1976–77 New England Whalers season

The 1976–77 New England Whalers season was the fifth season of operation of the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association. The Whalers placed fourth in the Eastern Division, qualifying fourth for the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Quebec Nordiques.

1976–77 New England Whalers
Division4th East
1976–77 record35–40–6
Goals for275
Goals against290
Team information
General ManagerRon Ryan
CoachHarry Neale
CaptainRick Ley

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings
Eastern Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Quebec Nordiques814731335329597
Cincinnati Stingers813937535430383
Indianapolis Racers813637827630580
New England Whalers813540627529076
Birmingham Bulls813146428930966
Minnesota Fighting Saints421918513612943

Schedule and results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 8, 19760–2@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77)0–1–0
2LOctober 10, 19762–5@ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77)0–2–0
3LOctober 16, 19762–8Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)0–3–0
4TOctober 19, 19764–4@ Houston Aeros (1976–77)0–3–1
5WOctober 22, 19765–2Houston Aeros (1976–77)1–3–1
6WOctober 23, 19765–4Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77)2–3–1
7LOctober 26, 19760–1Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77)2–4–1
8WOctober 29, 19765–1Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77)3–4–1
9WOctober 30, 19765–4Birmingham Bulls (1976–77)4–4–1
10WNovember 5, 19764–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77)5–4–1
11LNovember 7, 19762–4@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77)5–5–1
12LNovember 9, 19764–5 OT@ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77)5–6–1
13TNovember 11, 19763–3@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77)5–6–2
14LNovember 12, 19761–3@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77)5–7–2
15WNovember 16, 19765–4@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77)6–7–2
16WNovember 17, 19766–4Birmingham Bulls (1976–77)7–7–2
17LNovember 19, 19763–7Winnipeg Jets (1976–77)7–8–2
18TNovember 20, 19763–3Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77)7–8–3
19LNovember 23, 19763–4@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77)7–9–3
20WNovember 25, 19765–3@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77)8–9–3
21LNovember 27, 19761–3Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77)8–10–3
22LNovember 28, 19763–4Indianapolis Racers (1976–77)8–11–3
23LNovember 30, 19761–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)8–12–3
24WDecember 1, 19768–4Calgary Cowboys (1976–77)9–12–3
25TDecember 3, 19765–5Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)9–12–4
26LDecember 4, 19762–6Winnipeg Jets (1976–77)9–13–4
27LDecember 7, 19762–4@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77)9–14–4
28WDecember 8, 19765–1Houston Aeros (1976–77)10–14–4
29WDecember 11, 19763–2San Diego Mariners (1976–77)11–14–4
30LDecember 12, 19761–5@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)11–15–4
31WDecember 14, 19763–1@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)12–15–4
32LDecember 17, 19764–5 OTIndianapolis Racers (1976–77)12–16–4
33WDecember 18, 19766–2Birmingham Bulls (1976–77)13–16–4
34LDecember 21, 19760–4@ Houston Aeros (1976–77)13–17–4
35WDecember 23, 19765–3@ San Diego Mariners (1976–77)14–17–4
36WDecember 26, 19763–2Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77)15–17–4
37LDecember 28, 19764–5@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976–77)15–18–4
38WDecember 30, 19766–4@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77)16–18–4
39WJanuary 2, 19773–2Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77)17–18–4
40LJanuary 4, 19773–5@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)17–19–4
41LJanuary 5, 19771–2San Diego Mariners (1976–77)17–20–4
42LJanuary 7, 19773–7Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)17–21–4
43LJanuary 8, 19773–4Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77)17–22–4
44LJanuary 11, 19772–8@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77)17–23–4
45LJanuary 13, 19771–4@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77)17–24–4
46LJanuary 14, 19773–5Edmonton Oilers (1976–77)17–25–4
47LJanuary 20, 19774–5Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)17–26–4
48TJanuary 22, 19773–3Indianapolis Racers (1976–77)17–26–5
49WJanuary 23, 19774–3 OTCincinnati Stingers (1976–77)18–26–5
50LJanuary 25, 19772–4@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77)18–27–5
51WJanuary 27, 19775–3@ San Diego Mariners (1976–77)19–27–5
52WJanuary 28, 19776–2@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77)20–27–5
53LJanuary 30, 19770–5@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77)20–28–5
54LFebruary 1, 19773–4@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77)20–29–5
55LFebruary 4, 19771–4@ Houston Aeros (1976–77)20–30–5
56LFebruary 5, 19773–8@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77)20–31–5
57TFebruary 6, 19775–5Indianapolis Racers (1976–77)20–31–6
58WFebruary 10, 19776–3Winnipeg Jets (1976–77)21–31–6
59LFebruary 12, 19771–5Indianapolis Racers (1976–77)21–32–6
60WFebruary 13, 19775–4@ Cincinnati Stingers (1976–77)22–32–6
61WFebruary 17, 19774–2Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77)23–32–6
62LFebruary 18, 19772–3Birmingham Bulls (1976–77)23–33–6
63WFebruary 20, 19775–0@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77)24–33–6
64LFebruary 22, 19773–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1976–77)24–34–6
65WFebruary 25, 19773–2@ Calgary Cowboys (1976–77)25–34–6
66WFebruary 27, 19773–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1976–77)26–34–6
67WMarch 2, 19772–0San Diego Mariners (1976–77)27–34–6
68WMarch 4, 19773–2Houston Aeros (1976–77)28–34–6
69WMarch 6, 19776–2Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)29–34–6
70LMarch 9, 19773–4 OT@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77)29–35–6
71LMarch 11, 19773–6@ Birmingham Bulls (1976–77)29–36–6
72LMarch 13, 19773–5@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)29–37–6
73WMarch 18, 19773–1Calgary Cowboys (1976–77)30–37–6
74WMarch 20, 19779–0Calgary Cowboys (1976–77)31–37–6
75LMarch 24, 19774–5Edmonton Oilers (1976–77)31–38–6
76LMarch 26, 19772–4Indianapolis Racers (1976–77)31–39–6
77WMarch 27, 19775–2Edmonton Oilers (1976–77)32–39–6
78WMarch 29, 19775–4@ San Diego Mariners (1976–77)33–39–6
79WMarch 31, 19776–2@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1976–77)34–39–6
80WApril 2, 19773–2 OT@ Indianapolis Racers (1976–77)35–39–6
81LApril 5, 19772–7@ Quebec Nordiques (1976–77)35–40–6

