The World Hockey Association (WHA) was created in 1972 when the National Hockey League (NHL) decided to allow players to play in the World Championship that is more commonly known as the “Hockey Olympics”. Because the NHL allowed its players to join the WHA, the popularity of hockey soared. Although the NHL never turned its back on professional hockey, the WHA represented the dawn of a new era for the sport.
Since its inception, the WHA has consisted of 10 teams divided into two conferences: the Eastern and the Western Conferences. Each team was required to have a minimum of three players from each country, which meant that the majority of the players were not Canadian or American. This led to some awkward situations as some countries, such as Japan, did not have very good track records in ice hockey. These teams were usually required to play against all-Canadian teams, which they usually did not fare well against. Therefore, many of these WHA teams did not last long and were subsequently disbanded.
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The Rise of Regional Leagues
The WHA was not the only hockey league to experience troubles. The upstart World Hockey League (WHL) lasted only three seasons before it was purchased by the NHL and folded. Many of its key teams, including the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, and San Jose Sharks, have since resurfaced in the NHL as some of its biggest franchises.
The NHL, which has always been the most successful professional sports league, has kept a close eye on the development of sport in the post-pandemic world. With the support of the National Hockey Foundation (NHF) and its Chairman, Governor and Mrs. Andrew L. Livermore, the NHL has invested heavily in regional leagues that consist of eight to 10 teams. The goal is to have more local teams and a stronger connection to the community.
The Importance Of Youth
The NHL is fully aware that success in today’s world of professional sports comes largely from its’ youth programs. For that reason, the league implemented the “Youth Hockey Initiative”, which was designed to grow the sport amongst today’s youth. One of the essential pillars of the NHL’s youth development strategy is the growth of local hockey communities. The idea is to have more youth participating in the sport, which in turn, leads to more people watching and supporting the teams. The NHL’s mission is to grow hockey globally and among its key strategies for doing that is by creating more opportunities for youth.
Why Canada?
The creation of the WHA was not done by accident. The mastermind behind it all was International Hockey Federation (FIH) President and Commissioner Henri Richard. Mr. Richard, who was most recently the owner of the Quebec Nordiques, was looking for a place to stage the first-ever World Championship. Since Canada already had a national hockey league and a dormant farm league, the NHL, he saw an opportunity to build a league that would eventually surpass the NHL in popularity.
The NHL recognized that Mr. Richard was right and jumped at the chance to partner with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA) to create a world hockey league.
The Birth Of The NCA
One of the major reasons why the WHA was able to succeed where the WHL failed was because it was sanctioned by the International Ice Hockey Federation (FIH), which determined the format for the league. The WHL did not have that luxury and was consequently unable to keep its’ teams intact when the NHL purchased it. After purchasing the WHL, the NHL renamed it the Canadian Amateur Hockey League (CAHL) and brought the majority of its’ teams over. However, the CAHL still had some ties to the WHL, which the owners decided to keep, even though it meant breaking their “union” with the NHL. The owners of the remaining WHL teams joined the new league, forming the nucleus of what was eventually to become the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). This was a bold move by the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association (CAHA), which had to start from scratch and had to persuade colleges and universities around Canada to join its’ new league.
Varsity Hockey Is A Real Thing
One of the significant legacies of the CAHA is the introduction of varsity hockey to Canada. The CAHA saw the potential in offering college-level athletic teams, which could engage with their student communities in new ways. Since that introduction, more and more colleges and universities have introduced varsity hockey, with many schools holding annual “state” tournaments.
The Importance Of The U Sports Championship
One of the other significant developments that came from the CAHA was the U Sports Championship, which is now the national championship for Canadian university hockey. The U Sports tournament was designed to replace the Interprovincial Senior Hockey Championship, which was run on a regional basis. The creation of the U Sports hockey championship brings additional credibility to the sport, as well as providing a national stage for the teams that qualify for the tournament.
Building Toward A Brighter Future
The history of the National Hockey League (NHL) is replete with triumph and tragedy. The league has had its’ share of troubles, but it has also created some of the greatest stars and moments in all of sports. The birth of the WHA and the subsequent creation of the CAHA were no different. The CAHA immediately started building toward a brighter future, which eventually led to the creation of the International Ice Hockey Federation (FIH).
The NHL, which has always been a league that prizes stability, has decided to embrace change, which is evident in the way that it has embraced the growth of hockey internationally, regionally, and amongst its’ fan base. With a little bit of ingenuity and some old-fashioned elbow grease, the future of professional hockey looks incredibly positive.