1975 WHA playoffs

Last updated

1975 WHA playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 8 – May 12, 1975
Season 1974–75
Teams8
Final positions
Champions Houston Aeros (2nd title)
Runner-up Quebec Nordiques
Semifinalists
←  1974
1976  →

The 1975 WHA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the World Hockey Association's 1974-1975 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Division champion Houston Aeros defeating the Eastern Division champion Quebec Nordiques in four games for their second straight Avco Cup championship. [1] [2]

Contents

Bracket

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
W1 Houston Aeros 4
E2 Cleveland Crusaders 1
W1 Houston Aeros 4
W2 San Diego Mariners 0
W2 San Diego Mariners 4
C2 Toronto Toros 2
W1Houston Aeros4
C1 Quebec Nordiques 0
E1 New England Whalers 2
W3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4
W3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 2
C1Quebec Nordiques4
C1 Quebec Nordiques 4
W4 Phoenix Roadrunners 1

Quarterfinals

(C1) Quebec Nordiques vs. (W4) Phoenix Roadrunners

April 8Phoenix Roadrunners2–5
(0–2, 1–3, 1–0)		Quebec Nordiques Colisée de Québec
Jack Norris Goalies Richard Brodeur
Robbie Ftorek
Gene Sobchuk 		Goals Réjean Houle (2)
Rene LeClerc (2)
Michel Parizeau
10 8 21 - 39Shots10 8 6 - 24
April 10Phoenix Roadrunners2–6
(1–1, 0–4, 1–1)		Quebec Nordiques Colisée de Québec
Jack Norris / Gary Kurt Goalies Richard Brodeur
Jim Boyd
Peter McNamee 		Goals Serge Bernier (2)
Marc Tardif
Bob Guindon
Christian Bordeleau
Réjean Houle
14 12 17 - 43Shots7 8 7 - 22
April 12Quebec Nordiques3–0
(1–0, 2–0, 0–0)		Phoenix Roadrunners Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Richard Brodeur Goalies Gary Kurt
Serge Bernier
Marc Tardif
Réjean Houle 		GoalsNo scoring
7 4 7 - 18Shots6 8 18 - 32
April 15Quebec Nordiques5–6 (OT)
(2–4, 3–1, 0–0, 0–1)		Phoenix Roadrunners Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Richard Brodeur Goalies Gary Kurt
Serge Bernier (2)
Bob Guindon (2)
Réjean Houle 		Goals Gene Sobchuk (2)
John Gray
Robbie Ftorek
Wendell Bennett
GW - Michel Cormier (7:21)
10 9 6 3 28Shots10 15 7 6 38
April 17Phoenix Roadrunners2–4
(0–0, 2–2, 0–2)		Quebec Nordiques Colisée de Québec
Gary Kurt Goalies Richard Brodeur
John Gray
Gene Sobchuk 		Goals Rene LeClerc
Jeannot Gilbert
Marc Tardif
Serge Bernier
14 15 10 - 39Shots8 11 13 - 32


(E1) New England Whalers vs. (W3) Minnesota Fighting Saints

April 9Minnesota Fighting Saints6–5
(2–3, 3–2, 1–1)		New England Whalers Hartford Civic Center
John Garrett Goalies Al Smith
Wayne Connelly (2)
Gord Gallant
Bill Butters
Gary Gambucci
Mike Walton 		Goals Larry Pleau (2)
Ron Climie

Wayne Carleton
John French
13 15 8 - 36Shots13 13 10 - 36
April 11Minnesota Fighting Saints2–3 (OT)
(0–1, 1–1, 1–0, 0–1)		New England Whalers Hartford Civic Center
John Garrett Goalies Al Smith
George Morrison
Ron Busniuk 		Goals Wayne Carleton
Brad Selwood
GW - Rick Ley (6:46)
9 9 10 4 32Shots10 11 10 3 34
April 13New England Whalers3–8
(0–3, 2–3, 1–2)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Al Smith Goalies John Garrett
Ron Climie (2)
Mike Byers 		Goals George Morrison (2)
Terry Ball (2)
Fran Huck
Mike Walton
Rick Smith
Ron Busniuk
8 10 10 - 28Shots10 11 10 - 31
April 15New England Whalers5–2
(0–1, 1–1, 4–0)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Al Smith Goalies John Garrett
Nick Fotiu (2)
Wayne Carleton
Tommy Earl
Don Blackburn 		Goals Gary Gambucci
Wayne Connelly
6 8 14 - 28Shots12 11 10 - 33
April 18Minnesota Fighting Saints 4–0
(0–0, 0–0, 0–0)		New England Whalers Hartford Civic Center
John Garrett Goalies Al Smith
Wayne Connelly (2)
Fran Huck
Mike Walton 		GoalsNo scoring
6 13 10 - 29Shots9 5 13 - 27
April 19New England Whalers1–6
(0–2, 0–1, 1–3)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Al Smith Goalies John Garrett
Mike Byers Goals Mike Walton (2)
Gary Gambucci
Wayne Connelly
Don Tannahill
7 15 11 - 33Shots9 10 12 - 31

