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The World Hockey Association played 7 seasons, from 1972-1979. The end of the league saw 4 teams join the established National Hockey League. Three of those, Winnipeg, New England (Hartford), and Quebec, would eventually find their way to new cities. But one team, the Edmonton Oilers, continue on today. The WHA brought major league hockey first to cities that have established teams today, such as Denver, Phoenix, Calgary, and Ottawa, as well as the only flings of big league hockey in such cities as San Diego, Baltimore, Houston, and Birmingham. Stars such as Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Hull, and Gordie Howe were WHA mainstays; as well as a teen Mark Messier, who was the last WHA alumni still active in the NHL when he retired at the end of the 2004 season. The league also brought in two International teams, the Soviet All-Stars and a Czechoslovakia National team, to play one game against each of the other league teams in each of the last two years. These games were NOT exhibitions; they counted in the league standings. A Finland National team also played one game during the very last season; obstensibly to allow the Edmonton Oilers to be able to play a full 80-game season.
Go to the Internet Hockey Database to see player stats and to see the WHA annual standings.
This page gives the yearly WHA playoff format and results, plus tables of each team's playoff record by series and games, team records in playoff "ultimate games" (ie, Game #7s), and the total regular season record of each team and franchise. Also, by clicking on any active link you can see the logo of each team, or see them all on one page here.
1972-73 Playoffs
4 Teams from each of 2 Divisions
Within Division until East-West Final
Dead Heat tie in West Division caused a one game playoff for 4th Place
East Division
1st rd.--Cleveland d. Philadelphia 4-0
---------New England d. Ottawa 4-1
Div. F---New England d. Cleveland 4-1
West Division
Tiebrk---Minnesota d. Alberta 1-0 (4-2 score)
1st rd.--Winnipeg d. Minnesota 4-1
---------Houston d. Los Angeles 4-2
Div. F---Winnipeg d. Houston 4-0
WHA F----New England d. Winnipeg 4-1
1973-74 Playoffs
4 Teams from each of 2 Divisions
Within Division until East-West Final
East Division
1st rd.--Chicago d. New England 4-3
---------Toronto d. Cleveland 4-1
Div. F---Chicago d. Toronto 4-3
West Division
1st rd.--Houston d. Winnipeg 4-0
---------Minnesota d. Edmonton 4-1
Div. F---Houston d. Minnesota 4-2
WHA F----Houston d. Chicago 4-0
1974-75 Playoffs
2 Teams from each of 3 Divisions plus next 2 best records
All qualifiers seeded, Division winners top 3, QF-SF-F
1st rd.--Houston d. Cleveland 4-1
---------Quebec d. Phoenix 4-1
---------Minnesota d. New England 4-2
---------San Diego d. Toronto 4-2
Semis----Houston d. San Diego 4-0
---------Quebec d. Minnesota 4-2
WHA F----Houston d. Quebec 4-0
1975-76 Playoffs
4 Teams from Canadian Division, 3 Teams each from East and West Division
Canadian Division directly to Final
Within Division with East-West Semi-Final
Canadian Division
1st rd.--Winnipeg d. Edmonton 4-0
---------Calgary d. Quebec 4-1
Div. F---Winnipeg d. Calgary 4-1
East Division
1st rd.--New England d. Cleveland 3-0
Div F----New England d. Indianapolis 4-3
West Division
1st rd.--San Diego d. Phoenix 3-2
Div F----Houston d. San Diego 4-2
Semi-----Houston d. New England 4-3
WHA F----Winnipeg d. Houston 4-0
1976-77 Playoffs
4 Teams from each of 2 Divisions
Within Division until East-West Final
East Division
1st rd.--Quebec d. New England 4-1
---------Indianapolis d. Cincinnati 4-0
Div. F---Quebec d. Indianapolis 4-1
West Division
1st rd.--Houston d. Edmonton 4-1
---------Winnipeg d. San Diego 4-3
Div. F---Winnipeg d. Houston 4-2
WHA F----Quebec d. Winnipeg 4-3
1977-78 Playoffs
Top 6 Overall
All in 1st rd. with Best Winner directly to Final
1st rd.--Winnipeg d. Birmingham 4-1
---------New England d. Edmonton 4-1
---------Quebec d. Houston 4-2
Semi-----New England d. Quebec 4-1
WHA F----Winnipeg d. New England 4-0
1978-79 Playoffs
Top 5 Overall
4 vs 5 1st rd.
