The Complete World Hockey Association
www.surgent.net/wha
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1976-77 • Franchise
1976-77 Indianapolis Racers
Record: 36-37-8, 80 pts
Finish: 3rd, East
Playoffs: Lost in second round to Quebec
Coach: Jacques Demers
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Racers Preview, 1976-77 • by Barry Wilner • The Hockey News 1977 Yearbook
Indianapolis won the Eastern Division in 1975-76 despite a 35-39-6 record. Such prominence will not be enjoyed again this season.
Pat Stapleton, the core of the Racers defense, has retired. When Whitey left the Chicago Black Hawks of the NHL, a team with far more talent than the Racers possess, it took the Hawks years to recover; in fact, many feel that they have yet to recover from his loss on the back line.
Stapleton was the leader of this team and still one of hockey's best defensemen. The 44 points he scored last season is the last thing Indianapolis will miss. It was Whitey Stapleton, more than anyone, who was responsible for the team's first place finish and league-leading goals-against average. The Racers allowed only 247 goals against.
That average, 2.96, will not be repeated. The two rookies who helped Indianapolis to that lofty defensive position, Michel Dion and Jim Park, will suffer most from Stapleton's retirement. The Racers used four goalies last year, but veteran Andy Brown, he of the maskless face, probably won't make the team, and Leif Holmquist will serve as a backup for the two youngsters.
Park probably will get the first shot at starting, but coach Jacques Demers believes in splitting up netminding chores so Dion and Holmquist will see some action.
Darryl Maggs and Ken Block remain as solid backliners, but they will need help in order to keep the goals-against average down. They may get it from the goaltenders, but some new faces on defense would help. Maggs is rumored as thinking of jumping back to the NHL.
Offensively, Indianapolis has Dave Keon, still a roadrunner at 36. He will try to spur an attack that ranked last in the WHA last season. The Racers scored only 245 goals last year. Keon will need help from Renald Leclerc, Mike Parizeau, Hugh Harris, Al Karlander, and the recently-acquired Bryan Campbell.
Demers used more than 40 skaters last season in an attempt to make the playoffs. Winding up on top of the Eastern sector was gravy for the Racers but they can't expect that situation again.
Indianapolis will need a successful team to draw well, just as will Cincinnati. But the Racers must contend with NBA basketball for the first time, and the Pacers will be gathering much of the entertainment money in the Indiana capital.
if the Racers fail on the ice, they will fail at the gate, as many of the fans from 1975-76 switch to watching NBA roundball.
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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 | Minnesota | 4-3 | W | 1-0-0 | 2 | 4-3 | 41. | Jan 14 | @ Minnesota | 5-9 | L | 21-18-2 | 44 | 136-149 |
|
2. | Oct 10 | @ Minnesota | 1-4 | L | 1-1-0 | 2 | 5-7 | 42. | Jan 15 | Edmonton | 6-3 | W | 22-18-2 | 46 | 142-152 |
|
3. | Oct 15 | Cincinnati | *6-5 | W | 2-1-0 | 4 | 11-12 | 43. | Jan 21 | Calgary | 1-1 | T | 22-18-3 | 47 | 143-153 |
|
4. | Oct 17 | @ Edmonton | 2-7 | L | 2-2-0 | 4 | 13-19 | 44. | Jan 22 | @ New England | 3-3 | T | 22-18-4 | 48 | 146-156 |
|
5. | Oct 19 | @ Winnipeg | 1-6 | L | 2-3-0 | 4 | 14-25 | 45. | Jan 23 | @ Birmingham | 2-6 | L | 22-19-4 | 48 | 148-162 |
|
6. | Oct 21 | @ San Diego | 4-4 | T | 2-3-1 | 5 | 18-29 | 46. | Jan 25 | @ Quebec | *1-2 | L | 22-20-4 | 48 | 149-164 |
|
7. | Oct 23 | Birmingham | 1-3 | L | 2-4-1 | 5 | 19-32 | 47. | Jan 28 | Quebec | 5-6 | L | 22-21-4 | 48 | 154-170 |
