22
5October 16Toronto Toros3–0 Los Angeles Sharks 1–2–24
6October 18Toronto Toros1–4 Quebec Nordiques 1–3–24
7October 20Toronto Toros4–6 Cleveland Crusaders 1–4–24
8October 21 New England Whalers 4–3Toronto Toros1–5–24
9October 23Toronto Toros2–4 Edmonton Oilers 1–6–24
10October 24Toronto Toros7–4 Vancouver Blazers 2–6–26
11October 26Toronto Toros3–3 Winnipeg Jets 2–6–37
12October 28 Chicago Cougars 3–2Toronto Toros2–7–37
13November 3Toronto Toros5–4 New England Whalers 3–7–39
14November 4 Los Angeles Sharks 3–6Toronto Toros4–7–311
15November 7Toronto Toros5–4 Houston Aeros 5–7–313
16November 9Toronto Toros2–4 Los Angeles Sharks 5–8–313
17November 10Toronto Toros2–3 Chicago Cougars 5–9–313
18November 11 Edmonton Oilers 4–2Toronto Toros5–10–313
19November 17Toronto Toros2–5 Chicago Cougars 5–11–313
20November 18 Winnipeg Jets 2–6Toronto Toros6–11–315
21November 22Toronto Toros4–2 Quebec Nordiques 7–11–317
22November 24Toronto Toros1–2 Cleveland Crusaders 7–12–317
23November 25 Vancouver Blazers 2–3Toronto Toros8–12–319
24November 27 Quebec Nordiques 1–3Toronto Toros9–12–321
25November 30Toronto Toros2–1 Minnesota Fighting Saints 10–12–323
26December 2 Houston Aeros 2–5Toronto Toros11–12–325
27December 5Toronto Toros3–1 Vancouver Blazers 12–12–327
28December 6Toronto Toros3–4 Edmonton Oilers 12–13–327
29December 7Toronto Toros4–7 Winnipeg Jets 12–14–327
30December 9 Minnesota Fighting Saints 1–10Toronto Toros13–14–329
31December 12Toronto Toros6–8 New England Whalers 13–15–329
32December 13 Cleveland Crusaders 1–3Toronto Toros14–15–331
33December 15Toronto Toros3–4 Cleveland Crusaders 14–16–331
34December 16 Quebec Nordiques 4–3 OTToronto Toros14–17–331
35December 18 Jersey Knights 1–4Toronto Toros15–17–333
36December 21 Houston Aeros 1–3Toronto Toros16–17–335
37December 22Toronto Toros6–4 Quebec Nordiques 17–17–337
38December 23 Chicago Cougars 6–5Toronto Toros17–18–337
39December 29Toronto Toros9–3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 18–18–339
40December 30 Winnipeg Jets 2–5Toronto Toros19–18–341
41January 1 Cleveland Crusaders 0–3Toronto Toros20–18–343
42January 6 Jersey Knights 4–2Toronto Toros20–19–343
43January 8Toronto Toros3–2 New England Whalers 21–19–345
44January 10 New England Whalers 6–6Toronto Toros21–19–446
45January 12Toronto Toros6–8 Minnesota Fighting Saints 21–20–446
46January 13 Jersey Knights 2–7Toronto Toros22–20–448
47January 16Toronto Toros1–4 Houston Aeros 22–21–448
48January 18Toronto Toros1–4 Los Angeles Sharks 22–22–448
49January 20 New England Whalers 4–8Toronto Toros23–22–450
50January 24 Cleveland Crusaders 5–3Toronto Toros23–23–450
51January 27 Vancouver Blazers 7–9Toronto Toros24–23–452
52January 29Toronto Toros1–6 Jersey Knights 24–24–452
53January 31 Los Angeles Sharks 4–5 OTToronto Toros25–24–454
54February 1Toronto Toros1–2 Quebec Nordiques 25–25–454
55February 3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4–5Toronto Toros26–25–456
56February 9Toronto Toros3–4 Cleveland Crusaders 26–26–456
57February 10Toronto Toros5–4 Jersey Knights 27–26–458
58February 12 Quebec Nordiques 4–6Toronto Toros28–26–460
59February 14Toronto Toros5–2 Jersey Knights 29–26–462
60February 16Toronto Toros5–4 Chicago Cougars 30–26–464
61February 17Toronto Toros2–3 OT Edmonton Oilers 30–27–464
62February 19Toronto Toros5–4 OT Vancouver Blazers 31–27–466
63February 22Toronto Toros3–4 Winnipeg Jets 31–28-466
64February 24 New England Whalers 0–2Toronto Toros32–28–468
65February 27Toronto Toros3–5 New England Whalers 32–29–468
66February 28 Winnipeg Jets 0–3Toronto Toros33–29–470
67March 3Toronto Toros5–4 Chicago Cougars 34–29–472
68March 9Toronto Toros2–4 Houston Aeros 34–30–472
69March 10 Cleveland Crusaders 3–8Toronto Toros35–30–474
70March 14 Quebec Nordiques 3–2Toronto Toros35–31–474
71March 17 Chicago Cougars 4–2Toronto Toros35–32–474
72March 18Toronto Toros5–11 Jersey Knights 35–33–474
73March 21 Houston Aeros 3–6Toronto Toros36–33–476
74March 24 Vancouver Blazers 1–3Toronto Toros37–33–478
75March 28 Edmonton Oilers 5–6 OTToronto Toros38–33–480
76March 30Toronto Toros3–1 Quebec Nordiques 39–33–482
77March 31 Los Angeles Sharks 4–5Toronto Toros40–33–484
78April 2 Edmonton Oilers 2–3Toronto Toros41–33–486

