The 1972–73 Ottawa Nationals season was the Nationals' only season, as they were one of the original teams in the newly created WHA. The Nationals played most of the season in Ottawa, but transferred their playoff games to

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

. Due to low attendance in Ottawa, an arena lease dispute, and much better attendance in their two playoff games in Toronto, where they averaged over 5000 fans per game, the Nationals relocated to Toronto permanently beginning in the next season. The club was renamed the

Toronto Toros The Toronto Toros were an ice hockey team based in Toronto that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973 to 1976. History The franchise was awarded to Doug Michel in 1971 for $25,000 to play in the WHA's inaugural 1972–73 WHA season, 19 ...

Offseason

The Nationals were originally owned by Doug Michel, with rumours he would place the team in either

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...

, however, and he placed the club in Ottawa. After the team was placed to play in Ottawa, Nick Trbovich became the majority owner, with Michel running hockey operations. The club was placed in the six team Eastern Division, with the top four clubs earning a playoff berth. The Nationals hired former Toronto Maple Leaf Billy Harris to coach the team. Ottawa's most significant signing was Wayne Carleton, who had previously played with the Maple Leafs,

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

and

California Golden Seals The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967–68 NHL season, 1967 to 1975–76 NHL season, 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oa ...

in the

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

Regular season

The first game in WHA history was a match between the Nationals and the

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 ...

at the Civic Centre, which Alberta won 7–4, on October 11, 1972. Ottawa recorded their first victory in their fourth game, a 6-2 decision over the

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 ...

. The Nationals reached a season high two games over .500 with a 12-10-1 record, before falling into a long slump in which the club won only seven games in their next 31, and dropped into last place in the Eastern Division. Ottawa would play very good hockey down the stretch, winning two-thirds of its remaining games, and finished the season at 35-39-4, earning 74 points and the fourth and final playoff position. Attendance was an issue for the club, as they drew an average of just over 3000 fans per game, competing against the very popular

Ottawa 67's The Ottawa 67's are a major junior ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, that plays in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Established during Canada's centennial year of 1967 and named in honour of this, the 67's currently play thei ...

OHA team. Offensively, Ottawa was led by Carleton, who scored a team high 42 goals and 49 assists for 91 points, which ranked him tenth in league scoring. Twenty-year-old Gavin Kirk earned 68 points in 78 games, while Bob Charlebois earned 64 points. Brian Gibbons had 42 points to lead the team's defencemen, while Rick Cunningham had a team high 121 penalty minutes. In goal,

Gilles Gratton Gilles Gratton (born July 28, 1952) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Playing career As a youth, Gratton played in the 1965 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from LaSalle, Quebec. ...

had the majority of playing time, winning 25 games and posting a 3.71 GAA. Veteran

Les Binkley Leslie John Binkley (born June 6, 1934) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Pittsburgh Penguins and in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Ottawa Nationals and Toro ...

backed him up, earning 10 wins and a GAA of 3.72.

Season standings

Schedule and results

, - , 1 , , October 11 , ,

, , 7–4 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 0–1–0 , , 0 , - , 2 , , October 14 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 6–8 , , New York Raiders , , 0–2–0 , , 0 , - , 3 , , October 15 , ,

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 ...

, , 7–5 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 0–3–0 , , 0 , - , 4 , , October 19 , ,

, , 2–6 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 1–3–0 , , 2 , - , 5 , , October 21 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 5–3 , ,

, , 2–3–0 , , 4 , - , 6 , , October 22 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 3–2 , ,

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 ...

, , 3–3–0 , , 6 , - , 7 , , October 25 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 8–5 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 4–3–0 , , 8 , - , 8 , , October 26 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 3–7 , , Houston Aeros , , 4–4–0 , , 8 , - , 9 , , October 28 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 5–3 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 5–4–0 , , 10 , - , - , 10 , , November 2 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 1–1 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 5–4–1 , , 11 , - , 11 , , November 5 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 5–3 , ,

, , 6–4–1 , , 13 , - , 12 , , November 9 , ,

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 ...

