Hartford Whalers
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Hartfordwhalerslogo.jpg
Hartford Whalers logo
The Hartford Whalers, previously known as the New England Whalers, were a World Hockey Association and later National Hockey League franchise from 1972 to 1997. In 1997, the Whalers franchise was moved to Raleigh, North Carolina and its name changed to the Carolina Hurricanes.
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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 1972-1973 season, with Webster leading the team in scoring and rampaging through the playoffs, and behind legendary ex-Boston College coach Jack Kelley, would win the inaugural league championship.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The Hartford Whalers
Unfortunately, the Whalers were never as successful in the NHL as they had been in the WHA. They would only record three winning seasons in their eighteen years in Hartford as a NHL team, miss the playoffs ten times, and only once win a playoff series, earning along the way the derisive nickname "Forever .500s". Their history was plagued by disastrous trades, especially in dealing stars for several mediocre players in an attempt to gain "depth": dealing star defenseman Mark Howe and their first scoring leader Mike Rogers in separate deals for players and picks who would never pan out, dealing hardrock defenseman Gordie Roberts for the remaining half-season of Mike Fidler's NHL career. All too often when the deals were sound -- as in trading Chris Pronger for Brendan Shanahan -- the players acquired were not happy in Hartford and left as soon as practical.
The team had a brief moment in the sun in the 1986 and 1987 seasons. It would make the playoffs both years, winning its sole playoff series in 1986 and its lone division championship in 1987, backstopped by Francis, emerging hardcore winger Kevin Dineen, superstar goalie Mike Liut, and troubled scorer Sylvain Turgeon. The team would drift back into its losing ways the season following.
The most psychologically damaging moment was the 1991 trade of superstar Ron Francis to Pittsburgh. While Francis was unhappy, and the trade made sense on paper, as usual the acquired players did not lead the Whalers to success, while the very popular Francis promptly helped the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cup titles. The reaction of the fan base was savage. The Whalers would go on to the playoffs in 1992, behind Jimmy Roberts' coaching, but lose a dramatic double overtime Game Seven as Yvon Corriveau heartbreakingly put a breakaway shot into the crossbar.
Roberts was fired thereafter, and while the Whalers had some stars in their remaining five seasons in Hartford -- forwards Geoff Sanderson, Pat Verbeek and Andrew Cassels and goalie Sean Burke -- they would never again make the playoffs or approach a winning record.
Career Leaders (NHL, 1979-1997)
- Games: Ron Francis, 714
- Goals: Francis, 264
- Assists: Francis, 557
- Points: Francis, 821
- Penalty Minutes: Torrie Robertson, 1368
- Goaltender Games: Sean Burke, 256
- Goaltender Wins: Mike Liut, 115
- Shutouts: Liut, 13
Departure from Hartford
The primary factors for the Whalers' departure from Hartford were the fact that Hartford was not considered a major television market, and the lack of a modern playing facility. The Hartford Civic Center was adequate, but small, and famously mocked for being part of a shopping mall. In a league where most of its teams played in large, corporately-sponsored stadiums, it was felt that a municipal civic center couldn't compete.
In early 1997, negotiations between the Whalers' new ownership, headed by Peter Karmanos, and the State of Connecticut to build a new $147.5 million arena fell apart and Whalers' ownership made the decision to move the team to Raleigh, North Carolina.
On 13 April 1997 the Whalers played their last game in Hartford, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Whalers won 2-1. Fittingly, team captain Kevin Dineen scored the final goal in Whaler history.
The Hartford Whalers never won a Stanley Cup, but did qualify for the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons from 1986-92. Their final post-season appearance ended with a seventh game, double overtime defeat to the Montreal Canadiens. Despite this lack of playoff success, the team was adored by its fans, and they were heartbroken when the Whalers left for North Carolina. In the seasons since the franchise has moved, average attendance has been mediocre, causing many critics, especially former Whalers fans, to suggest the move was a bad decision.
Theme song
The Hartford Whalers' official theme song was Brass Bonanza, a tune composed by an aspiring musician Jack Say. The song was very popular with Hartford crowds, and continues to occasionally be played at Civic Center events, including University of Connecticut basketball games. It can also sometimes be heard over the PA between innings at Fenway Park.
Memorable quote
"Whalermania is what everyone's talking about, and I'm just glad to be a part of it." -Joel Quenneville
Notable Whaler players
- 1 Sean Burke, Mike Liut
- 3 Rick Ley
- 5 Mark Howe
- 8 Tom Webster
- 9 Gordie Howe
- 10 Ron Francis
- 11 Kevin Dineen
- 16 Pat Verbeek
- 17 Mike Rogers
- 19 John McKenzie
- 21 Blaine Stoughton
- 44 Dave Babych
External links
- HartfordWhalers.org (http://www.hartfordwhalers.org/index.htm)
- Brass Bonanza .com (http://www.brassbonanza.com/)
- The Carolina Hurricanes' official website (http://www.carolinahurricanes.com/)