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.
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.
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
I'm glad to hear that the attendance numbers have been going so well in their first season! I'll check back soon and hopefully be able to see a collection of very stable franchises! 😂 Seriously though, that was a fun video. I'm going to have to dig up more WHA content.
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!
@@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.
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.
Oilers played out of the 5200 seat Edmonton Gardens for the first 2 WHA seasons, unremovable,higher than average boards that didn’t flex, dozens of girders hindered fans views of the action,Glen Sather was playing coach their final WHA season in the new Coliseum. 50 kilos of dynamite couldn’t bring the old cow barn down (Former livestock pavilion). They tried 370 kilos after 2 days of drilling and placing and it still didn’t fall, finally settling for a wrecking ball and a couple bulldozers,much to the amusement of the citizens.
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
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...
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.
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.
This is amazing! Brilliant upload. Love the simpler designs, iconography and forgotten sweaters, logos and characters. Great stuff.
I liked it shows the teams.
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.
October 11, 1972 Quebec City... First game for the Nords at the Colisee!
Jets fan born 78 ... nordiques colors were my fav
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
Chicago Cougars , Hartford Whalers and Edmonton Oilers all had nice uniforms. I am surprised this league didn't take off.
I'm glad I found this on UA-cam.
The genius of the WHA: sign Bobby Hull and put him in Winnipeg instead of Chicago, New York or even Boston.
I Grew up with the Stingers, it's what introduced me to Hockey
I'd rather see the Stingers in Cincy or the Barons in Cleveland rather than the Bluejackets.
It would have been cool if the WHA had survived in some form.
The Oilers and Jets still exist, sort of.
Thanks for the upload. Great little piece of history.
I'm glad to hear that the attendance numbers have been going so well in their first season! I'll check back soon and hopefully be able to see a collection of very stable franchises! 😂
Seriously though, that was a fun video. I'm going to have to dig up more WHA content.
Some interesting arenas that they played in, I noticed.
Ottawas civic centre looked cozy, almost nightclub atmosphere
Outstanding ! Thanks for posting it
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!
He had 2 100 point seasons and 2 near 100 point seasons so he wasn't just coasting out there.
@@Rockhound6165 What did you think 🤔 why the World 🌎 Hockey 🏒 Association failed?
@@Rockhound6165 And he was more then just Gordie Howe's son?
@@tonyarceneaux286 the same way I did when the original USFL failed that it was a shame. Competition breeds better play.
24:58 All the guys on that line need to be benched. Forever. (Dark team)
Lmao, true. That was brutal haha
Anyone know what team that was ?
@@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.
@@Rockhound6165 Thank you
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.
Oilers played out of the 5200 seat Edmonton Gardens for the first 2 WHA seasons, unremovable,higher than average boards that didn’t flex, dozens of girders hindered fans views of the action,Glen Sather was playing coach their final WHA season in the new Coliseum. 50 kilos of dynamite couldn’t bring the old cow barn down (Former livestock pavilion). They tried 370 kilos after 2 days of drilling and placing and it still didn’t fall, finally settling for a wrecking ball and a couple bulldozers,much to the amusement of the citizens.
13:35 Bill Dineen, Foxy, from Detroit become the only head coach for Houston
Aeros all the way. Was there for every moment, great.
At one time in the NHL had conference names like Wales & Campbell.
yes their last full year was 1992-93
Shame NHL lawyers blocked Bobby Hull from playing on opening night.
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
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.
@@leemark63 there's another video that shows him wearing it. I got to see it live when I was but a pup.
The Chicago Cougars only lasted 3 seasons
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...
Hell Yeah!!
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.
8:17 Jean-Marc Bruneau and Marius Fortier for Quebec Nordiques!
I still miss the WHA.😢
Why? too many teams in the league folded or relocated during those 7 years