World Hockey Association 1972-1979

World Hockey Association Logo [Reference: 2]

WHA 1972-73

PWLTPts
Eastern Division
*New England Whalers784630294
*Cleveland Crusaders784332389
*Philadelphia Blazers783840076
*Ottawa Nationals783539474
Quebec Nordiques783340571
New York Raiders783343268
Western Division
*Winnipeg Jets784331490
*Houston Aeros793935482
*Los Angeles Sharks783735680
*Minnesota Fighting Saints783837379
Alberta Oilers783837379
Chicago Cougars782650254
World Hockey Association Final Standings 1972-73 [Reference: 1]
WinnersRunners-Up
Western Division 1 Game Tie Breaker
Minnesota Fighting Saints4Alberta Oilers2
First RoundBest of 7
Cleveland Crusaders4Philadelphia Blazers0
New England Whalers4Ottawa Nationals2
Winnipeg Jets4Minnesota Fighting Saints2
Houston Aeros4Los Angeles Sharks2
Second RoundBest of 7
New England Whalers4Cleveland Crusaders2
Winnipeg Jets4Houston Aeros0
AVCO Cup FinalBest of 7
New England Whalers4Winnipeg Jets1
World Hockey association Playoff Results 1972-73 [Reference: 1]

Franchise Moves During the Offseason:

  1. The Blazers moved from Philadelphia to Vancouver.
  2. The Ottawa Nationals moved to Toronto and became the Toros.
  3. The New York Raiders remained in Manhattan, but became the Golden Blades.
  4. The Alberta Oilers became permanent residents of Edmonton.

WHA 1973-74

PWLTPts
Eastern Division
*New England Whalers784331490
*Toronto Toros784133486
*Cleveland Crusaders783732983
*Chicago Cougars783835581
Quebec Nordiques783836480
New York Golden Blades / New Jersey Knights783242468
Western Division
*Houston Aeros7848255101
*Minnesota Fighting Saints783935482
*Edmonton Oilers783735680
*Winnipeg Jets783837379
Vancouver Blazers783837379
Los Angeles Sharks782650254
World Hockey Association Final Standings 1973-74 [Reference: 1]

Franchise Moves During the Season:

The New York Golden Blades moved mid-season to New Jersey and became the Knights.

WinnersRunners-Up
First RoundBest of 7
Houston Aeros4Winnipeg Jets0
Minnesota Fighting Saints4Edmonton Oilers2
Chicago Cougars4New England Whalers3
Toronto Toros4Cleveland Crusaders2
Second RoundBest of 7
Houston Aeros4Minnesota Fighting Saints2
Chicago Cougars4Toronto Toros3
AVCO Cup FinalBest of 7
Houston Aeros4Chicago Cougars0
World Hockey association Playoff Results 1973-74 [Reference: 1]

Offseason Franchise Moves:

  1. The New Jersey Knights moved to San Diego and became the Mariners
  2. The Los Angeles Sharks moved to Michigan and became the Stags
  3. The League expanded, admitting Phoenix Roadrunners & Indianapolis Racers
  4. The 2-Division alignment became a 3-Division one.

WHA 1974-75

PWLTPts
Eastern Division
*New England Whalers784330591
*Cleveland Crusaders783540373
Chicago Cougars783047161
Indianapolis Racers781857339
Western Division
*Houston Aeros7853250106
*San Diego Mariners784331498
*Minnesota Fighting Saints784233387
*Phoenix Roadrunners783931886
Michigan Blades / Baltimore Blades782153446
Canadian Division
*Quebec Nordiques784632092
*Toronto Toros784333286
Winnipeg Jets783835581
Vancouver Blades783739276
Edmonton Oilers783638476
World Hockey Association Final Standings 1974-75 [Reference: 1]

Franchise moves during the season:

  1. The Michigan Blades moved during the season to Baltimore, becoming the Stars.
WinnersRunners-Up
First RoundBest of 7
Houston Aeros4Cleveland Crusaders2
Quebec Nordiques4Phoenix Roadrunners2
Minnesota Fighting Saints4New England Whalers2
San Diego Mariners4Toronto Toros2
Second RoundBest of 7
Quebec Nordiques4Minnesota Fighting Saints2
Houston Aeros4San Diego Mariners0
AVCO Cup FinalBest of 7
Houston Aeros4Quebec Nordiques0
World Hockey Association Playoff Results 1974-75 [Reference: 1]

Franchise moves during the Offseason:

  1. The Chicago Cougars folded.
  2. The Vancouver Blazers moved to Calgary becoming the Cowboys
  3. The League expanded again, adding the Cincinnati Stingers & Denver Spurs

WHA 1975-76

PWLTPts
Eastern Division
*Indianapolis Racers803539676
*Cleveland Crusaders803540575
*New England Whalers803340773
Cincinnati Stingers803544171
Quebec Nordiques803836480
Western Division
*Houston Aeros8053270106
*Phoenix Roadrunners803935684
San Diego Mariners803638678
Minnesota Fighting Saints593025464
Denver Spurs411426129
Canadian Division
*Winnipeg Jets8152272106
*Quebec Nordiques8150274104
*Calgary Cowboys804135486
*Edmonton Oilers802749559
Toronto Toros812452553
World Hockey Association Final Standings 1975-76 [Reference: 1]

Franchise Moves during the Season:

  1. Minnesota Fighing Saints folded after 59 games.
  2. Denver Spurs became the Ottawa Civics after 18 games, then folded after 41.
WinnersRunners-Up
First RoundBest of 5
New England Whalers3Cleveland Crusaders0
San Diego Mariners3Phoenix Roadrunners2
Second RoundBest of 7
Winnipeg Jets4Edmonton Oilers0
Calgary Cowboys4Quebec Nordiques0
New England Whalers4Indianapolis Racers3
Houston Aeros4San Diego Mariners2
Third RoundBest of 7
Winnipeg Jets4Calgary Cowboys2
Houston Aeros4New England Whalers3
AVCO Cup FinalBest of 7
Winnipeg Jets4Houston Aeros0
World Hockey association Playoff Results 1975-76 [Reference: 1]

Franchise moves during the offseason:

  1. Cleveland Crusaders moved to Minnesota and became the second incarnation of the Fighting Saints.
  2. Toronto Toros moved to Birmingham, Alabama, becoming the Bulls.
  3. The League reverted back to 2-Division alignment.

