1978-79 WHA season
Encyclopedia
The 1978–79 WHA season
was the seventh and final season of the World Hockey Association
(WHA). Prior to the start of the season, the Houston Aeros
folded leaving seven teams to start the season. Only six would finish, however, as the Indianapolis Racers
folded after 25 games on the December 15, 1978. The remaining six teams each played 80 games, including one game each per team against a Soviet All-Star squad
and the Czechoslovakian National Team, the second consecutive year for this arrangement. The Soviet team won four of their six games and tied another; the Czech team only won once and tied once against four losses. In addition, to allow each regular team to play 80 games, the Edmonton Oilers played the Finnish National Team (with future Oiler Jari Kurri
) once at home, winning by a score of 8-4.
After the end of the season, an agreement was reached whereby four of the teams, the Edmonton Oilers
, Quebec Nordiques
, Winnipeg Jets and New England Whalers
would be admitted to the National Hockey League
(NHL) as expansion teams for the 1979–80 NHL season, and the WHA would cease operations. The Cincinnati and Birmingham franchises were paid a sum to be relegated to the league-owned Central Hockey League
. It is the only known case of promotion and relegation
in professional North American sports.
, the owner of Indianapolis Racers
, signed the 17 year old future super-star, Wayne Gretzky
to, at that time, a whopping personal contract worth between 1.125 and 1.75 million dollars over 4 to 7 years. Skalbania, knowing that the WHA was fading, felt owning the young star was more valuable than owning a WHA team. Eight games into the season, though, Skalbania needed cash and liquidated his greatest asset to his old friend and former partner, Peter Pocklington
, owner of the Edmonton Oilers
. Pocklington purchased Gretzky and two other Indianapolis players, goaltender Eddie Mio
and forward Peter Driscoll
paying $700,000 for the contracts of the three players, although the announced price was actually $850,000. On Gretzky's 18th birthday, (January 26, 1979), Pocklington signed him to a 21 year personal services contract worth between 4 and 5 million dollars, the longest in hockey history. Gretzky would go on to capture the Lou Kaplan Trophy
for rookie of the year, finish third in league scoring, and help the Oilers to first overall in the league. Nevertheless the Winnipeg Jets defeated Edmonton in the Avco World Trophy finals winning their third championship overall and second in a row.
Playoff format: The top five teams in the league qualified for the playoffs. The 4th and 5th place teams started in a best-of-three quarterfinal series, while the top three finishers received byes into the semifinals. In the semifinals, the 1st place team played the 4th/5th winner, while 2nd place played 3rd place. Both semifinal series were best-of-seven. Since the 2nd and 3rd place teams knew they'd be playing each other in the semifinals, they started their series while the 4th/5th mini-series was still going on. The finals, like the semifinals, were best four-out-of-seven games.
x-team folded during season
appeared in the 1979 WHA All-Star Game. The format of the game was a three game series between the WHA All-Stars against Dynamo Moscow
at Edmonton's Northlands Coliseum. The WHA All-Stars were coached by Jacques Demers and Demers asked Gordie Howe
if it was okay to put him on a line with Wayne Gretzky and his son Mark Howe
. In the first game, the line scored seven points, as the WHA All-Star won by a score of 4-2. In the second game, Gretzky and Mark Howe each scored a goal and Gordie Howe picked up an assist as the WHA won 4-2. The line did not score in the final game but the WHA won by a score of 4-3.
Semifinals
Avco World Trophy finals
The final game was played at the Winnipeg Arena
, a 7 to 3 final score in favour of the Jets. The Oilers' Dave Semenko
scored late in the third period of the deciding game, to record the last goal in the history of the WHA. The goal was given up by the Winnipeg Jets Gary Smith.
|Avco World Trophy
: || Winnipeg Jets
|-
|Gordie Howe Trophy
: || Dave Dryden
, Edmonton Oilers
|-
|Bill Hunter Trophy
: || Real Cloutier
, Quebec Nordiques
|-
|Lou Kaplan Trophy
: || Wayne Gretzky
, Edmonton Oilers
|-
|Ben Hatskin Trophy
: || Dave Dryden
, Edmonton Oilers
|-
|Dennis A. Murphy Trophy
: || Rick Ley
, New England Whalers
|-
|Paul Deneau Trophy
: || Kent Nilsson
, Winnipeg Jets
|-
|Robert Schmertz Memorial Trophy: || John Brophy
, Birmingham Bulls
|-
|WHA Playoff MVP
: || Rich Preston
, Winnipeg Jets
|-
|-
|-
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! All-Star Team Position !! First Team !! Second Team
|-
| Centre || Robbie Ftorek, CIN || Wayne Gretzky, EDM
|-
| Right Wing || Real Cloutier, QUE || Blair MacDonald, EDM
|-
| Left Wing || Mark Howe, HART || Morris Lukowich, WPG
|-
| Defence || Rick Ley, HART || Dave Langevin, EDM
|-
| Defence || Rob Ramage, BIRM || Paul Shmyr, EDM
|-
| Goaltender || Dave Dryden, EDM || Richard Brodeur, QUE
|}
1 Four of the WHA teams were admitted to the NHL as expansion franchises — the New England/Hartford Whalers
, Quebec Nordiques
, Edmonton Oilers
, and Winnipeg Jets.
