1974–75 Quebec Nordiques season

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1974–75 Quebec Nordiques
Canadian Division champions
Division1st Canadian
1974–75 record46–32–0
Home record27–12–0
Road record19–20–0
Goals for331
Goals against299
Team information
General managerMaurice Filion
CoachJean-Guy Gendron
CaptainJ.C. Tremblay
Alternate captainsSerge Bernier
Rene LeClerc
Rejean Houle
ArenaColisée de Québec
Team leaders
GoalsSerge Bernier (54)
AssistsSerge Bernier (68)
PointsSerge Bernier (122)
Penalty minutesPierre Roy (118)
WinsRichard Brodeur (29)
Goals against averageSerge Aubry (3.71)

The 1974–75 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' third season, as they were coming off a 38–36–4 record in 1973–74, earning 80 points, however, they failed to qualify for the post-season for the 2nd straight season.

The Nordiques would have to find a new head coach during the off-season, as Jacques Plante would come out of retirement and play with the Edmonton Oilers. Quebec hired recently retired and former team captain Jean-Guy Gendron to become the club's 4th head coach in team history. The club would also move from the Eastern Division to join the newly created Canadian Division, which consisted of the other 4 Canadian clubs in the league.

Quebec would start off the season very strong, and fight with the Toronto Toros for top spot in the division all season long. Through 66 games, the Nordiques had a 42–24–0 record, 8 points ahead of the 2nd place Toros, however, the team would suffer through a 7-game losing streak, and the Toros would catch up to the Nordiques. Quebec would win 4 of their final 5 games, and win the division championship, and make the playoffs for the first time in club history.

Offensively, the Nordiques were once again led by Serge Bernier, who finished 3rd in league scoring with 122 points, as he scored 54 goals and added 68 assists. Rejean Houle put together a solid season, scoring 40 goals and earning 92 points, while new team captain Michel Parizeau had 74 points. Marc Tardif, acquired by Quebec from the Michigan Stags during the season, scored 38 goals and earned 72 points in 53 games with the Nordiques. J. C. Tremblay led the blueline with 72 points in 68 games, while Dale Hoganson chipped in with 9 goals and 44 points. Pierre Roy led the club with 118 penalty minutes.

In goal, Richard Brodeur took the starters job, and won a team high 29 games while posting a 3.90 GAA in 51 games. Serge Aubry backed up Brodeur, and won 17 games with a team best 3.71 GAA.

In the opening round of the playoffs, the Nordiques faced the Phoenix Roadrunners, who finished 4th in the Western Division with 86 points, 6 fewer than Quebec. The Nordiques would win their first ever playoff game, defeating the Roadrunners 5–2 at Le Colisée. Quebec went up 2–0 in the series with a solid 6–2 win, as the series moved west to Phoenix. The Nordiques shutout the Roadrunners 3–0 to take a commanding 3–0 series lead, however, they could not complete the sweep, as Phoenix won game 4 in overtime. The series returned to Quebec for game 5, and the Nordiques would win the game 4–2, and take the series in 5 games.

Up next for the Nordiques was the Minnesota Fighting Saints, who during the season, had a 42–33–3 record, earning 87 points, as they finished 3rd in the Western Division. Minnesota defeated the New England Whalers in the first round of the playoffs. The series opened in Quebec, and the clubs split the first two games, as the series shifted to Minnesota. Quebec took a 2–1 series lead with a big 6–1 win in the 3rd game, however, the Fighting Saints fought back in game 4, evening the series with a 4–2 victory. Quebec would easily win the 5th game, doubling Minnesota 6–3 at Le Colisée, and the Nordiques would close out the series in the 6th game, defeating Minnesota 4–2, and advance to the Avco Cup Finals.

Quebec would face the defending Avco Cup champion Houston Aeros in the finals. The Aeros finished the season with a league best 106 points, and had easily beat the Cleveland Crusaders and San Diego Mariners to reach the finals. Houston, led by Larry Lund and Gordie Howe were heavy favourites to win the series. The series opened in Houston, with the Aeros defeating Quebec 6–2 in the series opener, then took a 2–0 series lead with a 5–3 win in the second game. The series moved to Quebec for the next 2 games, however, it was the Aeros who continued to win, as they shutout the Nordiques 2–0 in the third game, and would sweep Quebec with a huge 7–2 victory in the fourth game, winning the Avco Cup for the second time in as many years.

