The World Hockey Association (WHA) operated for seven seasons from 1972 until 1979.
More information Season, Teams ...
| Season |
Teams |
Avco Cup Champion |
|---|
| 1972–73[1] | Eastern:
Cleveland Crusaders • New England Whalers • New York Raiders • Ottawa Nationals • Philadelphia Blazers • Quebec Nordiques
Western:
Alberta Oilers • Chicago Cougars • Houston Aeros • Los Angeles Sharks • Minnesota Fighting Saints • Winnipeg Jets |
New England Whalers (Playoffs) |
| 1973–74[2] |
Eastern:
Chicago Cougars • Cleveland Crusaders • New England Whalers • NY Golden Blades / NJ Knights • Quebec Nordiques • Toronto Toros
Western:
Edmonton Oilers • Houston Aeros • Los Angeles Sharks • Minnesota Fighting Saints • Vancouver Blazers • Winnipeg Jets
- New York Raiders renamed New York Golden Blades, which were then renamed New Jersey Knights midseason.
- Ottawa Nationals relocated to Toronto as the Toros.
- Philadelphia Blazers relocated to Vancouver, switching divisions with Chicago Cougars.
- Alberta Oilers renamed Edmonton Oilers, having dropped playing some home games in Calgary.
|
Houston Aeros (Playoffs) |
| 1974–75[3] |
Canadian:
Edmonton Oilers • Quebec Nordiques • Toronto Toros • Vancouver Blazers • Winnipeg Jets
Eastern:
Cleveland Crusaders • Chicago Cougars • Indianapolis Racers • New England Whalers
Western:
Houston Aeros • Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades • Minnesota Fighting Saints • Phoenix Roadrunners • San Diego Mariners
- Two expansion teams, Indianapolis Racers (in the Eastern Division) and Phoenix Roadrunners (in the Western Division), are added.
- The Canadian Division is created, as Edmonton, Vancouver, and Winnipeg moved in from the Western Division while Quebec and Toronto moved in from the Eastern Division.
- Los Angeles Sharks relocated to Detroit as the Michigan Stags, which relocated to Baltimore as the Blades midseason.
- New Jersey Knights moved to San Diego as the Mariners.
- New England relocated to Hartford
|
Houston Aeros (Playoffs) |
| 1975–76[4] |
Canadian:
Calgary Cowboys • Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics • Edmonton Oilers • Toronto Toros • Quebec Nordiques • Winnipeg Jets
Eastern:
Cleveland Crusaders • Cincinnati Stingers • Indianapolis Racers • New England Whalers
Western:
Houston Aeros • Minnesota Fighting Saints • Phoenix Roadrunners • San Diego Mariners
- Baltimore Blades and Chicago Cougars folded.
- Two expansion teams, Cincinnati Stingers (in the Eastern Division) and Denver Spurs (in the Western Division), are added.
- Also halfway through the season, Denver moved to Ottawa as the Civics (moving to the Canadian Division), which folded later on.
- Vancouver Blazers relocated to Calgary as the Cowboys.
|
Winnipeg Jets (Playoffs) |
| 1976–77[5] |
Eastern:
Birmingham Bulls • Cincinnati Stingers • Indianapolis Racers • Minnesota Fighting Saints • New England Whalers • Quebec Nordiques
Western:
Calgary Cowboys • Edmonton Oilers • Houston Aeros • Phoenix Roadrunners • San Diego Mariners • Winnipeg Jets
- The Canadian Division ceased to exist as Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg rejoined the Western Division while Toronto (relocated to Birmingham as the Bulls) and Quebec rejoined the Eastern Division.
- The first Minnesota Fighting Saints are folded, but the Cleveland Crusaders relocate to Minnesota as the second Fighting Saints, still remaining in the Eastern Division,;they also folded midseason.
|
Quebec Nordiques (Playoffs) |
| 1977–78[6] |
Birmingham Bulls • Cincinnati Stingers • Edmonton Oilers • Houston Aeros • Indianapolis Racers • New England Whalers • Quebec Nordiques • Winnipeg Jets
- Both divisions ceased to exist as Calgary, Phoenix, and San Diego fold; the league realigned into a single table.
Two international all-star teams, the Soviet All-Stars and Czechoslovakia All-Stars, play a limited schedule. |
Winnipeg Jets (Playoffs) |
| 1978–79[7] |
Birmingham Bulls • Cincinnati Stingers • Edmonton Oilers • Indianapolis Racers • New England Whalers • Quebec Nordiques • Winnipeg Jets
- Houston Aeros folded.
- Indianapolis Racers folded midseason.
- The Finnish National Team played one regular season game in the league, losing to the Edmonton Oilers.
|
Winnipeg Jets (Playoffs) |
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| This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2025) |
The WHA ceased operations after the 1978–79 season. As part of the NHL-WHA merger, four WHA franchises moved to the National Hockey League for the 1979–80 NHL season: Edmonton, New England (renamed Hartford Whalers), Quebec, and Winnipeg. The other two WHA-enfranchised teams, Birmingham and Cincinnati, folded.
