TORONTO MORNINGSTARS
GM's: kruezer & papershoes
Coach: Bill Dineen, Bobby Kromm
Captain: Al Hamilton
Assistant Captain: Paul Shmyr, Rick Ley
#8 Robbie Ftorek - #17 Mike Rogers - #17 Blaine Stoughton
#12 Morris Lukowich - #7 Andre Lacroix - #9 Real Cloutier
#27 Marty Howe - #23 Christian Bordeleau - #21 Serge Bernier
#24 Bobby Guindon - #88 Terry Ruskowski - #16 Rich Preston
extra: #11 Peter Sullivan
#2 Rick Ley (C) - #3 Al Hamilton (C)
#10 Gordie Roberts - #6 Paul Shmyr (A)
#60 Ron Plumb - #88 Jim Dorey
extra: #4 Barry Long
#31 Ron Grahame
#1 Joe Daley
PP1: Robbie Ftorek - Mike Rogers - Blaine Stoughton - Rick Ley - Al Hamilton
PP2: Serge Bernier - Andre Lacroix - Real Cloutier - Paul Shmyr - Ron Plumb
PK1: Bobby Guindon - Rich Preston - Paul Shmyr - Gordie Roberts
PK2: Terry Ruskowski - Andre Lacroix - Rick Ley - Al Hamilton
#9 Real Cloutier -- Right Wing
Real succeeded the legendary Guy Lafleur and, while challenging his scoring records, led the Remparts to two consecutive Memorial Cup appearances. Cloutier and Lafleur would be compared throughout their brilliant careers. Lafleur of course went on to become the National Hockey League's most explosive player in the mid to late 1970s. Real also starred in Quebec, but in the rebel league, and put up equally mind-boggling goal scoring totals. Many argued that Cloutier was every bit as explosive and good as The Flower.(Greatest Hockey Legends)
#7 Andre Lacroix -- Centre
Andre, was a superb playmaker, solid goal scorer, and fine defensive player. He was also considered one of the best face-off men in the game.(Chidlovski)
#17 Mike Rogers -- Centre
His success was based on his quick skating, good shot, which he could release off-stride, and his ability to dart and spin into the corners against bigger wingers while emerging with the puck.(Legends of Hockey)
#6 Paul Shmyr -- Defence
Known as a team leader, Paul Shmyr a talented defenceman began his NHL career with a brief three game stint with the Chicago Blackhawks...Shmyr would also be honoured for his defensive skills by winning the Dennis A. Murphy Trophy as the WHA's top defenceman for 1976.(Legends of Hockey)
#17 Blaine Stoughton -- Right Wing
Blaine Stoughton was a fantastically skilled hockey player. Nicknamed "Stash," Blaine had a way of stashing pucks into the back of the net.(Greatest Hockey Legends)
#2 Rick Ley -- Defence
Rugged defenceman Rick Ley spent six years in the NHL. He was also one of a small group of players that was around for all seven seasons of the WHA....He rushed the puck well and played an abrasive style in his own end.(Legends of Hockey)
#21 Serge Bernier -- Right Wing / Centre
Right-winger Serge Bernier was a fine playmaker and scorer in the NHL who became an explosive force with the WHA's Quebec Nordiques. He was a good skater whose 190-pound frame allowed him to stand his ground in front of the net.(Legends of Hockey)
#8 Robbie Ftorek -- Left Wing / Centre
Robbie Ftorek was a skilled forward who made his presence felt in the NHL, WHA, and internationally. Although he was only 155 lbs., the crafty forward was lightning quick and able to avoid many hits during his career.(Legends of Hockey)
#24 Bobby Guindon -- Left Wing
Guindon was an important two-way forward on the powerhouse Jets who featured such stars as Bobby Hull, Anders Hedberg, Ulf Nilsson and Lars Erik Sjoberg. After scoring eight goals while helping the Jets win the Avco Cup in 1978, Guindon won the WHA Playoff MVP trophy.(Legends of Hockey)
#16 Rich Preston -- Right Wing
Rich Preston was a fantastic defensive forward during the 1980s with Chicago, also spending 2 seasons in New Jersey. He was also a standout in the WHA...He was a student of the game and had a good understanding of any situation on the ice. He was a key penalty killer for Chicago as well...An aggressive player despite an average build, Preston was excellent in the corners, a poor man's John Tonelli.(Greatest Hockey Legends)
#10 Gordie Roberts -- Defence
