The 1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season was the fourth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA) franchise and first in Calgary, Alberta. The Vancouver Blazers relocated to Calgary prior to the season. The Cowboys qualified for the playoffs, losing in the second round to the Winnipeg Jets.
Regular season In their first season, the Cowboys were not expected to ice a strong team, having inherited a franchise that finished in a last place tie with the Oilers the previous year. Calgary finished 41–35–4 however, as a 44-goal season by Danny Lawson and 42 goals from Ron Chipperfield helped the Cowboys finish a surprising third in the Canadian division.
Final standings
Schedule and results
|1||L||October 12, 1975||0–2 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||0–1–0
|2||W||October 14, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||1–1–0
|3||L||October 17, 1975||2–6 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||1–2–0
|4||L||October 22, 1975||1–2 || align="left"| Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) ||1–3–0
|5||L||October 24, 1975||3–4 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||1–4–0
|6||L||October 26, 1975||1–3 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1975–76) ||1–5–0
|7||W||October 29, 1975||3–1 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||2–5–0
|8||W||October 30, 1975||7–5 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||3–5–0
|9||L||November 1, 1975||2–3 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||3–6–0
|10||W||November 2, 1975||4–3 OT|| align="left"| New England Whalers (1975–76) ||4–6–0
|11||T||November 4, 1975||4–4 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||4–6–1
|12||W||November 5, 1975||4–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||5–6–1
|13||W||November 7, 1975||5–2 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||6–6–1
|14||W||November 11, 1975||6–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||7–6–1
|15||L||November 13, 1975||2–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||7–7–1
|16||W||November 16, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1975–76) ||8–7–1
|17||L||November 18, 1975||2–6 || align="left"| San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||8–8–1
|18||W||November 21, 1975||6–2 || align="left"| @ Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics (1975–76) ||9–8–1
|19||W||November 22, 1975||6–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||10–8–1
|20||W||November 27, 1975||5–1 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||11–8–1
|21||W||November 29, 1975||5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||12–8–1
|22||L||November 30, 1975||2–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||12–9–1
|23||L||December 3, 1975||3–4 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||12–10–1
|24||W||December 5, 1975||8–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||13–10–1
|25||W||December 7, 1975||5–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||14–10–1
|26||W||December 9, 1975||4–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||15–10–1
|27||L||December 11, 1975||2–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||15–11–1
|28||L||December 12, 1975||2–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||15–12–1
|29||T||December 14, 1975||3–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||15–12–2
|30||L||December 16, 1975||3–7 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||15–13–2
|31||W||December 19, 1975||5–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||16–13–2
|32||L||December 20, 1975||7–8 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||16–14–2
|33||W||December 23, 1975||10–1 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||17–14–2
|34||W||December 26, 1975||5–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||18–14–2
|35||W||December 28, 1975||6–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||19–14–2
|36||W||January 1, 1976||5–1 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||20–14–2
|37||W||January 2, 1976||3–1 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||21–14–2
|38||L||January 3, 1976||3–6 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||21–15–2
|39||W||January 6, 1976||5–0 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||22–15–2
|40||W||January 7, 1976||3–1 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||23–15–2
|41||L||January 15, 1976||3–5 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||23–16–2
|42||W||January 17, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1975–76) ||24–16–2
|43||W||January 20, 1976||10–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||25–16–2
|44||L||January 21, 1976||1–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||25–17–2
|45||L||January 23, 1976||0–2 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1975–76) ||25–18–2
|46||L||January 25, 1976||3–5 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1975–76) ||25–19–2
|47||L||January 28, 1976||0–5 || align="left"| @ Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||25–20–2
|48||L||January 29, 1976||0–1 || align="left"| @ San Diego Mariners (1975–76) ||25–21–2
|49||W||February 3, 1976||3–2 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||26–21–2
|50||L||February 5, 1976||4–6 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1975–76) ||26–22–2
|51||T||February 7, 1976||4–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||26–22–3
|52||L||February 8, 1976||4–8 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||26–23–3
|53||W||February 10, 1976||4–3 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||27–23–3
|54||W||February 13, 1976||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1975–76) ||28–23–3
|55||L||February 15, 1976||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1975–76) ||28–24–3
|56||L||February 18, 1976||0–4 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||28–25–3
|57||L||February 20, 1976||3–6 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1975–76) ||28–26–3
|58||W||February 22, 1976||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||29–26–3
|59||T||February 24, 1976||3–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||29–26–4
|60||W||February 25, 1976||5–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||30–26–4
|61||W||February 27, 1976||5–4 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1975–76) ||31–26–4
|62||L||February 29, 1976||2–5 || align="left"| Phoenix Roadrunners (1975–76) ||31–27–4
|63||W||March 2, 1976||6–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||32–27–4
|64||L||March 3, 1976||4–6 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||32–28–4
|65||W||March 4, 1976||4–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||33–28–4
|66||L||March 6, 1976||2–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||33–29–4
|67||L||March 7, 1976||1–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||33–30–4
|68||W||March 9, 1976||7–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||34–30–4
|69||W||March 11, 1976||2–0 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||35–30–4
|70||W||March 16, 1976||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1975–76) ||36–30–4
|71||L||March 17, 1976||2–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||36–31–4
|72||W||March 20, 1976||8–7 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||37–31–4
|73||L||March 23, 1976||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||37–32–4
|74||W||March 24, 1976||7–6 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1975–76) ||38–32–4
|75||L||March 26, 1976||1–4 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1975–76) ||38–33–4
|76||L||March 27, 1976||4–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1975–76) ||38–34–4
|77||W||March 28, 1976||5–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||39–34–4
|78||W||March 30, 1976||6–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1975–76) ||40–34–4
|79||W||April 2, 1976||4–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||41–34–4
|80||L||April 6, 1976||3–5 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1975–76) ||41–35–4
Legend:
Playoffs In the playoffs, the Cowboys met the Quebec Nordiques in the first round. The series is best known for one of hockey's most legendary brawls. The incident began when Calgary's Rick Jodzio cross-checked Quebec's Marc Tardif in the head, causing both teams to leave their benches. The brawl lasted 20 minutes, and ended only when Quebec police gathered at the players benches and escorted the teams back to their dressing rooms. The game resumed following a 20-minute break to allow both teams to cool down, then resumed without eleven players who were ejected from the game. The incident caught the attention of Quebec's Solicitor General Fernand Lalonde, who had the incident investigated as a criminal matter. Jodzio was suspended indefinitely by the league, and later pleaded guilty in a Quebec court to a charge of assault over the incident. Cowboys coach Joe Crozier was suspended for the rest of the series.
