Hartford Whalers

The Hartford Whalers, previously known as the New England Whalers, were a World Hockey Association (WHA) and later National Hockey League (NHL) franchise from 1972 to 1997. In 1997, the Whalers franchise was moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and its name changed to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The WHA Days

The Whalers franchise was born in November 1971 when the World Hockey Association awarded a franchise to New England businessmen Howard Baldwin, John Coburn, Godfrey Wood, and William Barnes, to begin play in Boston. The team began auspiciously, signing former Detroit Red Wing star Tom Webster, hard rock Boston Bruins' defenseman Ted Green (the team's inaugural captain), Toronto Maple Leafs' defensemen Rick Ley, Jim Dorey, and Brad Selwood, and former Pittsburgh Penguins' goaltender Al Smith. The Whalers would have the WHA's best regular-season record in the 1972-73 WHA season, with Webster leading the team in scoring and rampaging through the playoffs, and behind legendary ex-Boston University coach Jack Kelley, would win the inaugural league championship.

Related Topics:
1971 - World Hockey Association - New England - Howard Baldwin - John Coburn - Godfrey Wood - Boston - Detroit Red Wing - Tom Webster - Boston Bruins - Defenseman - Ted Green - Captain - Toronto Maple Leafs - Rick Ley - Jim Dorey - Brad Selwood - Pittsburgh Penguins - Goaltender - Al Smith - 1972-73 WHA season - Boston University - Jack Kelley

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For the first 2½ years of their existence, the Whalers played home games at the Boston Arena and the Boston Garden. However, with sagging attendance related to the ebbing of the early Seventies hockey boom in the Boston area, ownership determined to move the franchise to Connecticut, where except for various minor league teams in New Haven had been largely bereft of pro hockey.

Related Topics:
Boston Arena - Boston Garden - Connecticut - New Haven

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On 11 January 1975, the team played its first game in front of a sellout crowd at the Hartford Civic Center Coliseum. With the exception of a couple seasons in the late 1970s when the Whalers played at the Springfield Civic Center while the Hartford Civic Center was being renovated (due to the collapse of a portion of its roof after a blizzard) the franchise was in Hartford up until it relocated to North Carolina in 1997.

Related Topics:
11 January - 1975 - Hartford Civic Center Coliseum - Springfield Civic Center - Blizzard - Hartford - 1997

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Though they never again won the league championship, the New England Whalers were a successful team, never missing the playoffs in the WHA's history, and finishing first in its division three seasons. They had a more stable roster than most WHA teams -- Ley, Webster, Selwood, Larry Pleau, and Tommy Earl would all play over 350 games with the club -- and scored a major coup when they signed legend Gordie Howe and his sons Mark and Marty from the Houston Aeros in 1977.

Related Topics:
Larry Pleau - Tommy Earl - Gordie Howe - Mark - Marty - Houston Aeros

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While the first two full seasons in Hartford were not glittering (the Whalers recorded losing records both years), the final two WHA seasons saw more success. They went to the finals again in 1978, with a deep veteran team spearheaded by the Howes -- 50-year-old Gordie led the team in scoring -- future NHL stars Gordie Roberts and Mike Rogers, All-Star defenseman Ron Plumb, and forwards John McKenzie, Dave Keon, and Mike Antonovich, and possessed of the league's best defense. The next season was not so fine, but while age finally caught up with Gordie Howe, the slack was picked up by Andre Lacroix, the WHA's all time leading scorer, from the folded Aeros.

Related Topics:
1978 - Gordie Roberts - Mike Rogers - Ron Plumb - John McKenzie - Dave Keon - Mike Antonovich - Gordie Howe - Andre Lacroix

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As such, it was one of the four franchises admitted to the National Hockey League when the rival leagues merged in 1979, and the Howes, Rogers, Ley, Keon, Smith, Roberts and Lacroix would go on to wear the uniform of the newly-renamed Hartford Whalers.

Related Topics:
National Hockey League - 1979

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Career Leaders (WHA, 1972-1979)

• Games: Rick Ley, 478
• Goals: Tom Webster, 220
• Assists: Larry Pleau, 215
• Points: Webster, 425
• Penalty Minutes: Ley, 716
• Goaltending Wins: Al Smith, 141