Gordie Roberts never seemed to lack two things: Experience and cool nerves. He played like he always wanted the puck. Just as it seemed like he was holding on to it too long in the face of on-coming forecheking, the vetern would somehow make a great pass or find some open ice.(North Stars Hockey)
#12 Morris Lukowich -- Left Wing
Little Morris Lukowich was an explosive player - both in terms of speed and scoring. He also added a bit of sandpaper to his game, playing with admirable grit.(Greatest Hockey Legends)
#31 Ron Grahame -- Goalie
Netminder Ron Grahame split his pro career between the WHA and NHL in the 70s and 80s. He was a solid technical player who was best known for his play on the Gordie Howe-led Houston Aeros.(Legends of Hockey)
#1 Joe Daley -- Goalie
Underutilized and underappreciated, he made the jump to the WHA for the beginning of the league backstopping the Jets, and ended his career there seven seasons later. He was instrumental in taking the team to the post season six times and the big dance five times, winning the big prize four of them. He played for Team Canada in the '74 Summit Series and finished among the top goalies, with a 3.45 GAA and 12 shutouts. (whahockey.com)
#3 Al Hamilton -- Defence
Hamilton put up some decent offensive numbers in his day, scoring 53 goals and 311 points in 455 WHA games. He was solid in his own zone too, blessed with fluid skating and good size, and the knowledge of how to best use both to his advantage...Hamilton was the Oilers undisputed leader back in the WHA, and a true team player.(Greatest Hockey Legends)
#88 Terry Ruskowski -- Centre
After establishing his territory in the league, he developed a playmaker's vision that would serve him well throughout his career...His 556 Pim's gave a clear indication that he was a guy who never backed down...Ruskowski was one of the top players in WHA history.(Greatest Hockey Legends)
#60 Ron Plumb -- Defence
Plumb returned to Cincinnati in 1975-76 and spent the better part of the next three seasons with the Stingers capturing WHA First Team All-Star honors and the Dennis A. Murphy Trophy (WHA Top Defenseman) in 1977 before being traded to the WHA's New England Whalers midway through the 1977-78 season.(Legends of Hockey)
WHA AWARDS AND STATISTICS
AVCO Cup Winners - 16
Real Cloutier (1977)
Rick Ley (1973)
Serge Bernier (1977)
Bobby Guindon (1976, 1978, 1979)
Rich Preston (1975, 1979)
Morris Lukowich (1979)
Ron Grahame (1974, 1975)
Joe Daley (1976, 1978, 1979)
Terry Ruskowski (1975, 1979)
Gary L. Davidson Award (WHA MVP) - 1
Robbie Ftorek (1977)
Bill Hunter Trophy (Top Scorer) - 4
Real Cloutier (1977, 1979)
Andre Lacroix (1973, 1975)
Dennis A. Murphy Trophy (Top Defenceman) - 3
Paul Shmyr (1976)
Rick Ley (1979)
Ron Plumb (1977)
Playoff MVP - 4
Serge Bernier (1977)
Bobby Guindon (1978)
Rich Preston (1979)
Ron Grahame (1975)
Ben Hatskin Trophy (Top Goalie) - 2
Ron Grahame (1975, 1977)
First Team All-Star - 14
Real Cloutier (1979)
Andre Lacroix (1973, 1974, 1975)
Paul Shmyr (1973, 1974, 1976)
Rick Ley (1979)
Robbie Ftorek (1977, 1979)
Ron Grahame (1975)
Joe Daley (1976)
Ron Plumb (1977)
Al Hamilton (1978)
Second Team All-Star - 12
Real Cloutier (1976, 1977, 1978)
Paul Shmyr (1979)
Rick Ley (1978)
Serge Bernier (1975)
Robbie Ftorek (1976, 1978)
Morris Lukowich (1979)
Ron Grahame (1976)
Joe Daley (1977)
Al Hamilton (1974)
Top-10 In Assists
Real Cloutier - 3rd, 4th, 8th
Andre Lacroix - 1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th
Mike Rogers - 6th (NHL), 9th (NHL)
Serge Bernier - 4th, 9th, 10th
Robbie Ftorek - 1st, 4th, 5th
Gordie Roberts - 10th
Ron Plumb - 10th
Terry Ruskowski - 3rd, 8th, 10th
Top-10 In Goals
Real Cloutier - 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 4th
Andre Lacroix - 5th
Blaine Stoughton - 1st (NHL), 4th, 6th (NHL)
Serge Bernier - 2nd, 10th, 10th
Robbie Ftorek - 3rd, 7th, 8th
Morris Lukowich - 2nd, 9th
Top-10 In Points
Real Cloutier - 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Andre Lacroix - 1st, 1st, 2nd, 5th, 6th, 8th
Blaine Stoughton - 8th (NHL), 9th
Mike Rogers - 5th (NHL), 7th (NHL)
Serge Bernier - 3rd, 9th, 9th, 10th
Robbie Ftorek - 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th
Morris Lukowich - 6th
Terry Ruskowski - 9th