(W1) Houston Aeros vs. (E2) Cleveland Crusaders

April 10Cleveland Crusaders5–8
(2–3, 1–1, 2–4)		Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum
Gerry Cheevers Goalies Ron Grahame
Paul Shmyr (2)
Jim Harrison
Tom Edur
Gerry Pinder 		Goals Mark Howe (3)
Frank Hughes (2)
Terry Ruskowski
Ted Taylor
Murray Hall
8 6 11 - 25Shots14 13 9 - 36
April 12Cleveland Crusaders3–5
(1–1, 0–1, 2–3)		Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum
Gerry Cheevers Goalies Ron Grahame
Al McDonough
Gerry Pinder
Russ Walker 		Goals Murray Hall (2)
Don Larway
Larry Lund
Mark Howe
15 11 11 - 37Shots10 17 8 - 35
April 13Houston Aeros1–3
(0–0, 1–1, 0–2)		Cleveland Crusaders Richfield Coliseum
Ron Grahame Goalies Gerry Cheevers
Mark Howe Goals Al McDonough
Larry Hillman
Tom Edur
8 13 15 - 36Shots9 10 18 - 37
April 15Houston Aeros7–2
(2–0, 0–0, 5–2)		Cleveland Crusaders Richfield Coliseum
Ron Grahame Goalies Gerry Cheevers
Mark Howe (3)
Murray Hall (2)
Andre Hinse
Frank Hughes 		Goals Skip Krake
Ray Clearwater
13 13 9 - 35Shots12 9 15 - 36
April 17Cleveland Crusaders1–3
(0–2, 1–0, 0–1)		Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum
Gerry Cheevers Goalies Ron Grahame
Gerry Pinder Goals Gordie Howe
Larry Lund
Ted Taylor
10 9 9 - 28Shots19 7 14 - 40

(W2) San Diego Mariners vs. (C2) Toronto Toros

April 9Toronto Toros3–5
(2–1, 1–2, 0–2)		San Diego Mariners San Diego Sports Arena
Jim Shaw Goalies Ernie Wakely
Lou Nistico
Václav Nedomanský
Gavin Kirk 		Goals Ray Adduono (2)
Gene Peacosh
Wayne Rivers
André Lacroix
10 14 4 - 28Shots16 12 16 - 44
April 12Toronto Toros6–7
(0–3, 2–3, 4–1)		San Diego Mariners San Diego Sports Arena
Gilles Gratton / Jim Shaw Goalies Ernie Wakely
Frank Mahovlich
Václav Nedomanský
Gavin Kirk
Jim Dorey
Lou Nistico
Martin		Goals Gene Peacosh (2)
Jim Hargreaves
André Lacroix
Norm Ferguson
Howell
Wayne Rivers
15 12 13 - 40Shots13 23 10 - 46
April 14San Diego Mariners2–5
(0–2, 2–2, 0–1)		Toronto Toros Maple Leaf Gardens
Ernie Wakely / Russ Gillow Goalies Les Binkley
Norm Ferguson (2)Goals Lou Nistico (2)
Gavin Kirk
Tom Simpson
Wayne Dillon
11 7 10 - 28Shots17 12 12 - 41
April 16San Diego Mariners5–6
(1–0, 1–4, 3–2)		Toronto Toros Maple Leaf Gardens
Ernie Wakely Goalies Jim Shaw
Mike Laughton (2)
Norm Ferguson
Gene Peacosh
Brian Perry 		Goals Wayne Dillon (2)
Lou Nistico
Tony Featherstone
Frank Mahovlich
Gavin Kirk
8 14 9 - 31Shots10 17 18 - 45
April 18Toronto Toros3–4
(1–0, 1–2, 1–2)		San Diego Mariners San Diego Sports Arena
Jim Shaw Goalies Ernie Wakely
Frank Mahovlich
Václav Nedomanský
Gavin Kirk 		Goals Gene Peacosh
Mike Laughton
Ray Adduono
11:59 (3rd) - Gene Peacosh
9 13 15 - 37Shots14 19 22 - 55
April 21San Diego Mariners6–4
(2–2, 2–2, 2–0)		Toronto Toros Maple Leaf Gardens
Ernie Wakely Goalies Les Binkley
Norm Ferguson (2)
Ray Adduono
Kevin Devine
Gene Peacosh
André Lacroix 		Goals Lou Nistico
Wayne Dillon
Jim Dorey
Tony Featherstone
13 14 12 - 39Shots15 13 17 - 45

