World Hockey Association

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The World Hockey Association (WHA) was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (NHL) since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926. Although the WHA was not the first league since that time to attempt to challenge the NHL's supremacy, it was by far the most successful in the modern era.

The formation of the WHA was announced on June 25, 1971.

The two leagues merged in 1979, which resulted in four WHA clubs joining the NHL. The WHA officially folded on June 22 and the remaining franchises that did not join the NHL folded as well.

Teams

Franchise Locations Venues Founded Ended Fate
Alberta / Edmonton Oilers Edmonton, Alberta Edmonton Gardens
Northlands Coliseum
October 30, 1971 1972-74
1974-79
Joined the NHL in 1979.
Chicago Cougars Chicago, Illinois International Amphitheatre October 30, 1971 1972-75 Folded in 1975.
Cincinnati Stingers Cincinnati, Ohio Riverfront Coliseum 1975-79 Folded in 1979.
Cleveland Crusaders / Minnesota Fighting Saints Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Arena
Richfield Coliseum
1972-76 Folded in 1977.
Saint Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Civic Center 1976-77
Denver Spurs
Ottawa Civics
Denver, Colorado
Ottawa, Ontario
Denver Coliseum
Ottawa Civic Centre
1968-75
1976
Folded in 1976.
Houston Aeros Houston, Texas Sam Houston Coliseum
The Summit
October 30, 1971 July 9, 1978 Folded
Indianapolis Racers Indianapolis, Indiana Market Square Arena 1974-78 Folded in 1978.
Los Angeles Sharks / Michigan Stags / Baltimore Blades Los Angeles, California Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
Long Beach Arena
October 30, 1971 1972-74 Folded in 1975.
Detroit, Michigan Cobo Arena 1974-75
Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Civic Center 1975
Minnesota Fighting Saints Saint Paul, Minnesota St. Paul Auditorium
St. Paul Civic Center
October 30, 1971 1972-76 Folded in 1976.
New England Whalers Boston, Massachusetts Boston Arena
Boston Garden
1972-73
1973-74
Joined the NHL in 1979.
West Springfield, Massachusetts Big E Coliseum 1974-75
Hartford, Connecticut Hartford Civic Center 1975-78
Springfield, Massachusetts Springfield Civic Center 1978-79
New York Raiders
New York Golden Blades/Jersey Knights
San Diego Mariners
New York City, New York Madison Square Garden October 30, 1971 1972-73 Folded in 1977.
New York City, New York
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Madison Square Garden
Cherry Hill Arena
1973-74
San Diego, California San Diego Sports Arena 1974-76
Philadelphia Blazers
Vancouver Blazers
Calgary Cowboys
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia Convention Hall 1972-73 Folded in 1977.
Vancouver, British Columbia Pacific Coliseum 1973-75
Calgary, Alberta Stampede Corral 1975-77
Phoenix Roadrunners Phoenix, Arizona Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum 1974-77 Folded in 1977.
Ottawa Nationals
Toronto Toros
Birmingham Bulls
Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa Civic Centre 1972-73 Folded in 1979.
Toronto, Ontario Varsity Arena
Maple Leaf Gardens
1973-76
Birmingham, Alabama BJCC Coliseum 1976-79
Quebec Nordiques Quebec City, Quebec Colisée de Québec October 30, 1971 1972-79 Joined the NHL in 1979.
Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg Arena October 30, 1971 1972-79 Joined the NHL in 1979.

See also

Seasons

1970s 1972-73 • 1973-74 • 1974-75 • 1975-76 • 1976-77 • 1977-78 • 1978-79
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World Hockey Association
Franchises Baltimore Blades • Birmingham Bulls • Calgary Cowboys • Chicago Cougars • Cincinnati Stingers • Cleveland Crusaders • Denver Spurs • Edmonton Oilers • Houston Aeros • Indianapolis Racers • Minnesota Fighting Saints • New England Whalers • Phoenix Roadrunners • Quebec Nordiques • San Diego Mariners • Winnipeg Jets
Seasons 1972-73 • 1973-74 • 1974-75 • 1975-76 • 1976-77 • 1977-78 • 1978-79
Venues Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum • Baltimore Civic Center • Big E Coliseum • BJCC Coliseum • Boston Garden • Boston Arena • Cherry Hill Arena • Cleveland Arena • Cobo Arena • Colisée de Québec • Denver Coliseum • Edmonton Gardens • Hartford Civic Center • International Amphitheatre • Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena • Madison Square Garden • Maple Leaf Gardens • Market Square Arena • McNichols Sports Arena • Northlands Coliseum • Pacific Coliseum • Philadelphia Convention Hall • Richfield Coliseum • Riverfront Coliseum • Sam Houston Coliseum • St. Paul Civic Center • San Diego Sports Arena • Springfield Civic Center • Stampede Corral • The Summit • Winnipeg Arena
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