Real Cloutier was an absolute phenom in Quebec, and rather than wait for the age-restricted National Hockey League, he would go directly from the Quebec Ramparts of the QMJHL to the Quebec Nordiques of the WHA, where he could play professionally as an 18-year-old.

The Quebec Nordiques of the 1970s represented not just Quebec City, but they were also predominantly composed of French-Canadians.  One of those stars was Real Cloutier, an offensively skilled player who would win the WHA Scoring Title twice.  The Nordiques owned that award for four consecutive years, as his teammate, Marc Tardif won that honor in 1975-76 and 1977-78, with Cloutier capturing it in 1976-77 and 1977-79.  In those four years where the two Quebecers were trading the Bill Hunter Trophy (The WHA’s version of the Art Ross), Cloutier never had fewer than 114 Points and was a post-season All-Star (one First Team and three Second Team) Selection in all of those years.  He would also score 27 Points in the 1977 Avco Cup Playoffs, which Quebec won.