Stat of the Day - Ron Grahame (Houston Aeros)

Ron Grahame 

Goaltender

Houston Aeros

2 time winner of the Ben Hatskin Trophy as the World Hockey Association's Goaltender of the Year (1975, 1977)

The 1975 WHA Playoff MVP

He led he Houston Aeros to the Avco Cup Championship by winning 12 games and losing 1.  The Aeros lost one game in the quarter finals to Cleveland but then swept the San Diego Mariners in the semi-finals and the Quebec Nordiques in the Avco Cup final. 

Today in Hockey History (1973)

May 6th 1973

The New England Whalers beat the Winnipeg Jets 9-6 in Hartford, Conn. to win the 1st WHA Hockey Championship Avco World Trophy.  

 New England won the Series 4 games to 1.

In the deciding game Larry Pleau scored a hat trick.  After winning the game, the Avco World Trophy had not yet been completed.  As a result of the this the Whalers skated their "victory lap" with their divisional trophy causing an embarrassment for the WHA officials.

1972 Quebec Nordiques: WHA Documentary - Just Another Job

The Quebec Nordiques (in Canadian English, meaning "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972--79) and the National Hockey League (1979--95). The franchise was relocated to Denver, Colorado, in 1995, and renamed the Colorado Avalanche.

The Nordiques hold the distinction of being the only major professional sports team to have been based in Quebec City in the modern era, and one of only two ever; the other, the Quebec Bulldogs, played one season in the NHL in 1919--20.

WE LOVE HOCKEY

The Winnipeg Jets celebrating their 1978 Avco Cup win as the World Hockey Association Champions

1976 27 Dec. WHA Super Series '76-'77 New England Whalers upsets USSR, 5--2

December 27th 1976

 WHA Super Series '76-'77 

New England Whalers upsets USSR, 5--2

WE LOVE HOCKEY!

June 27th 1972 Bobby Hull signs with the World Hockey Association's Winnipeg Jets

below is a young Brett Hull holding the New England Whalers logo

WHA Avco Trophy 1977-78 Champions

WE LOVE THE WHA

Bernie Parent as a member of the 

1972-73 WHA Philadelphia Blazers.

1976-77 Birmingham Bulls

The 1976-77 Birmingham Bulls finished 5th in the Eastern Division of the World Hockey Association.
 Led by right winger Mark Napier (top right) with 96 points (60 A, 36 A).
The first round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 1977,  Napier was the reigning WHA Rookie of the year, having won the Lou Kaplan trophy for the 1975-76 season with the Toronto Toros.   He would be part of 2 Stanley Cup champions, 1979 Montreal Canadiens and the 1985 Edmonton Oilers.

We Love the WHA

Indianapolis Racer's goaltender Michel Dion on the cover of the Racers 1976-77 media guide.  This was after Michele joined the team for the last 31 games of 1975-76 season and helped lead them to the Eastern Division title.  Michel would win the Ben Hatskin Trophy as the WHA's top goaltender for the regular season after getting 14 wins in those last 31 games.

The Ben Hatskin Trophy was named in honor of the founder of the Winnipeg Jets...Ben Hatskin