1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season

1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders
Division2nd East
1972–73 record43–32–3
Home record26–11–2
Road record17–21–1
Goals for287
Goals against239
Team information
General managerChuck Catto (Director of Player Personnel)
CoachBill Needham
CaptainPaul Shmyr
Alternate captainsJohn Hanna
Skip Krake
Wayne Muloin
ArenaCleveland Arena
Average attendance5,287 (55.7%)
Team leaders
GoalsGary Jarrett (40)
AssistsRon Buchanan (44)
PointsRon Buchanan (81)
Penalty minutesPaul Shmyr (169)
WinsGerry Cheevers (32)
Goals against averageGerry Cheevers (2.84)

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

Schedule and results

1972–73 regular season[1]
October
Game Result 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
November
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
December
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
January
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
February
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
March
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
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
April
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
78 W April 1, 1973 5–1 Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 43–32–3

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1973 Avco Cup playoffs[1]
Quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Blazers – Crusaders win 4–0
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
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
Semifinals vs. New England Whalers – Whalers win 4–1
Game Date Visitor Score Home Series
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

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Players

Regular season[2]
Player Position GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Ron Buchanan C 75 37 44 81 20 0 6 0 5
Gary Jarrett LW 77 40 39 79 79 0 8 0 7
Jim Wiste C 70 28 43 71 24 0 4 0 3
Gerry Pinder LW 78 30 36 66 121 0 7 3 3
Paul Andrea RW 66 21 30 51 12 0 7 0 0
Joe Hardy C 72 17 33 50 80 0 1 0 0
Paul Shmyr D 73 5 43 48 169 0 0 1 0
Ray Clearwater D 78 11 36 47 41 0 1 0 0
Grant Erickson LW 77 15 29 44 23 0 2 1 0
Rich Pumple LW 77 21 20 41 45 0 5 0 0
Ted Hodgson RW 74 15 23 38 93 0 2 0 0
Doug Brindley LW/C 73 15 11 26 6 0 2 0 0
John Hanna D 66 6 20 26 68 0 3 0 0
Skip Krake C 26 9 10 19 61 0 2 0 0
Bill Horton D 74 2 17 19 55 0 0 0 0
Bob Dillabough C 72 8 8 16 8 0 1 6 0
Wayne Muloin D 67 2 13 15 62 0 0 0 0
Ralph Hopiavuori D 29 4 5 9 44 0 0 0 0
Jim McMasters D 74 1 7 8 37 0 0 0 0
Al Rycroft RW 7 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0
Gerry Cheevers G 52 0 1 1 30 0 0 0 0
Bob Whidden G 26 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0
Avco Cup playoffs
Player Position GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Gary Jarrett LW 9 8 3 11 19 3 0 1
Jim Wiste C 9 3 8 11 13 1 0 1
Gerry Pinder LW 9 2 9 11 30 1 0 0
Ron Buchanan C 9 7 3 10 0 1 0 1
Paul Andrea RW 9 2 8 10 2 1 0 0
Rich Pumple LW 9 3 5 8 11 1 0 0
Ted Hodgson RW 9 1 3 4 13 1 0 0
Wayne Muloin D 9 1 3 4 14 0 0 0
Paul Shmyr D 8 1 3 4 19 0 0 0
Grant Erickson LW 9 2 1 3 2 0 0 1
Ray Clearwater D 9 1 2 3 8 0 0 0
Skip Krake C 9 1 2 3 27 0 0 1
Joe Hardy C 7 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
Bob Dillabough C 9 1 0 1 0 0 1 0
Ralph Hopiavuori D 8 0 1 1 6 0 0 0
Bill Horton D 9 0 1 1 10 0 0 0
Jim McMasters D 9 0 1 1 6 0 0 0
Blake Ball D 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Doug Brindley LW/C 9 0 0 0 6 0 0 0
Gerry Cheevers G 9 0 0 0 4 0 0 0

Goaltending

Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Gerry Cheevers 3144 52 32 20 0 149 2.84 5
Bob Whidden 1609 26 11 12 3 88 3.28 0
Team: 4753 78 43 32 3 237 2.99 5

Playoffs

Player MIN GP W L GA GAA
Gerry Cheevers 548 9 5 4 22 2.41
Team: 548 9 5 4 22 2.41

[3][4][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;

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved April 10, 2025.
  2. ^ "Standard Stats". Hockey Reference.
  3. ^ "1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
  4. ^ World Hockey Association (1972). WHA 1972-73 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  5. ^ World Hockey Association (1973). WHA 1973-74 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
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