1974–75 Cleveland Crusaders season

1974–75 Cleveland Crusaders
Division	2nd Eastern
1974–75 record	35–40–3
Goals for	236
Goals against	258
Team information
Coach	John Hanna (14–19–1), Jack Vivian (21–21–2)
Captain	Paul Shmyr
Arena	Coliseum at Richfield

The 1974–75 Cleveland Crusaders season was the Cleveland Crusaders third season of operation in the World Hockey Association. It was the Crusaders' first season in the new Coliseum at Richfield. The Crusaders made the playoffs, losing in the quarter-finals to the Houston Aeros.

Regular season

Final standings

Eastern Division	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
New England Whalers	78	43	30	5	91	274	279	867
Cleveland Crusaders	78	35	40	3	73	236	258	1273
Chicago Cougars	78	30	47	1	61	261	312	1086
Indianapolis Racers	78	18	57	3	39	216	338	970

Game log

Regular season schedule
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 19, 1974	3–1	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)	1–0–0
2	T	October 20, 1974	4–4	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	1–0–1
3	L	October 22, 1974	2–5	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	1–1–1
4	L	October 23, 1974	1–4	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	1–2–1
5	W	October 31, 1974	4–2	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	2–2–1
6	L	November 2, 1974	2–4	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	2–3–1
7	W	November 8, 1974	2–1	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	3–3–1
8	L	November 10, 1974	1–4	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	3–4–1
9	W	November 14, 1974	2–1 OT	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	4–4–1
10	W	November 15, 1974	5–3	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	5–4–1
11	L	November 19, 1974	5–6	Toronto Toros (1974–75)	5–5–1
12	L	November 22, 1974	2–3	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	5–6–1
13	W	November 24, 1974	3–1	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	6–6–1
14	W	November 27, 1974	5–4 OT	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	7–6–1
15	W	November 29, 1974	4–2	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	8–6–1
16	W	November 30, 1974	5–4	@ Houston Aeros (1974–75)	9–6–1
17	L	December 4, 1974	2–3	New England Whalers (1974–75)	9–7–1
18	W	December 7, 1974	3–1	San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	10–7–1
19	L	December 10, 1974	3–4	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	10–8–1
20	L	December 12, 1974	2–5	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	10–9–1
21	L	December 13, 1974	6–7 OT	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)	10–10–1
22	L	December 15, 1974	1–2	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	10–11–1
23	L	December 17, 1974	3–8	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	10–12–1
24	L	December 19, 1974	0–1	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	10–13–1
25	W	December 20, 1974	3–0	New England Whalers (1974–75)	11–13–1
26	L	December 22, 1974	0–3	Houston Aeros (1974–75)	11–14–1
27	W	December 23, 1974	4–1	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)	12–14–1
28	W	December 27, 1974	4–3	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	13–14–1
29	L	December 28, 1974	2–3 OT	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	13–15–1
30	L	December 29, 1974	0–6	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)	13–16–1
31	L	December 31, 1974	3–4	Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	13–17–1
32	L	January 1, 1975	2–6	@ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)	13–18–1
33	W	January 2, 1975	4–1	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	14–18–1
34	L	January 4, 1975	0–2	San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	14–19–1
35	L	January 5, 1975	3–4	Toronto Toros (1974–75)	14–20–1
36	T	January 7, 1975	4–4	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	14–20–2
37	W	January 10, 1975	6–4	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	15–20–2
38	W	January 12, 1975	4–2	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	16–20–2
39	L	January 15, 1975	2–4	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)	16–21–2
40	L	January 16, 1975	2–4	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	16–22–2
41	W	January 18, 1975	2–1	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	17–22–2
42	L	January 19, 1975	4–9	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	17–23–2
43	W	January 23, 1975	5–3	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	18–23–2
44	W	January 25, 1975	2–1	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	19–23–2
45	L	January 27, 1975	0–2	@ New England Whalers (1974–75)	19–24–2
46	L	January 28, 1975	3–4	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	19–25–2
47	W	January 29, 1975	6–2	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	20–25–2
48	W	January 31, 1975	2–0	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	21–25–2
49	L	February 2, 1975	3–4	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	21–26–2
50	W	February 5, 1975	3–2	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	22–26–2
51	W	February 6, 1975	4–0	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	23–26–2
52	L	February 7, 1975	1–4	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)	23–27–2
53	L	February 9, 1975	1–4	Houston Aeros (1974–75)	23–28–2
54	W	February 12, 1975	5–3	Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	24–28–2
55	W	February 14, 1975	3–2	San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	25–28–2
56	L	February 15, 1975	1–5	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	25–29–2
57	L	February 17, 1975	1–2	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)	25–30–2
58	L	February 19, 1975	3–5	Minnesota Fighting Saints (1974–75)	25–31–2
59	W	February 22, 1975	4–3	Toronto Toros (1974–75)	26–31–2
60	L	February 23, 1975	0–6	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	26–32–2
61	L	February 26, 1975	5–9	@ Houston Aeros (1974–75)	26–33–2
62	T	March 1, 1975	4–4	@ New England Whalers (1974–75)	26–33–3
63	W	March 4, 1975	3–1	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	27–33–3
64	L	March 5, 1975	2–4	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	27–34–3
65	W	March 8, 1975	6–5	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	28–34–3
66	L	March 12, 1975	0–2	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	28–35–3
67	W	March 14, 1975	3–0	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	29–35–3
68	L	March 16, 1975	1–2	Houston Aeros (1974–75)	29–36–3
69	L	March 17, 1975	2–3	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	29–37–3
70	W	March 19, 1975	5–4	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	30–37–3
71	W	March 22, 1975	5–1	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	31–37–3
72	W	March 26, 1975	4–2	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	32–37–3
73	L	March 27, 1975	3–5	@ New England Whalers (1974–75)	32–38–3
74	W	March 29, 1975	7–5	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	33–38–3
75	W	March 30, 1975	7–6	Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	34–38–3
76	L	April 1, 1975	2–3 OT	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	34–39–3
77	L	April 2, 1975	6–7	@ Houston Aeros (1974–75)	34–40–3
78	W	April 5, 1975	5–2	New England Whalers (1974–75)	35–40–3

