On Saturday, October 2, 2010, almost all the Quebec media have made much of the "Blue March" (see the texts cyberpresse of radio-canada and Journal Quebec by clicking on links). This gathering, as anyone who will talk about it, or multiple different targets including the return of a franchise of National Hockey League (NHL) in the old capital or the construction of a new "entertainment complex" (read a new multipurpose auditorium). Since blue is the color of the former professional hockey team from Quebec of the National League, the Nordics, we decided to linger at a time in their history, their participation in tonight's World Hockey Association (WHA), between 1972 and 1979.
Source: Promotional poster published on page 7 of the newspaper L'Action Quebec , Thursday, October 12, 1972. Library and Archives nationales du Québec, online consultation , October 2, 2010.
Source: Promotional poster published on page 7 of the newspaper L'Action Quebec , Thursday, October 12, 1972. Library and Archives nationales du Québec, online consultation , October 2, 2010.
In their first season at Quebec Nordiques are not a new concession itself. Indeed, leaders of the WHA managed to sell the franchise to San Francisco (called the Sharks) before the start of the first league season to a group of investors from Quebec. This group, dubbed the 'Group of Six ", was composed by Marius Fortier, Marcel Bedard, Leo-Paul Beausoleil, John Dacres, Jean-Marc Bruneau and Jean-Claude Mathieu, had divested their interests in the junior team ramparts of Quebec for investing in a professional staff.
Petit Pierre Letarte film of National Film Board of Canada about pre-season parties and moments that lead to the first part of the Quebec Nordiques. Viewed 2 October 2010.
The arrival of the Nordic marked the return of professional hockey in Quebec for the years of the Quebec Hockey Club (better known as the Quebec Bulldogs). The transaction of 215,000 dollars (a large sum compared to other franchises in the WHA, but quite small compared to the few million requested for an NHL team at that time) is entered February 11, 1972, before the first repechage WHA. But we must now find the money to run the team. Aided in extremis by owner Alberta Oilers guarantees 100,000 dollars to the team, it will eventually raise money to Place Laurier, May 5, 1972, which Nordic manage to raise over two million dollars for their operation. To help the league to recruit young talent, the minimum age for recruitment of players is lower than in the NHL. But it remains difficult to convince the established stars to make the jump. Not that nobody comes to play in the WHA (Bobby Hull signed the first contract between another one million dollars with the Jets) but Quebec is not the greatest power of attraction. Nevertheless, we are ready to play.
Source: Photographers Kedl, the 1972-73 edition of the Quebec Nordiques, online consultation , October 2, 2010.
The Nordics will play their first game on 11 October 1972 (losing to the Cleveland Crusaders). The first head coach of the Nordiques is a Maurice Richard, who will remain in that position for the first two parts of the first season, feeling too much pressure and are already heavily involved in other projects. Although these early seem difficult, the team will know a good time. They will also win the league championship in season 1976-77 (see the trophy Serge Aubry, below), finishing first in their division in 1974-75 regular season and second overall in the league during the last season in 1978-79. But several other big names have played for the WHA fleurdelisé the years. Of these, mention may Réal Cloutier, Jean-Claude Tremblay, Marc Tardif, Serge Aubry, Serge Bernier and Richard Brodeur.
Source: Photographers Kedl, the 1972-73 edition of the Quebec Nordiques, online consultation , October 2, 2010.
The Nordics will play their first game on 11 October 1972 (losing to the Cleveland Crusaders). The first head coach of the Nordiques is a Maurice Richard, who will remain in that position for the first two parts of the first season, feeling too much pressure and are already heavily involved in other projects. Although these early seem difficult, the team will know a good time. They will also win the league championship in season 1976-77 (see the trophy Serge Aubry, below), finishing first in their division in 1974-75 regular season and second overall in the league during the last season in 1978-79. But several other big names have played for the WHA fleurdelisé the years. Of these, mention may Réal Cloutier, Jean-Claude Tremblay, Marc Tardif, Serge Aubry, Serge Bernier and Richard Brodeur.
Source: Serge Aubry's Quebec Nordiques 1976-77 Avco Cup Championship Trophy, online consultation , October 2, 2010.
In the second half of the 1970s, it is obvious that the WHA and the NHL will not live long, several teams experiencing financial problems. Begun in 1977, it was the winter of 1978-79 as negotiations intensify to a merger between the NHL and WHA. Although the merger is rejected, an agreement signed March 22, 1978 states that four teams including the Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers and Hartford Whalers joined the ranks of the NHL during the 1979-80 season . This merger confirms the end of the WHA and thus opened So a new chapter for the Quebec team. This part of the history of the team will be a future post.
An essential site for more
Quebec Nordiques - the entire history from 1972 to 1995 by Benedict Clairoux.
An essential site for more
Quebec Nordiques - the entire history from 1972 to 1995 by Benedict Clairoux.
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