|
8. | Oct 27 | San Diego | 1-5 | L | 2-5-1 | 5 | 20-37 | 48. | Jan 30 | New England | 5-0 | W | 23-21-4 | 50 | 159-170 |
|
9. | Oct 29 | Quebec | 6-4 | W | 3-5-1 | 7 | 26-41 | 49. | Feb 1 | @ Quebec | 4-5 | L | 23-22-4 | 50 | 163-175 |
|
10. | Nov 3 | @ Cincinnati | 2-8 | L | 3-6-1 | 7 | 28-49 | 50. | Feb 2 | Quebec | 6-5 | W | 24-22-4 | 52 | 169-180 |
|
11. | Nov 4 | Cincinnati | 5-2 | W | 4-6-1 | 9 | 33-51 | 51. | Feb 5 | Birmingham | 5-2 | W | 25-22-4 | 54 | 174-182 |
|
12. | Nov 7 | @ San Diego | 0-3 | L | 4-7-1 | 9 | 33-54 | 52. | Feb 6 | @ New England | 5-5 | T | 25-22-5 | 55 | 179-187 |
|
13. | Nov 9 | @ Houston | 2-7 | L | 4-8-1 | 9 | 35-61 | 53. | Feb 8 | Houston | 4-4 | T | 25-22-6 | 56 | 183-191 |
|
14. | Nov 10 | @ Phoenix | 3-3 | T | 4-8-2 | 10 | 38-64 | 54. | Feb 9 | @ Cincinnati | 0-9 | L | 25-23-6 | 56 | 183-200 |
|
15. | Nov 13 | @ Cincinnati | 3-7 | L | 4-9-2 | 10 | 41-71 | 55. | Feb 11 | Quebec | 1-5 | L | 25-24-6 | 56 | 184-205 |
|
16. | Nov 14 | @ Quebec | 3-1 | W | 5-9-2 | 12 | 44-72 | 56. | Feb 12 | @ New England | 5-1 | W | 26-24-6 | 58 | 189-206 |
|
17. | Nov 16 | Cincinnati | 5-3 | W | 6-9-2 | 14 | 49-75 | 57. | Feb 13 | Winnipeg | 5-7 | L | 26-25-6 | 58 | 194-213 |
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18. | Nov 19 | Birmingham | 4-0 | W | 7-9-2 | 16 | 53-75 | 58. | Feb 17 | @ Winnipeg | 2-4 | L | 26-26-6 | 58 | 196-217 |
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19. | Nov 20 | Winnipeg | 8-4 | W | 8-9-2 | 18 | 61-79 | 59. | Feb 19 | Phoenix | 5-6 | L | 26-27-6 | 58 | 201-223 |
|
20. | Nov 23 | New England | 4-3 | W | 9-9-2 | 20 | 65-82 | 60. | Feb 20 | @ Birmingham | 2-2 | T | 26-27-7 | 59 | 203-225 |
|
21. | Nov 24 | @ Cincinnati | 6-4 | W | 10-9-2 | 22 | 71-86 | 61. | Feb 22 | @ Quebec | 2-4 | L | 26-28-7 | 59 | 205-229 |
|
22. | Nov 25 | Quebec | 0-5 | L | 10-10-2 | 22 | 71-91 | 62. | Feb 25 | @ Edmonton | 3-2 | W | 27-28-7 | 61 | 208-231 |
|
23. | Nov 27 | @ Quebec | 8-2 | W | 11-10-2 | 24 | 79-93 | 63. | Feb 27 | @ Calgary | 1-2 | L | 27-29-7 | 61 | 209-233 |
|
24. | Nov 28 | @ New England | 4-3 | W | 12-10-2 | 26 | 83-96 | 64. | Mar 4 | San Diego | 7-4 | W | 28-29-7 | 63 | 216-237 |
|
25. | Dec 2 | Calgary | 2-1 | W | 13-10-2 | 28 | 85-97 | 65. | Mar 5 | @ Cincinnati | 0-6 | L | 28-30-7 | 63 | 216-243 |
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26. | Dec 4 | Edmonton | 5-3 | W | 14-10-2 | 30 | 90-100 | 66. | Mar 6 | Phoenix | *3-2 | W | 29-30-7 | 65 | 219-245 |
|
27. | Dec 7 | @ Birmingham | *3-2 | W | 15-10-2 | 32 | 93-102 | 67. | Mar 10 | Edmonton | 3-4 | L | 29-31-7 | 65 | 222-249 |
|
28. | Dec 10 | San Diego | 3-2 | W | 16-10-2 | 34 | 96-104 | 68. | Mar 12 | Birmingham | 7-2 | W | 30-31-7 | 67 | 229-251 |
|
29. | Dec 12 | Houston | 1-3 | L | 16-11-2 | 34 | 97-107 | 69. | Mar 13 | @ Houston | 0-5 | L | 30-32-7 | 67 | 229-256 |
|
30. | Dec 16 | Minnesota | 3-5 | L | 16-12-2 | 34 | 100-112 | 70. | Mar 15 | Calgary | 3-1 | W | 31-32-7 | 69 | 232-257 |
|
31. | Dec 17 | @ New England | *5-4 | W | 17-12-2 | 36 | 105-116 | 71. | Mar 17 | @ Birmingham | 5-2 | W | 32-32-7 | 71 | 237-259 |
|
32. | Dec 19 | Birmingham | *3-2 | W | 18-12-2 | 38 | 108-118 | 72. | Mar 18 | Winnipeg | 5-7 | L | 32-33-7 | 71 | 242-266 |
|
33. | Dec 26 | @ San Diego | 1-2 | L | 18-13-2 | 38 | 109-120 | 73. | Mar 20 | Houston | 3-8 | L | 32-34-7 | 71 | 245-274 |
|
34. | Dec 28 | @ Phoenix | 3-4 | L | 18-14-2 | 38 | 112-124 | 74. | Mar 22 | Cincinnati | 3-1 | W | 33-34-7 | 73 | 248-275 |
|
35. | Jan 2 | Phoenix | 4-1 | W | 19-14-2 | 40 | 116-125 | 75. | Mar 24 | Quebec | 4-3 | W | 34-34-7 | 75 | 252-278 |
|
36. | Jan 4 | @ Winnipeg | 1-2 | L | 19-15-2 | 40 | 117-127 | 76. | Mar 26 | @ New England | 4-2 | W | 35-34-7 | 77 | 256-280 |
|
