Ottawa Nationals

Wayne Carleton in an Nationals uniform.

Nationals/ Toros/ Bulls-in-brief

The Ottawa Nationals were a late entry into the World Hockey Association. Along with New England, they were one of the last franchises to be granted for the inaugural season. Originally, the team was supposed to be based in Toronto, but prohibitive rents forced the owner, Doug Michel, to look elsewhere. So, Ottawa was chosen. The team spent 1972-73 at the Ottawa Civic Centre. Unfortunately, fans spent the season elsewhere. Although the team finished with a 35-39-4 record, it only had an average attendance of 3000 per game. The Toronto Maple Leafs had missed the 1973 playoffs, and after arguing with the Ottawa Civic Centre, Ottawa played its playoff series with New England in Toronto. High attendance figures for the playoffs prompted the move to Toronto full time for 1973-74.

Toronto Toros

Tom Simpson in a Toros Uniform. (44K)

The Nationals moved to Toronto under the ownership of John Bassett. Under the Toronto Toros monicker, the team spent the 1973-74 season at Varsity Arena before moving to the Gardens for 1974-75. Aided by newcomers Wayne Dillon and Frank Mahovlich, Toronto finished in second place with a record of 41-33-4. A playoff win over Cleveland and an upset loss to Chicago followed. They followed suit in 1974-75 with a record of 43-33-2. However, defense collapsed in 1975-76, as the Toros dropped to 24-52-5, and attendance plummeted. So, Bassett began looking at other options.

Birmingham Bulls

John Garrett in a Bulls uniform. (36K)

Seeing that the NHL's Atlanta Flames were struggling but surviving in the American South, Bassett moved the club to Birmingham, Alabama for 1976-77. The "bull"logo was kept while the team was renamed the Birmingham Bulls. Birmingham took quick advantage of the WHA's liberal signing restrictions, and soon a talented but young group of players was on the ice. The club improved on its 1975-76 finish but still was left out when the playoffs started.

In 1977 the WHA and NHL were talking merger. However, Birmingham, along with Indianapolis, was never seriously considered for membership. The club was interested in the talks, however, because if merger failed the team would survive. Bassett's deep pockets kept the team running trouble free. The 1977-78 club, under coach Glen Sonmor, was something of a goon squad, but did make the playoffs, losing to Winnipeg.

In the WHA's swan song season, the "Baby Bulls", as they were unofficially dubbed, due to the age of the players, struggled. Led by Rob Ramage and Michel Goulet, the club finished 32-42-6, but missed the playoffs. This was also the end of the franchise, as the NHL and WHA had finally agreed to a merger. Birmingham, along with Cincinnati, was paid to fold. However, when the ECHL came around in the late 1980's, Birmingham ended up with a new go-around of the Bulls, if in name only.

Nationals/Toros/Bulls year-by-year

Year      W     L    T     pts.    Finish        Playoffs
1972-73  35    39    4     74      4th Eastern   Lost to New England 1-4
1973-74  41    33    4     86      2nd Eastern   Beat Cleveland 4-1
                                                 Lost to Chicago 3-4
1974-75  43    33    2     88      2nd Canadian  Lost to San Diego 2-4
1975-76  24    52    5     53      5th Canadian  None
1976-77  31    46    4     66      5th Eastern   None
1977-78  36    41    3     75      6th League    Lost to Winnipeg 1-4
1978-79  32    42    6     70      6th League    None

Information on this page is from The Complete Historical and Statistical Reference to the World Hockey Associaltion 1972-1979; by Scott Adam Surgent.
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