Calgary went on to defeat the Nordiques, who had finished 18-points ahead of Calgary in the regular season, but were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round. The team never really captured the attention of Calgarians, as fewer than 5,000 fans, on average, attended playoff games against the Jets.
| 1 || April 10 || Calgary Cowboys || 3–1 || Quebec Nordiques || 1–0
| 2 || April 11 || Calgary Cowboys || 8–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–1
| 3 || April 14 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–3 || Calgary Cowboys || 3–1
| 4 || April 16 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–3 || Calgary Cowboys || 3–1
| 5 || April 18 || Calgary Cowboys || 6–4 || Quebec Nordiques || 4–1
| 1 || April 23 || Calgary Cowboys || 1–6 || Winnipeg Jets || 0–1
| 2 || April 25 || Calgary Cowboys || 2–3 || Winnipeg Jets || 0–2
| 3 || April 28 || Winnipeg Jets || 6–3 || Calgary Cowboys || 0–3
| 4 || April 30 || Winnipeg Jets || 3–7 || Calgary Cowboys || 1–3
| 5 || May 2 || Calgary Cowboys || 0–4 || Winnipeg Jets || 1–4
Legend:
Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG RW 80 44 52 96 4613745 C 75 42 41 83 32131905 LW 79 25 32 57 135710 LW 79 26 28 54 1965524 LW 72 25 24 49 339705 LW 78 25 24 49 106155 C 51 17 17 34 86600 LW 75 16 18 34 12712206 LW 57 10 22 32 2610101 D 71 3 28 31 6211100 RW 58 11 15 26 6-2000 D 75 3 20 23 5012100 D 69 2 21 23 6631000 RW 39 8 12 20 47010 C 38 7 11 18 190002 C 21 5 13 18 43102 LW 47 10 7 17 1375002 D 42 0 16 16 33-6000 C 15 7 8 15 148101 C 30 5 9 14 65000 C 30 5 9 14 19-7002 C 21 4 10 14 22010 G 63 0 13 13 40000 RW 15 5 2 7 18-5001 D 58 2 4 6 22-3010 D 28 0 5 5 64000 D 29 0 5 5 143000 D 31 0 3 3 64000 D 9 0 2 2 232000 LW 6 0 1 1 2-2000 D 4 0 0 0 2-4000 D 1 0 0 0 00000 LW 1 0 0 0 0-2000 G 8 0 0 0 00000 D 5 0 0 0 21000 C 3 0 0 0 290000 RW 3 0 0 0 00000 C 2 0 0 0 00000 G 19 0 0 0 40000Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO 3534 63 30 27 3 206 3.50 1 880 19 9 3 1 45 3.07 1 441 8 2 5 0 27 3.67 0 Team: 4855 80 41 35 4 278 3.44 2 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG D 10 5 5 10 4000 C 10 4 6 10 19000 C 10 5 4 9 6000 C 10 5 4 9 2000 RW 9 4 4 8 19000 RW 10 3 4 7 8000 LW 10 2 5 7 41000 LW 10 2 5 7 8000 D 10 0 6 6 6000 LW 10 3 2 5 0000 C 3 2 0 2 0000 D 9 0 2 2 4000 D 7 0 2 2 0000 RW 10 1 0 1 28000 LW 8 0 1 1 14000 G 10 0 1 1 4000 D 10 0 1 1 10000 LW 8 0 1 1 8000 D 6 0 1 1 19000 C 1 0 0 0 0000 D 2 0 0 0 2000 G 1 0 0 0 0000 LW 3 0 0 0 0000 LW 2 0 0 0 14000 D 8 0 0 0 2000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO 579 10 5 5 37 3.83 0 20 1 0 0 0 0.00 0 Team: 599 10 5 5 37 3.71 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 Calgary's draft picks at the 1975 WHA Amateur Draft.