Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Mark Messier enjoyed an illustrious NHL career playing for the Edmonton Oilers, NY Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks where he was a part of 5 Stanley Cup champions. Messier, like his Oiler teammate and fellow hall of famer Wayne Gretzky, began his career in the WHA. After a "cup of coffee" with the post-Gretzky Indianapolis Racers, "Mess" played for which franchise, that nearly became a part of the NHL?
2. Maurice "Rocket" Richard is arguably one of the greatest hockey players of all time. He helped the Montreal Canadiens win multiple Stanley Cups and was a part of the greatest dynasty in NHL history. After his illustrious playing career was over, he begrudgingly decided to try his hand at coaching. However, he wasn't comfortable in this role and left the job after coaching just two games. Which team did The Rocket coach in the 1972-73 season?
3. The Philadelphia Blazers were one of the stranger teams. After being bought by trucking magnate Bernie Brown (after the failed attempt to become the Miami Screaming Eagles), Brown spent money in order to gain fan interest in a city where the NHL team the Flyers were beginning to form their infamous Broad Street Bullies. Brown already had Bernie Parent, as Parent was under contract with Miami. Brown also inked Derek Sanderson to the most lucrative contract in sports history at the time,. However, Sanderson would only play 8 games before getting injured then eventually having his contract bought out. This wasn't the only gaffe by the Blazers. On opening night, the zamboni fell through the ice surface forcing a cancellation of the game causing the fans to litter the ice with the red commemorative pucks that were given out. Even though the Blazers were a moderate success on the ice, it was obvious they weren't going to catch on in Philadelphia so the Brown sold the team to Jim Patterson who moved the team to what city?
4. When the league was founded, one of the charter cities was supposed to be Calgary where the Broncos were supposed to begin play. However, owner Bob Brownridge passed away so the franchise license was sold, moved to the USA, and became which team?
5. For the 1974-75 season the WHA expanded for the first time, placing teams in two cities. One of those teams was the Indianapolis Racers who later in the decade signed a fresh faced kid named Wayne Gretzky. The other team was a little further out west. What was that team?
6. The WHA began play in 1972. Aside from the established stars like Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, and Gerry Cheevers who joined the rebel league, there were players like Wayne Gretzky, Mike Liut, Robbie Ftorek, Mike Gartner, and Mark Howe to name a few. Who was the last member of the WHA to retire?
7. All of the four WHA teams absorbed into the NHL for the 1979-80 season - Whalers, Oilers, Jets, and Nordiques - at one time or another won the AVCO Cup, the WHA championship.
8. The Chicago Cougars, a charter member of the WHA, were only around for three seasons. They did make the playoffs in their 2nd season, making it all the way to the finals but they lost in 4 straight to Gordie Howe and the Houston Aeros. The Cougars played at the International Amphitheater but weren't able to play there for the semi-finals and the finals in 1974 and were forced to play in a 2,000 seat public arena. What was the reason they couldn't play in their home arena?
9. The Los Angeles Sharks, a charter member of the WHA, were only around for two seasons when they moved to Detroit to become the Michigan Stags. However, they didn't last there very long. On January 23, 1975 the league announced the Stags were moving where?
10. The movie "Slap Shot" (1977) - the famous Hanson Brothers from that movie were played by real hockey players Steve and Jeff Carlson as well as David Hanson, who all at one time or another played in the WHA for what team?
Source: Author
Rockhound6165
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor
gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
