World Hockey Association (proposed)
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| World Hockey Association | |
 |
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| Owners | Public |
| Head Office | Surrey, British Columbia |
| Official Web site | World Hockey Association |
| President & CEO | Wiliam Richard Smith |
| Director & League Commissioner | Bobby Hull |
| VP Hockey Operations | |
The original World Hockey Association (WHA) merged into the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979. In 2003, however, Allan Howell and Dr. Nick Vaccaro announced the formation of a new league calling itself the World Hockey Association. Former WHA star Bobby Hull was named its commissioner. (This league should not be confused with the World Hockey Association 2, set up to be its developmental league, which played one season and is now defunct.)
It was projected that the league would begin operation in the 2004-2005 season and teams from Dallas, Detroit, Halifax, Hamilton, Miami, Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec City were proposed. The league was regarded by many as an attempt to fill the void that loomed as the NHL's serious labour problems, which led to the 2004-05 NHL lockout, became apparent. Most hockey writers and many fans felt that the league's best hope was to operate while the NHL players were locked out and try to develop enough of a following to survive once the NHL labour problems were resolved. When that and other plans failed to materialize, the rights to the organization's name and logo were sold to a British Columbia investor.
The World Hockey Association (proposed) operated two former leagues that are now defunct. The leagues were WHA2, mentioned above, and the former WHA Super Junior League.
The proposed WHA is currently working on two leagues. One league plans on being the main WHA and beginning play in 2007-2008 with the eight teams listed below:
- Bay City Bulls
- Columbus Stingers
- Dearborn Sharks
- Jamestown Jets
- Lansing Racers
- Long Island Cougars
- Philadelphia Blazers
- Pittsburgh Fighting Saints
The other circuit is a developmental league called the WHA Junior West Hockey League which started in 2006 with six teams.
The WHA currently owns the Golden Jets Hockey Team which plays in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League.
[edit] Latest news
Here is an article about people claiming that the WHA is an outlaw league: [1]
The WHA junior league is now in full operation with teams in the general Vancover BC area and is planning for expansion to the east coast for next season.
