1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season

1975–76 Calgary Cowboys
Division	3rd Canadian
1975–76 record	41–35–4
Home record	25–13–2
Road record	16–22–2
Goals for	307
Goals against	282
Team information
Coach	Joe Crozier
Captain	Danny Lawson
Alternate captains	Ron Chipperfield Butch Deadmarsh Paul Terbenche
Arena	Stampede Corral
Team leaders
Goals	Danny Lawson (44)
Assists	Danny Lawson (52)
Points	Danny Lawson (96)
Penalty minutes	Butch Deadmarsh (196)
Wins	Don McLeod (30)
Goals against average	Wayne Wood (3.07)

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The 1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season was the fourth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA) franchise and first in Calgary, Alberta. The Vancouver Blazers relocated to Calgary prior to the season. The Cowboys qualified for the playoffs, losing in the second round to the Winnipeg Jets.

Regular season

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In their first season, the Cowboys were not expected to ice a strong team, having inherited a franchise that finished in a last place tie with the Oilers the previous year. Calgary finished 41–35–4 however, as a 44-goal season by Danny Lawson and 42 goals from Ron Chipperfield helped the Cowboys finish a surprising third in the Canadian division.

Final standings

Canadian Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Winnipeg Jets	81	52	27	2	106	345	254	940
Quebec Nordiques	81	50	27	4	104	371	316	1654
Calgary Cowboys	80	41	35	4	86	307	282	1064
Edmonton Oilers	81	27	49	5	59	268	345	991
Toronto Toros	81	24	52	5	53	335	398	1099
Denver Spurs / Ottawa Civics+	41	14	26	1	29	134	172	536

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+team started season in Western Division when playing in Denver; transferred by league to Canadian Division shortly after moving to Ottawa.

Schedule and results

1975–76 regular season
October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 1 L October 12, 1975 0–2 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) 0–1–0 2 W October 14, 1975 5–3 Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) 1–1–0 3 L October 17, 1975 2–6 Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) 1–2–0 4 L October 22, 1975 1–2 Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) 1–3–0 5 L October 24, 1975 3–4 Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) 1–4–0 6 L October 26, 1975 1–3 @ New England Whalers (1975–76) 1–5–0 7 W October 29, 1975 3–1 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) 2–5–0 8 W October 30, 1975 7–5 @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) 3–5–0
November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 9 L November 1, 1975 2–3 @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) 3–6–0 10 W November 2, 1975 4–3 OT New England Whalers (1975–76) 4–6–0 11 T November 4, 1975 4–4 San Diego Mariners (1975–76) 4–6–1 12 W November 5, 1975 4–2 Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) 5–6–1 13 W November 7, 1975 5–2 Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) 6–6–1 14 W November 11, 1975 6–3 Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 7–6–1 15 L November 13, 1975 2–4 Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 7–7–1 16 W November 16, 1975 5–3 Houston Aeros (1975–76) 8–7–1 17 L November 18, 1975 2–6 San Diego Mariners (1975–76) 8–8–1 18 W November 21, 1975 6–2 @ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) 9–8–1 19 W November 22, 1975 6–4 @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) 10–8–1 20 W November 27, 1975 5–1 @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) 11–8–1 21 W November 29, 1975 5–4 OT @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) 12–8–1 22 L November 30, 1975 2–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 12–9–1
December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 23 L December 3, 1975 3–4 Toronto Toros (1975–76) 12–10–1 24 W December 5, 1975 8–3 Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 13–10–1 25 W December 7, 1975 5–4 @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 14–10–1 26 W December 9, 1975 4–1 Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) 15–10–1 27 L December 11, 1975 2–3 Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 15–11–1 28 L December 12, 1975 2–4 @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 15–12–1 29 T December 14, 1975 3–3 @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) 15–12–2 30 L December 16, 1975 3–7 @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) 15–13–2 31 W December 19, 1975 5–3 @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) 16–13–2 32 L December 20, 1975 7–8 @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) 16–14–2 33 W December 23, 1975 10–1 Toronto Toros (1975–76) 17–14–2 34 W December 26, 1975 5–4 @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 18–14–2 35 W December 28, 1975 6–4 Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 19–14–2
January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 36 W January 1, 1976 5–1 Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 20–14–2 37 W January 2, 1976 3–1 @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 21–14–2 38 L January 3, 1976 3–6 Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 21–15–2 39 W January 6, 1976 5–0 Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 22–15–2 40 W January 7, 1976 3–1 Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) 23–15–2 41 L January 15, 1976 3–5 @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) 23–16–2 42 W January 17, 1976 4–2 Houston Aeros (1975–76) 24–16–2 43 W January 20, 1976 10–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 25–16–2 44 L January 21, 1976 1–4 @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 25–17–2 45 L January 23, 1976 0–2 @ Houston Aeros (1975–76) 25–18–2 46 L January 25, 1976 3–5 @ Houston Aeros (1975–76) 25–19–2 47 L January 28, 1976 0–5 @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) 25–20–2 48 L January 29, 1976 0–1 @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) 25–21–2
February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 49 W February 3, 1976 3–2 Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) 26–21–2 50 L February 5, 1976 4–6 New England Whalers (1975–76) 26–22–2 51 T February 7, 1976 4–4 Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) 26–22–3 52 L February 8, 1976 4–8 @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 26–23–3 53 W February 10, 1976 4–3 Toronto Toros (1975–76) 27–23–3 54 W February 13, 1976 4–3 OT @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) 28–23–3 55 L February 15, 1976 4–5 OT @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) 28–24–3 56 L February 18, 1976 0–4 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) 28–25–3 57 L February 20, 1976 3–6 Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) 28–26–3 58 W February 22, 1976 4–2 Toronto Toros (1975–76) 29–26–3 59 T February 24, 1976 3–3 @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 29–26–4 60 W February 25, 1976 5–2 Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 30–26–4 61 W February 27, 1976 5–4 Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) 31–26–4 62 L February 29, 1976 2–5 Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) 31–27–4
March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 63 W March 2, 1976 6–3 Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 32–27–4 64 L March 3, 1976 4–6 @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 32–28–4 65 W March 4, 1976 4–1 Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) 33–28–4 66 L March 6, 1976 2–5 @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) 33–29–4 67 L March 7, 1976 1–3 @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 33–30–4 68 W March 9, 1976 7–4 Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) 34–30–4 69 W March 11, 1976 2–0 Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 35–30–4 70 W March 16, 1976 4–3 OT @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) 36–30–4 71 L March 17, 1976 2–3 @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 36–31–4 72 W March 20, 1976 8–7 @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) 37–31–4 73 L March 23, 1976 5–6 OT @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) 37–32–4 74 W March 24, 1976 7–6 @ New England Whalers (1975–76) 38–32–4 75 L March 26, 1976 1–4 @ New England Whalers (1975–76) 38–33–4 76 L March 27, 1976 4–6 @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) 38–34–4 77 W March 28, 1976 5–4 @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) 39–34–4 78 W March 30, 1976 6–2 Toronto Toros (1975–76) 40–34–4
April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 79 W April 2, 1976 4–1 Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 41–34–4 80 L April 6, 1976 3–5 Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) 41–35–4
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