1st rd.--New England d. Cincinnati 2-1
Semis----Winnipeg d. Quebec 4-0
---------Edmonton d. New England 4-3
WHA F----Winnipeg d. Edmonton 4-2
| # | Team | W | L | % | Ch | F | *In | *Pl |
| 1 | Winnipeg Jets | 11 | 3 | .786 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| 2 | Houston Aeros | 10 | 4 | .714 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | Chicago Cougars | 2 | 1 | .667 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 4 | Quebec Nordiques | 6 | 4 | .600 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 |
| 5 | New England Whalers | 8 | 6 | .571 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | Minnesota Fighting Saints I | 3 | 3 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| 7 | Calgary Cowboys | 1 | 1 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | San Diego Mariners | 2 | 3 | .400 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 9 | Indianapolis Racers | 1 | 2 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 10 | Toronto Toros | 1 | 2 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 11 | Cleveland Crusaders | 1 | 4 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 12 | Edmonton Oilers | 1 | 5 | .167 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| 13 | Alberta Oilers | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | Birmingham Bulls | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 15 | Los Angeles Sharks | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 16 | Ottawa Nationals | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 17 | Philadelphia Blazers | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | Cincinnati Stingers | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 19 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 0 | 2 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 20 | @Baltimore Blades | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | Minnesota Fighting Saints II | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | #New Jersey Knights | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | New York Raiders | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | %Ottawa Civics | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | Vancouver Blazers | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | *Soviet All-Stars | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 27 | *Czechoslovakia Nationals | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 28 | *Finland Nationals | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
%--Winning Percentage Ch--WHA Championships F--WHA Finals Appearances
*In--Seasons in WHA *Pl--Seasons in Playoffs
@--started season as Michigan Stags
#--started season as New York Golden Blades
%--started season as Denver Spurs
*--played limited schedule and ineligible for playoffs
| # | Team | W | L | % | Ch | F | *In | *Pl |
| 1 | Winnipeg Jets | 48 | 22 | .686 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| 2 | Houston Aeros | 44 | 27 | .620 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
| 3 | New England Whalers | 41 | 33 | .554 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
| 4 | Quebec Nordiques | 26 | 26 | .500 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 5 |
| 5 | Toronto Toros | 9 | 9 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 6 | Indianapolis Racers | 8 | 8 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 7 | Calgary Cowboys | 5 | 5 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | Minnesota Fighting Saints I | 14 | 15 | .483 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| 9 | Chicago Cougars | 8 | 10 | .444 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 10 | San Diego Mariners | 12 | 16 | .429 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 11 | Los Angeles Sharks | 2 | 4 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 12 | Cleveland Crusaders | 7 | 15 | .318 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 13 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 3 | 7 | .300 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 14 | Edmonton Oilers | 9 | 23 | .281 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| 15 | Ottawa Nationals | 1 | 4 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 16 | Birmingham Bulls | 1 | 4 | .200 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 17 | Cincinnati Stingers | 1 | 6 | .143 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| 18 | Alberta Oilers | 0 | 1 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | Philadelphia Blazers | 0 | 4 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 20 | @Baltimore Blades | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | Minnesota Fighting Saints II | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | #New Jersey Knights | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | New York Raiders | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | %Ottawa Civics | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | Vancouver Blazers | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | *Soviet All-Stars | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | *Czechoslovakia Nationals | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | *Finland Nationals | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
%--Winning Percentage Ch--WHA Championships F--WHA Finals Appearances
*In--Seasons in WHA *Pl--Seasons in Playoffs
@--started season as Michigan Stags
#--started season as New York Golden Blades
%--started season as Denver Spurs
*--played limited schedule and ineligible for playoffs
"Ultimate Games" are the final last game of a series, ie, Game #7 of a Best of 7 Series
Game #7s
Chicago Cougars 2-0 1.000 (’74 QF N.Eng., ’74 SF Tor.)
Edmonton Oilers 1-0 1.000 (’79 SF N.Eng.)
Houston Aeros 1-0 1.000 (’76 SF N.Eng.)
Quebec Nordiques 1-0 1.000 (’77 F Winn.)
Winnipeg Jets 1-1 .500 (’77 QF SD W, ’77 F Que. L)
New England Whalers 1-3 .250 (’74 QF Chi. L, ’76 QF Ind. W, ’76 SF Hou.L, ’79 SF Edm. L)
Indianapolis Racers 0-1 .000 (’76 QF N.Eng.)
