1973–74 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1973–74 Edmonton Oilers season was the second season of operation of the Edmonton Oilers in the World Hockey Association. The Oilers' qualified for the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Minnesota Fighting Saints.

1973–74 Edmonton Oilers
Division3rd Western
1973–74 record38–37–3
Home record24–14–1
Road record14–23–2
Goals for268
Goals against269
Team information
General managerBill Hunter
CoachBrian Shaw
CaptainAl Hamilton
Alternate captainsDoug Barrie
Val Fonteyne
Jim Harrison
ArenaEdmonton Gardens
Minor league affiliateWinston-Salem Polar Twins (SHL)
Team leaders
GoalsRon Climie (38)
AssistsJim Harrison (45)
Al Hamilton (45)
PointsRon Climie (74)
Penalty minutesDoug Barrie (214)
WinsJack Norris (23)
Goals against averageJack Norris (3.21)

Regular season

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Final standings

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Western Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
Houston Aeros78482553182191038101
Minnesota Fighting Saints7844322332275124390
Edmonton Oilers7838373268269127379
Winnipeg Jets783439526429667373
Vancouver Blazers7827501278345104755
Los Angeles Sharks7825530239339108650

Schedule and results

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1973–74 regular season[1]
October: 6–1–0 (home: 5–1–0; road: 1–0–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
1October 12Winnipeg Jets4 – 6Edmonton OilersNorris4,8091–0–02
2October 14Houston Aeros2 – 5Edmonton OilersNorris5,2002–0–04
3October 19Vancouver Blazers3 – 1Edmonton OilersNorris3,2772–1–04
4October 21Chicago Cougars1 – 4Edmonton OilersNorris4,1283–1–06
5October 23Toronto Toros2 – 4Edmonton OilersWorthy3,3744–1–08
6October 27Edmonton Oilers6 – 2Vancouver BlazersWorthy8,1025–1–010
7October 28Vancouver Blazers5 – 7Edmonton OilersNorris3,6506–1–012
November: 9–5–0 (home: 5–1–0; road: 4–4–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
8November 2Quebec Nordiques4 – 5Edmonton OilersWorthy5,2007–1–014
9November 4Minnesota Fighting Saints3 – 4Edmonton OilersNorris4,5918–1–016
10November 6New York Golden Blades0 – 8Edmonton OilersNorris3,4419–1–018
11November 8Edmonton Oilers4 – 3Quebec NordiquesWorthy7,02110–1–020
12November 10Edmonton Oilers6 – 3New England WhalersNorris4,13511–1–022
13November 11Edmonton Oilers4 – 2Toronto TorosWorthy4,29612–1–024
14November 13Los Angeles Sharks0 – 4Edmonton OilersNorris4,39413–1–026
15November 16Edmonton Oilers1 – 3Winnipeg JetsNorris7,95213–2–026
16November 18Minnesota Fighting Saints5 – 2Edmonton Oilers4,78013–3–026
17November 20Cleveland Crusaders3 – 5Edmonton OilersNorris3,96014–3–028
18November 22Edmonton Oilers1 – 7Vancouver BlazersWorthy8,57314–4–028
19November 23Edmonton Oilers0 – 2Los Angeles SharksNorris6,87614–5–028
20November 25Edmonton Oilers1 – 2Houston AerosNorris6,91614–6–028
21November 29Edmonton Oilers3 – 2New Jersey KnightsNorris1,00415–6–030
December: 5–9–0 (home: 3–3–0; road: 2–6–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
22December 1Edmonton Oilers2 – 4Cleveland CrusadersWorthy7,35715–7–030
23December 2Edmonton Oilers0 – 3Cleveland CrusadersNorris3,62315–8–030
24December 4Edmonton Oilers2 – 0Chicago CougarsWorthy3,09716–8–032
25December 5Edmonton Oilers1 – 3Winnipeg JetsNorris5,25716–9–032
26December 6Toronto Toros3 – 4Edmonton OilersWorthy3,41717–9–034
27December 12Los Angeles Sharks7 – 2Edmonton Oilers3,32217–10–034
28December 14Quebec Nordiques4 – 3Edmonton OilersWorthy4,04817–11–034
29December 16Edmonton Oilers7 – 6New Jersey KnightsWorthy81418–11–036
30December 18Edmonton Oilers2 – 4Quebec NordiquesWorthy6,34418–12–036
