What a great film! Funny story from Gretzky at the end. As a Flames fan I hated him so much , and now after all these years Im so thankful for him to have been around in my time. I guess the memories he gave me outweigh the near strokes lol. Love the Hull and Howe stories too.
The NHL owners only have themselves to blame for the creation of the WHA and so many good players leaving to play in the new league. In the end the NHL won, but the WHA brought hockey to many areas that wouldn’t see professional hockey otherwise. Even though I’m a Montreal Canadiens fan I liked the WHA. Followed it, watched it whenever I could. Winnipeg Jets and Houston Aeros were the teams I liked most, but the whole league . They were fun to watch. The rough tough Calgary Cowboys, New England Whalers, others, SanDiego Mariners, LA Sharks, cool logo, so many memories.
The WHA was my introduction to hockey as a very young boy Growing up in CT. When the Whalers came to Harford stll in the WHA my life changed forever. There was no TV coverage at the time so I would listen to the games on the radio. I knew nothing of hockey or its culture but listening to those games on the radio made me hungry to go to a game at the Civic Center and see the spectacle in person. I finally got that chance the first season the Whalers were in the NHL and God damn it changed my life. To see the game in person and see those players and the way they went at it got me hooked in hockey. To me as a young man those players were bigger than life, modern day fucking gladiators. I got to see in person all of the greats that I read about in the newspaper play. 43 years later I still have my Keon and Dineen Whalers jerseys in my closet. Shit, i still play adult league, with my daughter of all people whom fell for the game when I took her to her first game. I can tell you for certain the the Hartford Whalers and the sport of hockey saved me from a piss poor childhood and gave me hope that better day were ahead. As far as I'm concerned the NHL should be thankful for the brief history of the WHA. I'm certain it helped grow the fan base. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one more thing about the Whalers. Fuck Peter Karmanos!
My dad's company had season tickets. I went to many many whaler games. We sat near Howard Baldwin. My I was young and life was grand. Loved Gordie Howe and I was at game when Mark got impelled by the goal thing. Saw Gordie set up Marty against the Soviets. Brass Bonanza. The old captain yelling let's go whalers...
Great video. NHL fans today owe a debt of gratitude to the owners and players like Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe and his sons, who made the WHA the great professional hockey alternative that it was. They broke the total control that the old-boy NHL network had over the game. Now today we have all the Canadian teams that would never have been without the WHA, plus all the US teams as well.
I remember my dad taking me in 1974 to watch the Whalers with Geordie Howe. It was GE night. My dad died a year later. They later became the Hartford Whalers and they had a huge following
WHA had a great impact on my NHL club, The Boston Bruins. After winning their 2nd Cup in three years (1972), so many quality players jumped ship to The WHA (Cheevers, Green McKenzie to name a few).The Bruins didn’t win another (till 2011).
Bruin fan too. We lost the 3 you mentioned plus Mike Walton that summer. And Derek Sanderson, although he came back, he was no where near the player he was in the past. Bruins also lost Ed Westfall and their goalie of the future Dan Bouchard in the expansion draft. The Bruins decided to protect Cheevers and 37 year old Eddie Johnston, so the Atlanta Flames selected Bouchard right away...then Cheesey jumped. Some teams really took it on the chin that summer, none worse the California Seals who lost 13 guys!
@@pauljensen9678 California did lose a lot of players but Boston lost 6-7 Quality players. I forgot Derrick Sanderson. The worse possible thing happens when he accepted that big contract with The Blazers. He had all the money in the world and none of his old teammates to keep him straight. Derrick wasn’t half the player he once was and was prone to taking boneheaded penalties. I think he made it about a year before they shipped him off to New York. Walton was a talented player who was under appreciated in Boston. The expansion draft also forced Boston to trade talented young players like Reg Leach in order not to lose them in the expansion draft.
@@davidthompson62 I recall Sanderson's last game as a Bruin was in March '74. He instigated a fight with rookie Terry O'Reilly and was suspended for the rest of the season by Harry Sinden, so he missed the Stanley Cup play-off run to the Finals versus Philley. He was sent to NYR as part of a 3-way trade. We got Walt McKechnie who scored a grand total of 3 goals while Derek was having a renaissance season in NY with 25. He then a great season in St. Louis despite playing with bad hips. Went downhill from there. Never will forget Sandy's punch-ups with the Rangers in the '70 play-offs...and of course the 'assist'. Go B's!
