The 1972–73 Cleveland Crusaders season was the first season of operation of the new

Cleveland Crusaders The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–73 WHA season, 1972 to 1975–76 WHA season, 1976. Their home ice was the Cleveland Arena from 1972 to 1974, and t ...

in the new

World Hockey Association The World Hockey Association () was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972–73 WHA season, 1972 to 1978–79 WHA season, 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (N ...

. The team qualified for the playoffs and won its first series, before losing in the Division semi-final.

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , W, , October 11, 1972, , 2–0 , , align="left",

Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) an ...

( 1972–73) , , 1–0–0 , - , 2, , W, , October 14, 1972, , 3–2 , , align="left",

Alberta Oilers Alberta is a province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, the Northwest Territories to its north, and the U.S. stat ...

( 1972–73) , , 2–0–0 , - , 3, , W, , October 15, 1972, , 7–5 , , align="left", @

Ottawa Nationals The Ottawa Nationals were a professional men's ice hockey team out of Ottawa that played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) during the 1972–73 WHA season. History The WHA had originally granted a franchise to Doug Michel for "Ontario". ...

( 1972–73) , , 3–0–0 , - , 4, , W, , October 17, 1972, , 4–3 OT, , align="left", New York Raiders ( 1972–73) , , 4–0–0 , - , 5, , W, , October 19, 1972, , 3–1 , , align="left", @ New York Raiders ( 1972–73) , , 5–0–0 , - , 6, , L, , October 21, 1972, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 5–1–0 , - , 7, , L, , October 24, 1972, , 2–3 OT, , align="left",

New England Whalers New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...

( 1972–73) , , 5–2–0 , - , 8, , W, , October 25, 1972, , 8–2 , , align="left", @ Philadelphia Blazers ( 1972–73) , , 6–2–0 , - , 9, , W, , October 27, 1972, , 6–0 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 7–2–0 , - , 10, , T, , October 29, 1972, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 7–2–1 , - , - , 11, , L, , November 1, 1972, , 5–7 , , align="left", Philadelphia Blazers ( 1972–73) , , 7–3–1 , - , 12, , W, , November 4, 1972, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 8–3–1 , - , 13, , W, , November 11, 1972, , 4–1 , , align="left", @

Chicago Cougars The Chicago Cougars were a professional ice hockey team in Chicago. They competed in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1975. The Cougars played their home games in the International Amphitheatre. History During the 1974 Avco Cup Finals ...

( 1972–73) , , 9–3–1 , - , 14, , W, , November 12, 1972, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 10–3–1 , - , 15, , L, , November 14, 1972, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

Minnesota Fighting Saints The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972 to 1976 ...

( 1972–73) , , 10–4–1 , - , 16, , W, , November 16, 1972, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 11–4–1 , - , 17, , W, , November 17, 1972, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 12–4–1 , - , 18, , L, , November 19, 1972, , 2–4 , , align="left", @ Houston Aeros ( 1972–73) , , 12–5–1 , - , 19, , W, , November 21, 1972, , 5–2 , , align="left", @ Los Angeles Sharks ( 1972–73) , , 13–5–1 , - , 20, , W, , November 24, 1972, , 3–2 OT, , align="left", Los Angeles Sharks ( 1972–73) , , 14–5–1 , - , 21, , L, , November 25, 1972, , 1–3 , , align="left", Houston Aeros ( 1972–73) , , 14–6–1 , - , 22, , L, , November 27, 1972, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 14–7–1 , - , 23, , L, , November 28, 1972, , 1–3 , , align="left", Houston Aeros ( 1972–73) , , 14–8–1 , - , 24, , L, , November 30, 1972, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 14–9–1 , - , - , 25, , W, , December 2, 1972, , 8–2 , , align="left", Philadelphia Blazers ( 1972–73) , , 15–9–1 , - , 26, , L, , December 3, 1972, , 2–5 , , align="left", @ New York Raiders ( 1972–73) , , 15–10–1 , - , 27, , W, , December 5, 1972, , 4–3 OT, , align="left", @ Philadelphia Blazers ( 1972–73) , , 16–10–1 , - , 28, , W, , December 7, 1972, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 17–10–1 , - , 29, , L, , December 9, 1972, , 2–3 OT, , align="left",

