This Day In Hockey History-June 16, 1977-WHA clubs perform annual draft ritual

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 …

This Day In Hockey History-June 11, 1978-Gretzky signs with WHA and ignites hockey war

The palace revolt that Ben Hatskin seemed to be expecting has taken place with the signing of 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky by Indianapolis Racers owner Nelson Skalbania. Skalbania announced Monday he has signed Gretzky, the scoring star last season with Sault -Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League, to a personal services contract. …

This Day In Hockey History-June 10, 1971-Lafleur, Dionne taken first in 1971 NHL Draft

MONTREAL (CP) — Guy Lafleur, the explosive right-winger from Quebec Rem parts of the Quebec Junior A Hockey League, today had the honor to be the first player picked in the National Hockey League’s 1971 amateur draft Lafleur, who scored 130 goals in 62 regular season games last year, was grabbed by the Stanley Cup …

This Day In Hockey History-June 4, 1977-WHA head against the signing of 18 year old Ken Linseman

TORONTO (CP) — Bill MacFarland, president of the World Hockey Association, said Friday the reported signing of an 18-year-old hockey player, Ken Linseman, by Birmingham Bulls is in direct conflict with league bylaws. “That signing would be precluded by league regulations against signing underage players or staking a claim on them without going through a …

This Day In Hockey History-June 3, 1972-NHL expansion main topic

Next week’s annual meeting of the National Hockey League’s board of governors could turn out to be one of the biggest and most important in the 55-year history of the league. That was the opinion expressed by league president Clarence Campbell late Friday as he prepared for the Monday-to-Thursday gathering. This year, in addition to …

This Day In Hockey History-April 4, 1972-Amateur Hockey Booming in Chicago, Midwest

By F. RICHARD CICCONE Associated Press Writer CHICAGO (AP)—Baseball, the once hallowed national past-time challenged for the entertainment dollar by football and basketball, is getting a new rival at the small fry stage. Amateur hockey is booming. In the Chicago area, the Midwest in general and even in parts of the country where it’s rarely …