1972-73 Philadelphia Blazers
Record: 38-40-0, 76 pts
Game Log
Philadelphia Blazers, 1972-73 (Click to enlarge)
Finish: 3rd, East
Playoffs: Lost in first round to Cleveland
Coach: John McKenzie (1-6-0), Phil Watson (37-34-0)
The coaching records are uncertain. "Official" records give McKenzie a 1-6-0 record, Watson a 37-34-0 record. During the first month of the season, the two would take turns behind the bench (McKenzie was injured during this time). Watson would be the bench coach while McKenzie was the announced coach. A reference in The Hockey News from November 1972 stated that Watson would be "taking over" as coach full-time as of November 12, 1972. The team's record was 2-11-0 at this point.
| no. | Date | Opponent | Score | w-l-t | pts | gf-ga | no. | Date | Opponent | Score | w-l-t | pts | gf-ga | ||
| 1. | Oct 12 | @ New England | 3-4 | L | 0-1-0 | 0 | 3-4 | 40. | Jan 10 | New York | 1-4 | L | 15-25-0 | 30 | 138-182 |
| 2. | Oct 15 | @ New York | 0-5 | L | 0-2-0 | 0 | 3-9 | 41. | Jan 12 | Ottawa | 4-3 | W | 16-25-0 | 32 | 142-185 |
| 3. | Oct 19 | @ Los Angeles | 2-4 | L | 0-3-0 | 0 | 5-13 | 42. | Jan 13 | Quebec | 9-4 | W | 17-25-0 | 34 | 151-189 |
| 4. | Oct 20 | @ Alberta | 1-4 | L | 0-4-0 | 0 | 6-17 | 43. | Jan 16 | Cleveland | 3-4 | L | 17-26-0 | 34 | 154-193 |
| 5. | Oct 22 | @ Winnipeg | 3-6 | L | 0-5-0 | 0 | 9-23 | 44. | Jan 19 | Ottawa | 4-2 | W | 18-26-0 | 36 | 158-195 |
| 6. | Oct 24 | @ Winnipeg | 3-5 | L | 0-6-0 | 0 | 12-28 | 45. | Jan 20 | Houston | 3-4 | L | 18-27-0 | 36 | 161-199 |
| 7. | Oct 25 | Cleveland | 2-8 | L | 0-7-0 | 0 | 14-36 | 46. | Jan 24 | @ Quebec | 6-4 | W | 19-27-0 | 38 | 167-203 |
| 8. | Oct 27 | Los Angeles | 5-4 | W | 1-7-0 | 2 | 19-40 | 47. | Jan 25 | @ Cleveland | 7-4 | W | 20-27-0 | 40 | 174-207 |
| 9. | Oct 28 | Ottawa | 3-5 | L | 1-8-0 | 2 | 22-45 | 48. | Jan 27 | @ Alberta | *1-0 | W | 21-27-0 | 42 | 175-207 |
| 10. | Nov 1 | @ Cleveland | 7-5 | W | 2-8-0 | 4 | 29-50 | 49. | Jan 28 | @ Alberta | 2-4 | L | 21-28-0 | 42 | 177-211 |
| 11. | Nov 2 | @ Quebec | 3-6 | L | 2-9-0 | 4 | 32-56 | 50. | Jan 30 | @ Ottawa | *5-4 | W | 22-28-0 | 44 | 182-215 |
| 12. | Nov 4 | @ New England | 4-8 | L | 2-10-0 | 4 | 36-64 | 51. | Feb 2 | @ Cleveland | 3-5 | L | 22-29-0 | 44 | 185-220 |
| 13. | Nov 5 | @ Minnesota | 1-3 | L | 2-11-0 | 4 | 37-67 | 52. | Feb 6 | @ Ottawa | 3-5 | L | 22-30-0 | 44 | 188-225 |
| 14. | Nov 12 | @ Ottawa | 1-2 | L | 2-12-0 | 4 | 38-69 | 53. | Feb 7 | @ Quebec | 0-3 | L | 22-31-0 | 44 | 188-228 |
| 15. | Nov 14 | @ Chicago | 4-3 | W | 3-12-0 | 6 | 42-72 | 54. | Feb 10 | Quebec | *5-4 | W | 23-31-0 | 46 | 193-232 |
| 16. | Nov 18 | Minnesota | *4-5 | L | 3-13-0 | 6 | 46-77 | 55. | Feb 11 | Cleveland | 6-1 | W | 24-31-0 | 48 | 199-233 |
| 17. | Nov 19 | @ New York | 0-5 | L | 3-14-0 | 6 | 46-82 | 56. | Feb 13 | New England | 5-4 | W | 25-31-0 | 50 | 204-237 |
| 18. | Nov 22 | Alberta | *5-4 | W | 4-14-0 | 8 | 51-86 | 57. | Feb 14 | Cleveland | 6-5 | W | 26-31-0 | 52 | 210-242 |
| 19. | Nov 24 | Minnesota | 4-6 | L | 4-15-0 | 8 | 55-92 | 58. | Feb 16 | New York | 9-2 | W | 27-31-0 | 54 | 219-244 |
| 20. | Nov 25 | Chicago | 3-4 | L | 4-16-0 | 8 | 58-96 | 59. | Feb 18 | Los Angeles | 1-4 | L | 27-32-0 | 54 | 220-248 |
