The Complete World Hockey Association
www.surgent.net/wha

Jim McLeod • James Bradley McLeod

Height: 5-8
Weight: 175
Catch: L
Born: 7 Apr 1937, Port Arthur ON (d. 2019)

 

Regular Season Goaltending Record (key)

year team
gp
min
ga
sho
w-l-t
gaa
a
pim
1972-73 Chicago
54
2996
166
1
22-25-2
3.32
1
2
1973-74 NY-Jersey
10
517
36
0
3-7-0
4.18
0
2
Los Angeles
17
969
69
1
4-13-0
4.27
0
0
Totals (2 teams)
27
1486
105
1
7-20-0
4.24
0
2
1974-75 Mich.-Balt.
16
694
53
0
3-6-1
4.58
0
0
Totals:
97
5176
324
2
32-51-3
3.76
1
4

Shutouts

Date Opponent Home/Away Score Saves
Feb 10, 1973HoustonHome3-035
Jan 25, 1974QuebecHome2-024

 

McLeod Labors in Anonymity • by Reid Grosky • The Hockey Spectator • March 2, 1973

The big question arising among spectators at Chicago Cougar games: is how can Jim McLeod miss an All-Star selection at the end of the World Hockey Association season?

The answer, unfortunately, is simple: the Cougars are in last place.

Athletes on last place teams in most sports do not win the Heisman trophies, the MVPs, or All-Star credentials.

It's a shame, too, because the Cougars lowly standing often clouds the performance of their 35-year-old goaltender.

"He's a fighter — he battles you all the way," says Marcel Pronovost, coach of the Cougars. "He SHOULD be the league All-Star goalie. That's one thing we've had all the way good goaltending. It's not always enough but it's where you start in this game."

All season long, Pronovost has praised McLeod. But this is not likely to help much when All-Star votes are cast at season's end by news reporters. Big names on big teams like Gerry Cheevers, Ernie Wakely, Bernie Parent, Joe Daley and Al Smith will get first consideration.

But McLeod is holding out hope. The All-Star game selections in Quebec did not bother him. "I expected the big names would be there," he says. "It's the votes by the news media, though, that I'm waiting for. That's where the money is."

Perhaps, just perhaps, the following will be taken into account:

-- McLeod has faced more shots on goal than any WHA goaltender.

-- After his first shutout recently (3-0 against Houston), his goals-against average dropped to 3.15, truly remarkable on a last place team.

-- His record following the shutout was 19-19, including five one-goal games, equally remarkable considering the defense in front of him.

McLeod never labored under the illusion that his task with the Cougars would be easy.

"I figured to see a lot of rubber," he says. "My job here is to keep the score down."

But McLeod, who spent most of his career in the minors, never underestimated his own ability.

"I thought I was ready for the NHL at the time of their first expansion. But whether you make it depends on luck and who you know. I played with guys now in the NHL that I thought weren't any better than I was."

Although McLeod played briefly — and well — for the St. Louis Blues last year, a change in coaching and his own age led to his return to the minors.

"I took a lot of heat when they found out I was coming to this league," he says. "They wanted me to stay around. But I told them I'd give them enough of my time."

The Cougars front office admits it is negotiating with NHL goalies for next year. It is hard to believe, after all, that McLeod can continue at this pace for another season. But McLeod won't deny that he could. And right now playing on a trick knee, his hair graying but his All-Star potential growing, McLeod is enjoying his finest hour as a pro.

 

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