The 1978–79 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 7th and final season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Oilers finished 1st in the league and lost to the Winnipeg Jets in the Avco World Trophy Finals 4 games to 2.
Off-season [ ]
Regular Season [ ]
Wayne Gretzky scores his last WHA regular season goal, April 18, 1979.
Nelson Skalbania , the owner of Indianapolis Racers , signed the 17 year old future super-star, Wayne Gretzky to, at that time, a whopping personal contract worth between 1.125 and 1.75 million dollars over 4 to 7 years. Skalbania, knowing that the WHA was fading, felt owning the young star was more valuable than owning a WHA team. Eight games into the season, though, Skalbania needed cash and liquidated his greatest asset to his old friend and former partner, Peter Pocklington , owner of the Oilers. Pocklington purchased Gretzky and two other Indianapolis players, goaltender Eddie Mio and forward Peter Driscoll paying $700,000 for the contracts of the three players, although the announced price was actually $850,000. On Gretzky's 18th birthday, (January 26, 1979), Pocklington signed him to a 21 year personal services contract worth between 4 and 5 million dollars, the longest in hockey history. Gretzky captured the Lou Kaplan Trophy for rookie of the year, finish third in league scoring, and help the Oilers to first overall in the league.
Final Standings [ ]
x-team folded during season
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties in Minutes
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Game Log [ ]
Regular Season Results
No.
R
Date
Score
Opponent
Record
1
W
October 13, 1978
3–2
Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
1–0–0
2
L
October 17, 1978
1–2
New England Whalers (1978–79 )
1–1–0
3
W
October 20, 1978
4–3
@ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79 )
2–1–0
4
L
October 21, 1978
3–4
@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
2–2–0
5
W
October 22, 1978
6–2
@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
3–2–0
6
L
October 24, 1978
2–3
Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
3–3–0
7
L
October 29, 1978
2–6
Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
3–4–0
8
L
October 31, 1978
4–5
Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
3–5–0
9
W
November 3, 1978
4–3 OT
Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
4–5–0
10
L
November 5, 1978
0–2
@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
4–6–0
11
W
November 8, 1978
6–5
@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
5–6–0
12
L
November 9, 1978
1–6
@ New England Whalers (1978–79 )
5–7–0
13
W
November 11, 1978
5–3
@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
6–7–0
14
L
November 12, 1978
3–5
@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
6–8–0
15
W
November 17, 1978
6–1
Indianapolis Racers (1978–79 )
7–8–0
16
W
November 19, 1978
6–3
Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
8–8–0
17
W
November 21, 1978
4–1
Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
9–8–0
18
W
November 24, 1978
4–3 OT
Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
10–8–0
19
W
November 28, 1978
8–2
Indianapolis Racers (1978–79 )
11–8–0
20
W
December 1, 1978
8–2
New England Whalers (1978–79 )
12–8–0
21
L
December 3, 1978
0–7
New England Whalers (1978–79 )
12–9–0
22
L
December 6, 1978
3–6
@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
12–10–0
23
L
December 7, 1978
3–5
@ New England Whalers (1978–79 )
12–11–0
24
L
December 9, 1978
2–6
@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
12–12–0
25
L
December 10, 1978
4–6
@ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79 )
12–13–0
26
W
December 12, 1978
5–2
@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
13–13–0
27
W
December 15, 1978
5–3
Soviet All-Stars (1978–79 )
14–13–0
28
W
December 19, 1978
5–2
@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
15–13–0
29
L
December 22, 1978
4–5
Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
15–14–0
30
L
December 26, 1978
3–5
@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
15–15–0
31
W
December 27, 1978
5–3
Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
16–15–0
32
W
December 30, 1978
5–1
Czechoslovakia (1978–79 )
17–15–0
33
L
January 9, 1979
3–4 OT
@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
