The 1972–73 Alberta Oilers season was the Oilers' first season, as one of twelve inaugural franchises of the newly formed World Hockey Association (WHA).
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 (3G, 7A) 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 (in Calgary), ending the Oilers season.
Season standings
Schedule and results
| 1||W|| October 11, 1972|| 7–4|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Nationals|| 1–0–0
| 2||L|| October 13, 1972|| 0–6|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques|| 1–1–0
| 3||L|| October 14, 1972|| 2–3|| align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders|| 1–2–0
| 4||W|| October 15, 1972|| 5–2|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets|| 2–2–0
| 5||W|| October 17, 1972|| 3–2|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets|| 3–2–0
| 6||W|| October 20, 1972|| 4–1|| align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers|| 4–2–0
| 7||T|| October 24, 1972|| 3–3|| align="left"| Chicago Cougars|| 4–2–1
| 8||L|| October 27, 1972|| 0–6|| align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders|| 4–3–1
| 9||W|| October 28, 1972|| 4–1|| align="left"| @ New England Whalers|| 5–3–1
| 10||L|| October 29, 1972|| 2–7|| align="left"| @ New York Raiders|| 5–4–1
| 11||L|| October 31, 1972|| 3–4|| align="left"| Houston Aeros|| 5–5–1
| 12||W|| November 3, 1972|| 4–3|| align="left"| Houston Aeros|| 6–5–1
| 13||L|| November 5, 1972|| 3–5|| align="left"| Ottawa Nationals|| 6–6–1
| 14||W|| November 7, 1972|| 4–2|| align="left"| New York Raiders|| 7–6–1
| 15||W|| November 9, 1972|| 7–2|| align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks|| 8–6–1
| 16||W|| November 11, 1972|| 5–3|| align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks|| 9–6–1
| 17||L|| November 12, 1972|| 1–3|| align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders|| 9–7–1
| 18||W|| November 15, 1972|| 3–1|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets|| 10–7–1
| 19||W|| November 17, 1972|| 3–1|| align="left"| Chicago Cougars|| 11–7–1
| 20||L|| November 21, 1972|| 3–4|| align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints|| 11–8–1
| 21||L|| November 22, 1972|| 4–5|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers|| 11–9–1
| 22||L|| November 24, 1972|| 2–7|| align="left"| @ New England Whalers|| 11–10–1
| 23||L|| November 25, 1972|| 2–4|| align="left"| @ New York Raiders|| 11–11–1
| 24||W|| November 26, 1972|| 2–1|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Nationals|| 12–11–1
| 25||L|| November 28, 1972|| 0–3|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets|| 12–12–1
| 26||T|| November 30, 1972|| 3–3|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets|| 12–12–2
| 27||L|| December 1, 1972|| 4–6|| align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints|| 12–13–2
| 28||L|| December 3, 1972|| 2–6|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques|| 12–14–2
| 29||L|| December 8, 1972|| 2–4|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks|| 12–15–2
| 30||L|| December 10, 1972|| 3–5|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks|| 12–16–2
| 31||L|| December 12, 1972|| 4–6|| align="left"| @ Houston Aeros|| 12–17–2
| 32||W|| December 13, 1972|| 3–2|| align="left"| @ Houston Aeros|| 13–17–2
| 33||L|| December 15, 1972|| 3–4|| align="left"| Ottawa Nationals|| 13–18–2
| 34||W|| December 17, 1972|| 3–1|| align="left"| Ottawa Nationals|| 14–18–2
| 35||W|| December 21, 1972|| 5–4|| align="left"| New England Whalers|| 15–18–2
| 36||L|| December 23, 1972|| 2–3|| align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars|| 15–19–2
| 37||L|| December 25, 1972|| 2–3|| align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars|| 15–20–2
| 38||W|| January 1, 1973|| 7–3|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets|| 16–20–2
| 39||L|| January 10, 1973|| 1–6|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets|| 16–21–2