Playoffs

The Toros opened the playoffs in a best of seven series against the Cleveland Crusaders, who finished in third place in the Eastern Division, three points behind Toronto. The series opened at Varsity Arena, with the Toros shutting out the Crusaders 4-0 in the series opener, followed by a close 4-3 victory in the second game to take a 2-0 series lead. The series shifted to Cleveland for the next two games, however, the Toros took the third game 4-2 to put the Crusaders on the brink of elimination. Cleveland managed to avoid being eliminated in the fourth game, winning 3-2 in overtime, however, the series returned to Toronto for the fifth game, with the Toros winning 4-1 to take the series in five games.

Next up for Toronto was the Chicago Cougars, who finished in fourth place in the Eastern Division, five points behind the Toros. The Cougars defeated the first place New England Whalers in seven games to advance to the Divisional Finals. The series opened in Toronto, and the Toros took an early series lead with a 6-4 victory in the first game. The Cougars would win the second game 4-3 to even the series up. The series moved to Chicago for the next two games, and the Cougars took a 2-1 series lead with a 3-2 victory in the third game, however, the Toros won a wild fourth game by a 7-6 score to even the series up again. In the fifth game in Toronto, the Toros took care of the Cougars 5-3 to go up 3-2 in the series. Back in Chicago for the sixth game, the Cougars fought off elimination, easily defeating Toronto by a 9-2 score, setting up a seventh and final game at Varsity Arena. Chicago would upset the favoured Toros, winning the game 5-2 to advance to the Avco Cup finals, ending Toronto's season.

Toronto Toros 4, Cleveland Crusaders 1

#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 7 Cleveland Crusaders 0–4Toronto Toros1-0
2April 9 Cleveland Crusaders 3–4Toronto Toros2-0
3April 12Toronto Toros4–2 Cleveland Crusaders 3-0
4April 13Toronto Toros2–3 OT Cleveland Crusaders 3-1
5April 15 Cleveland Crusaders 1–4Toronto Toros4-1

Chicago Cougars 4, Toronto Toros 3 - Semifinals

#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecord
1April 19 Chicago Cougars 4–6Toronto Toros1-0
2April 22 Chicago Cougars 4–3Toronto Toros1-1
3April 28Toronto Toros2–3 Chicago Cougars 1-2
4April 30Toronto Toros7–6 Chicago Cougars 2-2
5May 1 Chicago Cougars 3–5Toronto Toros3-2
6May 4Toronto Toros2–9 Chicago Cougars 3-3
7May 6 Chicago Cougars 5–2Toronto Toros3-4