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

( 1972–73) , , 17–11–1 , - , 30, , L, , December 10, 1972, , 3–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 17–12–1 , - , 31, , W, , December 15, 1972, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 18–12–1 , - , 32, , L, , December 17, 1972, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 18–13–1 , - , 33, , L, , December 19, 1972, , 1–6 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 18–14–1 , - , 34, , W, , December 21, 1972, , 6–2 , , align="left", New York Raiders ( 1972–73) , , 19–14–1 , - , 35, , W, , December 23, 1972, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 20–14–1 , - , 36, , W, , December 25, 1972, , 8–0 , , align="left", Philadelphia Blazers ( 1972–73) , , 21–14–1 , - , 37, , W, , December 29, 1972, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 22–14–1 , - , 38, , W, , December 30, 1972, , 4–3 OT, , align="left", Houston Aeros ( 1972–73) , , 23–14–1 , - , - , 39, , W, , January 11, 1973, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 24–14–1 , - , 40, , L, , January 12, 1973, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 24–15–1 , - , 41, , L, , January 14, 1973, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 24–16–1 , - , 42, , W, , January 16, 1973, , 4–3 , , align="left", @ Philadelphia Blazers ( 1972–73) , , 25–16–1 , - , 43, , W, , January 17, 1973, , 5–0 , , align="left", @ Houston Aeros ( 1972–73) , , 26–16–1 , - , 44, , W, , January 19, 1973, , 4–1 , , align="left", @ Los Angeles Sharks ( 1972–73) , , 27–16–1 , - , 45, , L, , January 21, 1973, , 2–3 , , align="left", @ Los Angeles Sharks ( 1972–73) , , 27–17–1 , - , 46, , W, , January 23, 1973, , 5–4 OT, , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 28–17–1 , - , 47, , L, , January 25, 1973, , 4–7 , , align="left", Philadelphia Blazers ( 1972–73) , , 28–18–1 , - , 48, , W, , January 27, 1973, , 2–1 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 29–18–1 , - , 49, , W, , January 29, 1973, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 30–18–1 , - , 50, , L, , January 31, 1973, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 30–19–1 , - , - , 51, , T, , February 1, 1973, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 30–19–2 , - , 52, , W, , February 2, 1973, , 5–3 , , align="left", Philadelphia Blazers ( 1972–73) , , 31–19–2 , - , 53, , W, , February 4, 1973, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 32–19–2 , - , 54, , W, , February 5, 1973, , 7–5 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 33–19–2 , - , 55, , W, , February 10, 1973, , 8–4 , , align="left", New York Raiders ( 1972–73) , , 34–19–2 , - , 56, , L, , February 11, 1973, , 1–6 , , align="left", @ Philadelphia Blazers ( 1972–73) , , 34–20–2 , - , 57, , W, , February 12, 1973, , 8–2 , , align="left", New York Raiders ( 1972–73) , , 35–20–2 , - , 58, , L, , February 14, 1973, , 5–6 , , align="left", @ Philadelphia Blazers ( 1972–73) , , 35–21–2 , - , 59, , L, , February 17, 1973, , 3–7 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 35–22–2 , - , 60, , W, , February 20, 1973, , 5–4 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 36–22–2 , - , 61, , L, , February 24, 1973, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 36–23–2 , - , 62, , L, , February 25, 1973, , 5–9 , , align="left", @ New York Raiders ( 1972–73) , , 36–24–2 , - , 63, , L, , February 27, 1973, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 36–25–2 , - , - , 64, , W, , March 3, 1973, , 4–3 , , align="left", @ New York Raiders ( 1972–73) , , 37–25–2 , - , 65, , L, , March 7, 1973, , 0–1 OT, , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 37–26–2 , - , 66, , L, , March 9, 1973, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 37–27–2 , - , 67, , W, , March 11, 1973, , 11–2 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 38–27–2 , - , 68, , L, , March 13, 1973, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 38–28–2 , - , 69, , L, , March 14, 1973, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 38–29–2 , - , 70, , L, , March 17, 1973, , 0–2 , , align="left", Los Angeles Sharks ( 1972–73) , , 38–30–2 , - , 71, , T, , March 19, 1973, , 5–5 , , align="left", Los Angeles Sharks ( 1972–73) , , 38–30–3 , - , 72, , L, , March 20, 1973, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1972–73) , , 38–31–3 , - , 73, , L, , March 24, 1973, , 1–2 OT, , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 38–32–3 , - , 74, , W, , March 25, 1973, , 4–2 , , align="left", @ Houston Aeros ( 1972–73) , , 39–32–3 , - , 75, , W, , March 26, 1973, , 7–5 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 40–32–3 , - , 76, , W, , March 30, 1973, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 41–32–3 , - , 77, , W, , March 31, 1973, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 42–32–3 , - , - , 78, , W, , April 1, 1973, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1972–73) , , 43–32–3 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

, - , 1 , , April 4 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 2–3 OT , ,

, , 1–0 , - , 2 , , April 7 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 7–1 , ,

, , 2–0 , - , 3 , , April 8 , ,

, , 3–1 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 3–0 , - , 4 , , April 11 , ,

, , 6–2 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 4–0 , - , - , 1 , , April 18 , ,

, , 2 – 3 , ,

, , 0–1 , - , 2 , , April 19 , , Cleveland Crusaders , , 2 – 3 , , New England Whalers , , 0–2 , - , 3 , , April 21 , , New England Whalers , , 5 – 4 , , Cleveland Crusaders , , 0–3 , - , 4 , , April 22 , , New England Whalers , , 2 – 5 , , Cleveland Crusaders , , 1–3 , - , 5 , , April 26 , , Cleveland Crusaders , , 1 – 3 , , New England Whalers , , 1–4 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

References

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