, , 4–1 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 6–5–1 , , 13 , - , 13 , , November 12 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 1–2 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 7–5–1 , , 15 , - , 14 , , November 16 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 3–6 , ,

, , 7–6–1 , , 15 , - , 15 , , November 18 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 2–3 , ,

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 ...

, , 7–7–1 , , 15 , - , 16 , , November 20 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 5–7 , ,

, , 7–8–1 , , 15 , - , 17 , , November 21 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 8–8–1 , , 17 , - , 18 , , November 23 , ,

, , 8–1 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 8–9–1 , , 17 , - , 19 , , November 26 , ,

, , 2–1 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 8–10–1 , , 17 , - , 20 , , November 28 , ,

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 ...

, , 2–3 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 9–10–1 , , 19 , - , 21 , , November 30 , ,

, , 2–3 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 10–10–1 , , 21 , - , - , 22 , , December 1 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 4–3 , ,

, , 11–10–1 , , 23 , - , 23 , , December 3 , , Houston Aeros , , 4–5 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 12–10–1 , , 25 , - , 24 , , December 4 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 2–7 , ,

, , 12–11–1 , , 25 , - , 25 , , December 7 , ,

, , 4–2 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 12–12–1 , , 25 , - , 26 , , December 9 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 1–7 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 12–13–1 , , 25 , - , 27 , , December 10 , ,

, , 6–7 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 13–13–1 , , 27 , - , 28 , , December 14 , , New York Raiders , , 4–3 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 13–14–1 , , 27 , - , 29 , , December 15 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 4–3 , ,

, , 14–14–1 , , 29 , - , 30 , , December 17 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 1–3 , ,

, , 14–15–1 , , 29 , - , 31 , , December 19 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 3–7 , ,

, , 14–16–1 , , 29 , - , 32 , , December 21 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 4–4 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 14–16–2 , , 30 , - , 33 , , December 22 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 5–7 , , New York Raiders , , 14–17–2 , , 30 , - , 34 , , December 24 , ,

, , 2–6 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 15–17–2 , , 32 , - , 35 , , December 26 , , Houston Aeros , , 3–3 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 15–17–3 , , 33 , - , 36 , , December 30 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 4–2 , ,

, , 16–17–3 , , 35 , - , 37 , , December 31 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 4–8 , ,

, , 16–18–3 , , 35 , - , - , 38 , , January 4 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 4–9 , , New York Raiders , , 16–19–3 , , 35 , - , 39 , , January 9 , ,

, , 5–7 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 17–19–3 , , 37 , - , 40 , , January 11 , , New York Raiders , , 1–4 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 18–19–3 , , 39 , - , 41 , , January 12 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 3–4 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 18–20–3 , , 39 , - , 42 , , January 14 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 2–3 , ,

, , 18–21–3 , , 39 , - , 43 , , January 16 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 4–5 , ,

, , 18–22–3 , , 39 , - , 44 , , January 18 , ,

, , 3–6 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 19–22–3 , , 41 , - , 45 , , January 19 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 2–4 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 19–23–3 , , 41 , - , 46 , , January 21 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 2–5 , , Houston Aeros , , 19–24–3 , , 41 , - , 47 , , January 23 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 3–11 , , Houston Aeros , , 19–25–3 , , 41 , - , 48 , , January 25 , ,

, , 4–2 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 19–26–3 , , 41 , - , 49 , , January 26 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 2–4 , ,

, , 19–27–3 , , 41 , - , 50 , , January 28 , ,

, , 5–4 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 19–28–3 , , 41 , - , 51 , , January 30 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 5–4 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 19–29–3 , , 41 , - , - , 52 , , February 1 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 2–2 , ,

, , 19–29–4 , , 42 , - , 53 , , February 2 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 1–4 , ,

