WHA: The 7-Year Wonder

A special on the rise and fall of the WHA.

[@Paolo7219]

Every NHL player today owes these WHA guys a BIG Thank you. Somebody had to break the NHL ownership stranglehold on Player contracts and salaries. Bobby Hull was the first to do it. Hull was the Trailblazer.

[@toddleroux4745]

He did it for the cash. The only downside was is that he had to live in gawdawful Winnipet.

[@grisflyt]

Bobby was treated like shit by the Witz family who owned the Blackhawks. Bobby was the most popular athlete in Chicago and demanded a raise to $100,000. The owners humiliated Bobby and forced to publicly apologize. The clubs could do that because they owned the players for life. They owned many since the age of 16-18 years of age. An agent would come to your home if they saw promise in you and offered you a C-note. You sign and you get $100. The NHL owners could bury you in the minors if they wanted to. American sports writers called the NHL the Norris House League in the 1950s. The Norris family owned the Red Wings and Blackhawks (until 1966). They owned the arenas plus a significant share in the Madison Square Garden. There's no coincident lots of NHL arenas were named Garden. I believe Tex Rickard, of the Rangers, was part owner of the Maple Leaf Garden. He at least borrowed Conn Smythe money to build it. The Norris family also owned race horses and had a stake in Rocky Marciano. So did Murder Inc., a notorious NY crime organization. The Gardens were extremely profitable. In the 1930s, the NY Americans, who had the MSG as home arena, had to play its home games in the playoff in the visiting team's arena. The MSG didn't expect the Americans to make the playoffs and had rented the arena to a circus. The NBA teams played in their arenas. The NHL teams made so much money from their arenas, they threatened to fold the league when the NHL players tried to form a player organization in the 1950s. The other major American sport leagues already had player unions. Wirtz wasn't alone. The entire NHL treated players like shit. For example, Toe Blake hated Jacques Plante because Plante was educated and not afraid of him. And there was the mask thing. Blake couldn't get rid of a Vezina trophy winner, but as soon as Plant had a lesser season, he was traded to New York. Other players who were traded for doing virtually nothing, but enough to draw the ire of the coach, were Red Kelly and Andy Bathgate. My point with this is that it's almost insulting that a-holes like Norrises and Toe Blake are in the HOF. Sure, Blake is a legendary coach and was a star player in the NHL. Obviously he has to be there. Ironically, as hated as Ballard was in Toronto, it wasn't he who was the reason Darryl Sittler and other star players left the Leafs in the 1970s. It was because of Punch Imlach. Imlach continued to run the club in the 1970s like it still was the 1960s. They young players did not stand for that.

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@toddleroux4745, I take it that you were escorted into the city's jails at one time?

[@richhava]

He might have been a trailblazer but the man who deserves the credit for educating the players about how they were getting screwed. It's sad to say this but Gordie Howe totally fucked this man over too when he tried to form the first union. Mr. Ted Lindsey and he paid a hell of a price for Howes betrayal. To be fair, I cannot remember the real story but It it is close The point was Howe and Lindsey had issues and Lindsey sent packing

[@only_2_genders]

Yeah now the ticket prices are through the roof. Thanks Bobby!

[@gr4608]

I was lucky enough to go the WHA reunion in Windsor with my friend Larry Hort Phoenix Police (Ret) and have Scott Surgents book. Scott and I both lived in Phoenix. Met Wild Bill Hunter who signed my program. He was ill with cancer but came anyhow. Loved the logos and the overtimes. Wish the NHL showed more respect for this league. The WHA brought hockey to the attention of a lot of fans.

[@kurttoy5035]

Though I've lived in an NHL city all my life-Pittsburgh, though the Penguins were formed in '67, five years after my birth-I have an interest in the WHA. Great uniforms and logos. Awesome video.

[@nicholask6775]

Everything was better back then

[@rockvilleraven]

Same with my and the Washington Capitals, I did show some interest in the Baltimore Blade who were so cheap, they put stickers with the Blades logs over the Clippers uniforms and just used the road ones with "Baltimore" in traditional diagonal placement on the front.

[@michaelleroy9281]

When Gordie and his sons left Houston and went to New England that was the beginning of the end of the team in Houston

[@mike196212]

For a few years some WHA teams played exhibition games against NHL teams. I used to see the scores in THE HOCKEY NEWS(I started buying it in the early 70s;my Mom gave me a subscription in 75 when I was 13.). The WHA won at least half of the games.

[@Actionronnie]

And one of those preseason games was the start of Hulls demise. 1976 Jets vs Blues, Hull got slashed on the wrist and missed over half the season. He got points when he came back after surgery, but only played one more full season of hockey.

[@marblox9300]

When the Chicago Cougars played their playoff games at a 2,000 seat shopping mall rink - that just about axed their existence.

[@mickcollins3777]

wow, some talent, wish it was still around, thank you for the video

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

enjoyed the video, thanks for posting it.