31December 19Edmonton Oilers2 – 4New England WhalersNorris5,43318–13–036
32December 21Vancouver Blazers1 – 4Edmonton OilersNorris3,24419–13–038
33December 22Edmonton Oilers3 – 6Vancouver Blazers8,61119–14–038
34December 27Minnesota Fighting Saints5 – 4Edmonton OilersNorris5,20019–15–038
35December 29New England Whalers2 – 6Edmonton OilersWorthy4,82820–15–040
January: 5–8–0 (home: 3–4–0; road: 2–4–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
36January 1Winnipeg Jets4 – 3Edmonton OilersOTNorris5,20020–16–040
37January 4Edmonton Oilers3 – 4Los Angeles Sharks4,08720–17–040
38January 6Edmonton Oilers6 – 4Minnesota Fighting SaintsNorris4,43021–17–042
39January 8Edmonton Oilers2 – 6Houston Aeros6,84721–18–042
40January 9Edmonton Oilers6 – 4Minnesota Fighting SaintsNorris3,92422–18–044
41January 11Edmonton Oilers4 – 7Winnipeg JetsWorthy6,56622–19–044
42January 13Edmonton Oilers2 – 6Vancouver BlazersNorris9,30922–20–044
43January 15Minnesota Fighting Saints1 – 4Edmonton OilersNorris3,94923–20–046
44January 18New Jersey Knights4 – 7Edmonton OilersDoyle3,75724–20–048
45January 20Cleveland Crusaders2 – 5Edmonton OilersNorris4,60925–20–050
46January 22New Jersey Knights6 – 2Edmonton OilersWorthy3,33025–21–050
47January 25Winnipeg Jets4 – 3Edmonton OilersNorris5,20025–22–050
48January 27Houston Aeros4 – 1Edmonton OilersNorris5,20025–23–050
February: 5–7–0 (home: 4–3–0; road: 1–4–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
49February 1Chicago Cougars2 – 3Edmonton OilersNorris3,75626–23–052
50February 3Los Angeles Sharks2 – 5Edmonton OilersNorris4,07127–23–054
51February 5Edmonton Oilers0 – 8Vancouver BlazersNorris9,63727–24–054
52February 8Houston Aeros6 – 2Edmonton OilersNorris5,20027–25–054
53February 10Quebec Nordiques4 – 3Edmonton OilersWorthy4,86627–26–054
54February 12Edmonton Oilers2 – 3Chicago CougarsWorthy4,12927–27–054
55February 13Edmonton Oilers4 – 7Minnesota Fighting SaintsNorris4,63727–28–054
56February 15New England Whalers7 – 3Edmonton Oilers4,05627–29–054
57February 17Toronto Toros2 – 3Edmonton OilersOTNorris4,21528–29–056
58February 20Winnipeg Jets1 – 4Edmonton OilersNorris5,20029–29–058
59February 23Edmonton Oilers2 – 5Houston AerosWorthy9,18829–30–058
60February 24Edmonton Oilers5 – 3Los Angeles SharksNorris4,51230–30–060
March: 7–6–3 (home: 4–2–1; road: 3–4–2)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
61March 1Houston Aeros2 – 5Edmonton OilersNorris5,20031–30–062
62March 3Cleveland Crusaders3 – 3Edmonton OilersOTNorris4,50331–30–163
63March 6Edmonton Oilers4 – 2Houston AerosNorris5,73932–30–165
64March 8Edmonton Oilers1 – 4Los Angeles SharksNorris6,29632–31–165
65March 10Vancouver Blazers2 – 1Edmonton OilersOTNorris4,46932–32–165
66March 12Los Angeles Sharks1 – 8Edmonton OilersWorthy3,53033–32–167
67March 15New England Whalers6 – 2Edmonton OilersNorris5,04633–33–167
68March 17Vancouver Blazers2 – 3Edmonton OilersWorthy4,54634–33–169
69March 20Edmonton Oilers2 – 2New England WhalersOTWilkie5,35534–33–270
70March 21Edmonton Oilers5 – 5Quebec NordiquesOTWorthy6,21134–33–371
71March 23Edmonton Oilers1 – 3Cleveland CrusadersNorris7,78434–34–371
72March 25Edmonton Oilers4 – 1New Jersey KnightsWilkie1,93635–34–373
73March 26Edmonton Oilers2 – 4Chicago CougarsNorris5,16835–35–373
74March 28Edmonton Oilers5 – 6Toronto TorosOTNorris5,55535–36–373
75March 29Edmonton Oilers3 – 1Minnesota Fighting SaintsWilkie11,45936–36–375
76March 31Chicago Cougars1 – 4Edmonton OilersNorris5,20037–36–377
April: 1–1–0 (home: 0–0–0; road: 1–1–0)
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPtsRecap
77April 2Edmonton Oilers2 – 3Toronto TorosWilkie4,02537–37–377
78April 3Edmonton Oilers6 – 5Winnipeg JetsOTWilkie5,33938–37–379

