The 1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season was the fourth season of the

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 ...

(WHA) franchise and first in

Calgary, Alberta Calgary () is a major city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a Metropolitan area, metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the List of ...

. The

Vancouver Blazers The Vancouver Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973 to 1975. The Blazers played at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, sharing the facility with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hocke ...

relocated to Calgary prior to the season. The Cowboys qualified for the playoffs, losing in the second round to the

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 ...

Offseason

Regular season

In their first season, the Cowboys were not expected to ice a strong team, having inherited a franchise that finished in a last place tie with the Oilers the previous year. Calgary finished 41–35–4 however, as a 44-goal season by Danny Lawson and 42 goals from

Ron Chipperfield Ronald James Chipperfield (born March 28, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who served as the Edmonton Oilers' first National Hockey League (NHL) captain. He played for the Oilers in both the World Hockey Association (WHA) ...

helped the Cowboys finish a surprising third in the Canadian division.

Final standings

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 12, 1975, , 0–2 , , 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 ...

( 1975–76) , , 0–1–0 , - , 2, , W, , October 14, 1975, , 5–3 , , align="left",

Indianapolis Racers The Indianapolis Racers were a major league ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1974 to 1978. They competed in four full seasons before folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square ...

( 1975–76) , , 1–1–0 , - , 3, , L, , October 17, 1975, , 2–6 , , align="left",

Cincinnati Stingers The Cincinnati Stingers were an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979 and in the Central Hockey League during the 1979–80 season. Their home arena was Riverfront Coliseum. They are th ...

( 1975–76) , , 1–2–0 , - , 4, , L, , October 22, 1975, , 1–2 , , align="left", Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics ( 1975–76) , , 1–3–0 , - , 5, , L, , October 24, 1975, , 3–4 , , align="left", Phoenix Roadrunners ( 1975–76) , , 1–4–0 , - , 6, , L, , October 26, 1975, , 1–3 , , 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 ...

( 1975–76) , , 1–5–0 , - , 7, , W, , October 29, 1975, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

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 ...

( 1975–76) , , 2–5–0 , - , 8, , W, , October 30, 1975, , 7–5 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 3–5–0 , - , - , 9, , L, , November 1, 1975, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 3–6–0 , - , 10, , W, , November 2, 1975, , 4–3 OT, , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 4–6–0 , - , 11, , T, , November 4, 1975, , 4–4 , , align="left",

San Diego Mariners The San Diego Mariners were a professional ice hockey team based in San Diego, California, that competed in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The team played its home games at the San Diego Sports Arena. Previous to being in San Diego, the tea ...

( 1975–76) , , 4–6–1 , - , 12, , W, , November 5, 1975, , 4–2 , , 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 ...

( 1975–76) , , 5–6–1 , - , 13, , W, , November 7, 1975, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 6–6–1 , - , 14, , W, , November 11, 1975, , 6–3 , , align="left",

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1975–76) , , 7–6–1 , - , 15, , L, , November 13, 1975, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 7–7–1 , - , 16, , W, , November 16, 1975, , 5–3 , , align="left", Houston Aeros ( 1975–76) , , 8–7–1 , - , 17, , L, , November 18, 1975, , 2–6 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 8–8–1 , - , 18, , W, , November 21, 1975, , 6–2 , , align="left", @ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics ( 1975–76) , , 9–8–1 , - , 19, , W, , November 22, 1975, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 10–8–1 , - , 20, , W, , November 27, 1975, , 5–1 , , align="left", @ Phoenix Roadrunners ( 1975–76) , , 11–8–1 , - , 21, , W, , November 29, 1975, , 5–4 OT, , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 12–8–1 , - , 22, , L, , November 30, 1975, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 12–9–1 , - , - , 23, , L, , December 3, 1975, , 3–4 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 1975–76) , , 12–10–1 , - , 24, , W, , December 5, 1975, , 8–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 13–10–1 , - , 25, , W, , December 7, 1975, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 14–10–1 , - , 26, , W, , December 9, 1975, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 15–10–1 , - , 27, , L, , December 11, 1975, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 15–11–1 , - , 28, , L, , December 12, 1975, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 15–12–1 , - , 29, , T, , December 14, 1975, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 15–12–2 , - , 30, , L, , December 16, 1975, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 15–13–2 , - , 31, , W, , December 19, 1975, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 16–13–2 , - , 32, , L, , December 20, 1975, , 7–8 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 16–14–2 , - , 33, , W, , December 23, 1975, , 10–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 17–14–2 , - , 34, , W, , December 26, 1975, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 18–14–2 , - , 35, , W, , December 28, 1975, , 6–4 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 19–14–2 , - , - , 36, , W, , January 1, 1976, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 20–14–2 , - , 37, , W, , January 2, 1976, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 21–14–2 , - , 38, , L, , January 3, 1976, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 21–15–2 , - , 39, , W, , January 6, 1976, , 5–0 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 22–15–2 , - , 40, , W, , January 7, 1976, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 23–15–2 , - , 41, , L, , January 15, 1976, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 23–16–2 , - , 42, , W, , January 17, 1976, , 4–2 , , align="left", Houston Aeros ( 1975–76) , , 24–16–2 , - , 43, , W, , January 20, 1976, , 10–3 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 25–16–2 , - , 44, , L, , January 21, 1976, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 25–17–2 , - , 45, , L, , January 23, 1976, , 0–2 , , align="left", @ Houston Aeros ( 1975–76) , , 25–18–2 , - , 46, , L, , January 25, 1976, , 3–5 , , align="left", @ Houston Aeros ( 1975–76) , , 25–19–2 , - , 47, , L, , January 28, 1976, , 0–5 , , align="left", @ Phoenix Roadrunners ( 1975–76) , , 25–20–2 , - , 48, , L, , January 29, 1976, , 0–1 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 25–21–2 , - , - , 49, , W, , February 3, 1976, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 26–21–2 , - , 50, , L, , February 5, 1976, , 4–6 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 26–22–2 , - , 51, , T, , February 7, 1976, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 26–22–3 , - , 52, , L, , February 8, 1976, , 4–8 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 26–23–3 , - , 53, , W, , February 10, 1976, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 27–23–3 , - , 54, , W, , February 13, 1976, , 4–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 28–23–3 , - , 55, , L, , February 15, 1976, , 4–5 OT, , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 28–24–3 , - , 56, , L, , February 18, 1976, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 28–25–3 , - , 57, , L, , February 20, 1976, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 28–26–3 , - , 58, , W, , February 22, 1976, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 29–26–3 , - , 59, , T, , February 24, 1976, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 29–26–4 , - , 60, , W, , February 25, 1976, , 5–2 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 30–26–4 , - , 61, , W, , February 27, 1976, , 5–4 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 31–26–4 , - , 62, , L, , February 29, 1976, , 2–5 , , align="left", Phoenix Roadrunners ( 1975–76) , , 31–27–4 , - , - , 63, , W, , March 2, 1976, , 6–3 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 32–27–4 , - , 64, , L, , March 3, 1976, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 32–28–4 , - , 65, , W, , March 4, 1976, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 33–28–4 , - , 66, , L, , March 6, 1976, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 33–29–4 , - , 67, , L, , March 7, 1976, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 33–30–4 , - , 68, , W, , March 9, 1976, , 7–4 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 34–30–4 , - , 69, , W, , March 11, 1976, , 2–0 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 35–30–4 , - , 70, , W, , March 16, 1976, , 4–3 OT, , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 36–30–4 , - , 71, , L, , March 17, 1976, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 36–31–4 , - , 72, , W, , March 20, 1976, , 8–7 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 37–31–4 , - , 73, , L, , March 23, 1976, , 5–6 OT, , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 37–32–4 , - , 74, , W, , March 24, 1976, , 7–6 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 38–32–4 , - , 75, , L, , March 26, 1976, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 38–33–4 , - , 76, , L, , March 27, 1976, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 38–34–4 , - , 77, , W, , March 28, 1976, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1975–76) , , 39–34–4 , - , 78, , W, , March 30, 1976, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 40–34–4 , - , - , 79, , W, , April 2, 1976, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 41–34–4 , - , 80, , L, , April 6, 1976, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1975–76) , , 41–35–4 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Playoffs

