1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders Roster
Team Record: 43-32-3 - 89 points
Finishing 2nd in the WHA's WHA East Division
Postseason: 5-4
Lost AVCO Cup semi-finals
Division Semi-Finals - Defeated Philadelphia Blazers 4-0
Division Finals - Lost to New England Whalers 4-1
Coach: Bill Needham (43-32-3)
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders Results
The Cleveland Crusaders of the World Hockey Association ended the 1972-73 season with a record of 43 wins and 32 losses and 3 ties for 89 points, finishing second in the WHA's WHA East Division. The team compiled a postseason mark of 5-4.
The Crusaders gave up 239 goals, the lowest total in the circuit. Cleveland netted 287 goals. Gary Jarrett scored 40 goals for the team, while Ron Buchanan and Gerry Pinder tallied 30 or more as well. Ron Buchanan contributed 44 assists. Gerry Cheevers earned 32 wins in front of the net for the squad and a team-best 2.84 goals against average, pacing goaltenders with enough qualifying appearances.
Bill Needham coached the team. The 1972-73 Cleveland Crusaders lost in the AVCO Cup semi-finals.
Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Pos. | Birth Date | Height | Weight | S/C | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Andrea | R | July 31, 1941 | 5'10" | 174 | L | North Sydney, NS Canada |
| Blake Ball | D | February 25, 1938 | 6'3" | 210 | L | Berks Falls, ON Canada |
| Doug Brindley | C | June 8, 1949 | 6'1" | 175 | L | Walkerton, ON Canada |
| Ron Buchanan | C | November 15, 1944 | 6'3" | 170 | L | Montreal, QC Canada |
| Gerry Cheevers | G | December 7, 1940 | 5'11" | 185 | L | St. Catharines, ON Canada |
| Ray Clearwater | D | November 10, 1942 | 5'11" | 175 | L | Winnipeg, MB Canada |
| Bob Dillabough | C | April 27, 1941 | 5'10" | 180 | L | Belleville, ON Canada |
| Grant Erickson | L | April 28, 1947 | 5'9" | 165 | L | Pierceland, SK Canada |
| John Hanna | D | April 5, 1935 | 5'11" | 175 | R | Sydney, NS Canada |
| Joe Hardy | C | December 5, 1945 | 6'0" | 185 | L | Kenogami, QC Canada |
| Ted Hodgson | R | June 30, 1945 | 5'11" | 185 | R | Hobbema, AB Canada |
| Ralph Hopiavouri | D | July 15, 1951 | 6'1" | 185 | R | Kirkland Lake, ON Canada |
| Bill Horton | D | September 5, 1946 | 6'0" | 180 | L | Lindsay, ON Canada |
| Gary Jarrett | L | September 3, 1942 | 5'8" | 170 | L | Toronto, ON Canada |
| Skip Krake | C | October 14, 1943 | 5'11" | 170 | R | North Battleford, SK Canada |
| Jim McMasters | D | September 20, 1952 | 5'10" | 195 | L | High River, AB Canada |
| Wayne Muloin | D | December 24, 1941 | 5'8" | 175 | L | Dryden, ON Canada |
| Gerry Pinder | R | September 15, 1948 | 5'8" | 165 | R | Saskatoon, SK Canada |
| Rich Pumple | L | February 11, 1948 | 6'3" | 200 | L | Kirkland Lake, ON Canada |
| Al Rycroft | R | January 9, 1950 | 5'9" | 170 | R | Beaver Lodge, AB Canada |
| Paul Shmyr | D | January 28, 1946 | 5'11" | 170 | L | Cudworth, SK Canada |
| Bob Whidden | G | July 27, 1946 | 5'10" | 165 | R | Sudbury, ON Canada |
| Jim Wiste | C | February 18, 1946 | 5'10" | 185 | L | Moose Jaw, SK Canada |