| 40||W|| January 12, 1973|| 2–1|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks|| 17–21–2
| 41||W|| January 13, 1973|| 4–1|| align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks|| 18–21–2
| 42||L|| January 15, 1973|| 3–4|| align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks|| 18–22–2
| 43||W|| January 16, 1973|| 6–5|| align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks|| 19–22–2
| 44||L|| January 20, 1973|| 4–6|| align="left"| Chicago Cougars|| 19–23–2
| 45||W|| January 22, 1973|| 6–1|| align="left"| Chicago Cougars|| 20–23–2
| 46||L|| January 27, 1973|| 0–1|| align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers|| 20–24–2
| 47||W|| January 28, 1973|| 4–2|| align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers|| 21–24–2
| 48||W|| January 30, 1973|| 11–3|| align="left"| New York Raiders|| 22–24–2
| 49||W|| February 1, 1973|| 8–5|| align="left"| New York Raiders|| 23–24–2
| 50||W|| February 2, 1973|| 4–3|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets|| 24–24–2
| 51||L|| February 4, 1973|| 3–5|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets|| 24–25–2
| 52||L|| February 6, 1973|| 2–4|| align="left"| New England Whalers|| 24–26–2
| 53||W|| February 7, 1973|| 3–1|| align="left"| New England Whalers|| 25–26–2
| 54||W|| February 9, 1973|| 6–0|| align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints|| 26–26–2
| 55||W|| February 11, 1973|| 7–5|| align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints|| 27–26–2
| 56||W|| February 13, 1973|| 5–3|| align="left"| Houston Aeros|| 28–26–2
| 57||L|| February 15, 1973|| 3–5|| align="left"| Houston Aeros|| 28–27–2
| 58||L|| February 20, 1973|| 4–5|| align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders|| 28–28–2
| 59||L|| February 21, 1973|| 4–5|| align="left"| @ New York Raiders|| 28–29–2
| 60||L|| February 23, 1973|| 2–4|| align="left"| @ New England Whalers|| 28–30–2
| 61||L|| February 25, 1973|| 2–3|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Nationals|| 28–31–2
| 62||L|| February 27, 1973|| 4–5|| align="left"| @ Houston Aeros|| 28–32–2
| 63||L|| February 28, 1973|| 2–3|| align="left"| @ Houston Aeros|| 28–33–2
| 64||L|| March 6, 1973|| 3–4|| align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints|| 28–34–2
| 65||W|| March 8, 1973|| 3–2|| align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars|| 29–34–2
| 66||W|| March 10, 1973|| 5–4|| align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars|| 30–34–2
| 67||L|| March 11, 1973|| 1–2|| align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints|| 30–35–2
| 68||W|| March 13, 1973|| 4–2|| align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders|| 31–35–2
| 69||W|| March 14, 1973|| 4–2|| align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders|| 32–35–2
| 70||W|| March 16, 1973|| 4–2|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques|| 33–35–2
| 71||W|| March 17, 1973|| 3–0|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques|| 34–35–2
| 72||W|| March 20, 1973|| 5–3|| align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints|| 35–35–2
| 73||T|| March 22, 1973|| 1–1|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets|| 35–35–3
| 74||L|| March 24, 1973|| 4–5|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques|| 35–36–3
| 75||W|| March 25, 1973|| 5–4|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques|| 36–36–3
| 76||W|| March 28, 1973|| 2–1|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers|| 37–36–3
| 77||L|| March 29, 1973|| 1–2|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers|| 37–37–3
| 78||W|| March 30, 1973|| 5–3|| align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints|| 38–37–3
Legend:
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.