In the playoffs, the Cowboys met the

in the first round. The series is best known for one of hockey's most legendary brawls. The incident began when Calgary's Rick Jodzio cross-checked Quebec's

Marc Tardif Joseph Gérard Marquis Tardif (born June 12, 1949) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey forward (ice hockey), left winger who played in both the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA), principally ...

in the head, causing both teams to leave their benches. The brawl lasted 20 minutes, and ended only when Quebec police gathered at the players benches and escorted the teams back to their dressing rooms. The game resumed following a 20-minute break to allow both teams to cool down, then resumed without eleven players who were ejected from the game. The incident caught the attention of Quebec's Solicitor General

Fernand Lalonde Fernand Lalonde (August 27, 1932 – May 5, 2024) was a Canadian lawyer and politician. Lalonde represented the riding of Marguerite-Bourgeoys in the National Assembly of Quebec from 1973 to 1984. Biography Born in Mont-Laurier, Quebec, Lalon ...

, who had the incident investigated as a criminal matter. Jodzio was suspended indefinitely by the league, and later pleaded guilty in a Quebec court to a charge of assault over the incident. Cowboys coach

Joe Crozier Joseph Richard Crozier (February 19, 1929 – October 11, 2022) was a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and head coach who played and coached primarily in the minor leagues. After playing the better part of 12 seasons in the minor leag ...

was suspended for the rest of the series. Calgary went on to defeat the Nordiques, who had finished 18-points ahead of Calgary in the regular season, but were defeated by the

in the second round. The team never really captured the attention of Calgarians, as fewer than 5,000 fans, on average, attended playoff games against the Jets. , - , 1 , , April 10 , ,

Calgary Cowboys The Calgary Cowboys were an ice hockey team that played two seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1975 to 1977. The Cowboys played at the Stampede Corral in Calgary. The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles ...

, , 3–1 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 1–0 , - , 2 , , April 11 , ,

, , 8–4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–1 , - , 3 , , April 14 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 2–3 , ,

, , 3–1 , - , 4 , , April 16 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–3 , ,

, , 3–1 , - , 5 , , April 18 , ,

, , 6–4 , , Quebec Nordiques , , 4–1 , - , - , 1 , , April 23 , ,

, , 1–6 , ,

, , 0–1 , - , 2 , , April 25 , ,

, , 2–3 , ,

, , 0–2 , - , 3 , , April 28 , ,

, , 6–3 , ,

, , 0–3 , - , 4 , , April 30 , ,

, , 3–7 , ,

, , 1–3 , - , 5 , , May 2 , ,

, , 0–4 , ,

, , 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

Calgary's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:1975-76 Calgary Cowboys season

Cal Cal or CAL may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Cal'' (novel), a 1983 novel by Bernard MacLaverty * "Cal" (short story), a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov * ''Cal'' (1984 film), an Irish drama starring John Lynch and Helen Mir ...

Calgary Cowboys