RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
The WHA expanded by adding the Indianapolis Racers and Phoenix Roadrunners, and splitting into 3 divisions (Western, Eastern, and Canadian). The top two teams in each division qualified for the playoffs along with the two next best teams overall. Prior to the season, Southern California welcomed the Jersey Knights, who moved to San Diego and became the Mariners, and said goodbye to the Los Angeles Sharks, who moved to Detroit and became the Michigan Stags. Midway through the season, the Stags moved to Baltimore and became the Blades; they folded for good after the season. Chicago also folded at season's end. Also, the New England Whalers left Boston for Hartford, but played the first half of the season in Springfield, Massachusetts until construction on the Hartford Civic Center was finished.
On April 8, 1975, the New York Islanders faced off against the New York Rangers in the first game of their NHL playoff series, marking a significant moment in the burgeoning rivalry between the two teams. The game, broadcasted on radio, captured the intense atmosphere of playoff hockey as both teams battled fiercely on the ice. The 1974-75 season had seen the Islanders make a dramatic improvement in their performance, making this playoff series particularly notable as it underscored their rise from expansion team struggles to becoming a competitive force in the league. The game itself was characterized by strategic play, physical challenges, and crucial saves, reflecting the high stakes for both teams in this local derby.
This particular matchup not only highlighted the skills of key players from both sides but also set the tone for what would become a historic series in the annals of the NHL. The tension and rivalry that defined this game would carry through the entire series, drawing fans and spectators into a compelling narrative of competition and regional pride. The game served not only as a test of skill and strategy but also as a showcase of the growing intensity and quality of hockey in the 1970s.
Rare audio of a Global TV WHA broadcast which featured the Baltimore Blades and the Toronto Toros March of 1975
Partial game audio from Blades vs Toros TV Broadcast / Rare audio of a Global TV WHA broadcast which featured the Baltimore Blades and the Toronto Toros March of 1975 at Maple Leaf Gardens. The announcers are Mike Anscombe and Carl Brewer.
Team Canada hero eventually jumped to the WHA's Toros from the Leafs due to Harold's...
Henderson vs. Ballard in their Battle of Toronto / Team Canada hero eventually jumped to the WHA's Toros from the Leafs due to Harold's inability to respect him
October 1975 - Footage of WHA game between the EDMONTON OILERS and the TORONTO TOROS,...
WHA Hockey violence debate / October 1975 - Footage of WHA game between the EDMONTON OILERS and the TORONTO TOROS, Ontario Attorney General Roy McMurtry talks about bringing the criminal code into hockey rinks, Toros coach Bobby Baun says fighting is a part of hockey (CBC-TV reporter Peter Murphy)
Toronto Toros starter left out to dry after 8-2 lead in 10-9 loss to the...
When former Habs prospect Jim Shaw was fired / Toronto Toros starter left out to dry after 8-2 lead in 10-9 loss to the Crusaders in late 1975 - and he and two other TT skaters were turfed minutes after the game ended
1 Comment
I sincerely appreciate the research work, and the information being shared. It is important and interesting history.
I sincerely appreciate the research work, and the information being shared. It is important and interesting history.