World Hockey Association
LeagueWikipedia
161
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60
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41
PODCASTS
Search complete. 161 mentions across 60 episodes found for "World Hockey Association".
Sep 20, 2026
Preston KloppSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Philadelphia at St. Louis and Buffalo at Los Angeles.
Preston KloppSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
All night games in the World Hockey Association.
Preston KloppSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
Minnesota is at Cleveland.
Preston KloppSOUNDBITE_SPEAKER
The Quebec Nordiques will play host to the Los Angeles Sharks.
Aaron LittletonHOST
And we also lost Barry Melrose at the age of 70.
Aaron LittletonHOST
He was a defenseman from 1976 to 1986 with four NHL and WHA teams.
Aaron LittletonHOST
He was a coach for the LA Kings and the Tampa Bay Lightning as well, but he was probably best known for as one of the most recognizable mainstream voices for hockey due to his appearances on ESPN throughout their programming and his colorful personality.
Aaron LittletonHOST
He was a good TTMR through 2024.
JoshHOST
But under the NHL's reserve clause system, Toronto still controlled Keon's rights, and Ballard demanded such excessive compensation from other NHL teams that Keon was effectively prevented from signing anywhere else in the league.
JoshHOST
So the greatest Maple Leaf of his generation was effectively pushed into the rival WHA.
JoshHOST
Keon signed with the Minnesota Fighting Saints in 1975 and later spent time in Indianapolis, returned to Minnesota and eventually landed with the New England Whalers after the Saints folded.
JoshHOST
Bill Waters later said Keon's contract request from Troc- from Toronto had not been unreasonable, making the split feel even more unnecessary in retrospect.
JoshHOST
The WHA gave Keon one of the most remarkable late career chapters imaginable.
JoshHOST
He became teammates with Gordie Howe.
JoshHOST
Keon joined the Whalers and eventually played alongside Howe, who continued playing past age 50, which is nuts.
Joey EliasHOST
Yeah, what a player.
Joey EliasHOST
Also on this day in 1978, a gentleman by the name of Wayne Gretzky took part in his first training camp as a professional when he joined the Indianapolis Racers of the WHA.
Peter VrionisHOST
Huh.
Peter VrionisHOST
Yeah.
speaker_4NARRATOR
General Manager Bill Hunter told the news conference the Russians refused to budge from their position that no protest is possible in what they called a friendly series.
speaker_4NARRATOR
The Canadians first said that no game would be played Sunday and the World Hockey Association probably would refuse to deal with the Soviets again unless the goal was counted.
speaker_4NARRATOR
Hunter called an impromptu meeting in Moscow of all concerned Canadians for Sunday morning but the meeting was canceled when he realized there was no way to notify the Canadians the meeting was scheduled.
speaker_4NARRATOR
He said any future series would be based on a strict consideration of Soviet irregularity, both in this series and in the 1972 competition.
speaker_14NARRATOR
General Manager Bill Hunter told the news conference the Russians refused to budge from their position that no protest is possible in what they called a friendly series.
speaker_14NARRATOR
The Canadians first said that no game would be played Sunday and the World Hockey Association probably would refuse to deal with the Soviets again unless the goal was counted.
speaker_14NARRATOR
Hunter called an impromptu meeting in Moscow of all concerned Canadians for Sunday morning The meeting was canceled when he realized there was no way to notify the Canadians the meeting was scheduled.
speaker_14NARRATOR
He said any future series would be based on a strict consideration of Soviet irregularity, both in this series and in the 1972 competition.
Kirk McKnightHOST
So Mr. Hockey sitting at 51, 52 years old right there.
Kirk McKnightHOST
So basically playing for the Hartford Whalers in that first year of the team's existence, we're talking about two WHA teams that came up into the NHL this season, right? We're talking about the Oilers and Gretzky, Messier, that team that eventually five years later would start winning cups.
Kirk McKnightHOST
But we also have Gordie Howe taking the ice in the regular season for the Hartford Whalers alongside his sons, Mark and Marty.
Kirk McKnightHOST
But here we go, the All-Star game.
Kirk McKnightHOST
They could just tell.
Kirk McKnightHOST
They knew that these kids playing for...
Kirk McKnightHOST
the Oilers there in the WHA and making their mark as soon as that team was in there.
Kirk McKnightHOST
That's why I don't ever refer to the Oilers as an expansion team.
Matt IwanykHOST
He did say, you're like Wayne Gretzky.
Matt IwanykHOST
Wayne played in the WHA when he entered the NHL.
Matt IwanykHOST
He was not qualified too many pro games to win an NHL Rookie of the Year.
Matt IwanykHOST
Then I'll take that.
Pierre McGuireHOST
That's your first year pro.
Pierre McGuireHOST
What was a 19-year-old Mark Messier like, and what was a 19-year-old Mike Gartner like as teammates in the WHA? Yeah.
Mike GartnerGUEST
Well, when we first started there, Mark was actually 17 and I was 18 years old.
Mike GartnerGUEST
So we were we were really young at that time.
Mike GartnerGUEST
It was a 20 year old draft in the NHL and the WHA was a rival league back then.
Mike GartnerGUEST
And they were taking a bunch of players, including a Wayne Gretzky or Rob Ramage or Rick Vibe.
Mike GartnerGUEST
And so Mark went and played in Cincinnati.
Mike GartnerGUEST
Unfortunately, I didn't play any minor hockey at all.
Rich RubinHOST
But no matter what, there's always ice? It was so bizarre to me.
Rich RubinHOST
And I knew the Phoenix Roadrunners, I think it was the WHA minor league hockey team, played there.
Rich RubinHOST
I had no idea that they kept their ice under the hardwood year round.
Rich RubinHOST
I always assumed they hauled it in after the game, after they broke down the hardwood.
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