The Summit in 1974
WHA 72-79
WHA MVP 1974
Gary L. Davidson Award
1974
Gordie Howe
RW, Houston Aeros

 

SEVEN SEASONS: WHA 1973-74

SEASON TWO: Timeline by Paul Newberry

Philadelphia moves to Vancouver and Ottawa becomes the Toronto Toros. New York changes its name to Golden Blades, then moves to Cherry Hill, N.J., during the season and becomes the Jersey Knights. Houston wins the first of two straight championships, led by 45-year-old Gordie Howe. Mr. Hockey is named the league's MVP while playing alongside his two sons, Mark and Marty.

 WHA Regular Season

EASTERN DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM
New England Whalers 78 43 31 4 90 291 260 875
Toronto Toros 78 41 33 4 86 304 272 871
Cleveland Crusaders 78 37 32 9 83 266 264 1007
Chicago Cougars 78 38 35 5 81 271 273 1041
Quebec Nordiques 78 38 36 4 80 306 280 909
NY Golden Blades/Jersey Knights 78 32 42 4 68 268 313 933
WESTERN DIVISION GP W L T PTS GF GA PIM
Houston Aeros 78 48 25 5 101 318 219 1038
Minnesota Fighting Saints 78 44 32 2 90 332 275 1243
Edmonton Oilers 78 38 37 3 79 268 269 1273
Winnipeg Jets 78 34 39 5 73 264 296 673
Vancouver Blazers 78 27 50 1 55 278 345 1047
Los Angeles Sharks 78 25 53 0 50 239 339 1086

AVCO World Trophy Playoffs

First Round:
Houston 4 Winnipeg 0
Minnesota 4 Edmonton 1
Chicago 4 New England 3
Toronto 4 Cleveland 1
Second Round:
Houston 4 Minnesota 2
Chicago 4 Toronto 3

AVCO Cup:
Houston over Chicago, 4 games to 0

Bill Hunter Trophy Scoring Leader

Year Player Gm G A Pts
1974 Mike Walton,
Minnesota Fighting Saints
78 57 60 117

Ben Hatskin Trophy Best Goaltender

Year Player Record GAA
1974 Don McLeod,
Houston Aeros
33-13-3 2.56

Dennis A. Murphy Trophy Best Defenseman

Year Player
1974 Pat Stapleton,
Chicago Cougars

Lou Kaplan Trophy Rookie of the Year

Year Player G A Pts
1974 Mark Howe,
LW, Houston Aeros
38 41 79

Paul Deneau Trophy Most Gentlmenly Player

Year Player
1974 Ralph Backstrom,
Chicago Cougars

Howard Baldwin Trophy Coach of the Year

Year Coach    Improvement
1974 Billy Harris,
Toronto Toros
35-39-4 to 41-33-4

Note: *Won Division.

All WHA WHA All Star Teams

Pos 1st Team 2nd Team
G Don McLeod
Houston

Gerry Cheevers Cleveland
D Pat Stapleton
Chicago
JC Tremblay
Quebec
D Paul Shmyr
Cleveland
Al Hamilton
Edmonton
C Andre Lacroix
New York/New Jersey
Wayne Carleton
Toronto
LW Bobby Hull
Winnipeg
Mark Howe
Houston
RW Gordie Howe
Houston
Mike Walton
Minnesota

WHA Annual All-Star Game 1/3/74 St Paul, Minnesota

East 8, West 4
Attendance: 13,196
MVP: Mike Walton

EAST LINEUP WEST LINEUP
G Gerry Cheevers Cleveland
G Gilles Gratton Toronto
G Al Smith New England
D Rick Ley New England
D JC Tremblay Quebec
D Pat Stapleton Chicago
D Paul Shmyr Cleveland
D Brad Selwood New England
D Jim Dorey New England
D Dale Hoganson Quebec
(Injured-Did Not Play)
C Larry Pleau New England
C Ralph Backstrom Chicago
C Andre Lacroix New Jersey
C Serge Bernier Quebec
RW Gerry Pinder Cleveland
RW Tom Webster New England
RW Rosaire Paiement Chicago
RW Tom Simpson Toronto
LW Rejean Houle Quebec
LW Wayne Carleton Toronto
LW Gary Jarrett Cleveland
LW Hugh Harris New England
LW Bobby Sheehan New Jersey
(Injured-Did Not Play)
G Ernie Wakely Winnipeg
G Jack Norris Edmonton
G John Garrett Minnesota
D Rick Smith Minnesota
D Al Hamilton Edmonton
D Gerry Odrowski Los Angeles
D Poul Popiel Houston
D Bart Crashley Los Angeles
D Ralph McSweyn Vancouver
D Larry Hornung Winnipeg
(Injured-Did Not Play)
C Mike Walton Minnesota
C Larry Lund Houston
C Bryan Campbell Vancouver
C Fran Huck Winnipeg
C Jim Harrison Edmonton (Injured-Did not Play)
C Ross Perkins Edmonton
RW Wayne Connelly Minnesota
RW Gordie Howe Houston
RW Danny Lawson Vancouver
RW Frank Hughes Houston
LW Bobby Hull Winnipeg
LW Ron Climie Edmonton
LW Marc Tardif Los Angeles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Summit in 1974