17–16–0
34
W
January 13, 1979
3–0
@ New England Whalers (1978–79 )
18–16–0
35
W
January 16, 1979
3–1
Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
19–16–0
36
W
January 17, 1979
6–3
@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
20–16–0
37
W
January 19, 1979
11–3
Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
21–16–0
38
L
January 21, 1979
3–4
Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
21–17–0
39
W
January 23, 1979
5–1
New England Whalers (1978–79 )
22–17–0
40
L
January 26, 1979
2–5
Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
22–18–0
41
W
January 28, 1979
3–0
Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
23–18–0
42
L
January 31, 1979
3–6
@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
23–19–0
43
L
February 2, 1979
2–4
@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
23–20–0
44
L
February 4, 1979
3–6
@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
23–21–0
45
W
February 6, 1979
6–2
Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
24–21–0
46
W
February 7, 1979
8–5
Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
25–21–0
47
W
February 9, 1979
3–0
Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
26–21–0
48
W
February 11, 1979
4–3 OT
Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
27–21–0
49
W
February 13, 1979
6–1
Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
28–21–0
50
W
February 16, 1979
4–2
@ New England Whalers (1978–79 )
29–21–0
51
W
February 18, 1979
6–3
@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
30–21–0
52
W
February 20, 1979
8–2
New England Whalers (1978–79 )
31–21–0
53
W
February 23, 1979
3–1
Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
32–21–0
54
W
February 25, 1979
5–4
Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
33–21–0
55
T
February 27, 1979
1–1
New England Whalers (1978–79 )
33–21–1
56
W
March 2, 1979
5–2
Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
34–21–1
57
W
March 3, 1979
6–4
@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
35–21–1
58
L
March 6, 1979
3–4
@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
35–22–1
59
L
March 7, 1979
3–6
@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
35–23–1
60
T
March 9, 1979
4–4
@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
35–23–2
61
W
March 11, 1979
4–0
@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
36–23–2
62
L
March 13, 1979
1–5
@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
36–24–2
63
W
March 16, 1979
6–1
Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
37–24–2
64
L
March 18, 1979
2–7
Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
37–25–2
65
W
March 20, 1979
8–4
Finland (1978–79 )
38–25–2
66
W
March 21, 1979
7–4
@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
39–25–2
67
L
March 23, 1979
4–6
Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
39–26–2
68
W
March 25, 1979
6–5
@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
40–26–2
69
L
March 28, 1979
0–3
@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
40–27–2
70
W
March 30, 1979
3–1
@ New England Whalers (1978–79 )
41–27–2
71
W
April 1, 1979
5–3
@ New England Whalers (1978–79 )
42–27–2
72
W
April 3, 1979
5–1
@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79 )
43–27–2
73
L
April 4, 1979
2–4
@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79 )
43–28–2
74
W
April 6, 1979
7–2
New England Whalers (1978–79 )
44–28–2
75
W
April 8, 1979
5–4
Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
45–28–2
76
L
April 10, 1979
4–6
Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
45–29–2
77
W
April 13, 1979
6–4
@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
46–29–2
78
L
April 14, 1979
6–7
@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79 )
46–30–2
79
W
April 15, 1979
4–1
@ New England Whalers (1978–79 )
47–30–2
80
W
April 18, 1979
9–3
Winnipeg Jets (1978–79 )
48–30–2
Playoffs [ ]
Edmonton Oilers 4, New England Whalers 3 [ ]
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
Record
1
April 26
New England
2 – 6
Edmonton
0–1
2
April 27
New England
5 – 9
Edmonton
0–2
3
April 29
Edmonton
1 – 4
New England
2–1
4
May 1
Edmonton
4 – 5
New England
2–2
5
May 3
New England
2 – 5
Edmonton
2–3
6
May 6
Edmonton
8 – 4
New England
3–3
7
May 8
New England
3 – 6
Edmonton
3–4
Winnipeg Jets 4, Edmonton Oilers 2 [ ]
