In fact, the WHA was home to many of hockey's all-time greats, including Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky, Frank Mahovlich, Mark Messier, Mike Gartner, Michel Goulet and many more.
The WHA also spawned four NHL franchises: The Hartford Whalers, Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets and Quebec Nordiques
A centre notable for his playmaking, penalty-killing and faceoff skill, Lacroix played his junior hockey for the Peterborough Petes, leading the league in assists in both the 1964–65 and 1965–66 seasons and in points the latter season. He then played two seasons for the minor-league Quebec Aces of the AHL, playing brilliantly in the 1968 season before being recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL in the spring of 1968. Paired on a forward line with fellow ex-Quebec wingers Jean-Guy Gendron and Simon Nolet, he was an immediate star, leading the Flyers in scoring in both 1969 and 1970.
After the 1971 season Lacroix was traded to the Chicago Black Hawks, and dismayed at the change of scenery, played poorly the next year. However, in the fall of 1972, the upstart World Hockey Association began play, and he wasted no time returning to Philadelphia and signing with the league's Philadelphia Blazers franchise. Despite the team going through much tumult and controversy, Lacroix was an immediate star for the squad, leading the WHA in points that season with a 50–74–124 mark.
However, in the offseason, the franchise was transferred to Vancouver, and Lacroix was traded to an even shakier team, the New York Golden Blades for the 1974 season. Again, despite tumult that caused the team to be moved to New Jersey mid-season and payrolls to be missed, he was a standout, leading the WHA in assists with 80. That fall, Lacroix was named to Team Canada for the 1974 Summit Series against the Soviet Union, scoring one goal and six assists in eight games to be the team's second leading scorer.
The New York-New Jersey team moved yet again for the 1975 to California to become the San Diego Mariners, and Lacroix continued his success. In that first season in San Diego, he achieved his second league scoring title and racked up 106 assists, the professional record at the time and the only player other than Bobby Orr who had ever reached 100 assists in a single season. Lacroix scored over 100 points the next two seasons with the Mariners as well, before the franchise folded.
He continued to star in two more seasons before the end of the WHA, for the Houston Aeros in 1978 and the New England Whalers in 1979. His skills diminishing at last, Lacroix played briefly and respectably for the Whalers after their move to the NHL in the 1980 season before retiring.
Lacroix has been involved with hockey since retiring, creating the André Lacroix Power Hockey Academy and was the Director of hockey programs at the Oakland Ice Centre until 2005.
Terry Caffery was the Whalers first-ever 100-point scorer and a key figure in New England's 1972-73 Championship.
The following season Caffery signed with the Whalers and met with his greatest success as a pro, scoring 100 points to finish in the WHA's top ten in the loop's inaugural season and proving a key component in the Whalers' league championship that year. He was awarded the Lou Kaplan Trophy as the league's rookie of the year. However, he suffered a knee injury late that year that, despite him starring in the playoffs, forced him to miss the entire 1974 season. He returned to play for the Whalers the year after that, but remained seriously impaired, and retired during the 1976 season.
His brother was Jack Caffery, a two-sport player who also played baseball with the Milwaukee Braves and was credited with inventing the backward grip for faceoffs.
From Stan Fischler at NE Hockey Journal
* When we asked Howard Baldwin why he’s opening up
at Hartford office to market the Whalers NHL brand, he had a neat
reply: “My best analogy is about a university. Remember when you
graduated college and you had so many classmates who were touched by
it? Well, if that college folded, there still would be thousands who
had been touched by it.
“And that’s how I feel about the Hartford Whalers. It had such a positive impact on so many hockey fans – not only in Connecticut– that I’m sure we can develop renewed interest.”
Whaler Nation Birthdays, March 31: Gordie Howe (82) and the late Ric Jordan
From this week's Fischler Report: "An original Whaler from the WHA days, Larry Pleau tells us he believes Hartford could support another NHL team. The Blues’ exec is tickled that Howard Baldwin has launched a crusade to return big league hockey to Connecticut.
'If anyone can do it ' says Pleau, 'Howard is the Man.'"
Howard Baldwin Talks Whalers on Fox 61
First Period
1. New England, Carleton 32 (Webster, Hurley) 10:03
Penalties: Selwood,NE 6:01; Ketola,Wpg 8:27; Ley,NE 19:47
Second Period
2. Winnipeg, Hedberg 43 (Bergman, Hull) 1:08
3. New England, Climie 20 (Caffery, Webster) 3:52
4. Winnipeg, Spring 17 (Johnson, Bergman) 15:02
Penalties: O'Donnell,NE 4:07; Gruen,Wpg 4:32; Beaule,Wpg 10:40
Third Period
5. Winnipeg, Hull 69 (Beaule) 11:30
6. Winnipeg, Hedberg 44 (Hull, Ford) 16:04
7. Winnipeg, Miller 6 (Young, Hornung) 17:08
8. New England, Byers 18 (Carleton, Blackburn) 17:36
9. Winnipeg, Hedberg 45 19:59
Penalties: none
Shots on Goal By
Winnipeg ......... 10 12 13 - 35
New England ... 20 12 10 - 37
Goal - Daley, Winnipeg; Smith, New England
On this day, however, he was much more interested in talking about the beginning game than the end game. The NHL isn't coming this year or next year or maybe even the year after that. And that's why Baldwin wanted to get out a simple message loud and clear.
Winnipeg Jets Ulf Nilsson at 1977 WHA All Star Game.
We recently tracked down Paul Kellogg the talented Whalers Photographer from 1975-1981. Together we have poured through thousands of negatives and slides from this golden era of Hartford hockey.
Soon we'll announce joint projects between us and Paul that will provide fans the opportunity to view these never-before-seen images of the Whalers, Gordie Howe, Dave Keon, Bobby Hull, the Carlsons, etc.
Gordie Howe (with black eye) strolls through the Hartford Civic Center followed by adoring fans in 1977.
More Pictures will be released soonThe "Brawl in the Mall" Whaler Rick Ley tries to get to Minnesota's Bill Butters.
Whaler Nick Fotiu in the "Sin Bin"
L-r: Ron Grahame, Gord Howe, Ron Climie, Poul Popiel. Whalers vs. Houston 1976.
Rick Ley (Whalers) and Curt Brackenbury (Fighting Saints) Let 'em fly.
San Diego Mariner Paul Shmyr interviewed at 1977 WHA All Star Game by Bob Lamey.
