By STAN FISCHLER
NEW YORK, N.Y. — The transfer Friday of a World Hockey Association franchise from Philadelphia to Vancouver was part of a one-two WHA punch to bolster the league in 1973-74. Punch two will formally be announced later this month here when new owners of the New York franchise are formally announced.
A sports syndicate with strong connections with the J. Walter Thompson Advertising Agency is shortly expected to formally announce its purchase of the Raiders for an estimated $1,500,000 and change its name to the Golden Blades.
Lee Madison, head of the syndicate, already has moved into the Raiders-Golden Blades office at the Statler-Hilton Hotel and yesterday final papers were signed between the WHA and the new group.
“The official closing of the deal will take place on Monday,” said John Coburn, who has been acting general manager of the Raiders-Golden Blades ever since the club encountered financial problems in mid-season. “This will be a very strong franchise.”
Madison, Coburn and coach Camille Henry will leave Tuesday for Toronto where league meetings will be held through Friday. Meanwhile, members of the Raiders-Golden Blades contingent appeared surprised but pleased over the news fom Vancouver.
“It's a good move,” said Henry. “Vancouver has enough hockey fans to support two big-league teams. And they'll be getting a solid club.”
WHA officials here conceded that the Blazers couldn't compete with the popular Flyers in Philadelphia but could buck the Canucks in Vancouver.
“I was surprised when I heard the news,” said Coburn. “Getting another Canadian city is great for the league. The hockey interest level in Vancouver is high. The obstacles for the Blazers will be much less to overcome than they were in Philadelphia.”
Ron Ward, who led the WHA in scoring for most of the season after an unhappy career in Vancouver, expressed delight about the Vancouver entry into the WHA.
“The people in British Columbia are hungry for a winner in hockey,” said Ward. “I think the WHA team will do a lot better than Winnipeg or Edmonton. When it comes to being hungry for hockey, Vancouver fans are right up there with those in Montreal and Toronto.”
Ward is being eyed as the kingpin in the Golden Blades who are determined to fill Madison Square Garden's 17,-500 seats the way the NHL Rangers do.