Season standings[edit]

Canadian Division GP W L T GF GA Pts
Quebec Nordiques 78 46 32 0 331 299 92
Toronto Toros 78 43 33 2 349 304 88
Winnipeg Jets 78 38 35 5 322 293 81
Vancouver Blazers 78 37 39 2 256 270 76
Edmonton Oilers 78 36 38 4 279 279 76

Schedule and results[edit]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 20 Indianapolis Racers 1–4 Quebec Nordiques 1–0–0 2
2 October 22 Houston Aeros 2–7 Quebec Nordiques 2–0–0 4
3 October 23 Michigan Stags 2–6 Quebec Nordiques 3–0–0 6
4 October 26 Phoenix Roadrunners 1–4 Quebec Nordiques 4–0–0 8
5 October 27 Quebec Nordiques 3–5 Indianapolis Racers 4–1–0 8
6 November 2 Quebec Nordiques 2–4 New England Whalers 4–2–0 8
7 November 4 Quebec Nordiques 5–3 Toronto Toros 5–2–0 10
8 November 6 Vancouver Blazers 3–5 Quebec Nordiques 6–2–0 12
9 November 10 San Diego Mariners 4–3 Quebec Nordiques 6–3–0 12
10 November 12 Quebec Nordiques 5–4 Michigan Stags 7–3–0 14
11 November 13 Indianapolis Racers 3–10 Quebec Nordiques 8–3–0 16
12 November 16 Michigan Stags 3–4 Quebec Nordiques 9–3–0 18
13 November 17 Minnesota Fighting Saints 7–1 Quebec Nordiques 9–4–0 18
14 November 20 Edmonton Oilers 2–4 Quebec Nordiques 10–4–0 20
15 November 22 Cleveland Crusaders 2–3 Quebec Nordiques 11–4–0 22
16 November 23 Toronto Toros 9–2 Quebec Nordiques 11–5–0 22
17 November 24 Quebec Nordiques 1–3 Cleveland Crusaders 11–6–0 22
18 November 26 New England Whalers 5–4 Quebec Nordiques 11–7–0 22
19 November 28 Quebec Nordiques 7–5 Indianapolis Racers 12–7–0 24
20 December 1 Quebec Nordiques 2–3 Winnipeg Jets 12–8–0 24
21 December 4 Minnesota Fighting Saints 6–3 Quebec Nordiques 12–9–0 24
22 December 5 New England Whalers 1–9 Quebec Nordiques 13–9–0 26
23 December 8 Houston Aeros 1–2 Quebec Nordiques 14–9–0 28
24 December 11 Edmonton Oilers 3–4 Quebec Nordiques 15–9–0 30
25 December 12 Cleveland Crusaders 2–5 Quebec Nordiques 16–9–0 32
26 December 14 Quebec Nordiques 4–9 New England Whalers 16–10–0 32
27 December 15 Quebec Nordiques 4–6 Minnesota Fighting Saints 16–11–0 32
28 December 17 Quebec Nordiques 6–1 Chicago Cougars 17–11–0 34
29 December 18 Winnipeg Jets 1–5 Quebec Nordiques 18–11–0 36
30 December 20 Chicago Cougars 5–3 Quebec Nordiques 18–12–0 36
31 December 22 Quebec Nordiques 2–3 Michigan Stags 18–13–0 36
32 December 27 Quebec Nordiques 3–4 Cleveland Crusaders 18–14–0 36
33 December 28 Michigan Stags 1–4 Quebec Nordiques 19–14–0 38
34 December 30 Phoenix Roadrunners 6–3 Quebec Nordiques 19–15–0 38
35 January 1 Indianapolis Racers 3–6 Quebec Nordiques 20–15–0 40
36 January 4 Toronto Toros 1–3 Quebec Nordiques 21–15–0 42
37 January 7 Quebec Nordiques 3–2 Michigan Stags 22–15–0 44
38 January 8 Vancouver Blazers 3–4 Quebec Nordiques 23–15–0 46
39 January 10 Quebec Nordiques 6–1 Winnipeg Jets 24–15–0 48
40 January 12 Quebec Nordiques 3–1 Edmonton Oilers 25–15–0 50
41 January 14 Quebec Nordiques 6–2 Vancouver Blazers 26–15–0 52
42 January 18 New England Whalers 2–8 Quebec Nordiques 27–15–0 54
43 January 19 Quebec Nordiques 5–2 Chicago Cougars 28–15–0 56
44 January 23 Cleveland Crusaders 5–3 Quebec Nordiques 28–16–0 56
45 January 25 Chicago Cougars 4–6 Quebec Nordiques 29–16–0 58
46 January 28 Quebec Nordiques 4–6 Toronto Toros 29–17–0 58
47 January 30 Quebec Nordiques 5–2 Chicago Cougars 30–17–0 60
48 February 1 Quebec Nordiques 2–1 Indianapolis Racers 31–17–0 62
49 February 2 Quebec Nordiques 4–3 Cleveland Crusaders 32–17–0 64
50 February 6 Quebec Nordiques 4–3 Houston Aeros 33–17–0 66
51 February 8 Quebec Nordiques 4–3 Phoenix Roadrunners 34–17–0 68
52 February 11 Quebec Nordiques 2–9 San Diego Mariners 34–18–0 68
53 February 13 Quebec Nordiques 5–3 Phoenix Roadrunners 35–18–0 70
54 February 14 Quebec Nordiques 7–3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 36–18–0 72
55 February 17 Houston Aeros 5–3 Quebec Nordiques 36–19–0 72
56 February 19 Quebec Nordiques 4–10 Houston Aeros 36–20–0 72
57 February 20 Quebec Nordiques 2–5 San Diego Mariners 36–21–0 72
58 February 23 San Diego Mariners 4–6 Quebec Nordiques 37–21–0 74
59 February 24 San Diego Mariners 3–5 Quebec Nordiques 38–21–0 76
60 February 27 Vancouver Blazers 7–9 Quebec Nordiques 39–21–0 78
61 March 1 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4–1 Quebec Nordiques 39–22–0 78
62 March 4 Quebec Nordiques 2–8 San Diego Mariners 39–23–0 78
63 March 5 Quebec Nordiques 3–6 Phoenix Roadrunners 39–24–0 78
64 March 7 Quebec Nordiques 4–1 Toronto Toros 40–24–0 80
65 March 9 Chicago Cougars 5–7 Quebec Nordiques 41–24–0 82
66 March 12 Winnipeg Jets 3–5 Quebec Nordiques 42–24–0 84
67 March 14 Quebec Nordiques 3–4 Winnipeg Jets 42–25–0 84
68 March 15 Quebec Nordiques 4–7 Vancouver Blazers 42–26–0 84
69 March 16 Quebec Nordiques 2–4 Vancouver Blazers 42–27–0 84
70 March 18 Quebec Nordiques 5–8 Edmonton Oilers 42–28–0 84
71 March 20 Quebec Nordiques 3–5 Houston Aeros 42–29–0 84
72 March 26 Edmonton Oilers 6–4 Quebec Nordiques 42–30–0 84
73 March 29 Toronto Toros 5–4 Quebec Nordiques 42–31–0 84
74 March 30 Phoenix Roadrunners 5–6 Quebec Nordiques 43–31–0 86
75 April 1 Quebec Nordiques 5–3 Edmonton Oilers 44–31–0 88
76 April 2 Quebec Nordiques 5–3 Minnesota Fighting Saints 45–31–0 90
77 April 3 Quebec Nordiques 1–4 New England Whalers 45–32–0 90
78 April 5 Winnipeg Jets 5–9 Quebec Nordiques 46–32–0 92

