1975-76 Toronto Toros
Record: 24-52-5, 53 pts
Finish: 5th, Canadian
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Coach: Bob Baun (15-35-5), Gilles Leger (9-17-0)
Leger also coached two games, Dec 21 and Dec 23, while Baun was on a leave of absence. These games still count under Baun's record.
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Preview, 1975-76 • Pro Hockey 1975-76 WHA • by Dan Proudfoot
The most significant date in the brief history of the Toronto Toros may well prove to be Friday, March 14th, 1975, the night the chairman of the board charged into the dressing room like a man possessed by a sudden, angry urge to speak his mind. Many other Toros fans undoubtedly would have liked to have followed the chairman, John Craig Eaton, and said much the same things. The Toros had fallen asleep again. They had led San Diego Mariners 4-3 with only seven minutes of play remaining but had lost 6-4. Subsequently, Eaton forgot his usual custom of walking around the dressing room, shaking hands with players. He strode directly into the coach's room for a 20-minute speech. "I'm not happy," he said when he came out. "We have a lot more talent than is showing," Bob Leduc, then the coach, said when he emerged. "Mr. Eaton is a major owner. He's concerned and I'm not surprised." The high-priced picnic was over. Toronto fans and management expected the 1974-75 Toros to be in one class, the rest of the World Hockey Association in another. The Toro bankroll had been exposed, supposedly as impressive as that of an Arab oil nation, and major players. Frank Mahovlich, Paul Henderson and Vaclav Nedomansky signed. The Toros were moving from a minor arena into Maple Leaf Gardens, so management felt big names were necessary to fill the 16,316 seats. The Toros won their first six games in a row with ail amazing show of power, and then fell into the dreadful slumber that was interrupted by wins only often enough to remind everyone the team wasn't living up to expectations. While the Toros slept, the owners and management suffered from insomnia. Billy Harris, the coach of the year in 1973-74, was fired midseason. Bob Leduc, a player at the time, was named the successor. When the Toros were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, team president John F. Bassett was ready to admit yet another coaching change was going to be necessary. "We can't seem to get five guys with ice discipline," Toro manager Buck Houle said at the time. "There's a lot of ability, we just have to get it channeled." Enter Bob Baun, one man who may be able to take the Toro puzzle and make something of it. Bassett and his colleagues considered numerous candidates but finally decided on Baun, the former Toronto Maple Leaf defenseman, as coach. Baun, 39, captured the affections of Toronto sports fans a decade ago when he led the Leafs to a Stanley Cup after breaking a bone in his leg. He returned from the Gardens clinic to score the winning goal, and worried about the injury later. Any doubt concerning Baun's future as a coach is tied up with the question of his tolerating the ho-hum attitude of the Toro talent. How can a guy who played with a broken bone relate to guys who won't try if they're in a bad mood? But such thinking doesn't allow for the fact that Baun is a very intelligent, accommodating fellow, the type who can understand a diverse range of personalities. "The only way I knew how to play this game was physically and this team won't be feather-dusters," Baun said. "My idea of hockey is to let the other team know you're in the rink." Baun's largest problems may be with the impatient owners who were so free with their money in 1974, but now are quick to criticize, feeling they're not getting the results for their gigantic payroll. The suddenly-tight budget resulted in the loss of two young, brilliant players in the off-season, with Pat Hickey and Wayne Dillon leaving for more money from the New York Rangers. Still, team president Bassett maintained enough enthusiasm for rookies to recruit Mark Napier, a high scorer from the Toronto Marlboro juniors. A strong pitch was made for veteran defenseman Pat Stapelton, too, and Baun knew that if his boss were successful in recruiting him, coaching chores would become much, much easier. Not all was disappointing with the Toros in 1974-75. Lou Nistico, Jeff Jacques and Peter Marrin had impressive rookie years after moving up from Mohawk Valley Comets and Brian Conacher's coaching. Paul Henderson played well until injured. And the team did finish second in the Canadian division. Baun's problem, though, is that no-one including John Craig Eaton, will really be satisfied until the Toros are at least competitive with the best team in the leagues, and preferably winning against them. |
Game Log ... (@ away game, * overtime)
Player Scoring
Goaltending
Transactions
• Mark Napier signed to contract, May 1975
Splits versus opposing teams, home and away, and by month
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no.
Date
Opponent
Score
w-l-t
pts
gf-ga
no.
