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1973–74 Chicago Cougars season

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1973–74 Chicago Cougars
Division4th East
1973–74 record38–35–5
Home record23-13-3
Road record15-22-2
Goals for271
Goals against273
Team information
General managerJacques Demers (Director of Player Personnel)
CoachPat Stapleton
Alternate captainsDick Proceviat
Bob Sicinski
Rosaire Paiement
Reg Fleming
ArenaInternational Amphitheatre
Randhurst Ice Arena (five playoff games)
Average attendance4,924 (54.7%)
Team leaders
GoalsRalph Backstrom (33)
AssistsPat Stapleton (52)
PointsRalph Backstrom (83)
Penalty minutesLarry Mavety (157)
WinsCam Newton (25)
Goals against averageCam Newton (3.14)

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.[1][2]

Offseason

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The Chicago Cougars revamped their lineup during the off-season in hopes of escaping the cellar. The Cougars strengthened their defense by signing National Hockey League all-star defenceman Pat Stapleton from the Chicago Blackhawks as a player-coach, Darryl Maggs from the California Golden Seals and goaltender Cam Newton from the Pittsburgh Penguins. To the forward line, the Cougars signed Ralph Backstrom, also from the Blackhawks, Eric Nesterenko, who had spent a season in Switzerland after a long career with the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs, and junior all-star Frank Rochon from the Sherbrooke Beavers, and acquired Joe Hardy from the Cleveland Crusaders and Duke Harris from the Houston Aeros.[3]

Regular season

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The Cougars scored 26 more goals than the previous season and reduced the goals against by 22 to post a 50% improvement in points and secure the final playoff spot in the East Division by a single point over the Quebec Nordiques.

Final standings

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Eastern Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
New England Whalers 78 43 31 4 291 260 875 90
Toronto Toros 78 41 33 4 304 272 871 86
Cleveland Crusaders 78 37 32 9 266 264 1007 83
Chicago Cougars 78 38 35 5 271 273 1041 81
Quebec Nordiques 78 38 36 4 306 280 909 80
NY Golden Blades / Jersey Knights 78 32 42 4 268 313 933 68

Game log

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Regular season schedule
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 T October 7, 1973 4–4 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 0–0–1
2 W October 11, 1973 4–3 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 1–0–1
3 L October 13, 1973 4–6 @ New England Whalers (1973–74) 1–1–1
4 L October 14, 1973 2–3 OT @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 1–2–1
5 W October 18, 1973 7–2 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 2–2–1
6 L October 20, 1973 3–4 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 2–3–1
7 L October 21, 1973 1–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 2–4–1
8 W October 25, 1973 4–2 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 3–4–1
9 W October 28, 1973 3–2 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 4–4–1
10 W October 30, 1973 4–1 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 5–4–1
11 W November 3, 1973 7–4 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 6–4–1
12 W November 6, 1973 5–4 OT Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 7–4–1
13 W November 10, 1973 3–2 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 8–4–1
14 L November 13, 1973 2–5 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 8–5–1
15 W November 15, 1973 3–2 Houston Aeros (1973–74) 9–5–1
16 W November 17, 1973 5–2 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 10–5–1
17 L November 18, 1973 3–5 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 10–6–1
18 W November 22, 1973 4–3 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 11–6–1
19 L November 24, 1973 3–5 @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 11–7–1
20 L December 1, 1973 4–5 OT Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 11–8–1
21 L December 2, 1973 3–4 @ New England Whalers (1973–74) 11–9–1
22 L December 4, 1973 0–2 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 11–10–1
23 L December 8, 1973 1–3 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 11–11–1
24 L December 9, 1973 1–6 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 11–12–1
25 L December 11, 1973 3–5 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 11–13–1
26 W December 15, 1973 5–2 Houston Aeros (1973–74) 12–13–1
27 W December 16, 1973 3–2 @ New England Whalers (1973–74) 13–13–1
28 T December 18, 1973 3–3 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 13–13–2
29 L December 21, 1973 1–5 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 13–14–2
30 W December 23, 1973 6–5 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 14–14–2
31 L December 26, 1973 2–4 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 14–15–2
32 W December 28, 1973 6–4 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 15–15–2
33 L December 29, 1973 0–3 @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 15–16–2
34 W December 30, 1973 5–3 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 16–16–2
35 W January 1, 1974 5–4 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 17–16–2
36 L January 5, 1974 5–6 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 17–17–2
37 L January 6, 1974 0–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 17–18–2
38 T January 8, 1974 0–0 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 17–18–3
39 L January 13, 1974 1–3 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 17–19–3
40 W January 17, 1974 5–2 @ New England Whalers (1973–74) 18–19–3
41 W January 19, 1974 5–2 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 19–19–3
42 W January 22, 1974 5–3 New England Whalers (1973–74) 20–19–3
43 L January 25, 1974 2–6 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 20–20–3
44 W January 30, 1974 4–2 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 21–20–3
45 L February 1, 1974 2–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 21–21–3
46 L February 3, 1974 2–4 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 21–22–3
47 W February 5, 1974 3–1 Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 22–22–3
48 L February 6, 1974 2–7 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 22–23–3
49 W February 9, 1974 5–2 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 23–23–3
50 W February 10, 1974 4–2 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 24–23–3
51 W February 12, 1974 3–2 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 25–23–3
52 L February 14, 1974 3–5 Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 25–24–3
53 L February 16, 1974 4–5 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 25–25–3
54 L February 17, 1974 5–6 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 25–26–3
55 L February 18, 1974 3–4 @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 25–27–3
56 W February 21, 1974 5–4 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 26–27–3
57 L February 23, 1974 0–3 New England Whalers (1973–74) 26–28–3
58 L February 24, 1974 1–3 @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 26–29–3
59 W February 26, 1974 4–2 Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) 27–29–3
60 L February 28, 1974 4–9 Houston Aeros (1973–74) 27–30–3
61 W March 1, 1974 7–4 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 28–30–3
62 L March 3, 1974 4–5 Toronto Toros (1973–74) 28–31–3
63 L March 5, 1974 2–3 New England Whalers (1973–74) 28–32–3
64 W March 7, 1974 3–2 @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 29–32–3
65 W March 9, 1974 5–4 OT Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) 30–32–3
66 W March 12, 1974 5–3 New England Whalers (1973–74) 31–32–3
67 W March 14, 1974 7–4 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) 32–32–3
68 W March 16, 1974 4–3 OT Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) 33–32–3
69 W March 17, 1974 4–2 @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) 34–32–3
70 L March 19, 1974 4–7 Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 34–33–3
71 T March 21, 1974 5–5 Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 34–33–4
72 W March 23, 1974 4–1 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 35–33–4
73 T March 24, 1974 3–3 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) 35–33–5
74 W March 26, 1974 4–2 Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 36–33–5
75 W March 29, 1974 5–2 @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) 37–33–5
76 L March 31, 1974 1–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) 37–34–5
77 W April 2, 1974 7–3 New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) 38–34–5
78 L April 3, 1974 1–3 @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) 38–35–5

