1978–79 New England Whalers season
| 1978–79 New England Whalers | |
|---|---|
| Division | 4th WHA |
| 1978–79 record | 37–34–9 |
| Home record | 22–19–0 |
| Road record | 15–15–9 |
| Goals for | 298 |
| Goals against | 287 |
| Team information | |
| General manager | Jack Kelley |
| Coach | Bill Dineen (33-29-9) Don Blackburn (4-5-0) |
| Captain | Rick Ley |
| Arena | Springfield Civic Center |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Mark Howe (42) |
| Assists | Mark Howe (65) |
| Points | Mark Howe (107) |
| Penalty minutes | Alan Hangsleben (148) |
| Wins | John Garrett (20) |
| Goals against average | Al Smith (3.31) |
The 1978–79 New England Whalers season was the seventh season of the Whalers' franchise. This was the second of three seasons where the Whalers played at Springfield Civic Center. This was the final season in the World Hockey Association, which ceased operations after the season. The Whalers (along with the Winnipeg Jets, the Edmonton Oilers, and the Quebec Nordiques) were admitted to the National Hockey League as expansion teams. The Whalers (as part of the agreement suggested by the Boston Bruins) changed their name to the Hartford Whalers. The Whalers made the playoffs, with only five teams participating in the postseason. Don Blackburn took over the team as coach before the season ended, and he became the first coach of the team in the NHL.