1972–73 Alberta Oilers season


The 1972–73 Alberta Oilers season was the Oilers' first season, as one of twelve inaugural franchises of the now-defunct World Hockey Association.

Regular season

The Oilers victory over the Ottawa Nationals on October 11, 1972, was the first game in league history, with Ron Anderson scoring the first goal.
Jim Harrison led the team in scoring, with 39 goals and 86 points. On January 30, 1973, in an 11–3 defeat of the New York Raiders, Harrison set a major professional hockey record with 10 points in a single game. That feat was later matched by Darryl Sittler on February 7, 1976, in a National Hockey League game.
The Oilers posted a winning record in the regular season, with 38 wins, 37 losses and 3 ties. The Minnesota Fighting Saints finished with an identical record, so a single game playoff was contested to decide fourth place in the Western Division. The Fighting Saints defeated the Oilers 4–2 on a neutral site rink, ending the Oilers season.

Season standings

Schedule and results

Playoffs

The Oilers and the Minnesota Fighting Saints were tied at the end of the season. They had the same number of victories and points, and they had both won four games against each other. Subsequently, it was decided that the two teams would play a one-game playoff to decide the final spot in the playoffs, to be played in Calgary. The Oilers lost the game, and the Fighting Saints went on to play in the Quarterfinals.

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties In Minutes
†Denotes player traded to the Oilers mid-season.

‡Denotes player traded away mid-season.

Statistics for all players reflect only games played with the Oilers.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice ; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

Awards and records

Four Oilers were selected to play in the mid-season All-Star Game on January 6:

Transactions

Draft picks

The WHA General Player Draft was held on February 12–13, 1972 to stock each new WHA team with their initial rosters. The Oilers selected four NHL players with their "priority" selections:
Ullman and MacGregor would eventually play for the Oilers, but not for the 1972–73 season. Both were Edmonton-born players who finished their playing careers with the Oilers after long NHL careers.
The Oilers selected an additional 96 players in subsequent rounds of the draft. Of those, 22 players would play for the Oilers, 16 in the 1972–73 season.
PlayerPosTeamLeagueJoined Oilers
RWBuffalo SabresNHL1972–73
LWBoston BruinsNHL1978–79
DCalifornia Golden SealsNHL1972–73
DLos Angeles KingsNHL1972–73
RWDayton GemsIHL1972–73
LWLos Angeles KingsNHL1972–73
DCleveland BaronsAHL1972–73
DDetroit Red WingsNHL1972–73
CFort Worth WingsCHL1972–73
LWPittsburgh PenguinsNHL1972–73
LWCalifornia Golden SealsNHL1977–78
DBuffalo SabresNHL1972–73
CPhiladelphia FlyersNHL1972–73
DNova Scotia VoyageursAHL1975–76
DPortland BuckaroosWHL1974–75
LWIlves TampereSM-sarja1973–74
LWUniversity of British ColumbiaCWUAA1972–73
RWFort Wayne KometsIHL1972–73
CFort Worth WingsCHL1972–73
LWNew York RangersNHL1976–77
DDetroit Red WingsNHL1972–73
CTidewater WingsAHL1972–73

Trades

Free Agents