The Complete World Hockey Association
www.surgent.net/wha
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1976-77 • Franchise
1976-77 Birmingham Bulls
Record: 31-46-4, 66 pts
Finish: 5th, East
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Gilles Leger (7-16-1), Pat Kelly (24-30-2)
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Bulls Preview, 1976-77 • by Barry Wilner • The Hockey News 1977 Yearbook
The Division's southerly tier, both geographically and in the standings, will be manned by Birmingham.
The Bulls, late of Toronto, have Paul Henderson, Frank Mahovlich and Vaclav Nedomansky, and WHA Rookie-of-the-Year Mark Napier.
It is a sad situation to consider the plight of Mahovlich and Henderson. Frank, the Big M, for years was second only to Bobby Hull among hockey's left wingers. He was a proud Stanley Cup winner in both Toronto and Montreal and once teamed with Gordie Howe when both men were in their primes as superstars to form one of the most potent lines in NHL history.
Mahovlich left the NHL as its fourth-highest scorer. He scored 533 NHL goals. He now seems destined to close out an otherwise illustrious career in that hotbed of hockey, Birmingham.
Henderson is in a somewhat similar position. The hero of an entire nation when he starred for Team Canada in 1972 against the Soviet Union's National Team, Paul left the NHL for the Toronto Toros. He is all but forgotten now, and one must wonder how many Alabamans know who he is. He scored the winning goal in three straight games against Russia.
Nor can Napier or Nedomansky be happy with Birmingham. Dissension may be rampant among the Bulls this year. Big Ned had 98 points and can't be replaced. Whether Gilles Leger, the general manager-coach, can keep control, is questionable.
Even with the above offensive threats, the Bulls are destined for the lower rungs of the East. They have, to put it simply, no defense. They scored 335 goals, but lost more 8-7 games than any team in hockey.
In Toronto the Toros allowed 398 goals, the worst number in Major League hockey. Only Jim Dorey can be considered a professional caliber on the blue line corps and there are rumors he wants out. The team used six goaltenders last season. Ex-Fighting Saint John Garrett is by far the best of the lot, but he may yearn for the Minnesota winters after being left out in the cold by the Bulls alleged defense. His backup figures to be Mario Vien or Dave Tataryn.
With all of these problems inherent in moving to a new and unexplored territory, Birmingham owner John Bassett expects heavy community interest will make the Bulls successful. Considering the failure of the WFL in Birmingham, a lively football city, one must wonder about the chances of hockey there.
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Game Log ... (@ away game, * overtime)
| no.
| Date
| Opponent
| Score
|
| w-l-t
| pts
| gf-ga
| no.
| Date
| Opponent
| Score
|
| w-l-t
| pts
| gf-ga
|
|
1. | Oct 8 | Houston | 4-2 | W | 1-0-0 | 2 | 4-2 | 41. | Jan 2 | @ Minnesota | 1-3 | L | 13-27-1 | 27 | 135-160 |
|
2. | Oct 10 | @ Quebec | *3-4 | L | 1-1-0 | 2 | 7-6 | 42. | Jan 4 | Phoenix | 8-5 | W | 14-27-1 | 29 | 143-165 |
|
3. | Oct 12 | Calgary | 6-2 | W | 2-1-0 | 4 | 13-8 | 43. | Jan 7 | @ Cincinnati | 1-7 | L | 14-28-1 | 29 | 144-172 |
|
4. | Oct 14 | Cincinnati | 7-7 | T | 2-1-1 | 5 | 20-15 | 44. | Jan 9 | @ Winnipeg | 1-4 | L | 14-29-1 | 29 | 145-176 |
|
5. | Oct 16 | @ Houston | 0-3 | L | 2-2-1 | 5 | 20-18 | 45. | Jan 12 | @ Minnesota | 4-3 | W | 15-29-1 | 31 | 149-179 |
|
6. | Oct 17 | @ Minnesota | 1-6 | L | 2-3-1 | 5 | 21-24 | 46. | Jan 14 | @ Houston | 3-5 | L | 15-30-1 | 31 | 152-184 |
|
7. | Oct 19 | Quebec | *5-6 | L | 2-4-1 | 5 | 26-30 | 47. | Jan 16 | @ San Diego | 2-5 | L | 15-31-1 | 31 | 154-189 |