In the playoffs, the Cowboys met the Quebec Nordiques in the first round. The series is best known for one of hockey's most legendary brawls. The incident began when Calgary's Rick Jodzio cross-checked Quebec's Marc Tardif in the head, causing both teams to leave their benches. The brawl lasted 20 minutes, and ended only when Quebec police gathered at the players benches and escorted the teams back to their dressing rooms. The game resumed following a 20-minute break to allow both teams to cool down, then resumed without eleven players who were ejected from the game. The incident caught the attention of Quebec's Solicitor General Fernand Lalonde, who had the incident investigated as a criminal matter. Jodzio was suspended indefinitely by the league, and later pleaded guilty in a Quebec court to a charge of assault over the incident. Cowboys coach Joe Crozier was suspended for the rest of the series.

Calgary went on to defeat the Nordiques, who had finished 18-points ahead of Calgary in the regular season, but were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round. The team never really captured the attention of Calgarians, as fewer than 5,000 fans, on average, attended playoff games against the Jets.

1976 Avco Cup playoffs
Quarterfinals vs. Quebec Nordiques – Cowboys win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series 1 April 10 Calgary Cowboys 3–1 Quebec Nordiques 1–0 2 April 11 Calgary Cowboys 8–4 Quebec Nordiques 2–1 3 April 14 Quebec Nordiques 2–3 Calgary Cowboys 3–1 4 April 16 Quebec Nordiques 4–3 Calgary Cowboys 3–1 5 April 18 Calgary Cowboys 6–4 Quebec Nordiques 4–1
Semifinals vs. Winnipeg Jets – Jets win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series 1 April 23 Calgary Cowboys 1–6 Winnipeg Jets 0–1 2 April 25 Calgary Cowboys 2–3 Winnipeg Jets 0–2 3 April 28 Winnipeg Jets 6–3 Calgary Cowboys 0–3 4 April 30 Winnipeg Jets 3–7 Calgary Cowboys 1–3 5 May 2 Calgary Cowboys 0–4 Winnipeg Jets 1–4
Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Danny Lawson RW 80 44 52 96 46 13 7 4 5 Ron Chipperfield C 75 42 41 83 32 13 19 0 5 George Morrison LW 79 25 32 57 13 5 7 1 0 Butch Deadmarsh LW 79 26 28 54 196 5 5 2 4 Dick Sentes LW 72 25 24 49 33 9 7 0 5 Don Tannahill LW 78 25 24 49 10 6 1 5 5 Bobby Leiter C 51 17 17 34 8 6 6 0 0 Peter Driscoll LW 75 16 18 34 127 12 2 0 6 Larry Israelson LW 57 10 22 32 26 10 1 0 1 Francois Lacombe D 71 3 28 31 62 11 1 0 0 Steve Hull RW 58 11 15 26 6 -2 0 0 0 Chris Evans D 75 3 20 23 50 12 1 0 0 John Miszuk D 69 2 21 23 66 31 0 0 0 Ray Delorenzi RW 39 8 12 20 4 7 0 1 0 Murray Keogan C 38 7 11 18 19 0 0 0 2 Terry Caffery C 21 5 13 18 4 3 1 0 2 Rick Jodzio LW 47 10 7 17 137 5 0 0 2 Duane Rupp D 42 0 16 16 33 -6 0 0 0 Gavin Kirk C 15 7 8 15 14 8 1 0 1 Derek Haas C 30 5 9 14 6 5 0 0 0 Hugh Harris C 30 5 9 14 19 -7 0 0 2 Lynn Powis C 21 4 10 14 2 2 0 1 0 Don McLeod G 63 0 13 13 4 0 0 0 0 Bernie Lukowich RW 15 5 2 7 18 -5 0 0 1 Paul Terbenche D 58 2 4 6 22 -3 0 1 0 Wally Olds D 28 0 5 5 6 4 0 0 0 Bill Reed D 29 0 5 5 14 3 0 0 0 Harry Howell D 31 0 3 3 6 4 0 0 0 Pat Westrum D 9 0 2 2 23 2 0 0 0 Bill Gratton LW 6 0 1 1 2 -2 0 0 0 Yvon Bilodeau D 4 0 0 0 2 -4 0 0 0 Ken