[@kartzstormstool861]

watching this on the day Ralph Backstrom passed away.

[@michaelleroy9281]

The Ottawa Nationals was my favorite WHA logo, so I got a jersey and hat

[@countrydawn418]

Great document tanks.

[@thetruthissweet2847]

I was a big Crusaders fan growing up in NE Ohio. Old Cleveland Arena to Richfield Coliseum. Went to around 30 games over the 5 or so years they played in Cleveland. Got to see a win against Hull and the Jets and a loss to Houston with the Howes. Saw a benchbrawl between Fighting Saints and the C's. C's Paul Baxter swung his stick from penalty box at a Saint and the fun began. I enjoyed this video very much on a 14 degree night near the shores of Lake Erie.

[@nicholask6775]

Top man sir

[@thetruthissweet2847]

@@nicholask6775 the NHL asked the C's to come into NHL before Kansas City. The players in WHA told C's players not to join NHL because the WHA was paying higher salaries on average compared to NHL at that time. I wish the C's would have stayed in WHA long enough to join other 4 teams that went to NHL.

[@thetruthissweet2847]

I was hoping C's Paul Shmyr (R.I.P.) would have mentioned that in video.

[@robertsprouse9282]

@@thetruthissweet2847, his comments were edited. You don't really know what all he said to whoever interviewed him.

[@thetruthissweet2847]

@@robertsprouse9282 hopefully he did mention it. It's important that the players understood the value of separate leagues to increase salaries.

[@jasonsmith5226]

Wow, amazing stuff.As an Av fan,who only started following hockey in 1995,(other than the Olympics,& EA video game... ironically,I often picked the Nordiques)-I had no clue about much of that.

[@chipgribble6797]

Really fun video to bring back memories of those years! A mystery though why no mention of Andre Lacroix. Still, thanks for the video!

[@bobbyhulll8737]

The NHL always acted like they hadn’t had their own expansion around the same time , the original 6 NHL wasn’t the same competitive NHL anymore , the entire Hockey landscape had changed the top WHA would have Been very competitive with the NHL, there were some terrible NHL teams during this time frame

[@francois-patrickarteau6511]

The WHA was the team that dared to rival the NHL by giving chance to young teenage players to play professionally! They even allowed Jean-Claude Tremblay to escape the handcuffs of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens to jump into the Quebec Nordiques!

[@steamer1112]

Somehow they managed to not mention the Vancouver Blazers once. The Blazers were the first hockey team that I followed and went to at least 20 games a year while they were in town.

[@nicholask6775]

Respect 🙌

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

did they have Derek Sanderson with them in Vancouver ?

[@steamer1112]

@@julianciahaconsulting8663 He played 16 games for them in 76-77 and got 16 points.

[@bogrot69]

I saw the Blazers play the Oilers at the Pacific Coliseum. Also saw one of the Canada Russia games in 74. Great memories

[@l_Live_In_Oregon]

I recall the Minnesota Fighting Saints playing in the Civic with clear plexiglass dasher boards.

[@justinfendelet8675]

needed to weather the storm when they went down to 8 teams solidified them continuously sign players and today may have been like AFC/NFC WHA/NHL

[@andrejskostanenko8030]

I like WHA

[@andrejskostanenko8030]

Qession Ken Broderick play Quebec Nordics?

[@whaleoilbeefhooked3892]

I didn't see any mention of the BLAZERS....did I miss it? Great memories of the Vancouver version and of Danny Lawson

[@kenvelickoff4275]

Thanks for the Cat Stevens music

[@loilt5091]

The arrogant NHL has NEVER given the WHA it’s due respect. The offensive, European influence on the game, initially from the Jets, Hull/Hedberg/Nilsson line, helped bring the NHL out of it’s traditional, dinosaurian daze. You’d think they’d have learned something after the ‘72, Summit Series with the Soviets? Glen Sather & the Edmonton Oilers implementation of their WHA/European DNA, further changed the game, later, including the Quebec Nordiques, Stastny brothers line. 🇨🇦

[@OfficialKotaco]

The WHA had a great run. I just wish the Houston Aeros joined the NHL/WHA merger. I'm here in Texas watching hockey, team-less. And there's no way that I'm cheering for the Dallas Stars lol

[@jockejocke1]

How come you don't like Dallas? Just curious 😉

[@gregorysinicrope947]

I liked this league! It would have been nice if it had survived!

