Cheerful chaos reigns in WHA

CALGARY — Conditions are normal in the World Hockey Association. Total chaos reigns.

In this city Scotty Munro announces at 4 a.m. Monday that he has pulled out of the WHA. And one of his stated reasons for pulling out is that his long-time friend Bill Hunter got married without
asking him.

Three thousand miles to the south, the future of the Miami Screaming Eagles of the WHA appears to revolve around the size of the parking lot.

Miami owner Herb Martin is in a squabble with the city over how much parking he must provide for a proposed arena.

Martin says if he doesn't get his way, he's pulling out of the WHA.

“Growing pains,” was the way WHA President Gary Davidson described the Calgary and Miami situations from his Southern California office Wednesday afternoon.

Davidson says he has no information from Martin indicating Miami is out and describes it as “a powerplay against the city.”

Davidson also stated that he is revoking Scotty Munro's Calgary WHA franchise “because certain statements he made to the media violate our bylaws and those by-laws give me the power to revoke his franchise.”

'Calgary 90 percent in'

At almost the same moment that it was announced that Miami may abandon the WHA. Bill Hunter of Edmonton and Ben Hatskin of Winnipeg were holding a press conference in Calgary.

Informed that Miami might be out, Hunter replied: Good, we'll save travel expenses.” Hatskin replied: Bad, I want those trips to Miami next winter.”

Neither appeared to take the news too seriously.

Nor did they appear overly concerned about the WHA future in Calgary, a city they admit is important to their franchises in Edmonton and Winnipeg.

“It is 90 per cent certain we'll have a WHA team in Calgary next year.” Hatskin told the press conference and Hunter nodded agreement.

Hatskin and Hunter say they have several groups interested in assuming the Calgary WHA franchise and expect to return to Calgary next week and make a final decision. They also met with the Calgary Stampede Board and confirmed WHA playing dates in the Corral next season.

Munro was not at the press conference, which was packed with media people, nor did Hunter or Hatskin speak with him after.

Scotty Munro cornered

Cornered at the junior game last night Munro replied to the following questions:

Was it true, as some WHA officials charge, that he sold out to the NHL, likely the Boston Bruins with whom he was a scout for years?

I only wish I had.” said Munro who has taken a heavy pounding from the media here for his bush league 4 a.m. announcement.

Why did he tell newsmen for weeks that the Calgary WHA franchise was solid, despite ample evidence it wasn't, and then finally confess his withdrawal at 4 a.m. to only a pair of newsmen?

“I didn't think it was a big thing.”

Why didn't he inform the WHA office or at least his long-time friend Bill Hunter in Edmonton?

Nobody in this league tells me anything. Hunter gets married and goes to Hawaii and doesn't tell me. so why should I tell him what I'm doing. It's my money, not his.”

Asked about statements by Calgary oilman Bill Boswell that he was never “in” the WHA franchise. Munro said: “Then why is his name on the cheques?”

As for the money from 400 WHA season ticket already sold. Munro said: “It's in the bank.”

Why did he really bail out of the WHA?

“I had already sunk $80,000 into it and didn t want to gamble more.”

Some of the WHA chaos may vanish this weekend in Chicago when teams post their $100,000 bonds and next week in Calgary when Hatskin and Hunter attempt to settle the ownership question.