Birmingham Bulls
Encyclopedia
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 in Birmingham, the team was known as the Ottawa Nationals
and the Toronto Toros
. In 1992, another Birmingham hockey franchise was founded that used the Bulls name, the Birmingham Bulls
of the East Coast Hockey League.
, who would become Toronto Maple Leafs coach, joined the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association
as assistant to coach Glen Sonmor
. Brophy became head coach in the 1978–79 when Sonmor joined the Minnesota North Stars
. His team finished last in the league, but was in the middle of a youth movement.
Wayne Gretzky
was heavily recruited by Birmingham Bulls owner John Bassett
to be part of the youth movement. 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 (affectionately known as the Baby Bulls) included several future NHL stars at the beginning of their professional careers (Rick Vaive
, Michel Goulet
, Rob Ramage
, Pat Riggin
, Craig Hartsburg
, and Gaston Gingras
), 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.
(who would eventually move to Calgary
a year later).
After the WHA ceased operations in 1979, the Birmingham Bulls joined the Central Hockey League, playing during the 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons. The CHL team included returning coach John Brophy
, and six players carried over from the previous season's WHA team; Paul Henderson
, Pat Riggin
, Rick Adduono
, and Dave Hanson
. The team disbanded during its second season.
World Hockey Association
Central Hockey League
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They played in 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...
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 in Birmingham, the team was known as the Ottawa Nationals
Ottawa Nationals
The Ottawa Nationals were a professional men's ice hockey team based out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada that played in the World Hockey Association during the 1972–73 WHA season....
and the Toronto Toros
Toronto Toros
The Toronto Toros were an ice hockey team based in Toronto that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973 to 1976.The franchise was awarded to Doug Michel in 1971 to play in the WHA's inaugural 1972–73 season...
. In 1992, another Birmingham hockey franchise was founded that used the Bulls name, the Birmingham Bulls
Birmingham Bulls (ECHL)
The Birmingham Bulls were a minor professional ice hockey team in the East Coast Hockey League from 1992 to 2001. Their home arena was the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. The team moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey and was renamed the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2001...
of the East Coast Hockey League.
History
John BrophyJohn 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...
, who would become Toronto Maple Leafs coach, joined the Birmingham Bulls 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...
as assistant to coach Glen Sonmor
Glen Sonmor
Glen Sonmor is a former professional hockey player, scout and coach.-Early life:In high school, Sonmor played for Moose Jaw and was a multi-sport star; playing point guard in basketball, quarterback in football and left wing in hockey, as well as pitching in semi-pro baseball...
. Brophy became head coach in the 1978–79 when Sonmor joined the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
. His team finished last in the league, but was in the middle of a youth movement.
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,...
was heavily recruited by Birmingham Bulls owner John Bassett
John Bassett
John White Hughes Bassett, was a Canadian publisher and media baron.Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he was the son of John Bassett , publisher of the Montreal Gazette, and Margaret Avery. Bassett attended Ashbury College and graduated from Bishop's University with a BA in 1936...
to be part of the youth movement. 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 (affectionately known as the Baby Bulls) included several future NHL stars at the beginning of their professional careers (Rick Vaive
Rick Vaive
Richard Claude Vaive is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League from 1979 to 1992, and is best remembered as the first 50 goal scorer in Toronto Maple Leafs franchise history.-Bio:...
, Michel Goulet
Michel Goulet
This page is about the ice hockey player. For the sculptor, please see Michel Goulet .Michel Goulet is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Birmingham Bulls in the World Hockey Association and the Quebec Nordiques and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League...
, Rob Ramage
Rob Ramage
George Robert Ramage is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers...
, Pat Riggin
Pat Riggin
Patrick Michael Riggin is a retired former National Hockey League goaltender who played for the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins, as well as the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association...
, Craig Hartsburg
Craig Hartsburg
Craig William Hartsburg is a retired Canadian professional hockey player and associate coach in the National Hockey League for the Calgary Flames. He also coached in the Ontario Hockey League. He has previously been an NHL head coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and...
, and Gaston Gingras
Gaston Gingras
Gaston Reginald Gingras is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League....
), as well as a 36-year-old Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A left winger, Henderson played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames...
. Even though his team was the only one in the league not to make the playoffs, Brophy was awarded the Robert Schmertz Memorial Trophy
Howard Baldwin Trophy
The Howard Baldwin Trophy was presented annually to the World Hockey Association's coach of the year.It was named in honour of New England Whalers co-founder Howard Baldwin...
as the WHA's coach of the year.
After the WHA
The Bulls were not included in the WHA-NHL merger of 1979. Even without the WHA's insistence that all of its surviving Canadian teams be included, the NHL was skeptical about putting another team in the South due to the struggles of the Atlanta FlamesAtlanta Flames
The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA from 1972 to 1980. The team, a member of the National Hockey League , was relocated to Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the start of the 1980–81 NHL season and were re-named the Calgary Flames. The NHL returned to the...
(who would eventually move to Calgary
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
a year later).
After the WHA ceased operations in 1979, the Birmingham Bulls joined the Central Hockey League, playing during the 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons. The CHL team included returning coach 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...
, and six players carried over from the previous season's WHA team; Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson
Paul Henderson is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. A left winger, Henderson played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames...
, Pat Riggin
Pat Riggin
Patrick Michael Riggin is a retired former National Hockey League goaltender who played for the Atlanta Flames, Calgary Flames, Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins, as well as the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association...
, Rick Adduono
Rick Adduono
Rick Norman Adduono is a retired professional ice hockey player in the World Hockey Association and National Hockey League as well as a coach in various minor leagues.-Playing career:...
, and Dave Hanson
David Hanson (ice hockey)
David J. "Dave" Hanson is a retired American professional hockey player. He played 33 games in the National Hockey League, and a total of 103 games in the World Hockey Association.-Early life:...
. The team disbanded during its second season.
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 minutesWorld Hockey Association
| Season 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... |
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 (Winnipeg) |
| 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 |