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

I wonder how a new WHA would go over if you made tickets affordable for the regular guy especially the family man a guy to take his wife and kids to a game and have the games in smaller well designed 10,000/12000 seat arenas that would be multi entertainment venues with indoor golfing and other games one could play if one didnt want to sit on ass to watch a whole hockey game?Of course it wouldnt be able to offer the salaries that the NHL does but if it focused on getting fast young players not drafted and known older names and produced an exciting game to watch who knows?Not so much as the "competition" to the NHL as the original WHA tried to be but as an "alternative vision" of professional hockey? idk i have played big bucks more than a few times to watch a pro NHL game and was bored silly,,,finally giving up on it on things to spend 100s of dollars on if bringing a friend or family member as we found we could have more fun doing something else for half the money. Regarding the smaller venues I think it bums out both fans and players to see tons of empty seats so smaller venues would minimize that. But what the hell do i know really as I am probably out to lunch on the modern economics of professional sports haha - maybe i just miss the great jerseys of the WHA haha

[@johncroft9888]

I am a huge Canucks fan but I think it would work as I make a great income but I am not going to pay $200 to watch a bunch of millionaires play hockey while drinking my $20 beer and $15 dollar hot dog. I think it could work if the tickets were reasonable with a TV contract.

It wouldn't be easy to attract talent though. How much are you going yo have to spend to draw a top young talent or even a few all star caliber veterans??? I will say if you're in or nearby an AHL or ECHL market, you can't go wrong. Being in the metro Detroit area, we have the Wings obviously, but we're not far from Toledo for the Walleye. Plus we have several OHL franchises in the area with Windsor, Sarnia, Saginaw, and Flint.

[@s.t.3041]

Gee, don’t mention the Whalers. They only won the first Avco cup.

[@kenvelickoff4275]

Tom Webster, another FORMER Wing

[@tonyarceneaux286]

I thought it was a league but an assoction.

[@maxwahlund3235]

Good thinking

[@Rockhound6165]

Like all fledgling leagues, the WHA tried to too much too soon.

[@nicholask6775]

Such a shame

[@NJGuy1973]

Like the USFL, no thanks to a certain real estate developer.

[@Rockhound6165]

@@NJGuy1973 ah yes. TDS is alive and well. Fun Fact: The USFL was fucked long before Trump was even in the league.

[@Rockhound6165]

@@NJGuy1973 um, that real estate developer had nothing to do with the USFL expanding too fast. The league brain trust needed money so they thought adding 6 teams with 6 expansion payouts would help but it failed. The only thing Trump can be blamed for is wanting to go head to head with the NFL which was dumb. Had they stayed in the spring/summer they might have lasted a few more seasons.

[@kamikazes03]

What does Cat Stevens' music have to do with hockey?

[@dcb99filmz]

Too bad my hometown team moved before they even played a game

[@mckessa17]

Professional hockey was very watered down during these days.

[@liduck52]

No it wasn't. There are more teams in the NHL now then there were in the NHL and WHA combined back then.

[@loilt5091]

@@liduck52 Do some homework…during the ‘70’s of the WHA & NHL; a) The population was much smaller b) There were far less Americans playing in either league c) No Eastern block, (Russian or Czechoslovakian players) d) Not that many other Europeans, either e) The Goon era of hockey was in it’s hay day, further, watering down the talent level 🇨🇦

[@tonygeinzer6034]

I'd feel the record books need to be corrected (2011 Winnipeg Jets from the Atlanta Thrashers) and I feel that the Hockey Hall of Fame should rectify that among others, especially if Atlanta Expansion is Done Right and Not Jilted for One Reason or Another like Before.

[@barrynangmalik2293]

The WHA beat the NHL, oilers won the cup

[@liduck52]

Getting Wayne Gretzky helped.

[@chickencontainschicken6036]

Still,)(?

[@chickencontainschicken6036]

Naruo

[@qualityman1965]

Why on earth wasn't Hamilton in the mix for a franchise. WHA, or NHL? We know the NHL story.

[@gregorysinicrope947]

Toronto is why! To close in distance.

[@Helvigster]

Copps Coliseum didn't exist during this time, the one arena in Hamilton during the 70s only had about 4500 seats

[@Helvigster]

@@gregorysinicrope947 well that doesn't really make sense... look at the distance between the Rangers and Islanders, or the Kings and Ducks

[@gregorysinicrope947]

@@Helvigster population in N.Y. and L.A. is probably higher than Toronto and Hamilton. It also will hurt attendance in Buffalo.

[@liduck52]

They gave a team to Ottawa.

[@arthurpasseri1840]

Nothing about the WHAlers...Really

[@robertsprouse9282]

Interviewed Tommy Webster..and remember, this was a Canadian documentary.

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

its true that is an oversight thus far

[@alicedee5540]

No mention of Derek Sanderson? Even though he only played 6 or 7 games with The Philadelphia Blazers, he was probaly the most important signing of players right behind Bobby Hull in the early days of the WHA. Derek was supposed to be the "it factor", the one to bring out the women and get them interested in the sport, plus he was a 2 time Stanley Cup winner with the Boston Bruins. Love him or hate him, Derek Sanderson was one of the earliest athletes from ANY sport that brought out the "cool factor", just like Joe Namath did for the NFL.....plus they paid Derek somewhere in the area of $2.6 million dollars over 5 years, which was unheard of at that time. I believe he was the highest paid athlete in any sport at that time.