37. | Jan 8 | @ Calgary | 3-4 | L | 19-16-2 | 40 | 120-131 | 77. | Mar 27 | @ Birmingham | 3-7 | L | 35-35-7 | 77 | 259-287 |
|
38. | Jan 9 | @ Edmonton | 3-5 | L | 19-17-2 | 40 | 123-136 | 78. | Mar 30 | Cincinnati | 5-5 | T | 35-35-8 | 78 | 264-292 |
|
39. | Jan 11 | @ Calgary | *4-3 | W | 20-17-2 | 42 | 127-139 | 79. | Apr 2 | New England | *2-3 | L | 35-36-8 | 78 | 266-295 |
|
40. | Jan 13 | New England | 4-1 | W | 21-17-2 | 44 | 131-140 | 80. | Apr 3 | @ Houston | 7-3 | W | 36-36-8 | 80 | 273-298 |
|
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 81. | Apr 6 | @ Phoenix | 3-7 | L | 36-37-8 | 80 | 276-305
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Player Scoring
| pos.
| #
| Player
| gp
| g
| a
| pts
| pim
| +/-
| ppg
| shg
| sog
| sc%
| gp
| g
| a
| pts
| pim
|
|
D | 5 | Baltimore, Bryon | 55 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 63 | -22 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0.000 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
|
D | 24 | Block, Ken | 52 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 25 | -12 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0.088 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
|
G | 1 | Brown, Andy | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
G | 1 | Burchell, Randy | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 21 | Campbell, Bryan | 8 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -8 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 0.048 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 4 | Clackson, Kim | 71 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 168 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 0.068 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 24 |
|
LW | 18 | Coates, Brian | 16 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0.042 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
G | 31 | Dion, Michel | 42 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
RW | 20 | Harbaruk, Nick | 27 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | -16 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0.071 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
|
C | 7 | Harris, Hugh | 46 | 21 | 35 | 56 | 21 | +10 | 4 | 4 | 182 | 0.115 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
G | 30 | Hoganson, Paul | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
D | 10 | Inkpen, Dave | 32 | 4 | 12 | 16 | 20 | +10 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 0.093 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
|
C | 15 | Karlander, Al | 65 | 17 | 28 | 45 | 23 | +5 | 4 | 0 | 98 | 0.173 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
|
RW | 8 | Leclerc, Rene | 68 | 25 | 30 | 55 | 43 | -7 | 2 | 0 | 174 | 0.144 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
|
RW | 25 | Lomenda, Mark | 56 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 14 | -11 | 0 | 0 | 99 | 0.091 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 17 |
|
RW | 14 | MacDonald, Blair | 81 | 34 | 30 | 64 | 28 | +10 | 8 | 0 | 253 | 0.134 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 15 | 4 |
|
C | 6 | MacGregor, Gary | 16 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | -11 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 0.000 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
D | 2 | Maggs, Darryl | 81 | 16 | 55 | 71 | 114 | +4 | 5 | 1 | 310 | 0.052 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
|
D | 21 | Mavety, Larry | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0.154 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
RW | 11 | McDonald, Brian | 50 | 15 | 13 | 28 | 48 | -20 | 5 | 2 | 89 | 0.169 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 33 |
|