Date
Opponent
Score
w-l-t
pts
gf-ga
1. Oct 11 @ Quebec 3-7 L 0-1-0 0 3-7 41. Jan 9 @ Edmonton 3-5 L 14-24-3 31 170-200
2. Oct 14 Houston 6-3 W 1-1-0 2 9-10 42. Jan 17 @ Quebec *3-4 L 14-25-3 31 173-204
3. Oct 17 Edmonton 4-4 T 1-1-1 3 13-14 43. Jan 20 @ Houston 7-5 W 15-25-3 33 180-209
4. Oct 18 @ New England 1-3 L 1-2-1 3 14-17 44. Jan 22 @ Phoenix 4-6 L 15-26-3 33 184-215
5. Oct 24 New England 4-5 L 1-3-1 3 18-22 45. Jan 24 @ San Diego 4-6 L 15-27-3 33 188-221
6. Oct 25 @ Quebec 2-3 L 1-4-1 3 20-25 46. Jan 25 @ Minnesota 2-5 L 15-28-3 33 190-226
7. Oct 28 Quebec 6-4 W 2-4-1 5 26-29 47. Jan 27 Edmonton 4-4 T 15-28-4 34 194-230
8. Nov 4 @ Indianapolis 3-4 L 2-5-1 5 29-33 48. Jan 30 Quebec 3-3 T 15-28-5 35 197-233
9. Nov 7 @ Edmonton 4-5 L 2-6-1 5 33-38 49. Jan 31 @ Quebec 4-8 L 15-29-5 35 201-241
10. Nov 8 @ Minnesota 3-4 L 2-7-1 5 36-42 50. Feb 1 New England 5-7 L 15-30-5 35 206-248
11. Nov 9 @ Winnipeg 3-5 L 2-8-1 5 39-47 51. Feb 6 Winnipeg 6-7 L 15-31-5 35 212-255
12. Nov 11 @ Houston 4-5 L 2-9-1 5 43-52 52. Feb 7 @ New England 3-7 L 15-32-5 35 215-262
13. Nov 13 @ Denver 11-8 W 3-9-1 7 54-60 53. Feb 10 @ Calgary 3-4 L 15-33-5 35 218-266
14. Nov 14 @ Phoenix 2-2 T 3-9-2 8 56-62 54. Feb 13 @ Edmonton 3-5 L 15-34-5 35 221-271
15. Nov 15 @ San Diego 6-4 W 4-9-2 10 62-66 55. Feb 15 @ Winnipeg 6-7 L 15-35-5 35 227-278
16. Nov 17 Indianapolis 2-6 L 4-10-2 10 64-72 56. Feb 17 Minnesota 3-6 L 15-36-5 35 230-284
17. Nov 21 Cincinnati 8-7 W 5-10-2 12 72-79 57. Feb 20 San Diego 4-6 L 15-37-5 35 234-290
18. Nov 25 Cleveland *3-4 L 5-11-2 12 75-83 58. Feb 22 @ Calgary 2-4 L 15-38-5 35 236-294
19. Nov 28 Winnipeg 3-5 L 5-12-2 12 78-88 59. Feb 24 Cincinnati 6-9 L 15-39-5 35 242-303
20. Nov 29 @ Cincinnati 9-5 W 6-12-2 14 87-93 60. Feb 27 Houston *6-7 L 15-40-5 35 248-310
21. Nov 30 @ Cleveland 9-10 L 6-13-2 14 96-103 61. Feb 29 Winnipeg 11-7 W 16-40-5 37 259-317
22. Dec 2 @ Edmonton 2-7 L 6-14-2 14 98-110 62. Mar 2 Quebec 5-2 W 17-40-5 39 264-319
23. Dec 3 @ Calgary 4-3 W 7-14-2 16 102-113 63. Mar 6 Calgary 5-2 W 18-40-5 41 269-321
24. Dec 5 Quebec 7-4 W 8-14-2 18 109-117 64. Mar 9 Winnipeg 2-5 L 18-41-5 41 271-326
25. Dec 9 Minnesota 3-5 L 8-15-2 18 112-122 65. Mar 11 @ Indianapolis 1-3 L 18-42-5 41 272-329
26. Dec 10 @ Winnipeg *5-6 L 8-16-2 18 117-128 66. Mar 12 Phoenix 2-5 L 18-43-5 41 274-334
27. Dec 12 Quebec 6-4 W 9-16-2 20 123-132 67. Mar 14 @ Quebec 3-1 W 19-43-5 43 277-335
28. Dec 13 @ Quebec 3-6 L 9-17-2 20 126-138 68. Mar 16 Cleveland 6-0 W 20-43-5 45 283-335
29. Dec 14 Calgary 3-3 T 9-17-3 21 129-141 69. Mar 17 @ Cincinnati 4-5 L 20-44-5 45 287-340
30. Dec 16 Winnipeg 3-4 L 9-18-3 21 132-145 70. Mar 19 Quebec *3-4 L 20-45-5 45 290-344
31. Dec 19 Calgary 3-5 L 9-19-3 21 135-150 71. Mar 20 @ Cleveland 6-5 W 21-45-5 47 296-349
32. Dec 21 @ Edmonton 4-2 W 10-19-3 23 139-152 72. Mar 21 Winnipeg 5-2 W 22-45-5 49 301-351
33. Dec 23 @ Calgary 1-10 L 10-20-3 23 140-162 73. Mar 23 Calgary 6-5 W 23-45-5 51 307-356
34. Dec 26 Edmonton 8-5 W 11-20-3 25 148-167 74. Mar 26 Edmonton 7-3 W 24-45-5 53 314-359
35. Dec 27 @ Cleveland 0-5 L 11-21-3 25 148-172 75. Mar 28 Calgary 4-5 L 24-46-5 53 318-364
36. Dec 28 Quebec 1-6 L 11-22-3 25 149-178 76. Mar 30 @ Calgary 2-6 L 24-47-5 53 320-370
37. Dec 30 Edmonton 6-4 W 12-22-3 27 155-182 77. Mar 31 @ Winnipeg 3-5 L 24-48-5 53 323-375
38. Jan 2 Phoenix 4-1 W 13-22-3 29 159-183 78. Apr 2 Indianapolis 1-3 L 24-49-5 53 324-378
39. Jan 6 San Diego 6-4 W 14-22-3 31 165-187 79. Apr 3 @ Quebec 1-5 L 24-50-5 53 325-383
40. Jan 7 @ Winnipeg 2-8 L 14-23-3 31 167-195 80. Apr 4 Quebec *4-5 L 24-51-5 53 329-388
- - - - - - - - 81. Apr 6 @ Quebec 6-10 L 24-52-5 53 335-398
pos.