@@pauljensen9678 We who saw those great AB’s teams of the late 60’s through the last cup in 1972 will never forget Sanderson’s inspired play. Whether it was getting into punch-up’s, fantastic checking or a short handed goal, Derrick Sanderson had a way of picking up the team. Unfortunately because of his growing problem with alcohol, even the Rangers got tired of him. We should be happy for him getting over such a difficult obstacle. His book was a good read also.
Thx Peter ...great production best I've seen that brings back memories ....I've always considered you top notch and a friend from wpg n calgary too ...big Mike 👍
Great film , thank you ! I'M happy to had the Opportunity to attend the 50th reunion in Quebec City to meet several players like the late Bobby Hull , Anders Hedberg, Ulf Nillson, Andre Lacroix, Brodeur, Paiement, Bernier, Stewart to name a few !
Good video and great memories...although Norm Beaudin did not lead the league in scoring with 131 points during the first season. He had 103. Andre Lacroix won the scoring crown with 124.
The players in hockey in 72 NHL didn't make much but the fans got their tickets real cheap. Now the players make a lot but the tickets are now through the roof. Now the little guy can't afford to go to games.
Bobby Hull was not the first million dollar hockey player, although he's the first to have a million dollar deal confirmed. Back in 1962 Harold Ballard sold Frank Mahovlich to Chicago Black Hawks for a million dollars. The check was written but Stafford Smythe killed the deal.
Gordie Howe 2358 points in pro hockey. Second only to Gretzky. The NHL is negligent in recognizing this fact, so most don't even know, but now you do. Not enough respect for Mr. Hockey in my opinion. No one is close to the career he had. Long live memories of the WHA.
Can't really take WHA records too seriously. Bobby Orr has said they could have had more Stanley Cups if Sanderson and others stayed in Boston, on the other hand NHL owners were so cheap they have only themselves to blame for players deciding to leave
Yeah but the NHL in the early '70s didn't have a lot of talent he had 12 to 14 teams and more than half of them weren't very good I think the who took most of their talent
That Bruins team of the late 60s through 1975 should have and could have won 5 cups. Losing The Turk and Cheever's ,plus Orr's injuries really derailed a stacked lineup. The Bruins checking line of Westfall,Sanderson and Walton really made things happen! And not to mention the first two lines were stacked and you have a young Reggie Leach on the 4th line!! Plus Cheever's and Johnston in goal... And of course arguably the greatest hockey player ever...Bobby Orr!!!! It's a shame they didn't win more,they surely had the talent
@@simonjames1604 And what we they called? I know The Soviets had more than one team. The Army was called HC CSKA Moscow. What was the National team called. I've heard of the "B" Team but I never heard of a national team wasn't the Red Army. Tretiak played for the Red Army.
@@HarveyBacktheBeatles the lineup between the two teams was similar with about a dozen of the moscow red army players on the national team, but the national team was made up from players from other squads as well. so the national team wasnt the red army team, the red army team in 75 was one of two russian teams playing against the nhl that year. the national team was called the "nataional team" thats like saying what is the canadian national hockey team called its the national team, there might be a half dozen montreal canadians on the national team and thats the comparison, the moscow red army team was usually the best in russia but it was a club team at the national level.
What a great film! Funny story from Gretzky at the end. As a Flames fan I hated him so much , and now after all these years Im so thankful for him to have been around in my time. I guess the memories he gave me outweigh the near strokes lol.
Love the Hull and Howe stories too.
I was lucky enough to have season tickets all 7 seasons of the WHA with the Winnipeg Jets. Saw some fantastic + entertaining hockey.
Bobby doing the interview about the WHA with a Blackhawks jersey behind him. It’s sad how Winnipeg has treated him. Bobby should have a statue.
Henderson's one goal should have put him in the hall of fame. Because it's the most famous.
R.I.P. The Golden Jet Bobby Hull & Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe !
The NHL owners only have themselves to blame for the creation of the WHA and so many good players leaving to play in the new league. In the end the NHL won, but the WHA brought hockey to many areas that wouldn’t see professional hockey otherwise. Even though I’m a Montreal Canadiens fan I liked the WHA. Followed it, watched it whenever I could. Winnipeg Jets and Houston Aeros were the teams I liked most, but the whole league . They were fun to watch. The rough tough Calgary Cowboys, New England Whalers, others, SanDiego Mariners, LA Sharks, cool logo, so many memories.
