New World Hockey Association
The old World Hockey Association merged into the NHL in 1979. But in 2003, Allan Howell and Dr. Nick Vaccaro announced the formation of the new WHA. Teams will play in Birmingham, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Hamilton, Minneapolis, Portland, Quebec City, St. Louis, Toronto, and Phoenix. Former WHA star Bobby Hull is its commissioner.The new league may spawn many problems in the NHL, such as another franchise merger, as the Minnesota North Stars and Cleveland Barons did last time there was a rival league. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers (who played in the old WHA), and Phoenix Coyotes (the old WHA's Winnipeg Jets) are all possible teams for a merger, since they are all teetering on the brink of financial existence. Also, many players, such as the Philadelphia Flyers' Jeremy Roenick have considered the new league as an alternative to NHL hockey if there is a player lockout. The WHA hopes to have perfected "vulture marketing" by the end of the decade.
Some accepted cities, like Quebec City, had a WHA franchise in the 1970s. Fans are suggesting that those cities retain the old names. But problems may occur in this because some trademark owners may not approve use of the name or because the NHL owns the trademark (as in Quebec City's case). Therefore fans have come up with an array of new names: the Quebec Bulldogs (or les Chiens de QuÃÂébec), Arizona Phoenix, and assorted others. Names such as the Minnesota Fighting Saints, Cincinnati Stingers, and Birmingham Bulls are available for reuse, as they have been used in multiple leagues.
Here are some names that people are trying to confirm:
- New Birmingham Bulls
- New Chicago Cougars
- New Cincinnati Stingers
- New Cleveland Crusaders
- New Detroit Vipers
- Hamilton Steelheads
- Minnesota Fighting Saints 3
- Portland Menace
- Quebec Bulldogs (les Chiens de QuÃÂébec)
- New St. Louis Eagles
- New Toronto Toros