On October 11th 1972, the Nordiques played their first game, with Rocket Richard at the helm, losing to the Cleveland Crusaders (led by goalie Gerry Cheevers) 2-0. After that first game, Richard (signed by the team's first GM Marius Fortier) felt the pressure of coaching was too stressful and he officially stepped down after two games, not wanting to "die behind the bench". This game also marked the beginning of Jean-Claude Tremblay's long and fruitful play with the Nordiques. His contract was for 5 seasons at $140,000 per season and he would end up with 89 points that first season as the team missed the playoffs. Québec had also tried and failed during the summer to acquire Jacques Lemaire, Guy Lapointe, Pierre Bouchard, Gilbert Perreault, and Jacques Richard. Most of the Nord players that first season were francophones: Serge Aubry, Richard Brodeur, Pierre Roy, Jacques Blain, François Lacombe, Michel Archambault, Jean-Guy Gendron, Michel Parizeau, Paul Larose, André Gaudette, Renald Leclerc, Alain Caron, Robert Guindon & Pierre Guité.
And so the adventure began.
Stats for the season:
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www.histoirenordiques.ca ··· 273.htmlPics of the players:
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www.histoirenordiques.ca ··· 273.htmlSource: »
www.histoirenordiques.ca ··· 273.htmlAlmost 7 years later, on October 10th 1979, Réal Cloutier would score a hat trick during Québec's first ever NHL game, a 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Flames at Le Colisée.