Playoffs
Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
         
E1 Quebec Nordiques 4
E4 New England Whalers 1
E1 Quebec Nordiques 4
Eastern Division
E3 Indianapolis Racers 1
E2 Cincinnati Stingers 0
E3 Indianapolis Racers 4
E1 Quebec Nordiques 4
W2 Winnipeg Jets 3
W1 Houston Aeros 4
W4 Edmonton Oilers 1
W1 Houston Aeros 2
Western Division
W2 Winnipeg Jets 4
W2 Winnipeg Jets 4
W3 San Diego Mariners 3

The Whalers met the Quebec Nordiques in the first round of the playoffs. The Nordiques defeated the Whalers 4–1 to win the round. The Nordiques would go on to win the league championship.

Quebec Nordiques 4, New England Whalers 1 – Division Quarterfinals
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeSeries
1April 9New England Whalers2–5Quebec Nordiques0–1
2April 12New England Whalers3–7Quebec Nordiques0–2
3April 14Quebec Nordiques4 – 3 OTNew England Whalers0–3
4April 16Quebec Nordiques4–6New England Whalers1–3
5April 19New England Whalers0–3Quebec Nordiques1–4

Player statistics

Awards and records

Transactions

Roster

Updated June 5, 1977.[1]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace
1 Christer Abrahamsson G L 30 1974 Leksand, Sweden
6 Thommy Abrahamsson D L 30 1974 Leksand, Sweden
12 Mike Antonovich C L 25 1976 Calumet, Minnesota
19 Danny Arndt LW L 22 1975 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
9 Ralph Backstrom C L 39 1975 Kirkland Lake, Ontario
21 Dan Bolduc RW L 24 1975 Waterville, Maine
5 Ron Busniuk D R 28 1975 Fort William, Ontario
18 Bill Butters D R 26 1976 Saint Paul, Minnesota
22 Brett Callighen RW L 24 1976 Toronto, Ontario
23 Jack Carlson LW L 22 1976 Virginia, Minnesota
26 Steve Carlson C L 21 1976 Virginia, Minnesota
15 Ron Climie LW L 27 1975 Hamilton, Ontario
27 Tommy Earl LW R 29 1972 Niagara Falls, Ontario
10 Alan Hangsleben D L 24 1975 Warroad, Minnesota
19 Dave Hanson D L 23 1976 Cumberland, Wisconsin
11 Dave Hynes LW L 26 1976 Cambridge, Massachusetts
14 Dave Keon C L 37 1976 Noranda, Quebec
30 Bruce Landon G L 27 1972 Kingston, Ontario
2 Rick Ley D L 28 1972 Orillia, Ontario
16 George Lyle LW L 23 1976 North Vancouver, British Columbia
12 Gary MacGregor C L 22 1976 Kingston, Ontario
19 John McKenzie RW R 39 1976 High River, Alberta
12 Rosaire Paiement C R 28 1975 Earlton, Ontario
4 Larry Pleau LW L 30 1972 Lynn, Massachusetts
35 Cap Raeder G L 23 1975 Needham, Massachusetts
14 Doug Roberts D R 34 1975 Detroit, Michigan
7 Gordie Roberts D L 19 1975 Detroit, Michigan
17 Mike Rogers C L 22 1975 Calgary, Alberta
3 Brad Selwood D L 29 1972 Leamington, Ontario
24 Dale Smedsmo LW L 26 1976 Bemidji, Minnesota
20 Garry Swain C L 29 1974 Welland, Ontario
25 Jim Troy RW R 24 1975 Boston, Massachusetts
8 Tom Webster RW R 28 1972 Kirkland Lake, Ontario

Draft picks

New England's draft picks at the 1976 WHA Amateur Draft.[2]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
213Mike Fidler (LW) United StatesBoston University (ECAC)
326Fred Williams (C) CanadaSaskatoon Blades (WCHL)
331Dave Debol (C) United StatesUniversity of Michigan (WCHA)
438Mike Kaszycki (F) CanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)
549Bill Baker (D) United StatesUniversity of Minnesota (WCHA)
550Mike Liut (G) CanadaBowling Green State University (CCHA)
662Dwight Schofield (D) CanadaLondon Knights (OHA)
774Warren Young (F) CanadaMichigan Tech (WCHA)
886Ken Morrow (D) United StatesBowling Green State University (CCHA)
997Ed Clarey (F) CanadaCornwall Royals (QMJHL)
10108Jon Hammond (LW) CanadaRegina Pats (WCHL)

Farm teams

See also

References
  1. "1976–77 New England Whalers Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved June 8, 2015.
  2. "1976 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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