Semifinals

(C1) Quebec Nordiques vs. (W3) Minnesota Fighting Saints

April 22Minnesota Fighting Saints1–4
(0–1, 0–0, 1–3)		Quebec Nordiques Colisée de Québec
John Garrett Goalies Richard Brodeur
Mike Walton Goals Jeannot Gilbert (2)
Rene LeClerc
Réjean Houle
31 (12-9-10)Shots38 (15-17-6)
April 24Minnesota Fighting Saints5–3
(0–2, 4–1, 1–0)		Quebec Nordiques Colisée de Québec
John Garrett Goalies Richard Brodeur
Mike Walton (2)
George Morrison
Rick Smith
Mike Antonovich 		Goals Marc Tardif (2)
Alan Globensky
47 (17-20-10)Shots26 (9-9-8)
April 26Quebec Nordiques6–1
(3–1, 1–0, 2–0)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Richard Brodeur Goalies John Garrett
Marc Tardif
Réjean Houle
Serge Bernier
Réal Cloutier
Bobby Guindon
Rene LeClerc 		Goals Ted Hampson
40 (12-13-15)Shots28 (11-5-12)
April 27Quebec Nordiques2–4
(1–1, 1–1, 0–2)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Richard Brodeur Goalies John Garrett
Serge Bernier
Bobby Guindon 		Goals Terry Ball
Don Tannahill
Fran Huck
Wayne Connelly
41 (14-16-11)Shots38 (14-15-9)
April 29Minnesota Fighting Saints3–6
(0–2, 2–2, 1–2)		Quebec Nordiques Colisée de Québec
John Garrett Goalies Richard Brodeur
Wayne Connelly
Mike Walton
George Morrison 		Goals Réal Cloutier (2)
Bobby Guindon
Christian Bordeleau
Marc Tardif
Rene LeClerc
38 (8-18-12)Shots41 (17-10-14)
May 1Quebec Nordiques4–2
(2–1, 0–0, 2–1)		Minnesota Fighting Saints St. Paul Civic Center
Richard Brodeur Goalies John Garrett
Réal Cloutier
Rene Leclerc
Michel Parizeau
Réjean Houle 		Goals Gary Gambucci
Jack Carlson
34 (14-6-14)Shots38 (13-14-11)

(W1) Houston Aeros vs. (W2) San Diego Mariners

A matchup of the top team in scoring/defense versus the fourth-best team in scoring/defense, the Aeros held San Diego to shutouts in two of the first three games before having to rally to force overtime in the pivotal Game 4. On the first shot in overtime, Jim Sherrit ended the game with his goal to send Houston back to the Avco Cup. [3]

April 25Houston Aeros4–0
(1–0, 2–0, 1–0)		San Diego Mariners San Diego Sports Arena
Ron Grahame Goalies Ernie Wakely
André Hinse
Murray Hall
Terry Ruskowski
Gord Labossiere 		GoalsNo scoring
35 (11-13-11)Shots35 (14-12-9)
April 27Houston Aeros2–1
(0–0, 2–0, 0–1)		San Diego Mariners San Diego Sports Arena
Ron Grahame Goalies Ernie Wakely
Murray Hall
Jim Sherrit 		Goals Wayne Rivers
23 (6-9-8)Shots48 (18-11-19)
April 29San Diego Mariners0–6
(0–2, 0–2, 0–2)		Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum
Ernie Wakely / Russ Gillow Goalies Ron Grahame
Goals André Hinse (2)
Mark Howe
Gord Labossiere
Larry Lund
Gordie Howe
34 (16-6-12)Shots37 (12-12-13)
May 1San Diego Mariners4–5 (OT)
(2–1, 1–1, 1–2, 0–1)		Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum
Russ Gillow / Ernie Wakely Goalies Ron Grahame
Ron Plumb (2)
[Ray Adduono]]
Mike Laughton 		Goals Jim Sherrit
Rich Preston
Don Larway
Gordie Howe
GW - Jim Sherrit (0:27),
37 (17-8-12-0)Shots50 (11-16-22-1)

