World Hockey Association (proposed)
World Hockey Association (Proposed)
The World Hockey Association was a proposed professional hockey league created to rival the NHL during the 2004–05 lockout. It was announced in 2003 by Allan Howell and Dr. Nick Vaccaro, with Bobby Hull as commissioner, hoping to take advantage of the NHL’s labor problems and build a fan base.
Planned teams were to be based in Dallas, Detroit, Halifax, Hamilton, Miami, Toronto, Vancouver and Quebec City, with some clubs given nicknames like the Detroit Gladiators, Dallas Americans, Quebec Nordiks, Toronto Toros and Halifax IceBreakers. A draft was held on July 18, 2004 in Niagara Falls, Ontario; Sidney Crosby was the first pick, but he rejected a three-year, $7.5 million offer.
The venture soon fell apart. The Quebec and Toronto franchises dropped out after arena issues, and the Florida-based team faded away. By September the league had only four teams and postponed its debut; by October Dallas folded.
In spring 2005 the league announced a Bobby Hull Invitational Tournament with a $2 million prize, but it was never held. With ongoing financial problems, the rights to the WHA name and logo were sold to investor Richard Smith.
Plans for further leagues in 2007–08 were dropped, and legal and financial troubles continued. Related efforts included the World Hockey Association 2 minor league, the WHA Super Junior League in Florida, and an unsanctioned WHA Junior West Hockey League in British Columbia; all folded by 2008, and the WHA’s presence faded.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 15:55 (CET).