The World Hockey Association, which hopes to be a more fan-friendly league than the NHL, with lower ticket prices and rules that encourage more scoring, plan to begin games this coming November. There will be approximately ten teams in Canada and the U.S. Cities include Halifax, Quebec City [let's call that team the Nordiques--after all, way back in '72 the current Avalanche started as the Nordiques of that version of the WHA], Toronto, Dallas, Jacksonville, Orlando, and probably Hartford.

I remember the first WHA, which folded in 1979 after seven years of operation. Bobby Hull, who jumped from the NHL to the WHA--played on the Winnipeg team there--is serving as the commissioner of the current incarnation of the WHA.

WE'LL HAVE HOCKEY IN THE FALL!!!

~Adam

That is a good thing Adam. wink

Oh, we'll have hockey in the fall...it'll likely just be of the minor league variety, though. And is this WHA going to come close to what the last WHA did?

Of course we will. The NCAA season will start up by then. Might even be more entertaining...

The first hockey game I ever saw was the old WHA, too. Blazers vs. Nordiques. I had such a good time I went back the next night...yes, they actually scheduled that way back then, same teams, same place. Geesh, only the ECHL does that now.

Looking at this city list, the immediate resopnse is "losers!" Places hockey doesn't stand a chance. Halifax can't even keep an AHL team.

I think in the event of a NHL work stoppage, I'll stick with the established AHL and ECHL. And I'm really hoping there'll be an agreement soon.

Hey, you're in Spokane...you're guaranteed to have hockey! Go see the Chiefs!

fiveandagame, you are sooo right, and I do at every opportunity. Detroit is not the only hockeytown in the U.S.!!! Oh and by the way welcome!

This "league" held a draft today. Simon Gagne was the first pick. From the article, this was the sentence that amused me most:

The Team Without A City -- I thought that was the Montreal Expos?

I really don't know how this league will make it.
Maybe it's just me but I don't understand why this league has been put together when Hockey has not exactly been running away with ratings in this country. It's only 3 months from the season opener and they don't even know who will play for them and have not published a schedule.

They have 15 million dollar cap, I wonder how many free agents they realistically can sign.
Where is their revenue comming from, I don't see a TV contract. Of the eight teams, Miami and Dallas do not sound like the best choices they could have made. With their limited budget it would make more sense to be regional. Since most players will be amateur how will they be any different from the AHL, an established league.

The WHA is still trying to come into existence...there are plans for a tournament at the end of May followed by the launch of their league next fall. And some eastern European investors are interested in pumping a lot of money into franchises.

The way the NHL is going this might actually fly!

I am open minded to just about anything here. If this in any way is being suggested to put some pressure on the NHL to settle, in any way shape or form, so be it!!!