The WHA was my introduction to hockey as a very young boy Growing up in CT. When the Whalers came to Harford stll in the WHA my life changed forever. There was no TV coverage at the time so I would listen to the games on the radio. I knew nothing of hockey or its culture but listening to those games on the radio made me hungry to go to a game at the Civic Center and see the spectacle in person. I finally got that chance the first season the Whalers were in the NHL and God damn it changed my life. To see the game in person and see those players and the way they went at it got me hooked in hockey. To me as a young man those players were bigger than life, modern day fucking gladiators. I got to see in person all of the greats that I read about in the newspaper play. 43 years later I still have my Keon and Dineen Whalers jerseys in my closet. Shit, i still play adult league, with my daughter of all people whom fell for the game when I took her to her first game. I can tell you for certain the the Hartford Whalers and the sport of hockey saved me from a piss poor childhood and gave me hope that better day were ahead. As far as I'm concerned the NHL should be thankful for the brief history of the WHA. I'm certain it helped grow the fan base. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one more thing about the Whalers. Fuck Peter Karmanos!
My dad's company had season tickets. I went to many many whaler games. We sat near Howard Baldwin. My I was young and life was grand. Loved Gordie Howe and I was at game when Mark got impelled by the goal thing.
Saw Gordie set up Marty against the Soviets.
Brass Bonanza. The old captain yelling let's go whalers...
Great video. NHL fans today owe a debt of gratitude to the owners and players like Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe and his sons, who made the WHA the great professional hockey alternative that it was. They broke the total control that the old-boy NHL network had over the game. Now today we have all the Canadian teams that would never have been without the WHA, plus all the US teams as well.
the box set is my most replayed old hockey games. this is great stuff
The WHA had a great impact on hockey in it's s short time
I remember my dad taking me in 1974 to watch the Whalers with Geordie Howe. It was GE night. My dad died a year later. They later became the Hartford Whalers and they had a huge following
WHA had a great impact on my NHL club, The Boston Bruins. After winning their 2nd Cup in three years (1972), so many quality players jumped ship to The WHA (Cheevers, Green McKenzie to name a few).The Bruins didn’t win another (till 2011).
Bruin fan too. We lost the 3 you mentioned plus Mike Walton that summer. And Derek Sanderson, although he came back, he was no where near the player he was in the past. Bruins also lost Ed Westfall and their goalie of the future Dan Bouchard in the expansion draft. The Bruins decided to protect Cheevers and 37 year old Eddie Johnston, so the Atlanta Flames selected Bouchard right away...then Cheesey jumped. Some teams really took it on the chin that summer, none worse the California Seals who lost 13 guys!
@@pauljensen9678 California did lose a lot of players but Boston lost 6-7 Quality players. I forgot Derrick Sanderson. The worse possible thing happens when he accepted that big contract with The Blazers. He had all the money in the world and none of his old teammates to keep him straight. Derrick wasn’t half the player he once was and was prone to taking boneheaded penalties. I think he made it about a year before they shipped him off to New York.
Walton was a talented player who was under appreciated in Boston. The expansion draft also forced Boston to trade talented young players like Reg Leach in order not to lose them in the expansion draft.
@@davidthompson62 I recall Sanderson's last game as a Bruin was in March '74. He instigated a fight with rookie Terry O'Reilly and was suspended for the rest of the season by Harry Sinden, so he missed the Stanley Cup play-off run to the Finals versus Philley. He was sent to NYR as part of a 3-way trade. We got Walt McKechnie who scored a grand total of 3 goals while Derek was having a renaissance season in NY with 25. He then a great season in St. Louis despite playing with bad hips. Went downhill from there. Never will forget Sandy's punch-ups with the Rangers in the '70 play-offs...and of course the 'assist'. Go B's!
@@pauljensen9678 We who saw those great AB’s teams of the late 60’s through the last cup in 1972 will never forget Sanderson’s inspired play. Whether it was getting into punch-up’s, fantastic checking or a short handed goal, Derrick Sanderson had a way of picking up the team. Unfortunately because of his growing problem with alcohol, even the Rangers got tired of him. We should be happy for him getting over such a difficult obstacle. His book was a good read also.