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
Record
1
May 11
Winnipeg Jets
3–1
Edmonton Oilers
1–0
2
May 13
Winnipeg Jets
3–2
Edmonton Oilers
2–0
3
May 15
Edmonton Oilers
8–3
Winnipeg Jets
1–2
4
May 16
Edmonton Oilers
2–3
Winnipeg Jets
1–3
5
May 18
Winnipeg Jets
2–10
Edmonton Oilers
3–2
6
May 20
Edmonton Oilers
3–7
Winnipeg Jets
2–4
Player Stats [ ]
Regular Season
Scoring
Player
Pos
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
+/-
PPG
SHG
GWG
Gretzky, Wayne Wayne Gretzky
C
72
43
61
104
19
23
9
0
0
MacDonald, Blair Blair MacDonald
RW
80
34
37
71
44
35
3
4
0
Callighen, Brett Brett Callighen
C
71
31
39
70
79
29
12
0
0
Chipperfield, Ron Ron Chipperfield
C
55
32
37
69
47
25
6
0
0
Flett, Bill Bill Flett
RW
73
28
36
64
14
26
9
0
0
Sobchuk, Dennis Dennis Sobchuk
C
74
26
37
63
31
24
6
1
0
Weir, Stan Stan Weir
C
68
31
30
61
20
24
3
0
0
Micheletti, Joe Joe Micheletti
D
72
14
33
47
85
10
3
0
0
Shmyr, Paul Paul Shmyr
D
80
8
39
47
119
37
0
0
0
Hamilton, Al Al Hamilton
D
80
6
38
44
38
22
2
0
0
Carlson, Steve Steve Carlson
C
73
18
22
40
50
15
4
3
0
Driscoll, Peter Peter Driscoll
LW
69
17
23
40
115
16
3
0
0
Hunter, Dave Dave Hunter
LW
72
7
25
32
134
7
0
0
0
Alexander, Claire Claire Alexander
D
54
8
23
31
16
-5
2
1
0
Langevin, Dave Dave Langevin
D
77
6
21
27
76
33
3
0
0
Semenko, Dave Dave Semenko
LW
77
10
14
24
158
-12
2
0
0
Hughes, John John Hughes
D
41
2
15
17
82
22
0
0
0
Berry, Doug Doug Berry
C
29
6
3
9
4
-9
1
0
0
Bailey, Garnet Garnet Bailey
LW
38
5
4
9
22
-8
1
0
0
Dryden, Dave Dave Dryden
G
63
0
8
8
0
0
0
0
0
Siltanen, Risto Risto Siltanen
D
20
3
4
7
4
4
0
0
0
Goldsworthy, Bill Bill Goldsworthy
RW
17
4
2
6
14
-3
0
0
0
Neilson, Jim Jim Neilson
D
35
0
5
5
18
5
0
0
0
Guite, Pierre Pierre Guite
LW
12
1
1
2
8
-5
1
0
0
Mio, Eddie Eddie Mio
G
22
0
1
1
2
0
0
0
0
Mayer, Jim Jim Mayer
RW
2
0
0
0
0
-2
0
0
0
Tajcnar, Rudy Rudy Tajcnar
D
2
0
0
0
0
-4
0
0
0
George, Wes Wes George
LW
3
0
0
0
11
1
0
0
0
Sandbeck, Cal Cal Sandbeck
D
6
0
0
0
2
-2
0
0
0
Kamppuri, Hannu Hannu Kamppuri
G
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Walsh, Ed Ed Walsh
G
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
T
GA
GAA
SO
Dryden, Dave Dave Dryden
3531
63
41
17
2
170
2.89
3
Mio, Eddie Eddie Mio
1068
22
7
10
0
71
3.99
1
Kamppuri, Hannu Hannu Kamppuri
90
2
0
1
0
10
6.67
0
Walsh, Ed Ed Walsh
144
3
0
2
0
9
3.75
0
Team:
4833
80
48
30
2
260
3.23
4
Playoffs
Scoring
Player
Pos
GP
G
A
Pts
PIM
PPG
SHG
GWG
Gretzky, Wayne Wayne Gretzky
C
13
10
10
20
2
0
0
1
Chipperfield, Ron Ron Chipperfield
C
13
9
10
19
8
0
0
0
MacDonald, Blair Blair MacDonald
RW
13
8
10
18
6
0
0
0
Callighen, Brett Brett Callighen
C
13
5
10
15
15
0
0
1
Sobchuk, Dennis Dennis Sobchuk
C
12
6
6
12
4
0
0
1
Hamilton, Al Al Hamilton
D
13
4
5
9
4
0
0
0
Micheletti, Joe Joe Micheletti
D
13
0
9
9
2
0
0
0
Siltanen, Risto Risto Siltanen
D
11
0
9
9
4
0
0
0
Flett, Bill Bill Flett
RW
10
5
2
7
2
0
0
1
Weir, Stan Stan Weir
C
13
2
5
7
2
0
0
1
Driscoll, Peter Peter Driscoll
LW
13
1
6
7
8
0
0
0
Semenko, Dave Dave Semenko
LW
11
4
2
6
29
0
0
0
Shmyr, Paul Paul Shmyr
D
13
1
5
6
23
0
0
0
Hunter, Dave Dave Hunter
LW
13
2
3
5
42
0
0
0
Gustafsson, Bengt-Ake Bengt-Ake Gustafsson
RW
2
1
2
3
0
0
0
0
Carlson, Steve Steve Carlson
C
11
1
1
2
12
0
0
0
Goldsworthy, Bill Bill Goldsworthy
RW
4
1
1
2
11
0
0
1
Hughes, John John Hughes
D
13
1
0
1
35
0
0
0
Dryden, Dave Dave Dryden
G
13
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
Langevin, Dave Dave Langevin
D
13
0
1
1
25
0
0
0
Bailey, Garnet Garnet Bailey
LW
2
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
Mio, Eddie Eddie Mio
G
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Goaltending
Player
MIN
GP
W
L
GA
GAA
SO
Dryden, Dave Dave Dryden
687
13
6
7
42
3.67
0
Mio, Eddie Eddie Mio
90
3
0
0
6
4.00
0
Team:
777
13
6
7
48
3.71
0
[1]
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
Awards and Records [ ]
Transactions [ ]
Draft Picks [ ]
Farm Teams [ ]
Gallery [ ]
From http://www.vintageedmonton.com
Video [ ]
Wayne Gretzky scores the first two goals of his professional career, October 20, 1978.
Wayne Gretzky First Two Pro Goals with the WHA Indy Racers
Game 6 of the 1979 Avco World Trophy Finals, last game in WHA history, May 20, 1979.
1979 Avco Cup - Edmonton Oilers At Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
See Also [ ]
References [ ]