TORONTO (CP) – The World Hockey Association may or may not operate as an independent league next season, but if it does it will be ready to do battle with the National Hockey League for some of the best graduates of amateur ranks. The nine WHA teams still in existence after the demise of Phoenix …
Read the full post →“This Day In Hockey History-June 16, 1977-WHA clubs perform annual draft ritual”
There are 30 major league hockey teams spread across the United States and Canada, and all but one received the following telegram yesterday: “As of today, Bobby Orr is a free agent. If you are interested in acquiring his services for the future, please contact me at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, on June 7. …
TORONTO (CP) — Pat Price says he will follow the tradition of many other rich young hockey players and buy a sleek sports car. Price, a 19-year-old defenceman from Saskatoon Blades of the Western Canada Hockey League, was the first choice Friday in the World Hockey Association amateur draft. He then signed with Vancouver Blazers …
By TOM HINE WINNIPEG, Manitoba — The big, burly Texan leaned back in his chair and let out a big, brassy Texan roar.He kicked the heels of his cowboy boots on the floor and slapped his dungaree-clad knees. “Can you believe it?” he laughed. “The Houston Aeros have drafted Bobby Orr. We’ve drafted THE Bobby …
Read the full post →“This Day In Hockey History-May 28, 1976-Houston Aeros Draft Bobby Orr”
By The Canadian Press After sweeping the first-ever World Hockey Association playoffs in 1972-73, New England Whalers, are having problems making it past the first round. The Whalers roiled over Ottawa Nationals in the quarter-finals, Cleveland Crusaders in the semi-finals, and beat Winnipeg Jets in the final—all by 4-1 counts in. games—back in the league’s …
NHL, WHA wed for better or worse By Al Colletti Canadian Press staff writer 31 Mar 1979, Sat The Ottawa Citizen (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) NEW YORK — Some call it expansion and others a mini-merger, but whatever terminology is used, the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association are wedded for better or for …
Read the full post →“This Day In Hockey History-March 30, 1979-NHL Merges With WHA”
TORONTO (CP) – St. Paul, which lost Minnesota Fighting Saints earlier this season; and Seattle may get World Hockey Association franchises next year. St. Paul may get Phoenix Roadrunners, who have been unable to improve their attendance this season, Bud Poile, WHA director of hockey operations, said yesterday. The Roadrunners, who need to average 10,000 …
Read the full post →“This Day In Hockey History-March 30, 1976-New WHA Sites On Tap”
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -The Minnesota Fighting Saints , gave up the ghost Saturday, ending a long and determined financial fight for survival as a World Hockey Association franchise. “It comes down to this,” said Glen Sonmor, general manager since the club’s birth four years ago. “Everything went down the tubes this morning.” However, in …
TORONTO (CP) — Boston Bruins may have to put up $10 million if they hope to keep superstar defenceman Bobby Orr from jumping to the World Hockey Association, says Orr’s lawyer Alan Eagleson.Eagleson, executive-director of the National Hockey League Players’ Association, said he doesn’t care whether the NHL Bruins pay Orr $5 million each year …
Saints may look elsewhere if financing isn’t found ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Wayne Belisle, president of the financially struggling Minnesota Fighting Saints, said for the first time Wednesday night that he will move the World Hockey Association franchise if financing cannot be found here. Belisle, who had insisted previously that if the Saints did …
Read the full post →“This Day In Hockey History-January 8, 1976-Save Our Saints”