WHA 1976-77

PWLTPts
Eastern Division
*Quebec Nordiques814731397
*Cincinnati Stingers813937583
*Indianapolis Racers813637880
*New England Whalers813540676
Birmingham Bulls813146466
Minnesota Fighting Saints421918543
Western Division
*Houston Aeros8050246106
*Winnipeg Jets804632294
*San Diego Mariners814037484
*Edmonton Oilers843443775
Calgary Cowboys813143769
Phoenix Roadrunners802848468
World Hockey Association Final Standings 1976-77 [Reference: 1]

Franchise moves during the season:

  1. Minnesota Fighting Saints folded (again) after 42 games.
WinnersRunners-Up
First RoundBest of 7
Quebec Nordiques4New England Whalers2
Indianapolis Racers4Cincinnati Stingers0
Houston Aeros4Edmonton Oilers2
Winnipeg Jets4San Diego Mariners3
Second RoundBest of 7
Quebec Nordiques4Indianapolis Racers2
Winnipeg Jets4Houston Aeros2
AVCO Cup FinalBest of 7
Quebec Nordiques4Winnipeg Jets3
World Hockey association Playoff Results 1976-77 [Reference: 1]

Franchise moves during the Offseason:

  1. Phoenix Roadrunners, San Diego Mariners & Calgary Cowboys all folded.
  2. The League adopts an 8-team 1-Division format.

WHA 1977-78

PWLTPts
*Winnipeg Jets8050282102
*New England Whalers804431593
*Houston Aeros804234486
*Quebec Nordiques804037383
*Edmonton Oilers803839379
*Birmingham Bulls803641375
Cincinnati Stingers803542373
Indianapolis Racers802451553
World Hockey Association Final Standings 1977-78 [Reference: 1]
WinnersRunners-Up
First RoundBest of 7
New England Whalers4Edmonton Oilers2
Quebec Nordiques4Houston Aeros2
Winnipeg Jets4Birmingham Bulls2
Second RoundBest of 7
New England Whalers4Quebec Nordiques2
Winnipeg Jets(bye)
AVCO Cup FinalBest of 7
Winnipeg Jets4New England Whalers1
World Hockey association Playoff Results 1977-78 [Reference: 1]

Franchise moves during the Offseason:

  1. Houston Aeros folded.

WHA 1978-79

PWLTPts
*Edmonton Oilers804830298
*Quebec Nordiques804134587
*Winnipeg Jets803935684
*New England Whalers803734983
*Cincinnati Stingers803341672
Birmingham Bulls803242670
Indianapolis Racers25218212
World Hockey Association Final Standings 1978-79 [Reference: 1]

Franchise moves during the season:

  1. Indianapolis Racers folded after 25 games.
WinnersRunners-Up
First RoundBest of 3
New England Whalers2Cincinnati Stingers1
Second RoundBest of 7
Winnipeg Jets4Quebec Nordiques0
Edmonton Oilers4New England Whalers3
AVCO Cup FinalBest of 7
Winnipeg Jets4Edmonton Oilers2
World Hockey association Playoff Results 1978-79 [Reference: 1]

Franchise moves during the Offseason:

  1. The AVCO World Trophy was permanently awarded to the Winnipeg Jets after the League merger of the WHA with the National Hockey League. The Trophy was donated to the Hockey Hall of Fame after the Winnipeg Jets moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1998.
  2. The Winnipeg Jets, New England Whalers (as Hartford Whalers), Quebec Nordiques and Edmonton Oilers all joined the NHL after the merger.
  3. The Winnipeg Jets are currently in Phoenix, and have been renamed the Coyotes.
  4. The Hartford Whalers are now in Raleigh, North Carolina, and have been renamed the Carolina Hurricanes.
  5. The Quebec Nordiques are currently in Denver, Colorado, and known as the Colorado Avalanche.

About

The World Hockey Association of 1972-1979 was a Major League rival to the National Hockey League. Three of the Leagues’ Champions – Winnipeg Jets 1975-76, 1977-78, 1978-79; New England Whalers 1972-73; and Quebec Nordiques 1976-1977 – joined the National Hockey League after the merger between the two Leagues in 1979. All three teams have since moved. The only other team to have won the AVCO World Trophy – the Houston Aeros – folded after the 1977-78 season.

The only other team to join the NHL after the merger – the Edmonton Oilers – is the only one still in its original hometown, and although the only one of the four to not have won the AVCO World Trophy, is the only one to have won the NHL’s Stanley Cup.

References

Websites

[1] World Hockey Association (2020) Yearly Standings [Internet] Available from: http://www.whahockey.com/whayearlystandings.html [Accessed 18 January 2020]

Images

[2] 1000 Logo (2020) WHA Logo [Internet] Available from: https://1000logos.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/WHA-logo.jpg [Accessed 18 January 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Prof. Simon Perry (Trinity College Dublin)

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 18 January 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.Advertisements

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