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-May 7, 1986-Jerry Saperstein Almost Brought Hockey to Florida with Miami Screaming Eagles, Florida Ice Gators

Years ago, Saperstein almost brought hockey to Florida By Jim Sarni Staff Writer – Fort Lauderdale News The Miami Screaming Eagles never dropped the puck. Bill Putnam’s phantom hockey team skated into oblivion and bankruptcy. South Florida hockey teams, it seems, have always fallen through a crack in the ice.Remember the Florida Icegators? No, you …

This Day In Hockey History-April 29, 1974- WHA New Jersey Knights Relocate to San Diego

SAN DIEGO (AP) – The Jersey Knights, sickliest franchise in the World Hockey Association, will try to revive next season in balmy San Diego. Harveny Howell, coach of the Knights, and Peter Graham, operator of the San Diego Sports Arena, are to be among those at a news conference today announcing the move. The team …

This Day In Hockey History-April 17, 1977-San Diego Mariners Stall Winnipeg Jets

SAN DIEGO (AP) – Andre Lacroix scored a goal and three assists Saturday night to lead the San Diego Mariners to a come-from-behind 5-4 World Hockey Association playoff victory over the Winnipeg Jets. San Diego tallied three times in the final period to win. The two teams meet again Sunday night with the Jets holding …

This Day In Hockey History-April 6, 1975-Hull Scored 77th Goal in 78 Games

Bv JOHN KOROBANIK 07 Apr 1975, Mon Fort McMurray Today (Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada) WINNIPEG (CP) – A hard wrist shot by Bobby Hull of the World Hockey Association Winnipeg Jets made major hockey league history Sunday. Hull, 36, let the shot go from just inside the blueline at the 19:26 mark of the second …

This Day In Hockey History-April 6, 1975-LaCroix Wins WHA Scoring Title

By THE CANADIAN PRESS The World Hockey Association’s regular-season all but ended Sunday with Bobby Hull and Andre Lacroix both finishing with scoring records. The season officially ends tonight with a meaningless game between Houston Aeros and Baltimore Blades. The best-of-seven quarterfinal playoff lineup has Cleveland at Houston, Phoenix at Quebec, Minnesota at New England …

This Day In Hockey History-March 30, 1979-NHL Merges With WHA

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 …