1971-72 Regular Season

The 1971-72 season would prove to be an interesting one specifically in the Pacific Division, Where for the first time, a former GHL franchise won their Division. The LA Wizards, led by the young dynamic duo of Stuart Holly and Ray Fowler, managed to take the Division, while Calgary, Winnipeg, and Vancouver engaged in a battle for the last two playoff spots that came right down to the final day of the season. Holly and Fowler quickly put the Wizards on the sporting map in LA. In a market crowded with successful PBL and PFL franchises, suddenly attending a Wizards' game became the cool thing to do, as the South Los Angeles Colosseum became the place to be for some of Hollywood's biggest stars.
Meanwhile, it was a tough season in Toronto, where the aging Racers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1954. Young goaltender Ralph Morello showed some signs of promise, but ultimately seemed unprepared for the challenge of leading a team to the playoffs. Montreal would win the Northeast Division, while Quebec, projected to miss the playoffs again, enjoyed a surprisingly strong season, finishing second with 41 wins, while Ottawa managed to squeak past Toronto into the post-season. In the Central, Detroit and Minnesota battled it out all year for the Division title, which ultimately went to the Lumberjacks, who enjoyed a stellar performance from their superstar goaltender Bobby Sorel. The newly relocated Denver Bulls showed slight improvement, winning 30 games. However, it was not enough to pull them out of last place in the division.In the Atlantic Division, the defending champion Boston Bulldogs struggled through several key injuries but still managed to finish second in the division, while Nova Scotia once again took the division title. In the meantime, it proved to be a very tough season in New York, where the Civics lost star defenseman Freddie Huff as well as goaltender Gil Brady to long-term injuries. While Brady missed the remainder of the season, Huff was able to return for the final few games, however, it was too late as the Civics slipped out of the playoffs, allowing Philadelphia back into the postseason for the first time since the merger.

One of the biggest stories of the season took place in Vancouver, where the Bighorns managed to stay afloat most of the season. Tragedy struck on February 15, 1972, however. The Bighorns were on the road against the California Nuggets when Vancouver captain Jim Cobb attempted to throw a big hit along the boards. Cobb missed his man, striking his head against the glass, then the ice, severely  fracturing his skull. Cobb was in a coma for three weeks as doctors worked around the clock, trying to save his life. Cobb survived, but suffered severe spinal and brain damage, his career was over and doctor's wondered if he would even walk again. . The incident immediately sparked furious debates about player safety that would carry on into the off-season as team owners discussed everything from mandatory helmets to safer glass and boards, while the Bighorns created the James Cobb Award, which would be awarded to the team MVP each year. As the 1972 playoffs approached, Vancouver still looked like they could reach the post-season. The team wore a patch on their jerseys for their last few games as a tribute to their captain and were determined to make him proud. Entering the final game of the season against Calgary, Vancouver needed to win, while Winnipeg only needed a tie in their game against LA. The Bighorns managed to send a tough game against the Wranglers to overtime, but discovered in the intermission the devastating news that Winnipeg had beaten LA in the third period when the playoff-bound Wizards decided to rest their stars. Vancouver's post-season hopes were dashed. However, just before overtime began, Jim Cobb paid the team a visit in the dressing room. sparked by Cobb's presence, the Bighorns scored 21 seconds into OT to finish their tough season with an emotional win. Heading into the postseason, Minnesota looked like the runaway favorites to win the Lewis Cup, with Montreal, Detroit, and Nova Scotia all looking very strong as well. Other dark horses included LA, Boston, and Quebec, who finished the regular season with a 9-game win streak. Meanwhile, Winnipeg Pioneers' head coach Brian Colson, who's team had dropped from the top of their division to the final playoff spot, vowed to prove his team belonged with the elite when the playoffs got underway.