1974–75 WHA season

The 1974–75 WHA season was the third season of the World Hockey Association. Fourteen teams each played 78 games.

1974–75 WHA season
LeagueWorld Hockey Association
SportIce hockey
Regular season
Top scorerAndre Lacroix (San Diego)
Avco World Trophy
ChampionsHouston Aeros
  Runners-upQuebec Nordiques

Regular season

The WHA expanded by adding the Indianapolis Racers and Phoenix Roadrunners, and splitting into 3 divisions (Western, Eastern, and Canadian). The top two teams in each division qualified for the playoffs along with the two next best teams overall. Prior to the season, Southern California welcomed the Jersey Knights, who moved to San Diego and became the Mariners, and said goodbye to the Los Angeles Sharks, who moved to Detroit and became the Michigan Stags. Midway through the season, the Stags moved to Baltimore and became the Blades; they folded for good after the season. Chicago also folded at season's end. Also, the New England Whalers left Boston for Hartford, but played the first half of the season in Springfield, Massachusetts until construction on the Hartford Civic Center was finished.

The NHL also expanded this season, to 18 teams, making a total of 32 clubs playing major professional hockey in North America. This number has not been surpassed since; the NHL is scheduled to field 32 teams, beginning in 2021.

Final standings
Canadian Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Quebec Nordiques7846320923312991132
Toronto Toros784333288349304883
Winnipeg Jets783835581322293869
Vancouver Blazers7837392762562701075
Edmonton Oilers783638476279279896
Eastern Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
New England Whalers784330591274279867
Cleveland Crusaders7835403732362581273
Chicago Cougars7830471612613121086
Indianapolis Racers781857339216338970
Western Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM
Houston Aeros78532501063692471257
San Diego Mariners7843314903262681058
Minnesota Fighting Saints7842333873082791233
Phoenix Roadrunners7839318863002651388
Michigan Stags / Baltimore Blades7821534462053411104

Player stats

Scoring leaders

Bolded numbers indicate season leaders

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Andre LacroixSan Diego Mariners784110614763
Bobby HullWinnipeg Jets78776514241
Serge BernierQuebec Nordiques76546812275
Ulf NilssonWinnipeg Jets78269412079
Larry LundHouston Aeros78337510868
Wayne RiversSan Diego Mariners78545310752
Anders HedbergWinnipeg Jets65534710045
Gordie HoweHouston Aeros7534659984
Wayne DillonToronto Toros7729669522
Mike WaltonMinnesota Fighting Saints7548459333

Leading goaltenders

Bolded numbers indicate season leaders

GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties, GA = Goals against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Player Team GP Min W L T GA SO SV% GAA
Ron GrahameHouston Aeros43259033100131490.03.03
Bob WhiddenCleveland Crusaders291654916189091.23.23
Wayne RutledgeHouston Aeros35209220150113289.23.24
Ernie WakelyWinnipeg - San Diego41241823152131390.03.25
Gerry CheeversCleveland Crusaders52307626242167490.53.26
Jack NorrisPhoenix Roadrunners33196214154107189.13.27
John GarrettMinnesota Fighting Saints58329430232180290.53.28
Gary KurtPhoenix Roadrunners47284125164156288.53.27
Jacques PlanteEdmonton Oilers4015921514188189.03.32
Don McLeodVancouver Blazers71412432352230189.13.35

All-Star game

At Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, the West defeated the East 6-4.

Avco World Trophy playoffs

Eight teams qualified for the playoffs; the top two teams in each division and the next two teams with the highest point totals. The teams were then pooled together, according to point totals, to determine quarter-final match-ups. The three division winners were guaranteed the top three seeds, according to their point totals. Teams were not "reseeded" after the quarter-final round.

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
W1 Houston Aeros 4
C1 Quebec Nordiques 0
E1 New England Whalers 2
W3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4
W3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 2
C1 Quebec Nordiques 4
C1 Quebec Nordiques 4
W4 Phoenix Roadrunners 1

WHA awards

Trophies
Avco World Trophy:Houston Aeros
Gary L. Davidson Award:Bobby Hull, Winnipeg Jets
Bill Hunter Trophy:Andre Lacroix, San Diego Mariners
Lou Kaplan Trophy:Anders Hedberg, Winnipeg Jets
Ben Hatskin Trophy:Ron Grahame, Houston Aeros
Dennis A. Murphy Trophy:J. C. Tremblay, Quebec Nordiques
Paul Deneau Trophy:Mike Rogers, Edmonton Oilers
Howard Baldwin Trophy:Sandy Hucul, Phoenix Roadrunners
WHA Playoff MVP:Ron Grahame, Houston Aeros

All-Star Team
PositionFirst TeamSecond Team
CentreAndre Lacroix, San DiegoSerge Bernier, Quebec
Right WingGordie Howe, HoustonAnders Hedberg, Winnipeg
Left WingBobby Hull, WinnipegMarc Tardif, Quebec
DefenceJ. C. Tremblay, QuebecPoul Popiel, Houston
DefenceKevin Morrison, San DiegoBarry Long, Edmonton
GoaltenderRon Grahame, HoustonGerry Cheevers, Cleveland
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See also

References
  • "Year by Year Standings". Archived from the original on 2009-10-21.
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