Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The league was the brain child of two men, Gary Davidson and Dennis Murphy, who had a habit of starting rebel sports leagues. They would both go on to found the World Football League in 1974 but before that they would start another league that was in operation when they started the WHA. What was that league?
2. The WHA planned for a 12 team league to start. Not only did the league want teams in cities like L.A. or New York, they also wanted teams in cities with no professional hockey teams. One of those cities was Miami where a franchise was to be named the Screaming Eagles, however, they couldn't find a suitable arena and a proposed arena/office complex was planned but it ran into zoning problems. Unfortunately, Miami couldn't host a team with no arena so the team was sold and moved and became known as what team?
3. Screaming Eagles - this franchise became the first to lure an established NHL player to the rebel league when they signed goaltender and future hall of famer Bernie Parent. From which team was Bernie signed away from?
4. One of the charter teams was the New York Raiders. The Raiders had hoped to play in the new Long Island Arena but the deal fell through when the Islanders were formed forcing the Raiders to play in Madison Square Garden under an impossible lease. Plagued by poor attendance, the team decided to restructure and came back at the start of the 2nd season as the New York Golden Blades but they were worse than the Raiders and in mid season picked up, moved south, and became what?
5. The WHA finals the first season, 1972-73, was between the New England Whalers and the Winnipeg Jets for the AVCO Cup. The Whalers defeated the Jets 4-1 in the series but something was strange about the post championship celebration. What was it?
6. The biggest coup by the WHA was signing legend Bobby Hull away from the NHL. But he wasn't the only star to go to the new league. Maurice Richard coached, albeit briefly, the Quebec Nordiques, Jacques Plant played a few games in goal for the Edmonton Oilers, Derek Sanderson played all of 8 games for the Blazers even though he signed what was then the biggest sports contract in history, Gerry Cheevers played for the Crusaders in Cleveland, and this legend who signed on to play with his sons in Houston. Who was this legend?
7. Several young players got their start in the WHA then went on to distinguished careers in the NHL. Players like Mike Gartner, Mark Messier, Mike Liut, Mark Howe, Rod Langway among others became NHL all stars and even a few hall of famers. But no player made as big an impact on the NHL than Wayne Gretzky who went on to set records that are still being chased today in the NHL in a career where he played for the Oilers, Kings, Blues, and Rangers. But what team gave Gretzky his first major league experience?
8. Several teams moved or folded as the league progressed through the 1970s. Some in mid season. One was mentioned in question 4. Another was the LA Sharks who moved to Detroit to become the Michigan Stags but in mid season moved to Baltimore to become the Blades. But the weirdest move came in the 1975-76 season when the expansion Denver Spurs were forced to move after 34 games to what city?
9. The Los Angeles Sharks were a charter member of the league but they were only around for two seasons before moving to Michigan and became the Stags. One player for the Sharks was only the second black player to play in a major professional hockey league. Who was this player?
10. The final season for the WHA was the 1978-79 season. Starting in 1979-80 four teams would join the NHL. But before that, there was a final AVCO Cup finals to be played. The winner were the Winnipeg Jets. Who did the Jets defeat to take home the last AVCO Cup.
Source: Author
Rockhound6165
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gtho4 before going online.
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