List of World Hockey Association broadcasters

Last updated

After CBS lost the American television rights of the National Hockey League to NBC following the 1971-72 season (CBS was paying less than $2 million a year and NBC jumped to $5.3 million [1] ), the network covered the inaugural season of the World Hockey Association. [2] The WHA's TV deal [3] permitted it to sell week‐night games to other networks (CBS meanwhile, would show games on Sunday afternoons in addition the all-star game and playoffs [4] ). In addition, the WHA also sold a $3‐million package to Canada. On January 7, 1973, CBS aired its first WHA game between the Minnesota Fighting Saints and Winnipeg Jets live from the new St. Paul Civic Center with Ron Oakes, Gerry Cheevers and Dick Stockton announcing.

Contents

Local broadcasters

TeamRadio stationRadio announcersTelevision stationTelevision announcers
Baltimore Blades WCBM WMAR
Birmingham Bulls WAPI Eli Gold WBRC
Calgary Cowboys CFAC Eric Bishop CFAC
Chicago Cougars WCFL WSNS Brad Palmer, [5] Red Rush, [6] and Bobby Hull [7]
Cincinnati Stingers WKRC Andy MacWilliams [8] WXIX
Cleveland Crusaders WWWE Steve Albert (1972-75), Lee Hamilton (1975-76) WUAB
Denver Spurs KLZ KOA
Edmonton Oilers CJCA Bryan Hall [9] and Rod Phillips CFRN Al McCann [10] and Bruce MacGregor
Houston Aeros KIKK KHTV Jerry Trupiano and Jack Stanfield [11]
Indianapolis Racers WNDE Bob Lamey [12] WLWI
Los Angeles Sharks KNX KTTV
Michigan Stags WWJ Gary Morrel and Norm Plummer WXON Vince Doyle and Marty Pavelich
Minnesota Fighting Saints WLOL Frank Buetel, Roger Buxton, Bill Allard and Bob Halvorson WTCN Frank Buetel, Roger Buxton
New England Whalers WHDH
WTIC 		Dave Martin, John Moynihan, Bill Rasmussen, Ron Ryan, Bob Neumeier, Dennis Randall, and John Hewig WKBG [13] [14]
WFSB
Connecticut Public Television [15] 		John Carlson, Tim Horgan, Stan Fischler, Shirley Fischler, |Bob Neumeier, Bill Rasmussen, Dennis Randall, and John Hewig
New York Golden Blades WMCA John Sterling and Fritz Peterson [16] WNEW
Ottawa Civics
Ottawa Nationals 		CKOY TVOntario
Philadelphia Blazers WIBG (Vancouver Blazers) (CJJC) [17] WKBS
Phoenix Roadrunners KOY Al McCoy [18] KPHO
San Diego Mariners KOGO Roy Storey KCST
Toronto Toros CFRB William Stephenson [19] CKGN
Winnipeg Jets CJOB [20] Ken Nicholson, Don Wittman Don Wittman [21]

Notes

See also

Related Research Articles

World Hockey Association Defunct ice hockey major league from 1972 to 1979

The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (NHL) since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926. Although the WHA was not the first league since that time to attempt to challenge the NHL's supremacy, it was by far the most successful in the modern era.

Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996) Former hockey team of the National Hockey League

The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. They began play in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972. The club joined the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979 after the NHL merged with the WHA. Due to mounting financial troubles, in 1996 the franchise moved to Phoenix, Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes.

Quebec Nordiques Former hockey team of the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association

The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) and the National Hockey League (1979–1995). The franchise was relocated to Denver, Colorado in May 1995 and renamed the Colorado Avalanche. They played their home games at the Colisée de Québec from 1972 to 1995.

Minnesota Fighting Saints World Hockey Association ice hockey team

The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972 to 1976. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and played for part of the 1976–77 season. Neither edition of the franchise completed its final season of play.

Houston Aeros (WHA)

The Houston Aeros were a professional ice hockey team in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 to 1978.

The 1979–80 NHL season was the 63rd season of the National Hockey League. This season saw the addition of four teams from the disbanded World Hockey Association as expansion franchises. The Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, New England Whalers, and Quebec Nordiques joined the NHL, bringing the total to 21 teams. The other two WHA teams were paid to disband.

Harold Watson Neale is a retired NCAA, NHL and WHA coach and general manager, and ice hockey broadcaster.

The 1972–73 WHA season was the first season of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Twelve teams played 78 games each. The league was officially incorporated in June of 1971 by Garry L. Davidson and Dennis A. Murphy and promised to ice twelve teams in various markets around Canada and the United States. The league championship trophy, the Avco World Trophy, was donated by AVCO Financial Services Corporation along with $500,000. The New England Whalers won the first Avco World Trophy.

The 1978–79 WHA season was the seventh and final season of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Prior to the start of the season, the Houston Aeros folded leaving seven teams to start the season. Only six would finish however, as the Indianapolis Racers folded after 25 games on December 15, 1978. The remaining six teams each played 80 games, including one game each per team against a Soviet All-Star squad and the Czechoslovakian National Team, the second consecutive year for this arrangement. The Soviet team won four of their six games and tied another; the Czechoslovak team only won once and tied once against four losses. In addition, because the Racers had folded after playing an odd number of games, the Edmonton Oilers played the Finnish National Team once at home so as to allow each of the six surviving WHA teams to play 80 regular season games. The Oilers won by a score of 8-4, a result which in itself made no difference by the end of the regular season which Edmonton won by an eleven point margin over the Quebec Nordiques.

