WHA: Birth of a League

A special about the birth of the WHA.

[@ott1887]

I Grew up with the Stingers, it's what introduced me to Hockey

[@lipanmesh]

I'd rather see the Stingers in Cincy or the Barons in Cleveland rather than the Bluejackets.

[@alexandrebertrand-lafleur3114]

October 11, 1972 Quebec City... First game for the Nords at the Colisee!

[@user-td8op5hx6b]

Jets fan born 78 ... nordiques colors were my fav

[@sportsmanz5948]

It would have been cool if the WHA had survived in some form.

[@YvonTripper]

The Oilers and Jets still exist, sort of.

[@johnperrigo6474]

Some interesting arenas that they played in, I noticed.

[@icm1970]

I recall being at a hockey memorabilia show in Toronto and one fellow from PA had DVDs of the first film here and he said that the film was discovered in an old closet that belonged to someone who'd been one of the WHA's original executives. Very nice, rare footage of the jerseys and characters of that league back then.

[@stevecattani9545]

This is amazing! Brilliant upload. Love the simpler designs, iconography and forgotten sweaters, logos and characters. Great stuff.

[@tonyarceneaux286]

I liked it shows the teams.

[@spietroify]

God, this is phenomenal man. I've always struggled to imagine myself at a hockey game in the 70s or earlier, because the footage is typically all so primitive. But there's some stunning footage in this series! I was shocked. So cool.

[@marblox9300]

Chicago Cougars , Hartford Whalers and Edmonton Oilers all had nice uniforms. I am surprised this league didn't take off.

[@tonyarceneaux286]

I'm glad I found this on KZbin.

[@davidbuswa9425]

Man, This is a treat to watch. it's good to hear Gordie. Mark sounded like he was still in puberty. LOL. The action looked like deleted scenes from the movie "Slapshot". This awesome. Thanks for sharing

[@emac3628]

Thanks for the upload. Great little piece of history.

[@GetBenched2010]

Mark Howe had a great story about his first training camp in Houston. The first week, Gordie looked horrible out there. Everyone was questioning his decision to come back. Second week, nobody could keep up with him!

[@Rockhound6165]

He had 2 100 point seasons and 2 near 100 point seasons so he wasn't just coasting out there.

[@tonyarceneaux286]

@@Rockhound6165 What did you think 🤔 why the World 🌎 Hockey 🏒 Association failed?

[@tonyarceneaux286]

@@Rockhound6165 And he was more then just Gordie Howe's son?

[@Rockhound6165]

@@tonyarceneaux286 the same way I did when the original USFL failed that it was a shame. Competition breeds better play.

[@skyhager5953]

I have one of those pennant flags you see at 2:30 of the Oilers that hangs on my bedroom door. I found it at a thrift store and had to get it when I saw the WHA logo and realized how old it must have been.

[@MrMaricopa100]

Outstanding ! Thanks for posting it

[@Waty8413]

24:58 All the guys on that line need to be benched. Forever. (Dark team)

[@spietroify]

Lmao, true. That was brutal haha

[@MrMaricopa100]

Anyone know what team that was ?

[@Rockhound6165]

@@MrMaricopa100 New England Whalers. They wore green and white road uniforms with a circular logo their first 2 seasons. Incidentally they won the first AVCO Cup.

[@MrMaricopa100]

@@Rockhound6165 Thank you

[@alexandrebertrand-lafleur3114]

13:35 Bill Dineen, Foxy, from Detroit become the only head coach for Houston

[@michaelleroy9281]

The Chicago Cougars only lasted 3 seasons

[@alexandrebertrand-lafleur3114]

8:17 Jean-Marc Bruneau and Marius Fortier for Quebec Nordiques!

[@tonyarceneaux286]

At one time in the NHL had conference names like Wales & Campbell.

[@LeighMet]

yes their last full year was 1992-93

[@Rockhound6165]

5:45 I believe this is the only known surviving video footage of the Philadelphia Blazers not to mention that it's a home game at the old Philadelphia Convention Hall. I haven't been able to find any other footage of the Blazers. 6:10 There's the great Bernie Parent wearing #00 for the Blazers. Sadly we don't get a good look at his iconic yellow and flame red mask. 7:34 If you look really quick you can see "Miami" as the guy walks by. This was supposed to be the Miami Screaming Eagles who ended up as the Blazers. Also drafting were several teams who ended up relocating before the season started. Those were the Calgary Broncos(Cleveland Crusaders), Dayton Aeros(Houston Aeros), Edmonton Oil Kings(Alberta Oilers). 10:35 Maskless goalie Joe Daley

[@leemark63]

Don't believe Bernie's flame mask was worn until a few games into the season. There are pics of him wearing un-painted mask.

[@Rockhound6165]

@@leemark63 there's another video that shows him wearing it. I got to see it live when I was but a pup.

[@TomP-nw4wu]

Aeros all the way. Was there for every moment, great.

[@leemark63]

Shame NHL lawyers blocked Bobby Hull from playing on opening night.

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

Bring Back the WHA! I still think the NHL behaved like vengeful dickheads the way they gutted the 4 WHA teams that they let into the NHL...absolutely pathetic...would have loved to have seen how the intact Winnipeg Jets would have done in that first season in the NHL...i think at that time the Jets were the fastest skating team in North America, at least the only team that could skate with the Montreal Canadians at that time...for me one of the great "what ifs" in professional hockey...

[@lipanmesh]

Hell Yeah!!

[@THE_bchat]

The WHA teams that joined the NHL didn't get screwed. They had players on their rosters that were drafted by NHL teams, so it's only fair that those teams reclaimed those players if they wanted as those players returned to the NHL. If the NHL really wanted to screw the four WHA clubs, they would've reclaimed everyone that was drafted or whose rights belonged to NHL teams, but they didn't (Boston could have taken Mark Howe, Montreal Marty Howe, and Detroit Gordie). They could have forced undrafted players into the draft, but they didn't do that either. In addition, the four WHA teams were allowed to take back up to four players (2 goalies & 2 skaters) the NHL teams had reclaimed. A few players went back to their WHA team via the expansion draft, while others were reacquired through trades. The WHA clubs were far from "gutted", and were better-off than some of the NHL expansion teams from that time.

[@lipanmesh]

I still miss the WHA.😢

[@michaelleroy9281]

Why? too many teams in the league folded or relocated during those 7 years