| 21. | Nov 28 | Los Angeles | 4-3 | W | 5-16-0 | 10 | 62-99 | 60. | Feb 20 | New England | 4-2 | W | 28-32-0 | 56 | 224-250 |
| 22. | Dec 1 | New England | 5-3 | W | 6-16-0 | 12 | 67-102 | 61. | Feb 22 | @ Ottawa | 6-5 | W | 29-32-0 | 58 | 230-255 |
| 23. | Dec 2 | @ Cleveland | 2-8 | L | 6-17-0 | 12 | 69-110 | 62. | Feb 25 | @ Winnipeg | 3-5 | L | 29-33-0 | 58 | 233-260 |
| 24. | Dec 5 | Cleveland | *3-4 | L | 6-18-0 | 12 | 72-114 | 63. | Feb 27 | @ Minnesota | 0-3 | L | 29-34-0 | 58 | 233-263 |
| 25. | Dec 8 | New York | 3-1 | W | 7-18-0 | 14 | 75-115 | 64. | Mar 4 | @ New York | 4-2 | W | 30-34-0 | 60 | 237-265 |
| 26. | Dec 9 | Ottawa | 7-1 | W | 8-18-0 | 16 | 82-116 | 65. | Mar 6 | @ Chicago | *1-2 | L | 30-35-0 | 60 | 238-267 |
| 27. | Dec 12 | @ Quebec | 2-5 | L | 8-19-0 | 16 | 84-121 | 66. | Mar 8 | Minnesota | 2-1 | W | 31-35-0 | 62 | 240-268 |
| 28. | Dec 13 | Winnipeg | 7-4 | W | 9-19-0 | 18 | 91-125 | 67. | Mar 9 | Quebec | 11-3 | W | 32-35-0 | 64 | 251-271 |
| 29. | Dec 15 | Winnipeg | 6-4 | W | 10-19-0 | 20 | 97-129 | 68. | Mar 11 | Houston | 2-4 | L | 32-36-0 | 64 | 253-275 |
| 30. | Dec 16 | New England | 6-10 | L | 10-20-0 | 20 | 103-139 | 69. | Mar 12 | Quebec | 4-6 | L | 32-37-0 | 64 | 257-281 |
| 31. | Dec 17 | @ New England | 6-3 | W | 11-20-0 | 22 | 109-142 | 70. | Mar 13 | Houston | 4-3 | W | 33-37-0 | 66 | 261-284 |
| 32. | Dec 19 | New York | 2-7 | L | 11-21-0 | 22 | 111-149 | 71. | Mar 17 | @ New England | 0-4 | L | 33-38-0 | 66 | 261-288 |
| 33. | Dec 20 | Chicago | 8-5 | W | 12-21-0 | 24 | 119-154 | 72. | Mar 19 | @ Houston | 1-5 | L | 33-39-0 | 66 | 262-293 |
| 34. | Dec 23 | @ Houston | 3-7 | L | 12-22-0 | 24 | 122-161 | 73. | Mar 21 | @ Houston | 7-3 | W | 34-39-0 | 68 | 269-296 |
| 35. | Dec 25 | @ Cleveland | 0-8 | L | 12-23-0 | 24 | 122-169 | 74. | Mar 23 | @ Los Angeles | 7-3 | W | 35-39-0 | 70 | 276-299 |
| 36. | Dec 26 | @ Minnesota | 6-2 | W | 13-23-0 | 26 | 128-171 | 75. | Mar 28 | Alberta | 1-2 | L | 35-40-0 | 70 | 277-301 |
| 37. | Dec 28 | @ Chicago | 3-6 | L | 13-24-0 | 26 | 131-177 | 76. | Mar 29 | Alberta | 2-1 | W | 36-40-0 | 72 | 279-302 |
| 38. | Dec 31 | @ Los Angeles | 3-1 | W | 14-24-0 | 28 | 134-178 | 77. | Mar 31 | Chicago | 5-1 | W | 37-40-0 | 74 | 284-303 |
| 39. | Jan 1 | @ New York | 3-0 | W | 15-24-0 | 30 | 137-178 | 78. | Apr 1 | Winnipeg | 4-2 | W | 38-40-0 | 76 | 288-305 |
1972-73 Player Scoring
| pos. | Player | |||||||||||||
| G | Archambault, Yves | |||||||||||||
| LW | Bennett, John | |||||||||||||
| D | Boudreau, Michel | |||||||||||||
| D | Brown, Bob | |||||||||||||
| LW | Burgess, Don | |||||||||||||
| C | Campbell, Bryan | |||||||||||||
| D | Campeau, Rychard | |||||||||||||
| D | Cardiff, Jim | |||||||||||||
| D | Chipchase, Jack | |||||||||||||
| G | Cottringer, Tom | |||||||||||||
| LW | Gellard, Sam | |||||||||||||
| RW | Golembrosky, Frank | |||||||||||||
| D | Gravel, John | |||||||||||||
| D | Harker, Derek | |||||||||||||
| LW | Henry, Pierre | |||||||||||||
| LW | Herriman, Don | |||||||||||||
| D | Hutchison, Dave | |||||||||||||
| C | Lacroix, Andre | |||||||||||||
| C | Lapierre, Camille | |||||||||||||
| RW | Lawson, Danny | |||||||||||||
| D | Mavety, Larry | |||||||||||||
| RW | McKenzie, John | |||||||||||||
| C | Meloche, Denis | |||||||||||||
