Ottawa Nationals

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ottawa Nationals
Ottawa Nationals logo
founding November 21, 1971
resolution 1973
history Ottawa Nationals
1972 - 1973
Toronto Toros
1973 - 1976
Birmingham Bulls
1976 - 1979
Stadion Ottawa Civic Center
Location Ottawa , Ontario
Team colors red, white & blue
Avco World Trophies no
Division title no

The Ottawa Nationals were an ice hockey team from Ottawa , Ontario that was active in the North American World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 to 1973 . The team then moved to Toronto and played as the Toronto Toros there .

history

Three weeks after the WHA had officially named their first teams, it was decided to take on two more teams. One of the two franchises was given to Doug Michel, who was supposed to build a team in the Canadian province of Ontario. The first plan was to give the team a home in Toronto, but the rent demands they had at Maple Leaf Gardens forced them to rethink. Even Hamilton was one of the possible locations, but then it was decided in February 1972 but for Ottawa. Nick Trbovich, a Buffalo industrialist , became a co-owner.

Billy Harris was signed as coach and Wayne Carleton was the lead player on the ice . With 42 goals and 91 points Carleton was also the best scorer of the Nationals in the 1972/73 season . The young Gavin Kirk also played a strong rookie season with 68 points and helped the Nationals to qualify for the playoffs. But only 3,226 spectators on average were a disappointing backdrop in the 10,500 seat Ottawa Civic Center . The battle for the public's favor against the popular junior team, the Ottawa 67’s , was difficult for the Nationals. After the city of Ottawa announced that they should spend $ 100,000 in the coming year for the use of the Civic Center, the decision was made to move to Toronto for the start of the playoffs.

In Toronto, the Maple Leafs had not reached the finals of the National Hockey League and so the team was now accommodated with the rent for the Maple Leaf Garden. The two games against the eventual winner of the Avco World Trophy , the New England Whalers , one of which could be won, were the last games of the Nationals. Almost 4,500 spectators in each of the two games pushed the decision to move to Toronto for the coming season. They played as Toronto Toros from the 1973/74 season .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c d e f g Scott Surgent: The Complete Historical and Statistical Reference to the World Hockey Association, 1972-1979 . 7th printing. Xaler Press, Tempe AZ 2004, ISBN 0-9644774-4-0 , p. 26 ( limited preview in Google book search).