[4]

Playoffs

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Chicago Cougars 4, New England Whalers 3 - Division Quarterfinals

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 6 Chicago Cougars 4 – 6 New England Whalers 0–1
2 April 7 Chicago Cougars 3 – 4 OT New England Whalers 0–2
3 April 9 New England Whalers 6 – 8 Chicago Cougars 1–2
4 April 10 New England Whalers 1 – 2 OT Chicago Cougars 2–2
5 April 12 Chicago Cougars 4 – 2 New England Whalers 2–3
6 April 14 New England Whalers 2 – 0 Chicago Cougars 3–3
7 April 16 Chicago Cougars 3 – 2 New England Whalers 4–3

Chicago Cougars 4, Toronto Toros 3 - Semifinals

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 19 Chicago Cougars 4–6 Toronto Toros 0-1
2 April 22 Chicago Cougars 4–3 Toronto Toros 1-1
3 April 28 Toronto Toros 2–3 Chicago Cougars 2-1
4 April 30 Toronto Toros 7–6 Chicago Cougars 2-2
5 May 1 Chicago Cougars 3–5 Toronto Toros 2-3
6 May 4 Toronto Toros 2–9 Chicago Cougars 3-3
7 May 6 Chicago Cougars 5–2 Toronto Toros 4-3

Houston Aeros 4, Chicago Cougars 0 - Avco Cup Finals

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 May 12 Houston Aeros 3–2 Chicago Cougars 0–1
2 May 15 Houston Aeros 6–1 Chicago Cougars 0–2
3 May 17 Chicago Cougars 4–7 Houston Aeros 0–3
4 May 19 Chicago Cougars 2–6 Houston Aeros 0–4

