World Hockey Association (proposed)
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The old World Hockey Association (WHA) merged into the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979. But in 2003, Allan Howell and Dr. Nick Vaccaro announced the formation of the new World Hockey Association. Former WHA star Bobby Hull (the first major star to play in the old WHA) is its commissioner.
Some proposed cities, like Quebec City, had a WHA franchise in the 1970s. Some fans suggested that those cities retain the old nicknames. But problems inevitably would have occurred with this because the trademark owners probably would not have approved the use of the name(s), or because the NHL owned the trademark (as in Quebec City's case). On August 27, it the WHA announced (http://www.worldhockeyassociation.net/news/media_releases/media_082704.htm) that the Quebec City franchise was terminated.
On July 17 and July 18, 2004, the league conducted a draft. Each of 8 teams drafted 30 NHL and AHL free agents and 30 entry-level players. Sidney Crosby was the first player drafted. The teams participiating in the draft were:
- Dallas Americans (http://www.dallasamericans.com/)
- Detroit Gladiators (http://www.detroitgladiators.com/)
- Halifax Icebreakers
- Hamilton
- Florida, located in Miami
- Toronto Toros
- Vancouver Blazers
- Quebec City Nordiks (Later terminated, all draftees are considered free agents)
Prospective future franchises that the new WHA was considering included:
The new WHA was to operate under a $10,000,000 salary cap, with one marquee player with a salary of up to $5,000,000 excluded from the cap. The league also planned to introduce a number of innovative rule changes, such as three-on-three overtime to decide tied games, and the goaltender being forbidden to play the puck in back of the red goal line.
On June 21, 2004, David Waronker, owner of the Southern Professional Hockey League's Orlando Seals and Jacksonville Barracudas, cancelled transferral of ownership to Calgary businessman Max Chambers because Waronker had not heard from Chambers since signing a letter of intent, before June 2, when a deadline for submission of $100,000 was not made.
A man named Rick Smith, based in British Columbia, announced that he had successfully purchased the rights to the league and intended to have it operational by the end of January 2005. That did not materialize, however the league has publicly stated that it intends to commence operations in 2005-06. Most outside observers believe that if the league ever has a chance to become a reality, then this year was probably its best opportunity due to the ongoing lockout of the NHLPA by the ownership of the NHL teams.
With the NHL's 2004-05 season cancelled, WHA has moved ahead with its organization plans. Rumors of a "teaser" tournament were confirmed on March 22, 2005, when the league announced the "Bobby Hull Invitational", to take place at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia during May 2005. With US$2 million winner's purse and a $20,000 guaranteed payout to each player that participates, six teams will be formed to play the tournament. WHA states that 67 NHL players, including Keith Primeau and Dany Heatley, will take part in the tournament. [1] (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?id=2018949) (As of early June, howver, the league's website says the tournament is merely "coming soon"; whether it will ever actually happen is unknown.)
At the same time, they announced a purchase of 49% stake in the league by unnamed eastern European investors, who would take control of the WHA European Division when it began play in the 2006-07 season.
External link
- WHA web site (http://www.worldhockeyassociation.net/)sv:World Hockey Association