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

Howard Baldwin Talks With Stan Fischler on the Whaler Nation Experience

From Stan Fischler at NE Hockey Journal
 
* When we asked Howard Baldwin why he’s opening up at Hartford office to market the Whalers NHL brand, he had a neat reply: “My best analogy is about a university. Remember when you graduated college and you had so many classmates who were touched by it? Well, if that college folded, there still would be thousands who had been touched by it.

“And that’s how I feel about the Hartford Whalers. It had such a positive impact on so many hockey fans – not only in Connecticut– that I’m sure we can develop renewed interest.”

PuckDrawn.com WHA Logo Design Competition

Check out the PuckDrawn.com WHA Logo Design Competition

Gordie Howe Turns 82 Today

Whaler Nation Birthdays, March 31: Gordie Howe (82) and the late Ric Jordan

Larry Pleau on the Whalers Return to Hartford: "If Anyone Can Do it, Howard Baldwin Can."

From this week's Fischler Report:  "An original Whaler from the WHA days, Larry Pleau tells us he believes Hartford  could support  another NHL team.  The Blues’ exec is tickled that Howard Baldwin has launched a crusade to return big league hockey to Connecticut.

 

'If anyone can do it ' says Pleau, 'Howard is the Man.'"

Video: Whaler Birthday -- Dave Keon Turns 70

Video: Howard Baldwin Talks Whalers Hockey on Fox 61

 

Howard Baldwin Talks Whalers on Fox 61 

Daily Box Score: March 20, 1975 -- Whalers Lose to Winnipeg Jets, 6-3

Winnipeg 6
New England 3

First Period
1. New England, Carleton 32 (Webster, Hurley) 10:03
Penalties: Selwood,NE 6:01; Ketola,Wpg 8:27; Ley,NE 19:47

Second Period
2. Winnipeg, Hedberg 43 (Bergman, Hull) 1:08
3. New England, Climie 20 (Caffery, Webster) 3:52
4. Winnipeg, Spring 17 (Johnson, Bergman) 15:02
Penalties: O'Donnell,NE 4:07; Gruen,Wpg 4:32; Beaule,Wpg 10:40

Third Period
5. Winnipeg, Hull 69 (Beaule) 11:30
6. Winnipeg, Hedberg 44 (Hull, Ford) 16:04
7. Winnipeg, Miller 6 (Young, Hornung) 17:08
8. New England, Byers 18 (Carleton, Blackburn) 17:36
9. Winnipeg, Hedberg 45 19:59
Penalties: none

Shots on Goal By
Winnipeg ......... 10 12 13 - 35
New England ... 20 12 10 - 37

Goal - Daley, Winnipeg; Smith, New England

New Whalers Facebook Page: Whaler Nation

The official Facebook page for Whaler Nation, endorsed by Whalers Founder Howard Baldwin and created by Mark Willand.  Join Whaler Nation and let's "Bring 'em Back!"

Hartford Courant, Jeff Jacobs: Howard Baldwin Makes First Move

Howard Baldwin is back and this time he insists he's not leaving. He has moved into an office at 100 Pearl Street and dug in for long days of work. Maybe the address is only fitting. For Baldwin will continue to swim out in the sea of his biggest dreams, 100 percent committed to finding the great pearl in the mouth of the whale.

"Am I optimistic?" Baldwin said Friday. "I'm always optimistic. I just hope everybody sees the wisdom in what we're trying to do and all work together."

Make no mistake, the end game for Baldwin is to bring the NHL back to Hartford. The team would be called the Whalers.

"Absolutely right," Baldwin said. "That's everybody's dream. But the only way to make that dream a reality is to create a tremendous amount of excitement in the hockey we currently have at all levels."

Speaking publicly for the first time since word emerged last month that he had taken steps toward gaining management of Hartford's AHL team with an eye toward the NHL, Baldwin also confirmed his interest in building a state sports network and in other entertainment and merchandising plans.

On this day, however, he was much more interested in talking about the beginning game than the end game. The NHL isn't coming this year or next year or maybe even the year after that. And that's why Baldwin wanted to get out a simple message loud and clear.

Read Full Article Here

Photo: Ulf Nilsson, 1977 WHA All Star Game

Winnipeg Jets Ulf Nilsson at 1977 WHA All Star Game.