 They became the class of the West overnight, rampaging to a 46–17–15 record and an easy first-place finish.With second-year goalie Tony Esposito (Phil's younger brother and winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy for Rookie of the Year the previous season), Hull, his younger brother Dennis, Mikita and sterling defensemen Stapleton, Keith Magnuson and Bill White, the Hawks reached the Stanley Cup Final, losing to the Canadiens.A critical blow to the franchise came in , though, with the start of the World Hockey Association (WHA).