Winnipeg Jets

The Winnipeg Jets were an ice hockey franchise that existed in both the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League. In 1996, due to financial troubles, the franchise was moved to Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes.

Franchise history (WHA)

In 1972 Winnipeg was granted one of the founding franchises in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The National Hockey League had recently expanded to 16 teams, adding franchises in many hockey-hungry cities (only one in Canada), but also in Atlanta, Oakland and Los Angeles. The WHA brought major professional hockey to Ottawa, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and later Calgary.

Related Topics:
1972 - Winnipeg - Atlanta - Oakland - Los Angeles - Ottawa - Quebec City - Edmonton - Calgary

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The Jets' first major signing was Bobby Hull, also known as the Golden Jet. The move -- partially financed by the rest of the WHA's teams -- was widely seen as giving legitimacy to the WHA as a serious rival major league. The Jets were further noteworthy in hockey history for being the first North American club to seriously explore Europe as a source of hockey talent. Winnipeg's fortunes were bolstered by acquisitions such as Swedish forwards Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson, who starrred with Hull on the WHA's most famous and successful forward line, and defenceman Lars-Erik Sjoberg, who would serve as the team's captain and win accolades as the WHA's best defenceman. Behind these players and other European stars such as Willy Lindstrom, Kent Nilsson, Veli-Pekka Ketola, leavened by players such as Peter Sullivan, Norm Beaudin and goaltender Joe Daley, the Jets were the most successful team in the short-lived WHA, winning three Avco Cups, the league's championship trophy and making the finals five out of the WHA's seven seasons.

Related Topics:
Bobby Hull - Anders Hedberg - Ulf Nilsson - Defenceman - Lars-Erik Sjoberg - Captain - Willy Lindstrom - Kent Nilsson - Veli-Pekka Ketola - Peter Sullivan - Norm Beaudin - Joe Daley - Avco Cup

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Career Leaders (WHA)

• Games: Bobby Hull, 411
• Goals: Hull, 303
• Assists: Ulf Nilsson, 344
• Points: Hull, 638
• Penalty Minutes: Kim Clackson, 413
• Goaltending Wins: Joe Daley, 167
• Shutouts: Daley, 12