Player
D Amodeo, Mike
RW Atkinson, Steve
LW Bilodeau, Gilles
G Binkley, Les
RW Crowley, Paul
D Cunningham, Rick
C D'Alvise, Bob
D Dorey, Jim
C Farda, Richard
RW Featherstone, Tony
D Folco, Peter
D Foley, Rick
G Garrett, John
D Gibbons, Gerard
LW Gibson, Jack
D Heaver, Paul
LW Henderson, Paul
C Jacques, Jeff
C Kirk, Gavin
D Kuzmicz, George
LW Mahovlich, Frank
C Marrin, Peter
RW Napier, Mark
RW Nedomansky, Vaclav
D Neeld, Greg
C Nistico, Lou
C Phaneuf, Jean-Luc
D Rollins, Jerry
G Shaw, Jim
RW Simpson, Tom
D Syvret, Dave
G Tataryn, Dave
D Turkiewicz, Jim
D Van Horlick, John
G Vien, Mario
G Wood, Wayne
D Zrymiak, Jerry
Goaltender
Binkley, Les
Garrett, John
Shaw, Jim
Tataryn, Dave
Vien, Mario
Wood, Wayne
• Rick Foley, Dave Tataryn signed to contracts, Jun 1975
• Rights to Bob D'Alvise acquired from Cleveland for 1976 draft choice, Aug 1975
• Steve Atkinson purchased from Buffalo (NAHL), Jan 1976
• John Garrett and Jerry Zrymiak signed as free agents from defunct Minnesota, Mar 1976
• Gavin Kirk traded to Calgary for Wayne Wood, Mar 1976
opponent
overall
gf-ga
home
gf-ga
away
gf-ga
Calgary 3-6-1 33-47 2-2-1 21-20 1-4-0 12-27
Cincinnati 2-2-0 27-26 1-1-0 14-16 1-1-0 13-10
Cleveland 2-3-0 24-24 1-1-0 9-4 1-2-0 15-20
Denver-Ottawa 1-0-0 11-8 0-0-0 0-0 1-0-0 11-8
Edmonton 4-4-2 45-44 3-0-2 29-20 1-4-0 16-24
Houston 2-2-0 23-20 1-1-0 12-10 1-1-0 11-10
Indianapolis 0-4-0 7-16 0-2-0 3-9 0-2-0 4-7
Minnesota 0-4-0 11-20 0-2-0 6-11 0-2-0 5-9
New England 0-4-0 13-22 0-2-0 9-12 0-2-0 4-10
Phoenix 1-2-1 12-14 1-1-0 6-6 0-1-1 6-8
Quebec 5-10-1 60-76 4-3-1 35-32 1-7-0 25-44
San Diego 2-2-0 20-20 1-1-0 10-10 1-1-0 10-10
Winnipeg 2-9-0 49-61 2-4-0 30-30 0-5-0 19-31
October 2-4-1 26-29 2-1-1 20-16 0-3-0 6-13
November 4-9-1 70-74 1-3-0 16-22 3-6-1 54-52
December 6-9-1 59-79 4-4-1 40-40 2-5-0 19-39
January 3-7-2 46-59 2-0-2 17-12 1-7-0 29-47
February 1-11-0 58-76 1-6-0 41-49 0-5-0 17-27
March 8-8-0 64-58 6-4-0 45-33 2-4-0 19-25
April 0-4-0 12-23 0-2-0 5-8 0-2-0 7-15
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