WHA Hockey.TV: A Tribute to the Legends of the World Hockey Association by Mark Willand

Game 6 1977 Avco Finals: Jets 12, Nordiques 3

Winnipeg crushes Quebec 12-3 ... Hot Line -- Hedberg, Nilsson, Hull -- dominates.

17-Year old Wayne Gretzky Joins the WHA

From Joe Pelletier's Greatest Hockey Legends Ed Mio profile:

After a year in the minors Mio made his major league debut in 1977-78 when he joined the Indianapolis Racers for his first year in the World Hockey Association.

During the 1978-79 campaign is when Mio first met Gretzky. They were teammates on the Racers for a brief period of time before one of the most historic trades in hockey history took place in November of that season as Mio and Peter Driscoll were dealt along with Gretzky to the Edmonton Oilers for cash.

Mio loves to tell the story of the day they were traded.

Eight games into the season, financially troubled Racers owner Nelson Skalbania decided to fold the team. However since Gretzky was on a personal services contract, he first had to trade the teenage phenom.

Skalbania had two deals going, one with the Winnipeg Jets and one with the Edmonton Oilers. Both deals also involved Mio and Peter Driscoll. things were moving so quickly that all three were put on a private jet and headed to western Canada, though they didn't know where the plane was going to land.

Needless to say the pilots were as confused as the passengers. They wanted to know who was paying for the flight.

"Who's paying for this flight?" they asked.

They looked at one another. Gretzky had lots of money in the bank, but was too young to have a credit card. The other two were broke.

So Eddie Mio reached into his pocket, pulled out his VISA card with the $300 limit, and signed for a $10,000 trip on a Learjet.

Somewhere in midair, the pilot got the word: They were Oilers. They landed in Edmonton. Mio of course was more concerned about his credit card

"Hey," he demanded. "Who's gonna cover this credit card?"

Mio finished the season in the WHA with Edmonton and remained an Oiler in 1979-80 when the club joined the NHL.

Wayne Gretzky on MyHockeyTV.com

Mike Walton, Jack Carlson and the Colorful Saints

From Joe Pelletier's Legends of Hockey Network: Mike Walton was selected by Los Angeles Sharks in the 1972 WHA general draft, his rights were then traded to the Minnesota Fighting Saints. Minnesota managed to lure Mike over to the WHA and he was an instant hit, leading the league with 117 pts (57+60). He also led the league in playoff scoring (10 goals), making the 2nd All-Star team. The next season he had 93 pts and once again scored the most goals in the playoffs (10 goals). As most WHA clubs Minnesota ran into financial problems and eventually folded in March 1976. Mike had scored 71 pts in 58 games for Minnesota until they folded.

"Shakey" was also quite the character. Hockey Night In Canada telecaster Harry Neale loves to tell the story of how once in Minnesota the Saints were waiting for the ice at a multi-purpose athletic facility. The Saints players waited in their equipment by a large window that overlooked a large swimming pool. Much to the surprise of everyone there, Shakey somehow managed to get into the pool area and to the top of the highest diving board. He then proceeded to jump into the water, wearing his full hockey equipment (minus the skates). Because the equipment soaked up so much water, Shakey had trouble getting back to the surface!

Mike scored 448 points (201 goals + 247 assists ) in 588 NHL games. He also had 210 points (105 goals + 105 assists) in 153 WHA games.
MyHockeyTV.com

Rare "new" Minnesota Fighting Saints Photos - 1976

In 1976, the Cleveland Crusaders ceased operations and became the "new" Minnesota Fighting Saints.  In this intra-squad scrimmage, the Saints players are wearing the old Crusaders sweaters.  Includes John McKenzie, Jack Carlson, Steve Carlson and Gord Gallant.

Minnesota Fighting Saints

Bobby Hull 1972-73 Video with Parent, McKenzie

WHA Films produced this piece about Bobby Hull in 1972-73.  Includes rare footage of Bernie Parent and John McKenzie of the Philadelphia Blazers. MyHockeyTV.com

2/19/08: On this day in 1974, the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association reached an out-of-court settlement in their litigation. The agreement, signed in Philadelphia, struck down the NHL’s reserve clause, which bound a player to a team for life unless he was traded or released.

Howe and Gretzky lead WHA past Soviets in 1979

The format of the game was a three game series between the WHA All-Stars against Moscow Dynamo. The WHA All-Stars were coached by Jacques Demers and Demers asked Gordie Howe if it was okay to put him on a line with Wayne Gretzky and his son Mark Howe. In Game One, the line scored seven points, as the WHA All-Star won by a score of 4-2. In game two, Gretzky and Mark Howe each scored a goal and Gordie Howe picked up an assist as the WHA won 4-2. The line did not score in the final game but the WHA won by a score of 4-3.