Avco Cup Final

(W1) Houston Aeros vs. (C1) Quebec Nordiques

The Aeros, having lost only one playoff game leading to the Finals, did not have many problems with Quebec, who only had a lead for a combined thirteen minutes in the whole series, all of which came during Game 2, where Quebec scored a goal on three occasions to break a tie during the game that was followed by Houston tying the game each time before Houston pulled away in the final period.

May 3Quebec Nordiques2–6Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum  
No scoringFirst period1:26 - Gord Labossiere (Popiel, Schella)
2:36 - Larry Lund (Mark Howe, G. Howe)
12:13 - Gordie Howe (Schella, Preston)
17:54 - Terry Ruskowski (Popiel, Larway)
17:51 - Marc Tardif (Bordeleau, Hoganson)Second period4:37 - Don Larway (Ruskowski)
3:45 - Bob Guindon (Bordeleau)Third period1:45 - Gord Labossiere (Taylor, Hughes)
Richard Brodeur 30 saves / 36 shotsGoalie stats Ron Grahame 23 saves / 25 shots
May 6Quebec Nordiques3–5Houston Aeros Sam Houston Coliseum  
16:34 - Dale Hoganson (S. Bernier, Houle)First period4:44 - Gordie Howe (Mark Howe, Sherrit)
2:57 - Marc Tardif (Guindon, Bordeleau)Second period1:19 - Gordie Howe (Lund, Hughes)
2:37 - Marc Tardif (Bordeleau)Third period2:06 - Gord Labossiere (Hall, Taylor)
3:04 - Terry Ruskowski (Preston, Irwin)
11:08 - André Hinse (Lund, Schella)
Richard Brodeur 42 saves / 47 shotsGoalie stats Ron Grahame 23 saves / 26 shots
May 10Houston Aeros2–0Quebec Nordiques Colisée de Québec  
No scoringFirst periodNo scoring
0:14 - Frank Hughes (G. Howe, Mark Howe)Second periodNo scoring
13:48 - Poul Popiel (Schella)Third periodNo scoring
Ron Grahame 34 saves / 34 shotsGoalie stats Richard Brodeur 22 saves / 24 shots
May 12Houston Aeros7–2Quebec Nordiques Colisée de Québec  
2:41 - Gordie Howe (Hinse, Lund)
12:18 - Mark Howe (Hinse, Lund)
19:53 - Gord Labossiere (Schella, Hall).		First period6:01 - Réjean Houle (Tardif, S. Bernier)
7:36 - Gordie Howe (Lund)
16:52 - Frank Hughes (Mark Howe, Sherrit)		Second period14:51 - Réjean Houle (S. Bernier, Brodeur)
14:07 - Larry Lund (Popiel)
18:30 - Frank Hughes (G. Howe, Lund)		Third periodNo scoring
Ron Grahame 36 shots / 38 shotsGoalie stats Richard Brodeur 24 shots / 31 shots
Houston won series 4–0

Statistical leaders

These were the top ten skaters based on points. [4]

PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Mark Howe Houston Aeros 131012220
Marc Tardif Quebec Nordiques 1510112110
Gordie Howe Houston Aeros 138122020
Larry Lund Houston Aeros 135131813
Mike Walton Minnesota Fighting Saints 121071710
Serge Bernier Quebec Nordiques 1588166
Réjean Houle Quebec Nordiques 15106162
Fran Huck Minnesota Fighting Saints 12313166
Christian Bordeleau Quebec Nordiques 15213152
Ray Adduono San Diego Mariners 10591413
Rene Leclerc Quebec Nordiques 14771441
George Morrison Minnesota Fighting Saints 1259140

References

  1. ↑ https://www.surgent.net/wha/year/197475/playoffs.html
  2. ↑ Surgent, Scott (1990). The Complete World Hockey Association 11th Edition. Surgent. p. 162-163, 185-186. ISBN   978-1727753424.
  3. ↑ https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/1975-houston-aeros-vs-san-diego-mariners-semi-finals.html
  4. ↑ https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/WHA_1973_skaters.html#stats::points

Postseason on Hockey Reference

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