1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season

1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders
Division	2nd East
1972–73 record	43–32–3
Goals for	287
Goals against	239
Team information
Coach	Bill Needham
Arena	Cleveland Arena
Team leaders
1973–74>

The 1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season was the first season of operation of the new Cleveland Crusaders in the new World Hockey Association. The team qualified for the playoffs and won its first series, before losing in the Division semi-final.

Regular season

Final standings

Eastern Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PIM	Pts
New England Whalers	78	46	30	2	318	263	858	94
Cleveland Crusaders	78	43	32	3	287	239	1095	89
Philadelphia Blazers	78	38	40	0	288	305	1260	76
Ottawa Nationals	78	35	39	4	279	301	1067	74
Quebec Nordiques	78	33	40	5	276	313	1354	71
New York Raiders	78	33	43	2	303	334	900	68

Game log

Regular season schedule
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 11, 1972	2–0	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	1–0–0
2	W	October 14, 1972	3–2	Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	2–0–0
3	W	October 15, 1972	7–5	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	3–0–0
4	W	October 17, 1972	4–3 OT	New York Raiders (1972–73)	4–0–0
5	W	October 19, 1972	3–1	@ New York Raiders (1972–73)	5–0–0
6	L	October 21, 1972	3–5	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	5–1–0
7	L	October 24, 1972	2–3 OT	New England Whalers (1972–73)	5–2–0
8	W	October 25, 1972	8–2	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	6–2–0
9	W	October 27, 1972	6–0	Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	7–2–0
10	T	October 29, 1972	2–2	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	7–2–1
11	L	November 1, 1972	5–7	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	7–3–1
12	W	November 4, 1972	5–3	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	8–3–1
13	W	November 11, 1972	4–1	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	9–3–1
14	W	November 12, 1972	3–1	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	10–3–1
15	L	November 14, 1972	3–5	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	10–4–1
16	W	November 16, 1972	6–3	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	11–4–1
17	W	November 17, 1972	3–0	New England Whalers (1972–73)	12–4–1
18	L	November 19, 1972	2–4	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73)	12–5–1
19	W	November 21, 1972	5–2	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	13–5–1
20	W	November 24, 1972	3–2 OT	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	14–5–1
21	L	November 25, 1972	1–3	Houston Aeros (1972–73)	14–6–1
22	L	November 27, 1972	0–3	@ New England Whalers (1972–73)	14–7–1
23	L	November 28, 1972	1–3	Houston Aeros (1972–73)	14–8–1
24	L	November 30, 1972	2–3	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	14–9–1
25	W	December 2, 1972	8–2	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	15–9–1
26	L	December 3, 1972	2–5	@ New York Raiders (1972–73)	15–10–1
27	W	December 5, 1972	4–3 OT	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	16–10–1
28	W	December 7, 1972	3–1	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	17–10–1
29	L	December 9, 1972	2–3 OT	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	17–11–1
30	L	December 10, 1972	3–4 OT	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	17–12–1
31	W	December 15, 1972	6–3	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	18–12–1
32	L	December 17, 1972	2–3	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	18–13–1
33	L	December 19, 1972	1–6	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	18–14–1
34	W	December 21, 1972	6–2	New York Raiders (1972–73)	19–14–1
35	W	December 23, 1972	3–1	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	20–14–1
36	W	December 25, 1972	8–0	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	21–14–1
37	W	December 29, 1972	5–3	Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	22–14–1
38	W	December 30, 1972	4–3 OT	Houston Aeros (1972–73)	23–14–1
39	W	January 11, 1973	4–3	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	24–14–1
40	L	January 12, 1973	3–5	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	24–15–1
41	L	January 14, 1973	1–3	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	24–16–1
42	W	January 16, 1973	4–3	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	25–16–1
43	W	January 17, 1973	5–0	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73)	26–16–1
44	W	January 19, 1973	4–1	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	27–16–1
45	L	January 21, 1973	2–3	@ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	27–17–1
46	W	January 23, 1973	5–4 OT	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	28–17–1
47	L	January 25, 1973	4–7	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	28–18–1
48	W	January 27, 1973	2–1	@ Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	29–18–1
49	W	January 29, 1973	3–2	New England Whalers (1972–73)	30–18–1
50	L	January 31, 1973	1–4	@ New England Whalers (1972–73)	30–19–1
51	T	February 1, 1973	2–2	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	30–19–2
52	W	February 2, 1973	5–3	Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	31–19–2
53	W	February 4, 1973	3–2	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	32–19–2
54	W	February 5, 1973	7–5	Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	33–19–2
55	W	February 10, 1973	8–4	New York Raiders (1972–73)	34–19–2
56	L	February 11, 1973	1–6	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	34–20–2
57	W	February 12, 1973	8–2	New York Raiders (1972–73)	35–20–2
58	L	February 14, 1973	5–6	@ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73)	35–21–2
59	L	February 17, 1973	3–7	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	35–22–2
60	W	February 20, 1973	5–4	Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	36–22–2
61	L	February 24, 1973	2–5	Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	36–23–2
62	L	February 25, 1973	5–9	@ New York Raiders (1972–73)	36–24–2
63	L	February 27, 1973	1–2	@ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	36–25–2
64	W	March 3, 1973	4–3	@ New York Raiders (1972–73)	37–25–2
65	L	March 7, 1973	0–1 OT	@ New England Whalers (1972–73)	37–26–2
66	L	March 9, 1973	4–5	@ New England Whalers (1972–73)	37–27–2
67	W	March 11, 1973	11–2	@ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	38–27–2
68	L	March 13, 1973	2–4	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	38–28–2
69	L	March 14, 1973	2–4	@ Alberta Oilers (1972–73)	38–29–2
70	L	March 17, 1973	0–2	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	38–30–2
71	T	March 19, 1973	5–5	Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73)	38–30–3
72	L	March 20, 1973	1–4	@ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73)	38–31–3
73	L	March 24, 1973	1–2 OT	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–73)	38–32–3
74	W	March 25, 1973	4–2	@ Houston Aeros (1972–73)	39–32–3
75	W	March 26, 1973	7–5	New England Whalers (1972–73)	40–32–3
76	W	March 30, 1973	4–2	Winnipeg Jets (1972–73)	41–32–3
77	W	March 31, 1973	4–2	Ottawa Nationals (1972–73)	42–32–3
78	W	April 1, 1973	5–1	Chicago Cougars (1972–73)	43–32–3