Thx Peter ...great production best I've seen that brings back memories ....I've always considered you top notch and a friend from wpg n calgary too ...big Mike 👍
Great film , thank you ! I'M happy to had the Opportunity to attend the 50th reunion in Quebec City to meet several players like the late Bobby Hull , Anders Hedberg, Ulf Nillson, Andre Lacroix, Brodeur, Paiement, Bernier, Stewart to name a few !
I remember the WHA Arena where the boards were clear. That was odd.
Minnesota fighting saints. In st Paul Minnesota.
That Winnipeg team wins the Stanley Cup if they were kept together for expansion
great video!
Thank you for the memories, A Fighting Saints fan.
great doc, thank you
I was a huge NY Raiders fan. Went to a lot of games. Tickets were $2.
Good video and great memories...although Norm Beaudin did not lead the league in scoring with 131 points during the first season. He had 103. Andre Lacroix won the scoring crown with 124.
Had season tickets for 3 years in Edmonton, some of the greatest hockey memories I've got.
Excellent😊
The NHL was an AHL type league before 1980.
Are you saying the game was more like minor league.???
Great video!
Great!
The players in hockey in 72 NHL didn't make much but the fans got their tickets real cheap.
Now the players make a lot but the tickets are now through the roof.
Now the little guy can't afford to go to games.
Bobby Hull was not the first million dollar hockey player, although he's the first to have a million dollar deal confirmed. Back in 1962 Harold Ballard sold Frank Mahovlich to Chicago Black Hawks for a million dollars. The check was written but Stafford Smythe killed the deal.
The Rebel League!
Gordie Howe 2358 points in pro hockey. Second only to Gretzky. The NHL is negligent in recognizing this fact, so most don't even know, but now you do. Not enough respect for Mr. Hockey in my opinion. No one is close to the career he had.
Long live memories of the WHA.
Great Getsky story
Is that thing on top of Hull's skull... alive?
I'd like to see another break out league started. The "Woke" NHL has priced itself out of reach for average people to buy a ticket.
Can't really take WHA records too seriously. Bobby Orr has said they could have had more Stanley Cups if Sanderson and others stayed in Boston, on the other hand NHL owners were so cheap they have only themselves to blame for players deciding to leave
Yeah but the NHL in the early '70s didn't have a lot of talent he had 12 to 14 teams and more than half of them weren't very good I think the who took most of their talent
That Bruins team of the late 60s through 1975 should have and could have won 5 cups. Losing The Turk and Cheever's ,plus Orr's injuries really derailed a stacked lineup. The Bruins checking line of Westfall,Sanderson and Walton really made things happen! And not to mention the first two lines were stacked and you have a young Reggie Leach on the 4th line!! Plus Cheever's and Johnston in goal... And of course arguably the greatest hockey player ever...Bobby Orr!!!! It's a shame they didn't win more,they surely had the talent
I was at the game when Hull scored 48, 49 and 50. Will never forget it.
👍
Well that's not really true The WHA really had some of the better players
The Flyers beat the Red Army in 1975 before the Jets did it in 78.
the jets played the soviet national team, not the moscow red army team, two very different clubs .
@@simonjames1604 And what we they called? I know The Soviets had more than one team. The Army was called HC CSKA Moscow. What was the National team called. I've heard of the "B" Team but I never heard of a national team wasn't the Red Army. Tretiak played for the Red Army.
@@HarveyBacktheBeatles the lineup between the two teams was similar with about a dozen of the moscow red army players on the national team, but the national team was made up from players from other squads as well. so the national team wasnt the red army team, the red army team in 75 was one of two russian teams playing against the nhl that year. the national team was called the "nataional team" thats like saying what is the canadian national hockey team called its the national team, there might be a half dozen montreal canadians on the national team and thats the comparison, the moscow red army team was usually the best in russia but it was a club team at the national level.
The Flyers beat the crap out of them. The Russian walked but only came back when they told they wouldn't get any money.
@@777poco yeah but its a different team than the national sqaud.
When this league started it watered down the talent pool so much. There were no Russian, European and very few American players. It was hard to watch.
You can't have a 50th Anniversary if the league didn't last that long.