Player Profiles of the WHA Years (1972-1978)

The World Hockey Association (WHA) featured an eclectic mix of young talent and veterans. Because the league broke with convention and drafted underage players, talents like Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier made their pro hockey debuts in the WHA.  However, the WHA clubs knew that it was superstars who sold tickets, and the owners actively perused star player to add to their rosters.  In their pursuit, owners would sign stars who were in their prime in the 1950s and 1960s, and were now well into their 40s.

In this section, we will look at four players who made their mark with the Oilers in the WHA days. Al Hamilton was a legitimate WHA star who played in Edmonton during the prime of his career. Also in the line-up were future Hall of Fame players Jacques Plante and Norm Ullman who were winding down their player careers with the Oilers. However, amongst the ranks of these hockey legends was a 17-year old phenom by the name of Wayne Gretzky who, despite his youth, would go on to outscore and outplay them all. 

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