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
was the seventh and final season of the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
(WHA). Prior to the start of the season, the Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros (WHA)
The Houston Aeros were a professional ice hockey team in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1978.-Franchise history:The Aeros became one of the original franchises in the World Hockey Association when the Dayton Arrows franchise was moved to Houston in 1972...
folded leaving seven teams to start the season. Only six would finish, however, as the Indianapolis Racers
Indianapolis Racers
The Indianapolis Racers were a franchise in the former World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1978. They competed in five seasons, folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena...
folded after 25 games on the December 15, 1978. The remaining six teams each played 80 games, including one game each per team against a Soviet All-Star squad
Soviet national ice hockey team
The Soviet national ice hockey team , was the national hockey team of the Soviet Union. The Soviets were the most dominant team of all time in international play. The team won nearly every world championship and Olympic tournament between 1954 and 1991 held by the International Ice Hockey Federation...
and the Czechoslovakian National Team, the second consecutive year for this arrangement. The Soviet team won four of their six games and tied another; the Czech team only won once and tied once against four losses. In addition, to allow each regular team to play 80 games, the Edmonton Oilers played the Finnish National Team (with future Oiler Jari Kurri
Jari Kurri
Jari Pekka Kurri is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey right winger and a five-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001. He is currently the general manager of Team Finland....
) once at home, winning by a score of 8-4.
After the end of the season, an agreement was reached whereby four of the teams, the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
, Winnipeg Jets and New England Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
would be admitted to the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) as expansion teams for the 1979–80 NHL season, and the WHA would cease operations. The Cincinnati and Birmingham franchises were paid a sum to be relegated to the league-owned Central Hockey League
Central Professional Hockey League
The Central Hockey League was a minor professional ice hockey league that operated in the United States from 1963 to 1984. Initially named the Central Professional Hockey League, it was owned and operated by the National Hockey League and served as a successor to the Eastern Professional Hockey...
. It is the only known case of promotion and relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
in professional North American sports.
Regular season and playoff format
The dying WHA would go to almost any length to try to stay afloat. The NHL had rules regarding the age of players that could play while the WHA didn't. Nelson SkalbaniaNelson Skalbania
Nelson M. Skalbania is a Canadian businessman from Vancouver, British Columbia best known for signing a 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky to the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association....
, the owner of Indianapolis Racers
Indianapolis Racers
The Indianapolis Racers were a franchise in the former World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1978. They competed in five seasons, folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena...
, signed the 17 year old future super-star, Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
to, at that time, a whopping personal contract worth between 1.125 and 1.75 million dollars over 4 to 7 years. Skalbania, knowing that the WHA was fading, felt owning the young star was more valuable than owning a WHA team. Eight games into the season, though, Skalbania needed cash and liquidated his greatest asset to his old friend and former partner, Peter Pocklington
Peter Pocklington
Peter Hugh Pocklington is a Canadian entrepreneur.He made his initial fortune as the owner of one of the largest auto dealerships in Canada, and later took over a meat packing company involved in a high-profile labour strike....
, owner of the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. Pocklington purchased Gretzky and two other Indianapolis players, goaltender Eddie Mio
Eddie Mio
Edward Dario Mio was a professional ice hockey goaltender in the WHA and NHL. During his career, he played for the Indianapolis Racers, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Detroit Red Wings...
and forward Peter Driscoll
Peter Driscoll
Peter Driscoll is a former professional ice hockey left wing in the WHA and NHL.Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft and the Vancouver Blazers in the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft, Driscoll signed with the Blazers, moving to Calgary with them when they relocated.After the...
paying $700,000 for the contracts of the three players, although the announced price was actually $850,000. On Gretzky's 18th birthday, (January 26, 1979), Pocklington signed him to a 21 year personal services contract worth between 4 and 5 million dollars, the longest in hockey history. Gretzky would go on to capture the Lou Kaplan Trophy
Lou Kaplan Trophy
The Lou Kaplan Trophy was presented annually to the World Hockey Association's rookie of the year.-History:Lou Kaplan was one of the original owners of the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA. On August 10, 1973, the WHA officially named its trophies after the team officials at the WHA's founding...
for rookie of the year, finish third in league scoring, and help the Oilers to first overall in the league. Nevertheless the Winnipeg Jets defeated Edmonton in the Avco World Trophy finals winning their third championship overall and second in a row.