^[1]

Playoffs

Cleveland Crusaders 4, Philadelphia Blazers 0 - Semifinals

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 4	Philadelphia Blazers	2–3 OT	Cleveland Crusaders	1–0
2	April 7	Philadelphia Blazers	7–1	Cleveland Crusaders	2–0
3	April 8	Cleveland Crusaders	3–1	Philadelphia Blazers	3–0
4	April 11	Cleveland Crusaders	6–2	Philadelphia Blazers	4–0

New England Whalers 4, Cleveland Crusaders 1 - Division Finals

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 18	Cleveland Crusaders	2 – 3	New England Whalers	0–1
2	April 19	Cleveland Crusaders	2 – 3	New England Whalers	0–2
3	April 21	New England Whalers	5 – 4	Cleveland Crusaders	0–3
4	April 22	New England Whalers	2 – 5	Cleveland Crusaders	1–3
5	April 26	Cleveland Crusaders	1 – 3	New England Whalers	1–4

Player stats

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Buchanan, RonRon Buchanan C 75 37 44 81 20 0 6 0 5 Jarrett, GaryGary Jarrett LW 77 40 39 79 79 0 8 0 7 Wiste, JimJim Wiste C 70 28 43 71 24 0 4 0 3 Pinder, GerryGerry Pinder LW 78 30 36 66 121 0 7 3 3 Andrea, PaulPaul Andrea RW 66 21 30 51 12 0 7 0 0 Hardy, JoeJoe Hardy C 72 17 33 50 80 0 1 0 0 Shmyr, PaulPaul Shmyr D 73 5 43 48 169 0 0 1 0 Clearwater, RayRay Clearwater D 78 11 36 47 41 0 1 0 0 Erickson, GrantGrant Erickson LW 77 15 29 44 23 0 2 1 0 Pumple, RichRich Pumple LW 77 21 20 41 45 0 5 0 0 Hodgson, TedTed Hodgson RW 74 15 23 38 93 0 2 0 0 Brindley, DougDoug Brindley LW/C 73 15 11 26 6 0 2 0 0 Hanna, JohnJohn Hanna D 66 6 20 26 68 0 3 0 0 Krake, SkipSkip Krake C 26 9 10 19 61 0 2 0 0 Horton, BillBill Horton D 74 2 17 19 55 0 0 0 0 Dillabough, BobBob Dillabough C 72 8 8 16 8 0 1 6 0 Muloin, WayneWayne Muloin D 67 2 13 15 62 0 0 0 0 Hopiavuori, RalphRalph Hopiavuori D 29 4 5 9 44 0 0 0 0 McMasters, JimJim McMasters D 74 1 7 8 37 0 0 0 0 Rycroft, AlAl Rycroft RW 7 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 Cheevers, GerryGerry Cheevers G 52 0 1 1 30 0 0 0 0 Whidden, BobBob Whidden G 26 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO Cheevers, GerryGerry Cheevers 3144 52 32 20 0 149 2.84 5 Whidden, BobBob Whidden 1609 26 11 12 3 88 3.28 0 Team: 4753 78 43 32 3 237 2.99 5

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Jarrett, GaryGary Jarrett LW 9 8 3 11 19 3 0 1 Wiste, JimJim Wiste C 9 3 8 11 13 1 0 1 Pinder, GerryGerry Pinder LW 9 2 9 11 30 1 0 0 Buchanan, RonRon Buchanan C 9 7 3 10 0 1 0 1 Andrea, PaulPaul Andrea RW 9 2 8 10 2 1 0 0 Pumple, RichRich Pumple LW 9 3 5 8 11 1 0 0 Hodgson, TedTed Hodgson RW 9 1 3 4 13 1 0 0 Muloin, WayneWayne Muloin D 9 1 3 4 14 0 0 0 Shmyr, PaulPaul Shmyr D 8 1 3 4 19 0 0 0 Erickson, GrantGrant Erickson LW 9 2 1 3 2 0 0 1 Clearwater, RayRay Clearwater D 9 1 2 3 8 0 0 0 Krake, SkipSkip Krake C 9 1 2 3 27 0 0 1 Hardy, JoeJoe Hardy C 7 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 Dillabough, BobBob Dillabough C 9 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 Hopiavuori, RalphRalph Hopiavuori D 8 0 1 1 6 0 0 0 Horton, BillBill Horton D 9 0 1 1 10 0 0 0 McMasters, JimJim McMasters D 9 0 1 1 6 0 0 0 Ball, BlakeBlake Ball D 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brindley, DougDoug Brindley LW/C 9 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 Cheevers, GerryGerry Cheevers G 9 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO Cheevers, GerryGerry Cheevers 548 9 5 4 22 2.41 0 Team: 548 9 5 4 22 2.41 0

^[2]

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;

See also

• 1972–73 WHA season

References

1. "1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
2. "1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-06-30.

External links