|
8. | Oct 21 | Houston | 8-5 | W | 3-4-1 | 7 | 34-35 | 48. | Jan 21 | @ Houston | 1-6 | L | 15-32-1 | 31 | 155-195 |
|
9. | Oct 23 | @ Indianapolis | 3-1 | W | 4-4-1 | 9 | 37-36 | 49. | Jan 23 | Indianapolis | 6-2 | W | 16-32-1 | 33 | 161-197 |
|
10. | Oct 24 | @ Winnipeg | 1-7 | L | 4-5-1 | 9 | 38-43 | 50. | Jan 27 | Winnipeg | 3-0 | W | 17-32-1 | 35 | 164-197 |
|
11. | Oct 26 | @ Calgary | 3-9 | L | 4-6-1 | 9 | 41-52 | 51. | Jan 30 | Cincinnati | 7-1 | W | 18-32-1 | 37 | 171-198 |
|
12. | Oct 28 | Edmonton | *3-4 | L | 4-7-1 | 9 | 44-56 | 52. | Feb 1 | New England | 4-3 | W | 19-32-1 | 39 | 175-201 |
|
13. | Oct 30 | @ New England | 4-5 | L | 4-8-1 | 9 | 48-61 | 53. | Feb 2 | @ Cincinnati | 3-2 | W | 20-32-1 | 41 | 178-203 |
|
14. | Nov 2 | San Diego | *3-4 | L | 4-9-1 | 9 | 51-65 | 54. | Feb 4 | Quebec | 7-0 | W | 21-32-1 | 43 | 185-203 |
|
15. | Nov 4 | Phoenix | 5-3 | W | 5-9-1 | 11 | 56-68 | 55. | Feb 5 | @ Indianapolis | 2-5 | L | 21-33-1 | 43 | 187-208 |
|
16. | Nov 6 | @ Quebec | 5-6 | L | 5-10-1 | 11 | 61-74 | 56. | Feb 9 | @ Phoenix | 3-4 | L | 21-34-1 | 43 | 190-212 |
|
17. | Nov 9 | @ Quebec | 3-4 | L | 5-11-1 | 11 | 64-78 | 57. | Feb 12 | @ San Diego | *2-3 | L | 21-35-1 | 43 | 192-215 |
|
18. | Nov 11 | San Diego | 2-3 | L | 5-12-1 | 11 | 66-81 | 58. | Feb 16 | Phoenix | 7-2 | W | 22-35-1 | 45 | 199-217 |
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19. | Nov 13 | Edmonton | 2-3 | L | 5-13-1 | 11 | 68-84 | 59. | Feb 18 | @ New England | 3-2 | W | 23-35-1 | 47 | 202-219 |
|
20. | Nov 16 | New England | 4-5 | L | 5-14-1 | 11 | 72-89 | 60. | Feb 20 | Indianapolis | 2-2 | T | 23-35-2 | 48 | 204-221 |
|
21. | Nov 17 | @ New England | 4-6 | L | 5-15-1 | 11 | 76-95 | 61. | Feb 22 | Cincinnati | 4-4 | T | 23-35-3 | 49 | 208-225 |
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22. | Nov 19 | @ Indianapolis | 0-4 | L | 5-16-1 | 11 | 76-99 | 62. | Feb 24 | Quebec | 10-6 | W | 24-35-3 | 51 | 218-231 |
|
23. | Nov 21 | San Diego | 4-3 | W | 6-16-1 | 13 | 80-102 | 63. | Feb 26 | @ Quebec | 3-5 | L | 24-36-3 | 51 | 221-236 |
|
24. | Nov 23 | Calgary | 3-1 | W | 7-16-1 | 15 | 83-103 | 64. | Feb 27 | @ Edmonton | 4-0 | W | 25-36-3 | 53 | 225-236 |
|
25. | Nov 25 | New England | 3-5 | L | 7-17-1 | 15 | 86-108 | 65. | Mar 3 | @ Calgary | 2-4 | L | 25-37-3 | 53 | 227-240 |
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26. | Nov 27 | @ Cincinnati | 1-2 | L | 7-18-1 | 15 | 87-110 | 66. | Mar 6 | @ Edmonton | 2-5 | L | 25-38-3 | 53 | 229-245 |
|
27. | Nov 28 | Minnesota | 1-3 | L | 7-19-1 | 15 | 88-113 | 67. | Mar 9 | New England | *4-3 | W | 26-38-3 | 55 | 233-248 |
|
28. | Nov 30 | Cincinnati | 3-1 | W | 8-19-1 | 17 | 91-114 | 68. | Mar 11 | New England | 6-3 | W | 27-38-3 | 57 | 239-251 |
|
29. | Dec 2 | Edmonton | 3-4 | L | 8-20-1 | 17 | 94-118 | 69. | Mar 12 | @ Indianapolis | 2-7 | L | 27-39-3 | 57 | 241-258 |
|
30. | Dec 7 | Indianapolis | *2-3 | L | 8-21-1 | 17 | 96-121 | 70. | Mar 13 | @ Cincinnati | 4-7 | L | 27-40-3 | 57 | 245-265 |
|
31. | Dec 10 | @ Winnipeg | 5-3 | W | 9-21-1 | 19 | 101-124 | 71. | Mar 15 | Cincinnati | 4-2 | W | 28-40-3 | 59 | 249-267 |
|
32. | Dec 12 | @ Edmonton | 3-5 | L | 9-22-1 | 19 | 104-129 | 72. | Mar 17 | Indianapolis | 2-5 | L | 28-41-3 | 59 | 251-272 |
|
33. | Dec 15 | @ Phoenix | 5-6 | L | 9-23-1 | 19 | 109-135 | 73. | Mar 20 | Winnipeg | 3-4 | L | 28-42-3 | 59 | 254-276 |
|
34. | Dec 17 | @ Houston | 4-3 | W | 10-23-1 | 21 | 113-138 | 74. | Mar 22 | Calgary | 7-4 | W | 29-42-3 | 61 | 261-280 |
|
35. | Dec 18 | @ New England | 2-6 | L | 10-24-1 | 21 | 115-144 | 75. | Mar 23 | @ Phoenix | 4-0 | W | 30-42-3 | 63 | 265-280 |
|
