World Hockey Association (WHA) Drafts
By Patrick Mondout
The World Hockey Association (WHA) was a
professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to
1979. The league held annual amateur drafts from 1973 to 1977.
The first player draft was held in Anaheim, California on February 12,
1972. The names of some 2500 players were made available to the franchises
by the WHA, but the Minnesota Fighting Saints stunned the other teams by
taking someone not even on the list first overall - 20 year old Olympian
Henry Boucha. Said Saints general manager Glen Sonmer, "Nobody we
could have drafted could have more of an impact than this kid. He's the
greatest player ever in Minnesota and he's going to be a pro
superstar." Minnesota wasn't finished making questionable choices.
They drafted NFL players Jim Carter of the Packers and Noel Jenke of the
Vikings as well as the
then-current governor of the state!
We have these WHA
drafts by year: 1973, 1974,
1975, 1976,
1977
The WHA held a special draft in late 1971 to determine which of their
franchises would have exclusive negotiating rights to professional players
from existing leagues. Each team was allowed to select four players.
(Players not selected were available at the first player draft mentioned
above.) Here are the initial 1971 selections:
| CALGARY
BRONCOS |
| Barry Gibbs |
Minnesota
(NHL) |
| Jim Harrison |
Toronto
(NHL) |
| Dale
Hoganson |
Montreal
(NHL) |
| Jack Norris |
Seattle
(WHL) |
|
| CHICAGO
COUGARS |
| Stan Mikita |
Chicago
(NHL) |
| Jerry Korab |
Chicago
(NHL) |
| Jim McKenny |
Toronto
(NHL) |
| Gary Smith |
Chicago
(NHL) |
|
| DAYTON
AEROS |
| Guy Trottier |
Toronto
(NHL) |
| Andre Hinse |
Phoenix
(WHL) |
| Larry Lund |
Phoenix
(WHL) |
| Wayne
Rutledge |
Denver (WHL) |
|
| EDMONTON
OIL KINGS |
| Norm Ullman |
Toronto
(NHL) |
| Bobby Clarke |
Philadelphia
(NHL) |
| Bruce
MacGregor |
New York
(NHL) |
| Phil Myre |
Montreal
(NHL) |
|
| LOS
ANGELES SHARKS |
| Ken Dryden |
Montreal
(NHL) |
| Gilbert
Perrault |
Buffalo
(NHL) |
| Matt Ravlich |
Detroit
(NHL) |
| Steve
Sutherland |
Philadelphia
(IHL) |
|
| MIAMI
SCREAMING EAGLES |
| Bernie
Parent |
Philadelphia
(NHL) |
| Jude Drouin |
Minnesota
(NHL) |
| Derek
Sanderson |
Boston (NHL) |
| Bill White |
Chicago
(NHL) |
|
| MINNESOTA
FIGHTING SAINTS |
| Peter
Mahovlich |
Montreal
(NHL) |
| Mike Curran |
U.S. Olympic
Team |
| Bill
Goldsworthy |
Minnesota
(NHL) |
| Dale Tallon |
Vancouver
(NHL) |
|
| NEW
ENGLAND WHALERS |
| Bobby
Sheehan |
California
(NHL) |
| Eddie
Johnston |
Boston (NHL) |
| Rick Ley |
Toronto
(NHL) |
| Larry Pleau |
Montreal
(NHL) |
|
| NEW
YORK RAIDERS |
| Gerry
Desjardins |
Chicago
(NHL) |
| Dave Gardne |
Toronto
(Junior) |
| Steve Shutt |
Toronto
(Junior) |
| Billy Harris |
Toronto
(Junior) |
|
| ONTARIO |
| Doug Favell |
Philadelphia
(NHL) |
| Dave Keon |
Toronto
(NHL) |
| Brad Park |
New York
(NHL) |
| Eddie Shack |
Buffalo
(NHL) |
|
| QUEBEC
CITY |
| Gilles
Villemure |
New York
(NHL) |
| Guy Lapointe |
Montreal
(NHL) |
| Jacques
Lemaire |
Montreal
(NHL) |
| John
McKenzie |
Boston (NHL) |
|
| WINNIPEG
JETS |
| Bobby Hull |
Chicago
(NHL) |
| Ted Green |
Boston (NHL) |
| Ted Irving |
New York
(NHL) |
| Ernie Wakely |
St. Louis
(NHL) |
|
WHA Bibliography
The
Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association by
Ed Willes
The
Complete Historical and Statistical Reference to the World Hockey Association
by Scott Adam Surgent
WHA
Pro Hockey '75 - '76 by Dan Proudfoot
WHA Media Guides (each team published one each year)
These and many other WHA items can be found at
eBay - check our links on the far right of this page!
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