San Diego Mariners 0-1 .000 (‘77 QF Winn.)
Toronto Toros 0-1 .000 (’74 SF Chi.)
Game #5 of best of 5
San Diego Mariners 1-0 1.000 (’76 1st)
Phoenix Roadrunners 0-1 .000
Game #3 of best of 3
New England Whalers 1-0 1.000 (’79 QF)
Cincinnati Stingers 0-1 .000
1 Game Playoff
Minnesota Fighting Saints I 1-0 1.000 (’73 tiebreaker)
Alberta Oilers 0-1 .000
Combined All Ultimate Games
Chicago Cougars 2-0 1.000
Houston Aeros 1-0 1.000
Minnesota Fighting Saints I 1-0 1.000
Quebec Nordiques 1-0 1.000
Alberta-Edmonton Oilers 1-1 .500
San Diego Mariners 1-1 .500
Winnipeg Jets 1-1 .500
New England Whalers 2-3 .400
Cincinnati Stingers 0-1 .000
Indianapolis Racers 0-1 .000
Phoenix Roadrunners 0-1 .000
Toronto Toros 0-1 .000
| # | Team | W | L | T | Pts | % | Ch | YrsIn |
| 1 | ~Houston Aeros | 285 | 170 | 19 | 589 | .621 | 2 | '72-'78 |
| 2 | Soviet All-Stars | 7 | 5 | 2 | 16 | .571 | 0 | '77-'79 |
| 3 | Winnipeg Jets | 302 | 227 | 26 | 630 | .568 | 3 | '72-'79 |
| 4 | @Quebec Nordiques | 295 | 237 | 24 | 614 | .552 | 1 | '72-'79 |
| 5 | Minnesota Fighting Saints I | 154 | 127 | 12 | 320 | .546 | 0 | '72-'76 | 6 | New England Whalers | 281 | 236 | 38 | 600 | .541 | 1 | '72-'79 |
| 7 | #Minnesota Fighting Saints II | 169 | 162 | 25 | 363 | .510 | 0 | '72-'77 |
| 8 | $San Diego Mariners | 184 | 191 | 20 | 388 | .491 | 0 | '72-'77 |
| 9 | %Edmonton Oilers | 259 | 273 | 24 | 542 | .487 | 0 | '72-'79 |
| 10 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 106 | 114 | 18 | 230 | .483 | 0 | '74-'77 |
| 11 | Cincinnati Stingers | 142 | 164 | 15 | 299 | .466 | 0 | '75-'79 |
| 12 | ^Birmingham Bulls | 242 | 286 | 28 | 512 | .460 | 0 | '72-'79 |
| 13 | &Calgary Cowboys | 174 | 207 | 14 | 362 | .458 | 0 | '72-'77 |
| 14 | *Chicago Cougars | 94 | 132 | 8 | 196 | .419 | 0 | '72-'75 |
| 15 | Indianapolis Racers | 118 | 202 | 24 | 260 | .378 | 0 | '74-'79 |
| 16 | +Baltimore Blades | 83 | 141 | 10 | 176 | .376 | 0 | '72-'75 |
| 17 | !Ottawa Civics | 14 | 26 | 1 | 29 | .354 | 0 | '75-'76 |
| 18 | Czechoslovakia Nationals | 2 | 10 | 2 | 6 | .214 | 0 | '77-'79 |
| 19 | Finland Nationals | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | '78-'79 |
Pts--Points %--Winning Percentage Ch--WHA Championships
Yrs In--Years in WHA
~--Originally Dayton Aeros (0 seasons)
@--Originally San Francisco Sharks (0 seasons)
#--Originally Miami Screaming Eagles (0 seasons),Cleveland Crusaders (4 seasons)
$--Originally New York Raiders(1 season),New York Golden Blades(½ season), New Jersey Knights (½ season)
%--Originally Edmonton Oil Kings (0 seasons), Alberta Oilers (1 season)
^--Originally Ontario Nationals (0 seasons), Ottawa Nationals (1 season), Toronto Toros (2 seasons)
&--Originally Philadelphia Blazers (1 season), Vancouver Blazers (2 seasons)
*--Originally Calgary Broncos (0 seasons)
+--Originally Los Angeles Sharks (2 seasons), Michigan Stags (½ season)
!--Originally Denver Spurs (½ season)
| # | Team | W | L | T | Pts | % | Ch | YrsIn |
| 1 | Houston Aeros | 285 | 170 | 19 | 589 | .621 | 2 | '72-'78 |