| LW | Migneault, John | |||||||||||||
| D | Mosdell, Wayne | |||||||||||||
| LW | Mott, Darwin | |||||||||||||
| RW | Myers, Murray | |||||||||||||
| RW | O'Donoghue, Don | |||||||||||||
| D | Paiement, Pierre | |||||||||||||
| G | Paille, Marcel | |||||||||||||
| G | Parent, Bernie | |||||||||||||
| LW | Plante, Michel | |||||||||||||
| D | Plumb, Ron | |||||||||||||
| D | Polano, Nick | |||||||||||||
| C | Rouleau, Michel | |||||||||||||
| LW | St. Sauveur, Claude | |||||||||||||
| C | Sanderson, Derek | |||||||||||||
| D | Spencer, Irv | |||||||||||||
| G | Sullivan, Danny |
Goaltending
| Goaltender | ||||||||||||||
| Archambault, Yves | ||||||||||||||
| Cottringer, Tom | ||||||||||||||
| Paille, Marcel | ||||||||||||||
| Parent, Bernie | ||||||||||||||
| Sullivan, Danny |
Transactions
• Rights to Andre Lacroix acquired from Quebec, Mar 1972
Splits versus opposing teams, home and away, and by month
The first tangle in Philly has ended. It was more notable for what happened off the ice than what happened on it — when there was ice.
Superstars have come and gone. Owners have come and gone. General managers have come and gone. Fans have not come.
Just about everything that could have gone wrong for the Blazers did, including the Flyers finishing in second place in the NHL Western Division and extending the Canadiens in the Stanley Cup semifinals. The best thing that could happen to the Blazers in the offseason would be for the Flyers to sell 16,600 season tickets so that anyone who wants to see ice hockey will have to look to the Blazers.
What the organization did accomplish is a credit to the players who didn't follow the examples set by their "leaders". On December 1st they were 5-16. In the next four months they went 33-24 to finish in 3rd place in the Eastern Division. But then they had to watch their playoff chances walk out because [Parent's] agent and his management could not settle a money hassle.
But the Blazers gave the WHA it's scoring champion, Andre Lacroix, it's leading goalscorer, Danny Lawson, and perhaps its most hated visiting player, John McKenzie.
As the curtain closes on Act I, everyone is reassured the Blazers will be back better than ever. Which is not too tough an act to follow.
And now great moments from the past:
The Zamboni chewing up the Civic Center ice on Almost Opening Night ... The Eskimo woman checking the ice on Real Opening Night ... Derek Sanderson's Rolls Royce alone in an empty parking lot ... Derek Sanderson alone in empty stands ...
Andre Lacroix doing what a lot of people knew he could do if he had the chance ... Danny Lawson doing what nobody thought he could do if he had the chance ... Marcel Paille closing the gate at the bench ...
Bernie Brown shaking hands with Bernie Parent ... Jim Cooper looking to be quoted ... Bernie Brown making a locker room speech ... Someone paying attention to a Bernie Brown locker room speech ...
John Bennett applying for Rhode Island unemployment compensation, listing the Blazers as his last previous employer ... The Blazers replied to the questionnaire concerning their former employee ... Camille Lapierre hitting Jim Dorey ... John McKenzie and one of his fans spitting at each other after a game in Ottawa ...