Playoffs

Houston Aeros 4, Cleveland Crusaders 1 - Quarterfinals

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 10	Cleveland Crusaders	5–8	Houston Aeros	0–1
2	April 12	Cleveland Crusaders	3–5	Houston Aeros	0–2
3	April 13	Houston Aeros	1–3	Cleveland Crusaders	1–2
4	April 15	Houston Aeros	7–2	Cleveland Crusaders	1–3
5	April 17	Cleveland Crusaders	1–3	Houston Aeros	1–4

Player stats

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Rich Leduc C 78 35 31 66 122 12 5 0 0 Al McDonough RW 78 34 30 64 27 -11 12 0 0 Ron Ward C 73 30 32 62 18 7 5 0 0 Jim Harrison C 60 20 22 42 106 -8 6 0 0 Gary Jarrett LW 77 17 24 41 70 8 1 0 0 Gerry Pinder LW 74 13 28 41 71 -6 4 0 0 Skip Krake C 71 15 23 38 108 9 1 0 0 Grant Erickson LW 78 12 15 27 24 2 0 2 0 Russ Walker RW 66 14 11 25 80 16 0 0 0 Terry Holbrook RW 78 10 13 23 7 -10 0 0 0 Tom Edur D 61 3 20 23 28 -4 0 0 0 Steve Cardwell LW 75 9 13 22 127 -3 0 1 0 Ray Clearwater D 66 4 18 22 51 4 0 0 0 Paul Shmyr D 49 7 14 21 103 11 3 0 0 Wayne Muloin D 78 4 17 21 65 -6 0 1 0 Larry Hillman D 77 0 16 16 83 -6 0 0 0 John Stewart C 59 4 7 11 8 5 0 0 0 Wayne Hillman D 60 2 9 11 37 3 0 0 0 Ron F. Anderson D 39 0 9 9 10 7 0 0 0 Robbie Neale C 9 1 3 4 4 0 0 0 0 Ron Buchanan C 4 2 0 2 2 0 1 0 0 Gerry Cheevers G 52 0 1 1 59 0 0 0 0 Paul Baxter D 5 0 0 0 37 1 0 0 0 Bob Whidden G 29 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO Gerry Cheevers 3076 52 26 24 2 167 3.26 4 Bob Whidden 1654 29 9 16 1 89 3.23 0 Team: 4730 78 35 40 3 256 3.25 4

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Gerry Pinder LW 5 3 1 4 6 0 0 0 Larry Hillman D 5 1 3 4 0 0 0 1 Al McDonough RW 5 2 1 3 2 0 0 0 Paul Shmyr D 5 2 1 3 15 0 0 0 Jim Harrison C 5 1 2 3 4 0 0 0 Tom Edur D 5 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 Ray Clearwater D 4 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 Skip Krake C 5 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 Wayne Hillman D 5 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 Rich Leduc C 5 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 Ron Ward C 5 0 2 2 2 0 0 0 Russ Walker RW 5 1 0 1 17 0 0 0 Steve Cardwell LW 5 0 1 1 14 0 0 0 Terry Holbrook RW 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Gary Jarrett LW 5 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Wayne Muloin D 5 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 Gerry Cheevers G 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Grant Erickson LW 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 John Stewart C 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO Gerry Cheevers 300 5 1 4 23 4.60 0 Team: 300 5 1 4 23 4.60 0

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;

Draft picks

Cleveland's draft picks at the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft.

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
WHA Secret Amateur Draft
1	10	Doug Risebrough (F)	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHA)
1	13	Bruce Affleck (D)	Canada	University of Denver (WCHA)
2	25	John Stewart (C)	Canada	Bowling Green State University (CCHA)
WHA Amateur Draft
1	11	Paul Baxter (D)	Canada	Winnipeg Clubs (WCHL)
2	26	Charlie Simmer (F)	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)
4	49	Jamie Hislop (F)	Canada	University of New Hampshire (ECAC)
5	70	Mike Thompson (D)	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
6	85	Tom Lindskog (D)	Canada	University of Michigan (WCHA)
7	100	Harvey Stewart (G)	Canada	Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
8	115	Steve Colp (C)	Canada	Michigan Americans (SOJHL)
9	130	Jack Brownschidle (D)	United States	University of Notre Dame (WCHA)
10	143	Serge Gamelin (RW)	Canada	Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
11	157	Glen McLeod (D)	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
12	170	Doug Allan (G)	Canada	New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
13	181	Gordon Stewart (F)	Canada	Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL)

See also

• 1974–75 WHA season