Birmingham Bulls (WHA)
Birmingham Bulls | |
---|---|
Central Hockey League (1979–1981) | |
Operated | 1976–1981 |
Home arena | Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex |
Colors | Blue, red, white |
Media | WBRC-TV WAPI |
Franchise history | |
1972–1973 | Ottawa Nationals |
1973 playoffs | Ontario Nationals |
1973–1976 | Toronto Toros |
1976–1981 | Birmingham Bulls |
The Birmingham Bulls were a professional
Prior to being in Birmingham, the team was known as the
History
The Toros had been modestly successful on the ice since moving to Toronto before the start of the 1973–74 season and had drawn fairly well by WHA standards. However, onerous lease terms at Maple Leaf Gardens led owner John Bassett to move to Birmingham.
After the move to Birmingham, general manager, Gilles Leger coached the team for a few games until
John Brophy, who later went on to coach the Maple Leafs, had joined head coach Glen Sonmor as an assistant for the second year in Birmingham. Brophy became head coach in the 1978–79 season when Sonmor joined the Minnesota North Stars. His team finished last in the league, but was in the middle of a youth movement in transitioning from being overly physical to highly skilled and was known among the fans as the "Baby Bulls". Wayne Gretzky was heavily recruited by Birmingham Bulls owner John Bassett to be part of the youth movement.[1] Bassett wanted to confront the NHL by signing as many young and promising superstars as possible and saw Gretzky as the most promising young prospect. Although Bassett failed to sign Gretzky, the Bulls included several future NHL stars at the beginning of their professional careers such as Rick Vaive, Michel Goulet, Rob Ramage, Pat Riggin, Craig Hartsburg, Gaston Gingras and Rod Langway, as well as a 36-year-old Paul Henderson. Even though his team was the only one in the league not to make the playoffs, Brophy was awarded the Robert Schmertz Memorial Trophy as the WHA's coach of the year.[2]
After the WHA
The Bulls were not included in the
After the WHA ceased operations in 1979, the Birmingham Bulls joined the
Simultaneous with the merger, the NHL lowered its minimum age from 20 to 18, making a number of previously underage members of the Bulls eligible for the
Major professional hockey has never returned to Birmingham, although the NHL returned to the South in the 1990s in a series of expansions and franchise re-locations. In 2017, a minor league expansion team was established using the Birmingham Bulls name. They currently compete in the
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
- World Hockey Association
Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1976–77 | 81 | 31 | 46 | 4 | 66 | 289 | 309 | 1179 | 5th, Eastern | Did not qualify |
1977–78 | 80 | 36 | 41 | 3 | 75 | 287 | 314 | 2177 | 6th, WHA | Lost Quarterfinals ( Jets )
|
1978–79 | 80 | 32 | 42 | 6 | 70 | 286 | 311 | 1661 | 6th, WHA | Did not qualify |
Totals | 241 | 99 | 129 | 13 | 211 | 862 | 934 | 5017 |
- Central Hockey League
Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1979–80 | 80 | 36 | 39 | 5 | 77 | 260 | 295 | 1595 | 4th, CHL | Lost first round |
1980–81 | 58 | 17 | 37 | 4 | 38 | 204 | 277 | 1593 | n/a | Incomplete season |
Season | 138 | 53 | 76 | 9 | 115 | 464 | 572 | 3188 |
See also
References
- ISBN 0-7710-8947-3
- ^ Bill Boyd, All Roads Lead to Hockey, 2004, p.102, Key Porter Books, 1-55263-618-6