Mike Rouleau and Frank Golembrosky working as a tag team ... Dave Hutchinson looking for a fight ... Harold Sanderson's scouting reports.
And finally here is a cast of characters. Included are 39 players of various shapes and abilities, two general managers, three coaches and other non-celebrities who had a part in Blazers I, in no particular order:
Murray Williamson, Nick Polano, Darwin Mott, Jim Cardiff, John Migneault, Pierre Paiement, Denis Meloche, Danny Sullivan, Bernie Parent, Dave Creighton, Marcel Paille, Murray Myers, Sam Gellard, Phil Watson, Jim Cooper, Danny Lawson, Don Herriman, Frank Golembrosky, Jerry Rafter, Larry Mavety, John Gravel, Derek Harker, Andre Lacroix, Howard Casper, Yves Archambeault, Don O'Donoghue, Bryan Campbell, Pierre Henry, Tom Cottringer, Derek Sanderson, John Nash, Dick Olson, Ron Plumb, Irv Spencer, Rychard Campeau, John Bennett, Don Burgess, Michel Boudreau, Michel Plante, Dave Hutchinson, Danny Santillo, Bernie Brown, Hal Freeman, John McKenzie, Camille Lapierre, Bob Brown, Jack Chipchase, Roger Cote, Wayne Mosdell, Pat Plummer, Claude St. Sauveur, Mark Heisler, Warren Elliott, Kevin Johnson, Glen Eramo, Mike Rouleau, Dr. Arnold Berman.
(Curtain.)
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Home • Credits & Legal Stuff
Reviews, Podcasts and Media
• Article: Color of Hockey: Alton White (The Hockey News), by William Douglas — March 8, 2020
(c) Scott Surgent
• Rights to Bryan Campbell acquired from Chicago, May 1972; signed to contract, Jun 1972
• Bernie Parent, Jim Cardiff, Don Burgess signed to contracts, Jun 1972
• Don Herriman, Irv Spencer signed to contracts, Jun 1972
• Rights to Don O'Donoghue acquired from New England, Jun 1972
• Ron Plumb, Danny Lawson signed to contracts, Jul 1972
• John McKenzie, Derek Sanderson, Don O'Donoghue signed to contracts, Aug 1972
• John Migneault signed to contract, Sep 1972
• Wayne Mosdell signed to contract, Oct 1972
• Frank Golembrosky and Michel Rouleau traded to Quebec for Jean Gravel and Brit Selby, Nov 1972
• Larry Mavety purchased from Los Angeles, Oct 1972, sold to Chicago, Nov 1972
• Brit Selby traded to New England for Bob Brown, Nov 1972
• Derek Sanderson released, Jan 1973
• Bob Brown sold to New York, Feb 1973
opponent
overall
gf-ga
home
gf-ga
away
gf-ga
Alberta 3-3-0 12-15 2-1-0 8-7 1-2-0 4-8
Chicago 3-3-0 24-21 2-1-0 16-10 1-2-0 8-11
Cleveland 4-6-0 39-52 2-3-0 20-22 2-3-0 19-30
Houston 2-4-0 20-26 1-2-0 9-11 1-2-0 11-15
Los Angeles 4-2-0 22-19 2-1-0 10-11 2-1-0 12-8
Minnesota 2-4-0 17-20 1-2-0 10-12 1-2-0 7-8
New England 4-4-0 33-38 3-1-0 20-19 1-3-0 13-19
New York 4-4-0 22-26 2-2-0 15-14 2-2-0 7-12
Ottawa 5-3-0 33-27 3-1-0 18-11 2-2-0 15-16
Quebec 4-4-0 40-35 3-1-0 29-17 1-3-0 11-18
Winnipeg 3-3-0 26-26 3-0-0 17-10 0-3-0 9-16
October 1-8-0 22-45 1-2-0 10-17 0-6-0 12-28
November 4-8-0 40-54 2-3-0 20-22 2-5-0 20-32
December 9-8-0 72-79 6-3-0 47-39 3-5-0 25-40
January 8-4-0 48-37 3-3-0 24-21 5-1-0 24-16
February 7-6-0 51-48 6-1-0 36-22 1-5-0 15-26
March 8-6-0 51-40 5-3-0 31-21 3-3-0 20-19
April 1-0-0 4-2 1-0-0 4-2 0-0-0 0-0
The First Tangle in Philly • by Frank Bertucci • The Hockey Spectator • May 4, 1973
• Review: US Sports History, by Rick Macales — Feb 6, 2021
• Podcast: Good Seats Still Available, by Tim Hanlon — Feb 28, 2021
• Podcast: Digital to Dice (Youtube), by Dave Gardner — July 3, 2022
WHA Fact Book, 2nd ed
Complete WHA, 11th ed