List of WHA seasons


The World Hockey Association operated for seven seasons from 1972 until 1979.
SeasonTeamsAvco Cup Champion
1972–73Eastern:
[1972–73 1973–74 Cleveland Crusaders season|Cleveland Crusaders season|Cleveland Crusaders] • New England Whalers • [1972–73 1972–73 New York Raiders season|New York Raiders season|New York Raiders] • [1972–73 1972–73 Ottawa Nationals season|Ottawa Nationals season|Ottawa Nationals] • [1972–73 1972–73 Philadelphia Blazers season|Philadelphia Blazers season|Philadelphia Blazers] • Quebec Nordiques
Western:
[1972–73 1972–73 Alberta Oilers season|Alberta Oilers season|Alberta Oilers] • [1972–73 1974–75 Chicago Cougars season|Chicago Cougars season|Chicago Cougars] • [1972–73 1977–78 Houston Aeros season|Houston Aeros season|Houston Aeros] • [1972–73 1973–74 Los Angeles Sharks season|Los Angeles Sharks season|Los Angeles Sharks] • [1972–73 1976–77 Minnesota Fighting Saints season|Minnesota Fighting Saints season|Minnesota Fighting Saints] • Winnipeg Jets
New England Whalers
1973–74Eastern:
Chicago CougarsCleveland CrusadersNew England WhalersNY Golden Blades / NJ KnightsQuebec NordiquesToronto Toros
Western:
[1973–74 1977–78 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers] • Houston AerosLos Angeles SharksMinnesota Fighting Saints • [1973–74 1974–75 Vancouver Blazers season|Vancouver Blazers season|Vancouver Blazers] • Winnipeg Jets
  • New York Raiders renamed New York Golden Blades, which were then renamed New Jersey Knights midseason.
  • Ottawa Nationals relocated to Toronto as the Toros.
  • Philadelphia Blazers relocated to Vancouver, switching divisions with Chicago Cougars.
  • Alberta Oilers renamed Edmonton Oilers, having dropped playing some home games in Calgary.
Houston Aeros
1974–75Canadian:Edmonton OilersQuebec NordiquesToronto TorosVancouver BlazersWinnipeg Jets
Eastern:
Cleveland CrusadersChicago Cougars • [1974–75 1975–76 Indianapolis Racers season|Indianapolis Racers season|Indianapolis Racers] • New England Whalers
Western:
Houston AerosMichigan Stags/Baltimore BladesMinnesota Fighting Saints • [1974–75 1974–75 Phoenix Roadrunners season|Phoenix Roadrunners season|Phoenix Roadrunners] • San Diego Mariners
  • Two expansion teams, Indianapolis Racers and Phoenix Roadrunners, are added.
  • The Canadian Division is created, as Edmonton, Vancouver, and Winnipeg moved in from the Western Division while Quebec and Toronto moved in from the Eastern Division.
  • Los Angeles Sharks relocated to Detroit as the Michigan Stags, which relocated to Baltimore as the Blades midseason.
  • New Jersey Knights moved to San Diego as the Mariners.
  • New England relocated to Hartford
Houston Aeros
1975–76Canadian:Calgary CowboysDenver Spurs/Ottawa CivicsEdmonton OilersToronto TorosQuebec NordiquesWinnipeg Jets
Eastern:
Cleveland Crusaders • [1975–76 1975–76 Cincinnati Stingers season|Cincinnati Stingers season|Cincinnati Stingers] • Indianapolis RacersNew England Whalers
Western:
Houston AerosMinnesota Fighting SaintsPhoenix RoadrunnersSan Diego Mariners
  • Baltimore Blades and Chicago Cougars folded.
  • Two expansion teams, Cincinnati Stingers and Denver Spurs, are added.
  • Also halfway through the season, Denver moved to Ottawa as the Civics, which folded later on.
  • Vancouver Blazers relocated to Calgary as the Cowboys.
Winnipeg Jets
1976–77Eastern:Birmingham BullsCincinnati StingersIndianapolis RacersMinnesota Fighting SaintsNew England WhalersQuebec Nordiques
Western:
Calgary CowboysEdmonton OilersHouston AerosPhoenix RoadrunnersSan Diego MarinersWinnipeg Jets
  • The Canadian Division ceased to exist as Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg rejoined the Western Division while Toronto and Quebec rejoined the Eastern Division.
  • The first Minnesota Fighting Saints are folded, but the Cleveland Crusaders relocate to Minnesota as the second Fighting Saints, still remaining in the Eastern Division,;they also folded midseason.
Quebec Nordiques
1977–78Birmingham BullsCincinnati StingersEdmonton OilersHouston AerosIndianapolis RacersNew England WhalersQuebec NordiquesWinnipeg Jets
  • Both divisions ceased to exist as Calgary, Phoenix, and San Diego fold; the league realigned into a single table.
  • Two international all-star teams, the Soviet All-Stars and Czechoslovakia All-Stars, play a limited schedule.
    Winnipeg Jets
    1978–79Birmingham BullsCincinnati StingersEdmonton OilersIndianapolis RacersNew England WhalersQuebec NordiquesWinnipeg Jets
    Winnipeg Jets
    The WHA ceased operations after the 1978–79 season. As part of the NHL-WHA merger, four WHA franchises moved to the National Hockey League for the 1979–80 NHL season: Edmonton, New England, Quebec, and Winnipeg. The other two WHA-enfranchised teams, Birmingham and Cincinnati, folded.