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Significant Games of 1973-74
1973-74
Vancouver Wins First Behind
VANCOUVER: Jimmy Adair scored twice and had an assist, leading the Blazers to their first win in Vancouver. Adair's second goal came in overtime to secure the win. Danny Lawson and Dave Hutchison had two points apiece for the Blazers.
1st period: 1. Wpg: Gratton 1 (Asmundson) 4:18; 2. Van: Adair 1 (Ward, McKenzie) 12:43; 3. Van: Lawson 1 (Adair, Hutchison) 18:05
Gordie Howe Debuts with
LOS ANGELES: Gordie Howe came out of retirement and assisted on three of the four Houston goals as the Aeros defeated the Sharks in Los Angeles in front of 10,000 fans at the Sports Arena. The Sharks had taken a 3-2 lead just eight seconds into the third period on a score by Gary Veneruzzo, but the Aeros scored twice, with Howe assisting on Gord Labossiere's late game-winning goal to secure the win.
1st period: No Scoring.
Binkley and Gratton Shutout Sharks,
LOS ANGELES: Tom Simpson, Dick Sentes and Jack Gibson scored goals, while Les Binkley and Gilles Gratton turned aside 27 shots as Toros won their first-ever game. Binkley stopped 9 shots before being struck in the head by an errant stick from his own teammate, Rick Cunningham. Gratton was called to complete the game. The third period was "highlighted" by a bench-clearing brawl at 18:19 as players already in the penalty box attempted to climb over the barriers to continue the melee.
1st period: 1. Tor: Simpson 3 (Gibson) 7:35; 2. Tor: Sentes 2 (Trottier, Cuddie) 12:23
Gordie Howe Scores First
HOUSTON: Gordie Howe's 787th regular season major-league goal was his first as a member of the WHA. His goal came early in the second period against Paul Hoganson, assisted by Larry Lund and Gord Labossiere. Frank Hughes scored a hat trick as the Aeros built a 6-1 lead before the Sharks made a game of it with three late third-period goals.
1st period: 1. Hou: Hughes 10 (G. Howe, Hinse) 3:34; 2. Hou: Hall 5 (Taylor, Grierson) 10:14.
Ron Climie Scores Five Goals,
EDMONTON: Ron Climie became the second player to score five goals in a game when he performed the feat against the New York Golden Blades. Four of Climie's goals came in the third period. Jim Harrison assisted on four of Climie's goals, while Jack Norris turned aside 31 shots for the shutout.
1st period: 1. Edm: McDonald 3 (Gilmore, Carlyle) 15:19. 2. Edm: Climie 7 (Harrison, Hamilton) 19:39.
Knights Win First Game,
CHERRY HILL: The Jersey Knights won their first game since abandoning New York a week earlier. Andre Lacroix and Brian Morenz each had a goal and an assist as the two teams combined to do all their scoring in the third period. Norm Ferguson also had two points, both assists.
1st period: No scoring
Toros Erupt for 8 Goals in
TORONTO: Leading 2-1 going into the final period, the Toros broke open the close game with eight goals in the third period, a league record. Pat Hickey led the attack with three goals in the period, and four in the game. Tom Simpson and Dick Sentes added a pair of goals each.
1st period: 1. Tor: Hickey 3 (Trottier) 14:13
Fighting Saints Set League
ST. PAUL: The Fighting Saints set a league record for goals in a single game, thrashing the Winnipeg Jets by a 12-2 score. Wayne Connelly had two goals while George Morrison had two goals and three assists as the Saints outshot the Jets 51-29 for the game.
Ist period: 1. Min: Cardwell 12 (Ball, Antonovich) 5:47; 2. Min: Walton 21 (Johnson) 15:50; 3. Wpg: Zanussi 3 (Snell, Hull) 16:03; 4. Min: Connelly 28 (Christianson, Morrison) 17:17
George Morrison Pots Hat Trick
ST. PAUL: George Morrison scored a natural hat trick in 43 seconds in the second period as the Saints beat up on the hapless Blazers, 9-0. Morrison also scored in the third period for a four-goal game.
1st period: 1. Min: Smith 10 (Hampson, Ball) 1:56; 2. Min: Walton 56 (Gallant, Johnson) 13:17; 3. Min: Walton 57 (Boyd) 19:09; 4. Min: Antonovich 21 (Klatt, Hampson) 19:53
 
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Article: Color of Hockey: Alton White (The Hockey News), by William Douglas — March 8, 2020  
(c) Scott Surgent
 
Jim Adair's Overtime Tally
Winnipeg
1
1
1
0
-
3
Vancouver
2
0
1
1
-
4
2nd period: 4. Wpg: McDonald 1 (Hornung, Johnson) 5:13
3rd period: 5. Van: St. Sauveur 1 (Lawson, Hutchison) 4:45; 6. Wpg: Beaudin 1 (Bordeleau) 7:14
Overtime: Van: Adair 2 (Burgess, Spencer) 3:50
Shots: Wpg: 13-13-12-1—39; Van: 9-14-12-5—40
Goaltenders: Wpg: Wakely; Vancouver: Archambault
 