RW | 6 | Paiement, Rosaire | 67 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 91 | -3 | 2 | 0 | 144 | 0.125 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 15 |
|
G | 28 | Park, Jim | 31 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
|
C | 16 | Parizeau, Michel | 75 | 18 | 37 | 55 | 39 | +6 | 8 | 0 | 139 | 0.129 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 8 |
|
LW | 22 | Peacosh, Gene | 64 | 22 | 26 | 48 | 21 | -1 | 6 | 0 | 124 | 0.177 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
|
D | 3 | Proceviat, Dick | 55 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 33 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 0.031 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
LW | 19 | Rochon, Francois | 67 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 8 | -13 | 2 | 0 | 122 | 0.123 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
|
C | 17 | Sicinski, Bob | 60 | 12 | 24 | 36 | 14 | -8 | 1 | 0 | 141 | 0.085 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
|
D | 12 | Stapleton, Pat | 81 | 8 | 45 | 53 | 29 | -28 | 4 | 0 | 156 | 0.051 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 |
|
LW | 9 | Thomas, Reg | 79 | 25 | 30 | 55 | 34 | -9 | 5 | 0 | 241 | 0.104 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 4 |
|
C | 23 | Zuke, Mike | 15 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0.125 | - | - | - | - | -
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Goaltending
| Goaltender
| gp
| min
| ga
| en
| so
| w-l-t
| gaa
| sog
| sv%
| gp
| min
| ga
| w-l
| gaa
|
|
Brown, Andy | 10 | 430 | 26 | 0 | 0 | 1-4-1 | 3.63 | 195 | 0.867 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Burchell, Randy | 5 | 136 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1-0-0 | 3.53 | 89 | 0.910 | - | - | - | - | - |
|
Dion, Michel | 42 | 2286 | 128 | 4 | 1 | 17-19-3 | 3.36 | 1174 | 0.891 | 4 | 245 | 17 | 2-2 | 4.16 |
|
Hoganson, Paul | 11 | 395 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 3-2-0 | 3.65 | 199 | 0.879 | 5 | 348 | 17 | 3-2 | 2.93 |
|
Park, Jim | 31 | 1727 | 114 | 1 | 1 | 14-12-4 | 3.96 | 898 | 0.873 | - | - | - | - | -
|
Transactions
• Bryan Campbell acquired from Cincinnati for future considerations, Jun 1976
• Gary MacGregor acquired from Minnesota for Dave Keon, Sep 1976
• Bryan Campbell traded to Edmonton for Gene Peacosh, Nov 1976
• Gary MacGregor traded to New England for Rosaire Paiement, Nov 1976
• Paul Hoganson and Dave Inkpen purchased from Cincinnati, Feb 1977
Splits versus opposing teams, home and away, and by month
| opponent
| overall
| gf-ga
| home
| gf-ga
| away
| gf-ga
|
Birmingham | 6-3-1 | 35-28 | 4-1-0 | 20-9 | 2-2-1 | 15-19 | |
Calgary | 3-2-1 | 14-12 | 2-0-1 | 6-3 | 1-2-0 | 8-9 |
|
Cincinnati | 5-4-1 | 35-50 | 4-0-1 | 24-16 | 1-4-0 | 11-34 |
|
Edmonton | 3-3-0 | 22-24 | 2-1-0 | 14-10 | 1-2-0 | 8-14 |
|
Houston | 1-4-1 | 14-30 | 0-2-1 | 8-15 | 1-2-0 | 9-15 |
|
Minnesota | 1-3-0 | 13-21 | 1-1-0 | 7-8 | 0-2-0 | 6-13 |
|
New England | 7-1-2 | 41-25 | 3-1-0 | 15-7 | 4-0-2 | 26-18 |
|
Phoenix | 2-3-1 | 21-23 | 2-1-0 | 12-9 | 0-2-1 | 9-14 |
|
Quebec | 5-6-0 | 40-42 | 3-3-0 | 22-28 | 2-3-0 | 18-14 |
|
San Diego | 2-3-1 | 16-20 | 2-1-0 | 11-11 | 0-2-1 | 5-9 |
|
Winnipeg | 1-5-0 | 22-30 | 1-2-0 | 18-18 | 0-3-0 | 4-12 |
|
|
|
October | 3-5-1 | 26-41 | 3-2-0 | 18-20 | 0-3-1 | 8-21 |
|
November | 9-5-1 | 57-55 | 5-1-0 | 26-17 | 4-4-1 | 31-38 |
|
December | 6-4-0 | 29-28 | 4-2-0 | 17-16 | 2-2-0 | 12-12 |
|
January | 5-7-2 | 47-46 | 4-1-1 | 25-12 | 1-6-1 | 22-34 |
|
February | 4-8-3 | 50-63 | 2-3-1 | 26-29 | 2-5-2 | 24-34 |
|
March | 8-6-1 | 55-59 | 6-3-1 | 43-37 | 2-3-0 | 12-22 |
|
April | 1-2-0 | 12-13 | 0-1-0 | 2-3 | 1-1-0 | 10-10 |
|
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