• Prior to the season, Canada took on the Soviet Union in the second Summit Series. Facing Canada's WHA players, the Soviet Union gained a measure of revenge from two years earlier, taking the series with a record of 4 and 1, with three ties.

• The WHA adds two expansion teams -- the Indianapolis Racers and the Phoenix Roadrunners, and it realigns in three divisions -- Canadian, Eastern and Western.

• After two strange years in New York and New Jersey, the Raiders/Golden Blades/Knights move to San Diego to become the Mariners.

• The Los Angeles Sharks move to Detroit to become the Michigan Stags. Unable to compete with the Red Wings at the box office, the Stags then move to Baltimore on January 18, 1975, to become the Baltimore Blades. The team would fold at season's end, along with the Chicago Cougars.

• The Gordie Howe-led Houston Aeros make it two in a row, sweeping the Quebec Nordiques to win their second straight Avco Cup title.