Player stats

Regular season

Scoring leaders
PlayerGPGAPtsPIM
Wayne Carleton 7837559231
Gavin Kirk 7820486844
Wayne Dillon 7830356513
Guy Trottier 7127356258
Rick Sentes 6426346046
Goaltending
PlayerGPTOIWLTGASOGAASave %
Bill Holden 110100000.001.000
Frank Blum 5131100502.29.924
Les Binkley 27141214917713.27.901
Gilles Gratton 5732002624318823.53.895

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders
PlayerGPGAPtsPIM
Wayne Carleton 12212144
Rick Sentes 12741119
Wayne Dillon 1256119
Tom Martin 1273102
Guy Trottier 1255104
Goaltending
PlayerGPTOIWLGASOGAASave %
Gilles Gratton 10539532512.78
Les Binkley 5182221705.60

Awards and records

Draft picks

Toronto's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.

Round#PlayerNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team (League)
14 Paulin Bordeleau Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
218 Pat Hickey Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Hamilton Red Wings (OHA)
443 Peter Marrin Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto Marlboros (OHA)
552 Bob Dailey Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaToronto Marlboros (OHA)
556 Lou Nistico Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada London Knights (OHA)
669Doug FergusonFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaHamilton Red Wings (OHA)
778 Gerrard Gibbons Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada St. Mary's University (CIAU)
782 Gord Titcomb Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
895John CampbellFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)
9106 Guido Tenesi Flag of the United States.svg United States Oshawa Generals (OHA)

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Maple Leafs</span> National Hockey League team in Ontario, Canada

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The club is owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, a company that owns several professional sports teams in the city. The Maple Leafs' broadcasting rights are split between BCE Inc. and Rogers Communications. For the first 14 seasons, the team played its home games at the Mutual Street Arena, before moving to Maple Leaf Gardens in 1931. The Maple Leafs moved to their present home, Scotiabank Arena, in February 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Henderson</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1943)

Paul Garnet Henderson, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A left winger, Henderson played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames and five in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls. He played over 1,000 games between the two major leagues, scoring 376 goals and 758 points. Henderson played in two NHL All-Star Games and was a member of the 1962 Memorial Cup-winning Hamilton Red Wings team as a junior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Hockey Association</span> Defunct ice hockey major league from 1972 to 1979

The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (NHL) since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926. Although the WHA was not the first league since that time to attempt to challenge the NHL's supremacy, it was by far the most successful in the modern era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold Ballard</span> Canadian businessman and sportsman (1903–1990)

Harold Edwin Ballard was a Canadian businessman and sportsman. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. A member of the Leafs organization from 1940 and a senior executive from 1957, he became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February 1972 until his death. He won Stanley Cups in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967, all as part-owner. He was also the owner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) for 10 years from 1978 to 1988, winning a Grey Cup championship in 1986. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1977) and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1987). His is one of seven names to be on both the Stanley Cup and Grey Cup.

Robert Briton Selby is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues from 1965 to 1971. He also played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Quebec Nordiques, New England Whalers and Toronto Toros from 1972 to 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maple Leaf Gardens</span> Historic building in Ontario, Canada

Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building was originally constructed in 1931 as an indoor arena to host ice hockey games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Cougars</span> Former ice hockey team of the World Hockey Association

The Chicago Cougars were a franchise in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1975. The Cougars played their home games in the International Amphitheatre. During the 1974 Avco Cup Finals against Gordie Howe and the Houston Aeros, the team's two home games were played at the Randhurst Twin Ice Arena in suburban Mount Prospect. This was because a presentation of Peter Pan starring gymnast Cathy Rigby was booked into the Amphitheatre when the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls had both entered their own playoffs, making the Chicago Stadium unavailable for either the Cougars or Peter Pan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ottawa Nationals</span> Former ice hockey team of the World Hockey Association

The Ottawa Nationals were a professional men's ice hockey team out of Ottawa that played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) during the 1972–73 WHA season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toronto Toros</span> Defunct World Hockey Association franchise

The Toronto Toros were an ice hockey team based in Toronto that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973 to 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham Bulls (WHA)</span> Former ice hockey team of the World Hockey Association

The Birmingham Bulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Birmingham, Alabama. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1976 to 1979 and the Central Hockey League from 1979 to 1981. The Bulls played their home games at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.

