International Hockey and The WHA—Spirit of '74—Page 2

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Bill Hunter was furious to hear the National Hockey League (NHL) had arranged for a ’72 series, and knew that a 1974 World Hockey Association’s (WHA) series would look like a copycat.

The WHA version of Team Canada that participated included Hull, Cheevers, the legendary Gordie Howe and his son Mark. Hunter selected three Edmonton Oilers : defencemen Al Hamilton and Barry Long and forward Bruce MacGregor. The "Friendship Series" saw home games played in Quebec City, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver. Edmonton could not host a game because the new 15,000-plus seat Northlands Coliseum would not be ready for several more months. After the Canadian games finished, the series moved to Moscow for four games.

The WHA stars, which included ’72 stars Henderson, Pat Stapleton (as a coach) and Frank Mahovlich, did not fare as well as the NHL team did. Team Canada won only one of the eight games, but did manage to earn three ties.

More Visits

The ’72 and ’74 series paved the way for more Soviet and Team Czechoslovakia visits. Unlike the new semi-regular Canada Cup tournament, the Soviets involvement with NHL teams was strictly on an exhibition basis. Of those games, two stand out in particular

• On New Year’s Eve 1975, the Montréal Canadiens and Central Red Army battled to a 3-3 tie that is still remembered as one of the greatest games ever played.

• On January 11, 1976, the Red Army traveled to Philadelphia to play the Cup champions. The Flyers were in the height of their notoriety as the brawling "Broad Street Bullies." When the hits and fists started flying, the Soviets left the ice in protest.

The Czech and Soviet nationals each came to North America in 1976-77 to play WHA teams in exhibition games. They would return the next season, but with a twist. To cure their international match-ups of the boring, no-hit hockey featured in most of the NHL exhibitions, the WHA decreed that the games would count in the standings. The Czechoslovakia Selects' and Soviet Stars’ tour was so successful, it was repeated the next season, the last in WHA history.

Edmonton Oilers (WHA) Record Vs. International Opponents

December 13, 1976—Oilers 6, Czech Nationals 4
January 5, 1977—Soviet Nationals 3, Oilers 2
December 14, 1977—Oilers 6, Czechoslovakia Selects 1
December 21, 1977—Oilers 5, Soviet Stars 2
January 4, 1978—Soviet Nationals 7, Oilers 2
December 15, 1978—Oilers 5, Soviet All-Stars 3
December 16, 1978—Oilers 11, Sweden 2
December 29, 1978—Moscow Dynamo 4, Oilers 1
December 30, 1978—Oilers 5, Czechoslovakia Selects 1

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