The 1977–78 WHA season was the sixth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Eight teams played 80 games each. The Avco World Trophy winner was the Winnipeg Jets.

Ted Green Canadian ice hockey player

Edward Joseph "Terrible Ted" Green was a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and player. Green played defence in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Boston Bruins and in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the New England Whalers and Winnipeg Jets, and was noted for his physical play. Green served as a head coach with the Edmonton Oilers, and was an assistant coach with the Oilers and the New York Rangers.

Kent Åke "Kenta" Nilsson is a Swedish former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Winnipeg Jets, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta and Calgary Flames, Minnesota North Stars and Edmonton Oilers, as well as teams across various European leagues. During his NHL career he was called "Mr. Magic" and "The Magic Man", referring to his exceptional puck skills. Wayne Gretzky commented on Nilsson's skills saying "Skills-wise he might have been the most skilled hockey player I ever saw in my entire career". In 2006, he was featured on HCZ, a Swedish reality show as coach for a hockey team of non-athletes.

The 1976–77 WHA season was the fifth season of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Prior to the season, the Toronto Toros moved to Birmingham, Alabama and became the Birmingham Bulls. The Cleveland Crusaders attempted to move to South Florida, but instead became the short-lived second incarnation of the Minnesota Fighting Saints and folded after playing 42 games. With the death of the Saints, the WHA officially left the last market it had been sharing with the NHL. The remaining 11 teams finished the season, playing 80 or 81 games.

Norman Joseph Andrew Beaudin is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played 25 games in the National Hockey League and 335 in the World Hockey Association, most notably for the Winnipeg Jets. He also played for the Minnesota North Stars and St. Louis Blues. He owns two hockey stores in Florida.

Barry Graham Legge is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 107 games in the National Hockey League and 345 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, Michigan Stags, Baltimore Blades, Denver Spurs, Ottawa Civics, Cleveland Crusaders, Minnesota Fighting Saints, and Cincinnati Stingers.

The 1979–80 Winnipeg Jets season was the franchise's eighth season since its inception in 1972, and its first season in the National Hockey League.

The 1972–73 Winnipeg Jets season was their first season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Jets' first player signed was Norm Beaudin and their first major signing was Bobby Hull.

The 1974–75 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' third season, as they were coming off a 38–36–4 record in 1973–74, earning 80 points, however, they failed to qualify for the post-season for the 2nd straight season.

The 1976–77 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques fifth season, as they were coming off their best season to date in 1975–76, earning a team record 50 victories and 104 points, as they finished in second place in the Canadian Division. In the post-season, Quebec win their first Avco Cup in team history. Serge Bernier would win the WHA Playoff MVP trophy, as he earned 36 points for the Nordiques in 17 post-season games.

The 1978–79 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' seventh season in the WHA, were coming off of a 40-37-3 record in the 1977–78 season and a loss in the playoff semi-finals. The Nordiques improved to 41–34–5 to qualify for the playoffs, but lost in the first round to eventual Avco Cup champions Winnipeg Jets.

References

  1. ↑ Craig, Jack. "NHL finds NBC coverage more to its liking".
  2. ↑ Jonathan Lucas (2007). First, Fourth and Last. Trafford Publishing. p. 60. ISBN   9781425111311.
  3. ↑ Eskenazi, Gerald (October 27, 1972). "Raiders Win, 7‐6". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ "Looking Back At The WHA". NHL.com. November 21, 2005.
  5. ↑ "About The Professor". Chicago Now.
  6. ↑ "Red Rush passes away". THE BROADCAST BOOTH. January 15, 2009.
  7. ↑ WHA: Dec.17/1972 Chicago Cougars - Minnesota Fighting Saints on YouTube
  8. ↑ "REMEMBERING THE CINCINNATI STINGERS HOCKEY TEAM". Cincy Shirts. November 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ Gaschnitz, K. Michael (11 September 2015). The Edmonton Oilers. p. 266. ISBN   9780786455461.
  10. ↑ 1979 Avco Cup Edmonton vs Winnipeg Bobby Hull and Wayne Gretzky interviews on YouTube
  11. ↑ 1978.04.04.WHA WinnipegJets- Houston Aeros on YouTube
  12. ↑ WIBC Hockey Bob Lamey Indianapolis Racers on YouTube
  13. ↑ "Whalers Rule Out Home Playoff TV". The Day. April 4, 1973. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  14. ↑ team was located in Boston at the time
  15. ↑ Bob Strecker (November 1, 1975). "Whalers hockey goes on Channel 53". The Day. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
  16. ↑ "New York Raiders Memories". GeoCities.
  17. ↑ Vancouver Broadcasters, NorthWest Broadcasters, BC Radio History, Gary Rable did Colour with Ron Oakes PXP
  18. ↑ Cluff, Jeremy. "Legendary Phoenix Suns broadcaster Al McCoy returning for 48th season with team in 2019". The Arizona Republic.
  19. ↑ Csillag, Ron (August 3, 2014). "William (Bill) Stephenson: Broadcaster was voice of CFRB sports for four decades". The Globe and Mail.
  20. ↑ "Wittman, Don". Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
  21. ↑ 1977-05-26 Gm 7 coupe AVCO nordiques-jets on YouTube
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.