26 teams played in the WHA from '72 to '79, some for less than a single full season Betting Canada. But only 6 clubs were left skating when the league merged with the NHL, after the Racers folded in mid-season. And although Birmingham and Cincinnati didn't make the cut, New England, Winnipeg, Quebec and Edmonton joined the rival league for play for the '79-'80 season. Coincidentally, these four clubs were part of the WHA's original 12 in 1972.

Although the Whalers, Jets and Nordiques are now the Carolina Hurricanes, Phoenix Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche, only the Edmonton Oilers survive to this day.

Click below for individual team histories ...

Alberta/Edmonton Oilers

Baltimore Blades

Birmingham Bulls

Calgary Cowboys

Chicago Cougars

Cincinnati Stingers

Los Angeles Sharks

Michigan Stags

Minnesota Fighting Saints

Cleveland Crusaders

Denver Spurs

Houston Aeros

Indianapolis Racers

Minnesota Fighting Saints

New England Whalers

New Jersey Knights

New York Golden Blades

New York Raiders

Ottawa Civics

Ottawa Nationals

Philadelphia Blazers

Phoenix Roadrunners

Quebec Nordiques

San Diego Mariners

Toronto Toros

Vancouver Blazers

Winnipeg Jets

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Over the course of the WHA's 7 year history, several cities were granted franchises, but for one reason or another never played a single game ...

Miami Screaming Eagles: Intended to be one of the 12 charter cities, the league pulled out and placed the team in Philadelphia, where they were the Blazers for one year, then moved to Vancouver for 2 and finally Calgary as the Cowboys, where they folded after the '76-77 season.
(click here for Miami jerseys)

San Fransisco Sharks: Intended to be one of the 12 inaugural franchises, they were owned by league co-founders David Murphy and Gary Davidson, but when it was decided California wouldn't support two teams, the club was sold and moved to Quebec City where they became Les Nordiques, who were one of 4 teams granted entry into the NHL. The Los Angeles Aces meanwhile took the name 'Sharks' instead for the start of the '72-'73 inaugural season. The Bay Area finally got a team two years laters , when the Raiders/Golden Blades/Knights moved to San Diego for 3 seasons.

Calgary Broncos: Originally intended as one of the 12 charter cities, the team was relocated to Cleveland as the Crusaders, where they played for the first 4 seasons, after which they moved to St Paul and became the second incarnation of the Fighting Saints, where they folded in the middle of their first season. The city of Calgary played host to one half of the Alberta Oilers' first year (including a playoff loss). They finally received a team of their own in '75, when the Blazers fizzled in both Philadelphia and Vancouver and became the Calgary Cowboys until folding 2 seasons later. Interestingly, Calgary only went two seasons after that without hockey, as the NHL's Atlanta Flames were transplanted for the '80 - '81 season, the year after the WHA - NHL merger.

Dayton Arrows: Originally intended as one of the 12 charter cities, the team was moved to Houston and renamed the Aeros and was one of the league's strongest clubs, but folded after the '77-'78 season, one year shy of probably being included in the NHL/WHA merger.

Florida Breakers: The WHA's second failed attempt at putting a team in Florida, This one was intended for Ft. Lauderdale, and the new home for the Cleveland Crusaders for the '76-'77 season. When a deal on a building fell through, they moved to Minnesota instead as the second incarnation as the Fighting Saints, where they lasted all of 42 games there.

Melbourne (no team name): The league's final attempt at putting professional hockey in Florida, it was originally intended to be placed in Melbourne as the new home for the San Diego Mariners for the '77-'78 season. The deal fell through and the team finally folded after four incarnations (Raiders/Golden Blades/Knights/Mariners). The state of Florida never did ice a WHA club.

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