Playoff format: The top five teams in the league qualified for the playoffs. The 4th and 5th place teams started in a best-of-three quarterfinal series, while the top three finishers received byes into the semifinals. In the semifinals, the 1st place team played the 4th/5th winner, while 2nd place played 3rd place. Both semifinal series were best-of-seven. Since the 2nd and 3rd place teams knew they'd be playing each other in the semifinals, they started their series while the 4th/5th mini-series was still going on. The finals, like the semifinals, were best four-out-of-seven games.
Final standings
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF= Goals for, GA = Goals against, Pts = Points| WHA Team | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
80 | 48 | 30 | 2 | 98 | 340 | 266 | 1220 |
| Quebec Nordiques Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League... |
80 | 41 | 34 | 5 | 87 | 288 | 271 | 1399 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 39 | 35 | 6 | 84 | 307 | 306 | 1342 |
| New England Whalers Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97... |
80 | 37 | 34 | 9 | 83 | 298 | 287 | 1090 |
| Cincinnati Stingers Cincinnati Stingers The Cincinnati Stingers was an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979. Its home arena was Riverfront Coliseum and it was the only major-league hockey team ever to play in Cincinnati.-History:The Stingers franchise was awarded in... |
80 | 33 | 41 | 6 | 72 | 274 | 284 | 1651 |
| Birmingham Bulls Birmingham Bulls The Birmingham Bulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1976 to 1979 and the Central Hockey League from 1979 to 1981. The Bulls played their home games at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.Prior to being... |
80 | 32 | 42 | 6 | 70 | 286 | 311 | 1661 |
| xIndianapolis Racers Indianapolis Racers The Indianapolis Racers were a franchise in the former World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1978. They competed in five seasons, folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena... |
25 | 5 | 18 | 2 | 12 | 78 | 130 | 557 |
| #Soviet All-Stars | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | * | 27 | 20 | 77 |
| #Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992... |
6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | * | 14 | 33 | 107 |
| #Finland Finland Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | * | 4 | 8 | 2 |
x-team folded during season
- -games counted in standings of the regular WHA teams
All-Star game
Wayne GretzkyWayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
appeared in the 1979 WHA All-Star Game. The format of the game was a three game series between the WHA All-Stars against Dynamo Moscow
HC Dynamo Moscow
HC Dynamo Moscow was a Russian professional ice hockey club based in Moscow. They were members of the Bobrov Division in the Kontinental Hockey League...
at Edmonton's Northlands Coliseum. The WHA All-Stars were coached by Jacques Demers and Demers asked Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
if it was okay to put him on a line with Wayne Gretzky and his son Mark Howe
Mark Howe
Mark Steven Howe is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League and 6 seasons in the World Hockey Association . He is the son of Colleen and Gordie Howe, and early in his career was a teammate of his father...
. In the first game, the line scored seven points, as the WHA All-Star won by a score of 4-2. In the second game, Gretzky and Mark Howe each scored a goal and Gordie Howe picked up an assist as the WHA won 4-2. The line did not score in the final game but the WHA won by a score of 4-3.
Avco World Trophy playoffs
Quarterfinals- New England 2 Cincinnati 1
Semifinals
- Winnipeg 4 Quebec 0
- Edmonton 4 New England 3
Avco World Trophy finals
- Winnipeg 4 Edmonton 2
The final game was played at the Winnipeg Arena
Winnipeg Arena
Winnipeg Arena was an indoor arena located at 1430 Maroons Road in Winnipeg, Manitoba, across the street from Canad Inns Stadium and just north of Polo Park.Built in 1955, it was owned by community-owned Winnipeg Enterprises Corporation...
, a 7 to 3 final score in favour of the Jets. The Oilers' Dave Semenko
Dave Semenko
David John Semenko is a retired hockey player who played for the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, and Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL...
scored late in the third period of the deciding game, to record the last goal in the history of the WHA. The goal was given up by the Winnipeg Jets Gary Smith.
WHA awards
{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"|Avco World Trophy
Avco World Trophy
The Avco World Trophy, also known as the Avco Cup, was the championship trophy of the original World Hockey Association . The trophy's naming rights were sold to the former Avco Corporation , a defense contractor who bought the rights to advertise their consumer finance division...
: || Winnipeg Jets
|-
|Gordie Howe Trophy
Gordie Howe Trophy
The Gary L. Davidson Award was given to the most valuable player of the World Hockey Association regular season, from 1973 to 1975. It was named in honour of WHA co-founder Gary Davidson, but for the 1975–76 WHA season, it was renamed the Gordie Howe Trophy in honour of one of hockey's all-time...