Three Assists in Win
Houston
0
2
2
-
4
Los Angeles
0
2
1
-
3
2nd period: 1. Hou: Hinse 1 (Popiel, G. Howe) 2:55. 2. LA: Gordon 1 (Thomas, Odrowski) 13:26. 3. Hou: Hughes 1 (Hinse, G. Howe) 15:57. 4. LA: Speck 1 (Tardif) 16:35.
3rd period: 5. LA: Veneruzzo 1 0:08. 6. Hou: Hughes 2 (Lund, Hinse) 9:29. 7. Hou: Labossiere 1 (G. Howe) 17:34.
Shots: Hou: 12-6-6—24; LA: 8-7-9—24
Goaltenders: Hou: Rutledge; LA: Gillow
 
Secure First Toros' Win
Toronto
2
1
0
-
3
Los Angeles
0
0
0
-
0
2nd period: 3. Tor: Gibson 2 (King, Gibbons) 9:32
3rd period: No scoring
Shots: Tor: 13-7-3—23; LA: 3-15-9—27
Goaltenders: Tor: Binkley, Gratton; LA: Gillow
WHA Goal, Aeros Defeat Sharks
Los Angeles
0
1
3
-
4
Houston
2
2
2
-
6
2nd period: 3. G. Howe 1 (Lund Labossiere) 2:55; 4. LA: Ward 2 (Gordon, Tardif) 14:49; 5. Hou: Lund 5 (Hinse, Hughes) 16:22.
3rd period: 6. Hou: Hughes 11 6:14; Hou: Hughes 12 (Hinse, Lund) 6:52; LA: McCaskill 2 (Serviss, Niekamp) 10:06; 9. LA: Serviss 2 (McCaskill) 17:04; 10. LA: Gordon 2 (Leblanc, Veneruzzo) 19:37.
Shots: LA: 15-8-10—33; Hou: 8-13-13—34
Goaltenders: LA: Gillow, Hoganson; Hou: Rutledge
 
Oilers Rout Golden Blades
New York
0
0
0
-
0
Edmonton
2
2
4
-
8
2nd period: 3. Edm: Perkins 3 (Baird) 10:21. 4. Edm: Carlyle 1 (McDonald, Barrie) 13:38.
3rd period: 5. Edm: Climie 8 (Harrison, McKenzie) 3:28. 6. Edm: Climie 9 (McCrimmon, Harrison) 4:01. 7. Edm: Climie 10 (Patenaude, Perkins) 7:10. 8. Edm: Climie 11 (Harrison, McKenzie) 15:29.
Shots: NY: 16-10-5—31; Edm: 9-14-17—40
Goaltenders: NY: Junkin; Edm: Norris
 
Defeating Quebec
Quebec
0
0
1
-
1
Jersey
0
0
3
-
3
2nd period: No scoring
3rd period: 1. Jer: Reichmuth 2 (Peacosh, Morrison) 3:23; 2. Jer: Morenz 3 (Lacroix, Ferguson) 5:26; 3. Que: Bernier 14 (Houle) 6:51; 4. Jer: Lacroix 10 (Morenz, Ferguson) 19:58
Shots: Que: 5-9-12—26; Jer: 8-12-13—33
Goaltenders: Que: Deguise; Jer: Junkin
One Period, Destroy Saints
Minnesota
0
1
0
-
1
Toronto
1
1
8
-
10
2nd period: 2. Min: McMahon 6 (Ball) 11:26; 3. Tor: Simpson 13 (Carleton) 16:15
3rd period: 4. Tor: Hickey 4 (Brewer, Kirk) 1:31; 5. Tor: Hickey 5 (Brewer, Kirk) 4:10; 6. Tor: Dillon 7 (Sentes, Carleton) 5:50; 7. Tor: Sentes 7 (Trottier, Dillon) 8:58; 8. Tor: Sentes 8 (Brewer) 12:10; 9. Tor: Nistico 1 (Carleton) 14:26; 10. Tor: Hickey 6 (Martin) 15:22; 11. Tor: Simpson 14 (Sentes, Kirk) 19:35
Shots: Min: 12-15-9—36; Tor: 7-14-18—39
Goaltenders: Min: Garrett, Tor: Gratton.
 
Mark With 12-Goal Outburst
Winnipeg
1
0
1
-
2
Minnesota
3
6
3
-
12
2nd period: 5. Min: Klatt 10 (Arbour, Gallant) 4:25; 6. Min: Connelly 29 (Morrison, Arbour) 8:08; 7. Min: Morrison 22 (Walton, Hampson) 8:28; 8. Min: Johnson (Walton, Hampson) 10:04; 9. Min: Antonovich 11 (McMahon, Hampson) 11:34; 10. Min: Morrison 23 (Connelly) 17:11
3rd period: 11. Min: Christianson 5 (Morrison, Connelly) 1:25; 12. Min: Walton 22 (Johnson, Hampson) 3:26; 13. Min: Heatley 15 (Cardwell, Antonovich) 7:44; 14. Wpg: Hornung 2 (Bordeleau, Hargreaves) 11:04
Shots: Wpg: 10-10-9—29; Min: 14-21-16—51
Goaltenders: Wpg: Daley; Min: Curran
 
in 43 Seconds, Saints Beat Blazers
Vancouver
0
0
0
-
0
Minnesota
4
3
2
-
9
2nd period: 5. Min: Morrison 37 (MacMillan, Connelly) 15:42; 6. Min: Morrison 38 (MacMillan, Connelly) 15:56; 7. Min: Morrison 39 (MacMillan, Connelly) 16:25
3rd period: 8. Min: Cardwell 23 (Christianson) 7:47; 9. Min: Morrison 40 (Antonovich) 18:57.
Shots: Van: 12-16-12—40; Min: 18-13-8—39
Goaltenders: Van: Gardner; Min: Curran
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