| 2 | Soviet All-Stars | 7 | 5 | 2 | 16 | .571 | 0 | '77-'79 |
| 3 | Winnipeg Jets | 302 | 227 | 26 | 630 | .568 | 3 | '72-'79 |
| 4 | Quebec Nordiques | 295 | 237 | 24 | 614 | .552 | 1 | '72-'79 |
| 5 | Minnesota Fighting Saints I | 154 | 127 | 12 | 320 | .546 | 0 | '72-'76 | 6 | New England Whalers | 281 | 236 | 38 | 600 | .541 | 1 | '72-'79 |
| 7 | San Diego Mariners | 119 | 106 | 14 | 252 | .527 | 0 | '74-'77 |
| 8 | Minnesota Fighting Saints II | 19 | 18 | 5 | 43 | .512 | 0 | '76-'77 |
| 9 | Cleveland Crusaders | 150 | 144 | 20 | 320 | .510 | 0 | '72-'76 |
| 10 | Alberta Oilers | 38 | 37 | 3 | 79 | .506 | 0 | '72-'73 |
| 11 | Philadelphia Blazers | 38 | 40 | 0 | 76 | .487 | 0 | '72-'73 |
| 12 | Edmonton Oilers | 221 | 236 | 21 | 463 | .484 | 0 | '73-'79 |
| 13 | Phoenix Roadrunners | 106 | 114 | 18 | 230 | .483 | 0 | '74-'77 |
| 14 | Calgary Cowboys | 72 | 78 | 11 | 155 | .481 | 0 | '75-'77 |
| 15 | Toronto Toros | 108 | 118 | 11 | 227 | .479 | 0 | '73-'76 |
| 16 | Ottawa Nationals | 35 | 39 | 4 | 74 | .474 | 0 | '72-'73 |
| 17 | Cincinnati Stingers | 142 | 164 | 15 | 299 | .466 | 0 | '75-'79 |
| 18 | New Jersey Knights | 24 | 28 | 2 | 50 | .463 | 0 | '73-'74 |
| 19 | Birmingham Bulls | 99 | 129 | 13 | 211 | .438 | 0 | '76-'79 |
| 20 | New York Raiders | 33 | 43 | 2 | 68 | .436 | 0 | '72-'73 |
| 21 | Vancouver Blazers | 64 | 89 | 3 | 131 | .420 | 0 | '73-'75 |
| 22 | Chicago Cougars | 94 | 132 | 8 | 196 | .419 | 0 | '72-'75 |
| 23 | Los Angeles Sharks | 62 | 88 | 6 | 130 | .417 | 0 | '72-'74 |
| 24 | Indianapolis Racers | 118 | 202 | 24 | 260 | .378 | 0 | '74-'79 |
| 25 | Denver Spurs | 13 | 22 | 1 | 27 | .375 | 0 | '75-'75 |
| 26 | New York Golden Blades | 8 | 14 | 2 | 18 | .375 | 0 | '73-'73 |
| 27 | Michigan Stags | 13 | 26 | 3 | 29 | .345 | 0 | '74-'75 |
| 28 | Baltimore Blades | 8 | 27 | 1 | 17 | .236 | 0 | '75-'75 |
| 29 | Czechoslovakia Nationals | 2 | 10 | 2 | 6 | .214 | 0 | '77-'79 |
| 30 | Ottawa Civics | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | .200 | 0 | '75-'76 | 31 | Finland Nationals | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | '79-'79 |
| 32 | Calgary Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | '72-'72 |
| 33 | Dayton Aeros | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | '72-'72 |
| 34 | Edmonton Oil Kings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | '72-'72 |
| 35 | Miami Screaming Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | '72-'72 |
| 36 | Ontario Nationals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | '72-'72 |
| 37 | San Francisco Sharks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 | '72-'72 |
| TOTAL | 2911 | 2911 | 310 | 6132 | .500 | 7 | '72-'79 |
Pts--Points %--Winning Percentage Ch--WHA Championships
Yrs In--Years in WHA
A special Thank You! to Hockey-reference.com. After searching for fifteen years and numerous books and web sites trying to find why the 1978-79 WHA season didn't "balance out" (W = L and Team GS = Team GA), they Finally had the answer!