The 1973–74 WHA season was the second season of the World Hockey Association, and lasted from October 1973 until the Avco Cup final game on May 19, 1974, when the Houston Aeros, with Gordie Howe, defeated the Chicago Cougars to sweep the series in four games. Twelve teams each played 78 games. The Philadelphia Blazers relocated to Vancouver, becoming the Vancouver Blazers. They were moved to the Western Division and Chicago moved to the East. The New York Raiders were renamed the New York Golden Blades and then moved to Cherry Hill, New Jersey to become the Jersey Knights after just 24 games. The Ottawa Nationals moved to Toronto and became the Toronto Toros. The Alberta Oilers changed their name to the Edmonton Oilers.

The 1972–73 NHL season was the 56th season of the National Hockey League. Sixteen teams each played 78 games. Two new teams, the New York Islanders and the Atlanta Flames, made their debuts. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup by beating the Chicago Black Hawks four games to two in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The 1973–74 NHL season was the 57th season of the National Hockey League. The Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup championship, the team's first. The team was the first of the post-1967 teams to win the Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Stapleton (ice hockey)</span> Canadian ice hockey player (1940–2020)

Patrick James "Whitey" Stapleton was a Canadian ice hockey player. A defenceman, Stapleton played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA), most notably for the Chicago Black Hawks. He was the father of Mike Stapleton, who had a lengthy career in the NHL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Toronto Maple Leafs</span>

The history of the Toronto Maple Leafs, a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL), begins with the establishment of the NHL itself. Both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL arose from disputes between Eddie Livingstone, owner of the National Hockey Association's Toronto Blueshirts, and the other team owners of the Association. In November 1917, these other team owners founded the NHL, and granted Toronto a temporary franchise in their new league. Playing at Arena Gardens, this temporary team, the Toronto Arenas, won the 1918 Stanley Cup Finals following the inaugural 1917–18 NHL season. The NHL made the franchise permanent in October 1918.

The 1931–32 Toronto Maple Leafs season was Toronto's 15th season in the NHL. The Maple Leafs were coming off their best regular season in team history in 1930–31, and the club set team records in wins and points, with 23 and 53 respectively, finishing in second place in the Canadian Division. Toronto then won three playoff rounds to win the Stanley Cup, first as the Maple Leafs, and third in the history of the franchise.

The 1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the 63rd season of the franchise, 53rd season as the Maple Leafs. In July 1979, Leafs owner Harold Ballard brought back Punch Imlach, a longtime friend, as general manager. Imlach traded Lanny McDonald to undermine team captain Darryl Sittler's influence on the team. The McDonald trade sent the Leafs into a downward spiral. They finished five games under .500 and only made the playoffs due to the presence of the Quebec Nordiques, a refugee from the WHA, in the Adams Division.

The 1972–73 Ottawa Nationals season was the Nationals' only season, as they were one of the original teams in the newly created WHA. The Nationals played most of the season in Ottawa, but transferred their playoff games to Toronto. Due to low attendance in Ottawa, an arena lease dispute, and much better attendance in their two playoff games in Toronto, where they averaged over 5000 fans per game, the Nationals relocated to Toronto permanently beginning in the next season. The club was renamed the Toronto Toros.

The 1974–75 Toronto Toros season was the team's second season in Toronto, after spending their inaugural season as the Ottawa Nationals in 1972–73. The Toros moved from Varsity Arena to Maple Leaf Gardens for the start of their second season.

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.

References

  1. World Hockey Association (1973). WHA 1973-74 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  2. World Hockey Association (1974). WHA 1974-75 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.