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

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1974 Avco Cup playoffs[1]
Western Division Semifinals vs. (W2) Minnesota Fighting Saints – Fighting Saints win 4–1
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 6Edmonton Oilers1 – 2Minnesota Fighting SaintsNorris13,0040–1
2April 7Edmonton Oilers5 – 8Minnesota Fighting SaintsNorris11,7560–2
3April 10Minnesota Fighting Saints6 – 2Edmonton OilersWilkie4,6060–3
4April 12Minnesota Fighting Saints1 – 2Edmonton OilersWorthy5,2001–3
5April 14Edmonton Oilers4 – 5Minnesota Fighting SaintsWorthy10,7641–4

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

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Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
Ron ClimieLW76383674220907
Jim HarrisonC47244569990327
Al HamiltonD781445591040602
Ross PerkinsC78164056430003
Len LundeC7226224880724
Blair MacDonaldRW78212445340503
Rusty PatenaudeRW71202343550202
Tom GilmoreLW571923421640202
Brian McKenzieLW78182038660001
Bob WallD7463137460210
Ken BairdD681719361150201
Doug BarrieD69427312140002
Bob McAneeleyLW52121123490000
Val FonteyneLW729132220040
Eddie JoyalC458101820001
Bob FalkenbergD7831417320000
Steve CarlyleD5021315180001
Ron AndersonRW1952760001
Jim McCrimmonD752351060001
Bobby SheehanC1013460100
Bob FitchnerC31123210000
Roger CoteD59033340000
Jack NorrisG5303300000
Jim SchraefelC3411200000
Brian CarlinLW510100000
Howie ColborneLW200000000
Gary CunninghamD200000000
Gary DoyleG100000000
Ian WilkieG500000000
Chris WorthyG29000130000
Wayne ZukC200000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Jack Norris295453232411583.212
Chris Worthy14522911121923.801
Ian Wilkie256531192.110
Gary Doyle60110044.000
Team:472278383732633.343
Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Blair MacDonaldRW54262000
Tom GilmoreLW514515000
Ross PerkinsC51342000
Bobby SheehanC51340000
Jim SchraefelC50330000
Eddie JoyalC52024001
Ken BairdD51127000
Al HamiltonD411215000
Bob FalkenbergD502214000
Rusty PatenaudeRW40222000
Bob WallD50222000
Doug BarrieD410116000
Val FonteyneLW51010000
Bob McAneeleyLW41010000
Steve CarlyleD50114000
Len LundeC50110000
Brian McKenzieLW50110000
Ron AndersonRW10000000
Ron ClimieLW50000000
Roger CoteD20000000
Jack NorrisG30000000
Ian WilkieG10000000
Chris WorthyG30000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Chris Worthy14631183.290
Jack Norris11130294.860
Ian Wilkie4110145.850
Team:298514214.230

[2]