36. | Dec 19 | @ Indianapolis | *2-3 | L | 10-25-1 | 21 | 117-147 | 76. | Mar 24 | @ San Diego | 2-6 | L | 30-43-3 | 63 | 267-286 |
|
37. | Dec 21 | Quebec | 3-2 | W | 11-25-1 | 23 | 120-149 | 77. | Mar 27 | Indianapolis | 7-3 | W | 31-43-3 | 65 | 274-289 |
|
38. | Dec 22 | @ Cincinnati | 6-2 | W | 12-25-1 | 25 | 126-151 | 78. | Mar 29 | Cincinnati | 2-4 | L | 31-44-3 | 65 | 276-293 |
|
39. | Dec 26 | Houston | 6-2 | W | 13-25-1 | 27 | 132-153 | 79. | Apr 2 | Winnipeg | 5-6 | L | 31-45-3 | 65 | 281-299 |
|
40. | Dec 30 | Minnesota | 2-4 | L | 13-26-1 | 27 | 134-157 | 80. | Apr 5 | @ Calgary | 4-4 | T | 31-45-4 | 66 | 285-303 |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 81. | Apr 6 | @ Edmonton | 4-6 | L | 31-46-4 | 66 | 289-309
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Player Scoring
| pos.
| #
| Player
| gp
| g
| a
| pts
| pim
| +/-
| ppg
| shg
| sog
| sc%
| gp
| g
| a
| pts
| pim
|
|
D | 21 | Ball, Terry | 23 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | +2 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0.030 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
LW | 8 | Bilodeau, Gilles | 34 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 133 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.200 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
LW | 12 | Carleton, Wayne | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.250 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 3 | Cunningham, Rick | 63 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 75 | -18 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 8 | Farda, Richard | 48 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 2 | -23 | 1 | 0 | 76 | 0.118 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 5 | Folco, Peter | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
LW | 23 | Gallant, Gord | 34 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 62 | +8 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 0.080 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
G | 35 | Garrett, John | 65 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 18 | Gorman, David | 52 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 38 | +2 | 0 | 1 | 62 | 0.145 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | - | Hart, Dick | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 22 | Heaver, Paul | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
LW | 19 | Henderson, Paul | 81 | 23 | 25 | 48 | 30 | -9 | 1 | 0 | 176 | 0.131 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 33 | Hoganson, Dale | 81 | 7 | 48 | 55 | 48 | +1 | 3 | 0 | 129 | 0.054 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 25 | Jacques, Jeff | 79 | 21 | 27 | 48 | 92 | -1 | 1 | 0 | 139 | 0.151 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 11 | Kirk, Gavin | 29 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 34 | -6 | 5 | 0 | 46 | 0.196 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 4 | Kokkola, Keith | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
LW | 26 | Lagace, Jean-Guy | 78 | 2 | 25 | 27 | 110 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 0.026 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 27 | Mahovlich, Frank | 17 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 12 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 45 | 0.067 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 20 | Marrin, Peter | 79 | 23 | 37 | 60 | 36 | -7 | 4 | 1 | 148 | 0.156 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | - | Marsh, Jim | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 4 | McKay, Ray | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 9 | Napier, Mark | 80 | 60 | 36 | 96 | 24 | +16 | 9 | 1 | 254 | 0.236 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 14 | Nedomansky, Vaclav | 81 | 36 | 33 | 69 | 10 | -13 | 9 | 0 | 306 | 0.118 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 15 | Nistico, Lou | 79 | 20 | 36 | 56 | 166 | -9 | 1 | 1 | 200 | 0.100 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 28 | Phaneuf, Jean | 30 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 2 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0.047 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 10 | Rollins, Jerry | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