Playoffs[edit]

Quebec Nordiques 4, Phoenix Roadrunners 1[edit]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 8 Phoenix Roadrunners 2–5 Quebec Nordiques 1–0
2 April 10 Phoenix Roadrunners 2–6 Quebec Nordiques 2–0
3 April 12 Quebec Nordiques 3–0 Phoenix Roadrunners 3–0
4 April 15 Quebec Nordiques 5–6 Phoenix Roadrunners 3–1
5 April 17 Phoenix Roadrunners 2–4 Quebec Nordiques 4–1

Quebec Nordiques 4, Minnesota Fighting Saints 2[edit]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 22 Minnesota Fighting Saints 1–4 Quebec Nordiques 1–0
2 April 23 Minnesota Fighting Saints 5–3 Quebec Nordiques 1–1
3 April 26 Quebec Nordiques 6–1 Minnesota Fighting Saints 2–1
4 April 27 Quebec Nordiques 2–4 Minnesota Fighting Saints 2–2
5 April 29 Minnesota Fighting Saints 3–6 Quebec Nordiques 3–2
6 May 1 Quebec Nordiques 4–2 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4–2

Houston Aeros 4, Quebec Nordiques 0[edit]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 May 3 Quebec Nordiques 2–6 Houston Aeros 0–1
2 May 6 Quebec Nordiques 3–5 Houston Aeros 0–2
3 May 10 Houston Aeros 2–0 Quebec Nordiques 0–3
4 May 12 Houston Aeros 7–2 Quebec Nordiques 0–4

Season stats[edit]

Scoring leaders[edit]

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Serge Bernier 76 54 68 122 75
Rejean Houle 64 40 52 92 37
Michel Parizeau 78 28 46 74 69
Marc Tardif 53 38 34 72 70
J. C. Tremblay 68 16 56 72 18

Goaltending[edit]

Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA Save %
Serge Aubry 31 1762 17 11 0 109 0 3.71 .886
Richard Brodeur 51 2938 29 21 0 188 0 3.84 .892

Playoff stats[edit]

Scoring leaders[edit]

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Marc Tardif 15 10 11 21 10
Rejean Houle 15 10 6 16 2
Serge Bernier 15 8 8 16 6
Chris Bordeleau 15 2 13 15 2
Rene LeClerc 14 7 7 14 41

Goaltending[edit]

Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Richard Brodeur 15 906 8 7 48 1 3.18

Draft picks[edit]

Quebec's draft picks at the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft.[1][2]

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
WHA Secret Amateur Draft
1 12 Alain Daigle  Canada Trois-Rivières Ducs (QMJHL)
WHA Amateur Draft
1 9 Real Cloutier  Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
2 24 Charles Constantin  Canada Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
4 54 Jean Bernier  Canada Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)
5 68 Dave Logan  Canada Laval National (QMJHL)
6 83 Michel Bergeron  Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
7 98 Denis Carufel  Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
8 113 Claude Dupuis  Canada Laval National (QMJHL)
9 128 Mario Lessard  Canada Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
10 141 Claude Arvisais  Canada Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "1974 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  2. ^ "1974 WHA Secret Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
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