| 1 || April 4 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 4 – 2 || Alberta Oilers || || Norris || 6,392 || 0–1 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties In Minutes Player Regular season Playoffs GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM Jim Harrison 66 39 47 86 93 1 0 1 1 2 Al Hamilton 78 11 50 61 124 1 0 0 0 2 Ross Perkins 71 21 37 58 19 1 0 0 0 2 Ed Patenaude 78 29 27 56 59 1 0 1 1 4 Ron Walters 78 28 26 54 37 1 1 0 1 0 Bob Wall 78 16 29 45 20 1 0 1 1 0 Val Fonteyne 77 7 32 39 2 1 0 0 0 0 Eddie Joyal 71 22 16 38 16 1 0 0 0 0 Bill Hicke 73 14 24 38 20 1 0 0 0 0 Brian Carlin 65 12 22 34 6 1 0 0 0 0 Doug Barrie 54 9 22 31 111 1 0 0 0 22 Ron Anderson 73 14 15 29 43 1 0 0 0 0 Ken Baird 75 14 15 29 112 1 1 0 1 6 Bob Falkenberg 77 6 23 29 44 1 0 0 0 0 Steve Carlyle 67 7 10 17 35 1 0 0 0 0 Dennis Kassian 50 6 7 13 14 1 0 1 1 0 Bob McAneeley 51 5 7 12 24 — — — — — Bernie Blanchette† 23 5 4 9 2 — — — — — Roger Cote 60 3 5 8 46 1 0 0 0 0 John Fisher 40 0 5 5 0 — — — — — Jack Norris 64 0 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 Jim Benzelock‡ 26 1 1 2 10 — — — — — Derek Harker‡ 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — Ken Brown 20 0 0 0 2 — — — — — †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 (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average Player Regular season Playoffs GP TOI W L T GA SO SV% GAA GP TOI W L GA SO SV% GAA Jack Norris 64 3705 28 29 3 189 1 0.903 3.06 1 59 0 1 4 0 0.833 4.07 Ken Brown 20 1034 10 8 0 63 1 0.883 3.65 — — — — — — — —
Awards and records Four Oilers were selected to play in the mid-season All-Star Game on January 6: Jack Norris (G) Al Hamilton (D) Bob Wall (D) Jim Harrison (C)
Milestones Regular Season Player Milestone Reached Ron Anderson 1st WHA Game1st WHA Goal1st WHA Point October 11, 1972 Bill Hicke Eddie Joyal Ron Walters Jim Benzelock 1st WHA Game Roger Cote Bob Falkenberg Dennis Kassian Ed Patenaude Ken Brown 1st WHA Game1st WHA Win Steve Carlyle 1st WHA Game1st WHA Assist1st WHA Point John Fisher Val Fonteyne Al Hamilton Bob McAneeley Bob Wall Jim Harrison 1st WHA Game1st WHA Goal1st WHA Assist1st WHA Point Jack Norris 1st WHA Game October 13, 1972 Roger Cote 1st WHA Goal1st WHA Point October 15, 1972 Val Fonteyne 1st WHA Goal Eddie Joyal 1st WHA Assist Ron Walters Ron Anderson 1st WHA Assist October 17, 1972 Jack Norris 1st WHA Win Brian Carlin 1st WHA Game October 20, 1972 Bob Falkenberg 1st WHA Assist1st WHA Point Ed Patenaude 1st WHA Goal1st WHA Assist1st WHA Point Ron Walters 1st WHA Hat-trick Brian Carlin 1st WHA Goal1st WHA Point October 24, 1972 Bill Hicke 1st WHA Assist Ross Perkins 1st WHA Game October 27, 1972 Dennis Kassian 1st WHA Goal1st WHA Point October 28, 1972 Ross Perkins 1st WHA Assist1st WHA Point Ken Baird 1st WHA Assist1st WHA Point October 29, 1972 Doug Barrie 1st WHA Game Ross Perkins 1st WHA Goal Doug Barrie 1st WHA Goal1st WHA Point November 3, 1972 Brian Carlin 1st WHA Assist Bob Wall 1st WHA Goal Dennis Kassian 1st WHA Assist November 5, 1972 Doug Barrie Steve Carlyle 1st WHA Goal November 7, 1972 Al Hamilton Ken Baird 1st WHA Goal November 9, 1972 Bob Falkenberg 1st WHA Goal November 11, 1972 Jim Benzelock 1st WHA Assist1st WHA Point November 25, 1972 Bob McAneeley 1st WHA Goal November 30, 1972 Jim Benzelock 1st WHA Goal December 12, 1972 Roger Cote 1st WHA Assist December 21, 1972 Jim Harrison 1st WHA Gordie Howe hat trick Ross Perkins 1st WHA Hat-Trick January 1, 1973 Jack Norris 1st WHA Assist January 16, 1973 Jim Harrison 1st WHA Hat-Trick January 30, 1973 Jack Norris 1st WHA Shutout February 9, 1973 Al Hamilton 100th WHA PIM February 27, 1973 Ken Baird 100th WHA PIM March 17, 1973 Ken Brown 1st WHA Shutout Jim Harrison 2nd WHA Gordie Howe hat trick Doug Barrie 100th WHA PIM March 28, 1973 Ken Baird 1st WHA Game TBD Derek Harker
Playoffs Player Milestone Reached Ron Anderson 1st WHA Game April 4, 1973 Doug Barrie Brian Carlin Steve Carlyle Roger Cote Bob Falkenberg Val Fonteyne Al Hamilton Bill Hicke Eddie Joyal Jack Norris Ross Perkins Ken Baird 1st WHA Game1st WHA Goal1st WHA Point Ron Walters Jim Harrison 1st WHA Game1st WHA Assist1st WHA Point Dennis Kassian Ed Patenaude Bob Wall
Transactions