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

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Regular Season
PlayerMilestoneReached
Jim Harrison2nd WHA Hat-trickOctober 12, 1973
Len Lunde1st WHA Game
Jim McCrimmon
Brian McKenzie
Blair MacDonald1st WHA Game
1st WHA Goal
Bob Fitchner1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point
October 21, 1973
Blair MacDonald1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Tom Gilmore200th WHA PIMOctober 23, 1973
Brian McKenzie1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Chris Worthy1st WHA Game
1st WHA Win
Len Lunde1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
October 27, 1973
Brian McKenzie1st WHA Goal
Tom Gilmore??? WHA Gordie Howe hat trickOctober 28, 1973
Jim Harrison100th WHA PointNovember 2, 1973
Jim Harrison100th WHA PIMNovember 4, 1973
Ron Climie1st WHA Hat-trick
1st WHA Natural Hat-trick
1st Five-Goal WHA Game
November 6, 1973
Jim McCrimmon1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Jim McCrimmon1st WHA GoalNovember 20, 1973
Al Hamilton100th WHA GameDecember 1, 1973
Bob Falkenberg100th WHA GameDecember 2, 1973
Len Lunde1st WHA GoalDecember 4, 1973
Chris Worthy1st WHA Shutout
Ross Perkins100th WHA GameDecember 16, 1973
Doug Barrie200th WHA PIMDecember 18, 1973
Bob Fitchner1st WHA AssistDecember 29, 1973
Tom Gilmore300th WHA PIM
Ross Perkins100th WHA PointJanuary 6, 1974
Gary Doyle1st WHA Game
1st WHA Win
January 18, 1974
Al Hamilton200th WHA PIMJanuary 20, 1974
Jack Norris100th WHA GameFebruary 3, 1974
Doug Barrie300th WHA PIMFebruary 8, 1974
Al Hamilton100th WHA PointFebruary 12, 1974
Jim Schraefel1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
March 3, 1974
Ken Baird200th WHA PIMMarch 8, 1974
Ed Patenaude100th WHA PIM
Jim McCrimmon100th WHA PIMMarch 12, 1974
Jim Schraefel1st WHA Goal
Ron Climie100th WHA PointMarch 21, 1974
Tom Gilmore1st WHA Hat-trick
1st Four-Goal WHA Game
April 3, 1974
Ken Baird100th WHA GameTBA
Doug Barrie
Steve Carlyle
Ron Climie
Roger Cote
Val Fonteyne
Tom Gilmore
Jim Harrison
Eddie Joyal
Bob McAneeley
Ed Patenaude
Bob Wall
Howie Colborne1st WHA Game
Gary Cunningham
Bob Fitchner
Jim Schraefel
Wayne Zuk
Playoffs
PlayerMilestoneReached
Bob Falkenberg1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
April 6, 1974
Len Lunde1st WHA Game
Brian McKenzie
Jim Schraefel
Blair MacDonald1st WHA Game
1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point
Bobby Sheehan1st WHA Game
1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
Al Hamilton1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
April 7, 1974
Len Lunde
Brian McKenzie
Ross Perkins
Jim Schraefel
Bob McAneeley1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point
Bobby Sheehan1st WHA Goal
Chris Worthy1st WHA Game
Ken Baird1st WHA AssistApril 10, 1974
Al Hamilton1st WHA Goal
Ross Perkins
Ian Wilkie1st WHA Game
Val Fonteyne1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point
April 12, 1974
Eddie Joyal
Blair MacDonald1st WHA Assist
Chris Worthy1st WHA Win
Doug Barrie1st WHA Goal
1st WHA Point
April 14, 1974
Steve Carlyle1st WHA Assist
1st WHA Point
TBD
Bob McAneeley1st WHA Game

Transactions

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Trades

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DateTo Edmonton OilersTraded toTraded for
May 18, 19734th round pick in 1973 - Bill Laing
6th round pick in 1973 - Dave Pay
Cincinnati Stingers2nd round pick in 1974 Secret - Brad Winton
Ron Climie
3rd round pick in 1973 - Blair MacDonald
Toronto TorosDarryl Sittler
3rd round pick in 1976 - Paul Gardner
September 7, 1973Tom GilmoreLos Angeles SharksRon Walters
September 14, 1973Ian WilkieNew York RaidersFuture considerations
November 5, 1973CashLos Angeles SharksIan Wilkie
February 25, 19742nd round pick in 1974 Secret - Mike RogersLos Angeles SharksDon Saleski
March 15, 1974Ian WilkieLos Angeles SharksWayne Zuk
Bobby SheehanNew York Jersey KnightsBob Falkenberg

Players acquired

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DatePlayerFormer team
May 23, 1973Bob FitchnerFort Wayne Komets (IHL)
September 1973Gary CunninghamNew York Raiders
September 24, 1973Gary DoyleOttawa Gee-Gees (OUAA)
January 1974Jim SchraefelSan Diego Gulls (WHL)
February 1974Howie ColborneCalgary Dinos (CWUAA)

Players lost

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DatePlayerNew team
1973John FisherRetired
April 29, 1974Len Lunde

Signings

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DatePlayerTerm
June 5, 1973Brian McKenzie
June 13, 1973Bill Laing2-year
Jim McCrimmon3-year
June 27, 1973Blair MacDonald3-year
August 30, 1973Chris Worthy2-year
Wayne Zuk
September 14, 1973Ron Climie

Draft picks

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Edmonton's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.[3]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
16John Rogers (RW) CanadaEdmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
220Jim McCrimmon (D) CanadaMedicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
330Blair MacDonald (RW) CanadaCornwall Royals (QMJHL)
332Dave Lewis (D) CanadaSaskatoon Blades (WCHL)
439Bill Laing (C) CanadaSaskatoon Blades (WCHL)
445Jim Moxey (F) CanadaHamilton Red Wings (OHA)
558Ken Houston (D) CanadaChatham Maroons (SOJHL)
665Dave Pay (C) CanadaUniversity of Wisconsin (WCHA)
671Yvon Bouillon (F) CanadaCornwall Royals (QMJHL)
784Dwayne Pentland (D) CanadaBrandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 "1973-74 Edmonton Oilers Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  2. "1973-74 Edmonton Oilers Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  3. "1973 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.