, , 19–30–4 , , 42 , - , 54 , , February 4 , ,

, , 3–2 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 19–31–4 , , 42 , - , 55 , , February 6 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 3–5 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 20–31–4 , , 44 , - , 56 , , February 8 , , New York Raiders , , 3–2 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 20–32–4 , , 44 , - , 57 , , February 9 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 7–4 , ,

, , 21–32–4 , , 46 , - , 58 , , February 11 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 2–3 , , New York Raiders , , 21–33–4 , , 46 , - , 59 , , February 14 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 6–3 , ,

, , 22–33–4 , , 48 , - , 60 , , February 15 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 0–3 , ,

, , 22–34–4 , , 48 , - , 61 , , February 17 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 3–1 , ,

, , 23–34–4 , , 50 , - , 62 , , February 20 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 4–2 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 23–35–4 , , 50 , - , 63 , , February 22 , , Philadelphia Blazers , , 6–5 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 23–36-4 , , 50 , - , 64 , , February 25 , ,

, , 2–3 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 24–36–4 , , 52 , - , 65 , , February 27 , ,

, , 1–2 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 25–36–4 , , 54 , - , - , 66 , , March 1 , , New York Raiders , , 1–2 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 26–36–4 , , 56 , - , 67 , , March 4 , ,

, , 4–6 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 27–36–4 , , 58 , - , 68 , , March 6 , ,

, , 2–5 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 28–36–4 , , 60 , - , 69 , , March 11 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 2–4 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 28–37–4 , , 60 , - , 70 , , March 13 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 3–1 , , Los Angeles Sharks , , 29–37–4 , , 62 , - , 71 , , March 16 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 6–1 , ,

, , 30–37–4 , , 64 , - , 72 , , March 18 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 4–2 , ,

, , 31–37–4 , , 66 , - , 73 , , March 22 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 32–37–4 , , 68 , - , 74 , , March 25 , ,

, , 1–6 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 33–37–4 , , 70 , - , 75 , , March 27 , ,

, , 2–6 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 34–37–4 , , 72 , - , 76 , , March 29 , ,

, , 2–5 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 35–37–4 , , 74 , - , 77 , , March 31 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 2–4 , ,

, , 35–38–4 , , 74 , - , - , 78 , , April 1 , , Houston Aeros , , 6–3 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 35–39–4 , , 74 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

The Nationals would open the playoffs with a best of seven series against the

, who had a league high 94 points. The series opened up with two games in New England, and the Whalers took advantage of their home ice, defeating Ottawa 6-3 and 4–3 to take a two-game series lead. The series moved to

Maple Leaf Gardens Maple Leaf Gardens is a historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church and Wellesley, Church Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The building was originally constructed in 1931 as an indoor arena to host ice hoc ...

in Toronto, as the Nationals ownership decided to move their playoff games from Ottawa due to attendance problems. The Nationals use their "home ice" advantage in the third game, defeating the Whalers 4–2 to get back into the series, however, New England easily defeated Ottawa in the fourth game 7–3 to take a 3–1 series lead. The Whalers would close out the series in the fifth game back in New England, as they beat Ottawa 5–4 in overtime to eliminate the Nationals. , - , 1 , , April 7 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 3–6 , ,

, , 0–1 , - , 2 , , April 8 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 3–4 , ,

, , 0–2 , - , 3 , , April 10 , ,

, , 2–4 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 1-2 , - , 4 , , April 12 , ,

, , 7–3 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 1–3 , - , 5 , , April 14 , , Ottawa Nationals , , 4–5 , ,

, , 1-4 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring leaders ;Goaltending

Playoffs

;Scoring leaders ;Goaltending

References

SHRP SportsThe Internet Hockey Database
2009-10-21) {{DEFAULTSORT:Ottawa 1972–73 in Canadian ice hockey by team 1972–73 WHA season by team

Offseason

Regular season

Season standings

Schedule and results

Playoffs

Player statistics

Regular season

Playoffs

See also

References