McKeen's Hockey Prospects

December 11, 2003

James Mirtle
McKeen's Hockey Prospects Staff Writer

Let?s take everyone back to a simpler time. A time when 8-track players, disco fever and WHA hockey were the rage. WHA hockey?

At least that was the wistful message the long-defunct World Hockey Association was selling during its inaugural franchisee meetings yesterday.

A group of potential franchise owners representing 15 potential cities quickly put to rest months of speculation with a resounding ?yes? as to whether play will begin in 2004-05. Not coincidentally, the decision means the puck drop for the WHA?s second incarnation will come as the NHL stews in an ugly and potentially lengthy labour war. For a few months at least, the fledgling WHA will be the top game in town ? ideal conditions for convincing a skeptical public that this radical new league is here to stay.

Despite the opportune timing of the plan, WHA commissioner and hockey legend Bobby Hull was quick to point out that the new league is not attempting to supplant the NHL.

?We?re not in competition with the NHL. This is an alternative,? said the elder Hull, whose son Brett has made it no secret his plans to play in the new league next year. ?I believe a lot of players are going to want to play under the conditions that we are going to create.?

Regardless of Hull?s assurances, the WHA?s plans will undeniably include nabbing some prime NHL talent for a bargain price during the lockout season. In addition to Brett Hull, NHL veterans Jeremy Roenick and Chris Chelios have expressed their interest in the WHA.

But what about after the lockout? How will the WHA manage to hang onto marquee players once the NHL is back in business? And what about attracting fans? The answer, Hull says, is in the different type of game the WHA will offer to NHLers and its fans.

?The game of hockey that I?ve loved all my life is not looking as good as it used to,? said Hull. ?We have to bring the game of hockey back to a state where families can enjoy it again, bring them a night of entertainment at an affordable price. I feel very, very confident that we can pull this together and bring professional hockey back to the grassroots people, the fans, the families, where it belongs.?

A large part of making the game more palatable to families will be the price on the ticket, but also the style of hockey to be played. Rules for the league won?t be set in stone for a few months, but phrases such as ?no redline,? ?3 on 3 overtime? and ?Olympic ice surface? were wafted about throughout the day. The one thing that is for certain, however, is that the WHA will be hell-bent on their teams playing a much more exciting brand of hockey than the defensive mucking of the NHL.

?(The NHL) is not playing the game the way they should be. They are not allowing the talented players to play,? Hull said.

From a business point of view, the new league has drawn the interest of many supporters. President of hockey operations Peter Young remarked that the support from ownership groups to get started was immense.

?Those of us involved are very surprised that so many interested people stepped forward today,? said Young.

Of the 15 cities represented at the meeting, Young noted that 10 would be seriously considered for the upcoming season. That group consists of three Canadian cities (Quebec, Hamilton and Toronto) and seven in the United States (Cincinnati , Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, Portland, Ore., Hartford, Conn., and a city in Florida yet to be determined). Negotiations are currently underway with SkyDome to have the Toronto franchise play its games in the venue.

In an interesting sidebar, a team from Russia may begin play in the WHA starting in the 2004-05 season. The team would be domiciled in a North American city and would play its home games out of that city. The WHA hopes to expand to include a European division for the start of the 2005-06 season.

A minimum of six teams will be required for play next year, and each team will play 50 regular season games. The tentative date for the season start is December 26, 2004.

World Hockey Association Official Website

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