Desjardine D 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dave Gilmour LW 1 0 0 0 0 -2 0 0 0 Ed Humphreys G 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jim McCrimmon D 5 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 Vic Mercredi C 3 0 0 0 29 0 0 0 0 Warren Miller RW 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rob Walton C 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Wayne Wood G 19 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO Don McLeod 3534 63 30 27 3 206 3.50 1 Wayne Wood 880 19 9 3 1 45 3.07 1 Ed Humphreys 441 8 2 5 0 27 3.67 0 Team: 4855 80 41 35 4 278 3.44 2

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Chris Evans D 10 5 5 10 4 0 0 0 Gavin Kirk C 10 4 6 10 19 0 0 0 Ron Chipperfield C 10 5 4 9 6 0 0 0 Lynn Powis C 10 5 4 9 2 0 0 0 Danny Lawson RW 9 4 4 8 19 0 0 0 Bernie Lukowich RW 10 3 4 7 8 0 0 0 Peter Driscoll LW 10 2 5 7 41 0 0 0 Don Tannahill LW 10 2 5 7 8 0 0 0 Paul Terbenche D 10 0 6 6 6 0 0 0 George Morrison LW 10 3 2 5 0 0 0 0 Bobby Leiter C 3 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 Wally Olds D 9 0 2 2 4 0 0 0 Duane Rupp D 7 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 Warren Miller RW 10 1 0 1 28 0 0 0 Butch Deadmarsh LW 8 0 1 1 14 0 0 0 Don McLeod G 10 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 John Miszuk D 10 0 1 1 10 0 0 0 Dick Sentes LW 8 0 1 1 8 0 0 0 Pat Westrum D 6 0 1 1 19 0 0 0 Derek Haas C 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Harry Howell D 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 Ed Humphreys G 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Larry Israelson LW 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rick Jodzio LW 2 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 Francois Lacombe D 8 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO Don McLeod 579 10 5 5 37 3.83 0 Ed Humphreys 20 1 0 0 0 0.00 0 Team: 599 10 5 5 37 3.71 0

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;

Draft picks

Calgary's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	7	Denny McLean (LW)	Canada	Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
3	37	Alex Pirus (C)	Canada	University of Notre Dame (WCHA)
4	52	Rick Piche (D)	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
5	67	Terry Bucyk (RW)	Canada	Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL)
6	80	Pat Hughes (F)	Canada	University of Michigan (WCHA)
7	94	Greg Smith (D)	Canada	Colorado College (WCHA)
8	106	Doug Lindskog (LW)	Canada	University of Michigan (WCHA)
9	118	Paul Clarke (RW)	Canada	University of Notre Dame (WCHA)
10	131	Randy Koch (F)	United States	University of Vermont (ECAC)
11	144	Dan Tsubouchi (RW)	Canada	St. Louis University (CCHA)
12	155	Bill Anderson (D)	Canada	St. Louis University (CCHA)
13	165	Doug Hanson	Canada
14	172	Darrell Ferner (C)	Canada	Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL)

See also

• 1975–76 WHA season

References

• Sandor, Steven (2005), The Battle of Alberta: A Century of Hockey's Greatest Rivalry, ISBN 1-894974-01-8
• Willes, Ed (2004), The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association, McClelland & Stewart, ISBN 0-7710-8947-3