: || Dave Dryden
Dave Dryden
David Murray "Sod" Dryden is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Dave Dryden serves the distinction of creating the modern day goaltending mask consisting of a fiberglass mask with a cage...
, Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
|-
|Bill Hunter Trophy
Bill Hunter Trophy
The Bill Hunter Trophy was presented to the World Hockey Association's scoring leader in the regular season.It was named in honour of Bill Hunter, who founded the Alberta Oilers hockey club ....
: || Real Cloutier
Real Cloutier
Réal "Buddy" Cloutier is a retired Canadian ice hockey winger. Cloutier spent his most prolific years in the World Hockey Association with the Quebec Nordiques...
, Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
|-
|Lou Kaplan Trophy
Lou Kaplan Trophy
The Lou Kaplan Trophy was presented annually to the World Hockey Association's rookie of the year.-History:Lou Kaplan was one of the original owners of the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA. On August 10, 1973, the WHA officially named its trophies after the team officials at the WHA's founding...
: || Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
, Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
|-
|Ben Hatskin Trophy
Ben Hatskin Trophy
The Ben Hatskin Trophy was presented annually to the World Hockey Association's best goaltender.It was named in honour of Ben Hatskin, who founded the Winnipeg Jets.Ben Hatskin Trophy winners have included:*1979 – Dave Dryden, Edmonton Oilers...
: || Dave Dryden
Dave Dryden
David Murray "Sod" Dryden is a retired Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Dave Dryden serves the distinction of creating the modern day goaltending mask consisting of a fiberglass mask with a cage...
, Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
|-
|Dennis A. Murphy Trophy
Dennis A. Murphy Trophy
The Dennis A. Murphy Trophy was presented annually to the World Hockey Association's best defenceman.It was named in honour of WHA co-founder Dennis Murphy.Dennis Murphy Trophy Winners*1979 – Rick Ley, New England Whalers...
: || Rick Ley
Rick Ley
Richard Norman Ley is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association .-Playing career:...
, New England Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
|-
|Paul Deneau Trophy
Paul Deneau Trophy
The Paul Deneau Trophy was presented annually to the World Hockey Association's most gentlemanly player.It was named in honour of Paul Deneau, founder the Dayton Aeros hockey club.Paul Deneau Trophy Winners*1979 – Kent Nilsson, Winnipeg Jets...
: || Kent Nilsson
Kent Nilsson
Kent Åke "Kenta" Nilsson is a retired professional ice hockey centre.During his NHL career he was called "Mr. Magic" and "The Magic Man"...
, Winnipeg Jets
|-
|Robert Schmertz Memorial Trophy: || John Brophy
John Brophy (ice hockey)
John Brophy is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former hockey player who has spent most of his career in minor professional leagues, including 18 years as a player in the Eastern Hockey League and 13 seasons as a coach in the East Coast Hockey League...
, Birmingham Bulls
Birmingham Bulls
The Birmingham Bulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1976 to 1979 and the Central Hockey League from 1979 to 1981. The Bulls played their home games at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.Prior to being...
|-
|WHA Playoff MVP
WHA Playoff MVP
The Playoff MVP award for the World Hockey Association was handed out annually from 1975 to 1979 to the most valuable player of the playoffs.WHA Playoff MVP winners*1975 - Ron Grahame, Houston Aeros*1976 - Ulf Nilsson, Winnipeg Jets...
: || Rich Preston
Rich Preston
Richard John Preston is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former forward.Preston began his pro career in the World Hockey Association in the 1974-75 season with the Avco World Trophy champion Houston Aeros. He then played three more years with the Aeros before joining the Winnipeg Jets in 1978-79...
, Winnipeg Jets
|-
|-
|-
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! All-Star Team Position !! First Team !! Second Team
|-
| Centre || Robbie Ftorek, CIN || Wayne Gretzky, EDM
|-
| Right Wing || Real Cloutier, QUE || Blair MacDonald, EDM
|-
| Left Wing || Mark Howe, HART || Morris Lukowich, WPG
|-
| Defence || Rick Ley, HART || Dave Langevin, EDM
|-
| Defence || Rob Ramage, BIRM || Paul Shmyr, EDM
|-
| Goaltender || Dave Dryden, EDM || Richard Brodeur, QUE
|}
See also
- 1978–79 NHL season
- 1979 NHL Expansion Draft1979 NHL Expansion DraftThe 1979 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 13, 1979. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's new teams for the 1979–80 season: the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets...
- 1978 in sports1978 in sports1978 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Ingemar Stenmark, Sweden** Women's overall season champion: Hanni Wenzel, Liechtenstein-American football:...
- 1979 in sports1979 in sports1979 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Peter Lüscher, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Austria-American football:...
External links
1 Four of the WHA teams were admitted to the NHL as expansion franchises — the New England/Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
, Quebec Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
, Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, and Winnipeg Jets.