LW | - | Schneider, Buzz | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 16 | Sheehy, Tim | 50 | 26 | 21 | 47 | 44 | -2 | 7 | 0 | 177 | 0.147 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 12 | Simpson, Tom | 25 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 11 | -12 | 4 | 0 | 62 | 0.113 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
LW | 18 | Stewart, John A. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 18 | Stewart, John C. | 52 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 33 | +11 | 2 | 0 | 91 | 0.187 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 10 | Syvret, Dave | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 2 | Turkiewicz, Jim | 80 | 6 | 25 | 31 | 54 | +5 | 0 | 2 | 90 | 0.067 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 6 | Westrum, Pat | 34 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 48 | +8 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0.042 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
G | 1 | Wood, Wayne | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | -
|
Goaltending
| Goaltender
| gp
| min
| ga
| en
| so
| w-l-t
| gaa
| sog
| sv%
| gp
| min
| ga
| w-l
| gaa
|
|
Garrett, John | 65 | 3803 | 224 | 4 | 4 | 24-34-4 | 3.53 | 2218 | 0.899 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Wood, Wayne | 23 | 1132 | 78 | 3 | 0 | 7-12-0 | 4.13 | 667 | 0.883 | - | - | - | - | -
|
Transactions
• Dale Hoganson acquired from Quebec for future considerations (Jim Dorey), Jun 1976
• Jean-Guy Lagace signed to contract, Aug 1976
• Terry Ball claimed on waivers, Oct 1976
• Jerry Rollins traded to Phoenix for Dave Gorman, Nov 1976
• Gavin Kirk and Tom Simpson traded to Edmonton for Tim Sheehy, Dec 1976
• Peter Folco sold to Philadelphia (NAHL), Dec 1976
• Gord Gallant, Ray McKay, John A. Stewart and Pat Westrum signed from defunct Minnesota, Jan 1977
• Wayne Carleton signed to contract, Jan 1977
Splits versus opposing teams, home and away, and by month
| opponent
| overall
| gf-ga
| home
| gf-ga
| away
| gf-ga
|
Calgary | 3-2-1 | 25-24 | 3-0-0 | 16-7 | 0-2-1 | 9-17 | |
Cincinnati | 5-4-2 | 42-39 | 3-1-2 | 27-19 | 2-3-0 | 15-20 |
|
Edmonton | 1-6-0 | 21-27 | 0-3-0 | 8-11 | 1-3-0 | 13-16 |
|
Houston | 4-3-0 | 26-26 | 3-0-0 | 18-9 | 1-3-0 | 8-17 |
|
Indianapolis | 3-6-1 | 28-35 | 2-2-1 | 19-15 | 1-4-0 | 9-20 |
|
Minnesota | 1-4-0 | 9-19 | 0-2-0 | 3-7 | 1-2-0 | 6-12 |
|
New England | 4-5-0 | 34-38 | 3-2-0 | 21-19 | 1-3-0 | 13-19 |
|
Phoenix | 4-2-0 | 32-20 | 3-0-0 | 20-10 | 1-2-0 | 12-10 |
|
Quebec | 3-5-0 | 39-33 | 3-1-0 | 25-14 | 0-4-0 | 14-19 |
|
San Diego | 1-5-0 | 15-24 | 1-2-0 | 9-10 | 0-3-0 | 6-14 |
|
Winnipeg | 2-4-0 | 18-24 | 1-2-0 | 11-10 | 1-2-0 | 7-14 |
|
|
|
October | 4-8-1 | 48-61 | 3-2-1 | 33-26 | 1-6-0 | 15-35 |
|
November | 4-11-0 | 43-53 | 4-6-0 | 30-31 | 0-5-0 | 13-22 |
|
December | 5-7-0 | 43-43 | 2-3-0 | 16-15 | 3-4-0 | 27-28 |
|
January | 5-6-0 | 37-41 | 4-0-0 | 24-8 | 1-6-0 | 13-33 |
|
February | 7-4-2 | 54-38 | 4-0-2 | 34-17 | 3-4-0 | 20-21 |
|
March | 6-8-0 | 51-57 | 5-3-0 | 35-28 | 1-5-0 | 16-29 |
|
April | 0-2-1 | 13-16 | 0-1-0 | 5-6 | 0-1-1 | 8-10 |
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