World Hockey Association

World Hockey Association

Sport	Ice hockey
Founded	1972
Country(ies)	United States Canada
Ceased	1979
Most championships	Winnipeg Jets (3)

The World Hockey Association (French: Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League (NHL) since the end of the Western Hockey League after the 1925-26 WHL season. Although the WHA was not the first league since that time to attempt to challenge the NHL's hold as the top league, it was by far the most successful.

Hockey Hall of Famers

List of WHA players and executives inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, for achievements in their hockey career.

• Andy Bathgate, Vancouver Blazers
• Gerry Cheevers, Cleveland Crusaders
• Mike Gartner, Cincinnati Stingers
• Michel Goulet, Birmingham Bulls
• Wayne Gretzky, Indianapolis Racers, Edmonton Oilers
• Gordie Howe, Houston Aeros, New England Whalers
• Bobby Hull, Winnipeg Jets
• Dave Keon, Minnesota Fighting Saints, Indianapolis Racers, New England Whalers
• Rod Langway, Birmingham Bulls
• Frank Mahovlich, Toronto Toros, Birmingham Bulls

• Mark Messier, Cincinnati Stingers, Indianapolis Racers
• Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Blazers
• Jacques Plante, Edmonton Oilers
• Bud Poile, WHA Executive Vice-President
• Marcel Pronovost, Coach-Chicago Cougars
• Maurice Richard, Coach-Quebec Nordiques
• Glen Sather, Edmonton Oilers
• Norm Ullman, Edmonton Oilers

Trophies and Awards

This is a list of the trophies and awards handed out annually by the World Hockey Association.

• Avco World Trophy - Awarded to the playoff champion
• Gary L. Davidson Award / Gordie Howe Trophy - Most valuable player of the regular season
• Bill Hunter Trophy - Leading scorer of the regular season
• Lou Kaplan Trophy - Rookie of the year
• Ben Hatskin Trophy - Best goaltender
• Dennis A. Murphy Trophy - Best defenseman
• Paul Deneau Trophy - Most gentlemanly player
• Howard Baldwin Trophy / Robert Schmertz Memorial Trophy - Coach of the year
• WHA Playoff MVP - Most valuable player in the playoffs

Timeline of teams

Teams in bold were absorbed into the NHL.

• Alberta Oilers (1972-79, renamed Edmonton Oilers in 1973)
• Chicago Cougars (1972-75)
• Cincinnati Stingers (1975-79)
• Calgary Broncos (never played) / Cleveland Crusaders (1972-76) / Minnesota Fighting Saints (1976-77)
• Denver Spurs (1975-76) / Ottawa Civics (1976)
• Dayton Aeros (never played) / Houston Aeros (1972-78)
• Indianapolis Racers (1974-78)
• Los Angeles Sharks (1972-74) / Michigan Stags (1974-75) / Baltimore Blades (1975)
• Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972-76)
• New England Whalers (1972-79)
• New York Raiders (1972-73, renamed New York Golden Blades in 1973) / New Jersey Knights (1973-74) / San Diego Mariners (1974-77)
• Ottawa Nationals (1972-73) / Toronto Toros (1973-76) / Birmingham Bulls (1976-79)
• Miami Screaming Eagles (never played) / Philadelphia Blazers (1972-73) / Vancouver Blazers (1973-75) / Calgary Cowboys (1975-77)
• Phoenix Roadrunners (1974-77)
• San Francisco Sharks (never played) / Quebec Nordiques (1972-79)
• Winnipeg Jets (1972-79)

WHA All-Star Game

Every season of the World Hockey Association had an All-Star game, but the format had changed with regularity.

• 1972-73 Eastern Division vs Western Division contest.
• 1973-74 Eastern Division vs Western Division contest.
• 1974-75 Eastern Division vs Western Division contest.
• 1975-76 Canadian-based teams (5) vs US-based teams (9).
• 1976-77 East played West.
• 1977-78 AVCO Cup champion (Quebec Nordiques) vs WHA All-Star team.
• 1978-79 WHA All-Star team vs Dynamo Moscow in a three game series.

Other websites

• Internet Hockey Database - standings and statistics
• http://whauniforms.com