Player stats

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Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Ralph Backstrom C 78 33 50 83 26 0 6 2 8
Rosaire Paiement C 78 30 43 73 87 0 7 0 3
Joe Hardy C 77 24 35 59 55 0 4 0 2
Pat Stapleton D 78 6 52 58 44 0 2 1 0
Larry Mavety D 77 15 36 51 157 0 4 0 4
Bob Liddington LW 73 26 21 47 20 0 4 1 2
Bob Sicinski C 69 11 29 40 8 0 1 0 1
Jan Popiel LW 63 22 17 39 36 0 6 0 4
Bob Whitlock C 52 16 19 35 26 0 6 1 2
Rick Morris LW 76 17 16 33 140 0 1 0 2
Duke Harris RW 64 14 16 30 20 0 3 0 1
Daryl Maggs D 78 8 22 30 148 0 0 0 1
Frank Rochon LW 69 12 11 23 27 0 1 0 1
Dick Proceviat D 77 2 20 22 55 0 0 0 1
Rod Zaine C 77 5 13 18 17 0 0 1 0
Reggie Fleming D/LW 45 2 12 14 49 0 1 0 2
Brian Coates LW 50 10 3 13 14 0 0 1 1
Jim Benzelock RW 53 6 7 13 19 0 0 0 0
Don Gordon RW 23 5 4 9 9 0 3 0 0
Eric Nesterenko RW 29 2 5 7 8 0 1 0 0
Brian Glenwright LW 15 3 2 5 0 0 0 0 1
Jim Watson D 23 0 5 5 22 0 0 0 0
John Shmyr D 43 1 3 4 13 0 0 0 1
Lorne Rombough LW 3 1 2 3 0 0 1 0 1
Curt Brackenbury RW 4 0 1 1 11 0 0 0 0
Gary Connelly RW 4 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0
Cam Newton G 45 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Dave Walter C 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0
Ron F. Anderson D 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Larry Cahan D 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Rich Coutu G 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Connie Forey LW 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Andre Gill G 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jim Jones D 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Al MacKenzie D 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Cam Newton 2732 45 25 18 2 143 3.14 1
Rich Coutu 1207 20 9 10 1 75 3.73 0
Andre Gill 803 13 4 7 2 46 3.44 0
Team: 4742 78 38 35 5 264 3.34 1
Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Ralph Backstrom C 18 5 14 19 4 0 0 1
Rosaire Paiement C 18 9 6 15 16 0 0 2
Bob Sicinski C 18 6 8 14 0 0 0 2
Jan Popiel LW 18 8 5 13 12 0 0 1
Pat Stapleton D 12 0 13 13 36 0 0 0
Duke Harris RW 18 6 6 12 2 0 0 0
Don Gordon RW 18 4 8 12 4 0 0 0
Joe Hardy C 17 4 8 12 13 0 0 0
Larry Mavety D 18 4 8 12 46 0 0 1
Bob Liddington LW 18 6 5 11 11 0 0 0
Daryl Maggs D 18 3 5 8 71 0 0 0
Rick Morris LW 18 4 3 7 42 0 0 0
Jim Watson D 18 2 3 5 18 0 0 0
Jim Benzelock RW 18 2 2 4 36 0 0 0
Reggie Fleming D/LW 12 0 4 4 12 0 0 0
Dick Proceviat D 13 0 4 4 10 0 0 0
Frank Rochon LW 9 2 1 3 0 0 0 1
Rod Zaine C 18 2 1 3 2 0 0 0
Brian Coates LW 17 0 3 3 35 0 0 0
Andre Gill G 11 0 0 0 4 0 0 0
Cam Newton G 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Andre Gill 614 11 6 5 38 3.71 0
Cam Newton 486 10 2 5 34 4.20 0
Team: 1100 18 8 10 72 3.93 0

[5]

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;

Awards and records

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Transactions

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Trades

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Date Details Ref
May 1, 1973 (1973-05-01) To New York Golden Blades
Butch Barber 		To Chicago Cougars
Wally Olds
July 13, 1973 (1973-07-13) To New York Golden Blades
Jim McLeod 		To Chicago Cougars
cash
August 1, 1973 (1973-08-01) To Cleveland Crusaders
rights to Larry Hillman 		To Chicago Cougars
Joe Hardy
September 1, 1973 (1973-09-01) To Houston Aeros
cash 		To Chicago Cougars
Duke Harris
September 1, 1973 (1973-09-01) To Vancouver Blazers
Ed Hatoum 		To Chicago Cougars
cash
February 20, 1974 (1974-02-20) To Los Angeles Sharks
Bob Whitlock 		To Chicago Cougars
Jim Watson
Don Gordon 		[6]

Farm teams

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See also

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References

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  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.
  3. ^ "New Faces in WHA for '73-74". Hockey Digest. Des Moines: Norman Jacobs. December 1973.
  4. ^ "1973–74 Chicago Cougars Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  5. ^ "1973-74 Chicago Cougars Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  6. ^ World Hockey Association (1974). WHA 1974-75 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  7. ^ "1973 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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