After much effort and expense we have now added more than 600 vintage photos to WHAhof.com -- including galleries of all the 1970s WHA hockey cards plus color action photos and a selection of WHA team portrait photos.
We'll turn next to a substantial black-and-white photo collection and also more color photos -- when we catch our breath after the month of WHA HOF events in August.
So -- if you view this free web site and appreciate our efforts, we invite you to support the volunteer WHA HOF by donating any sum to us through the PayPal link on the main page or contact page.
Or -- please support our efforts and buy some of our brand new DVDs and other WHA HOF items.
The WHA HOF can only continue with the support of the real hockey fan. We know from the web statistics (and e-mail from fans) that WHAhof.com is being viewed by MANY fans. To keep this site free and to pay for its cost we need your support.
OK, I'm off the soap box now, and back to work for the August events in Hartford, Winnipeg & Cleveland! See you there...
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
WHA (new) jersey Expo recap
Engines are full steam ahead for the 3 remaining WHA HOF events, but I wanted to recap the great experience we had kicking off the Summer 2010 tour at the MeiGray Jersey Expo on July 17 in, appropriately, New Jersey.
It was the public debut of the new WHA HOF DVD series, which literally arrived days before the event. The MeiGray Group kindly played the documentaries all day on their big screen video display, and we had them on a portable DVD player at our booth, too.
Also debuting was the new WHA HOF game jersey, which we'll use in the August 28 game in Cleveland. Check out the photos on our Facebook page -- the embroidered crest especially looks great! We might make these also available for sale to fans -- we'll see.
Barry Meisel and Stu Oxenhorn from the MeiGray Group welcomed us at the Expo with the finest collection of WHA game jerseys I've ever seen. The display, set behind our WHA HOF booth, brought a continual crowd to us and we were busy talking with fans for the entire day. I only managed to get away for a few minutes to see more WHA jerseys at other collector's tables and conduct some interviews -- I'll finish a video clip soon showing much of these colorful jerseys!
NJ Devils defensive great (and 3-time cup winner) Ken Daneyko was a special guest at the show, and he came by the WHA HOF display and said he enjoyed seeing all the WHA jerseys again. You see, Ken is from Edmonton, and he told us that the WHA Oilers was the team he grew up with in the 1970s. Ken talked about the great teams that he saw in the WHA, and he was very gracious.
6,000 miles is a long way to go in 72 hours for a one-day event like this, but the day was fabulous, and we lost count of how many times fans told us something like, "thanks for doing this -- it's about time the WHA history was celebrated."
Those sentiments make all this hard work worthwhile. Thank you to the MieGray Group and to New Jersey!
It was the public debut of the new WHA HOF DVD series, which literally arrived days before the event. The MeiGray Group kindly played the documentaries all day on their big screen video display, and we had them on a portable DVD player at our booth, too.
Also debuting was the new WHA HOF game jersey, which we'll use in the August 28 game in Cleveland. Check out the photos on our Facebook page -- the embroidered crest especially looks great! We might make these also available for sale to fans -- we'll see.
Barry Meisel and Stu Oxenhorn from the MeiGray Group welcomed us at the Expo with the finest collection of WHA game jerseys I've ever seen. The display, set behind our WHA HOF booth, brought a continual crowd to us and we were busy talking with fans for the entire day. I only managed to get away for a few minutes to see more WHA jerseys at other collector's tables and conduct some interviews -- I'll finish a video clip soon showing much of these colorful jerseys!
NJ Devils defensive great (and 3-time cup winner) Ken Daneyko was a special guest at the show, and he came by the WHA HOF display and said he enjoyed seeing all the WHA jerseys again. You see, Ken is from Edmonton, and he told us that the WHA Oilers was the team he grew up with in the 1970s. Ken talked about the great teams that he saw in the WHA, and he was very gracious.
6,000 miles is a long way to go in 72 hours for a one-day event like this, but the day was fabulous, and we lost count of how many times fans told us something like, "thanks for doing this -- it's about time the WHA history was celebrated."
Those sentiments make all this hard work worthwhile. Thank you to the MieGray Group and to New Jersey!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
New WHA HOF event: August 28 in Cleveland
Andre Lacroix WHA Hall of Fame Day
Set for August 28 in Cleveland
with Exhibition Game
At the Pond in Chagrin Falls
The World Hockey Association Hall of Fame is proud to announce a day of celebration for major league hockey All-Star Andre Lacroix in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday, August 28, at the The Pond ice complex, 9999 E. Washington Street (in Chagrin Falls, Ohio).
WHA Hall of Fame President Timothy Gassen will travel from Arizona to Cleveland and emcee an induction ceremony for recently elected WHA HOF member (and Chagrin Falls resident) Andre Lacroix. Documentary films from the new WHA Hall of Fame DVD Series, an autograph session, and an exhibition hockey game will also be featured.
Following the Andre Lacroix Day, The Pond will host on Sunday, August 29 its kickoff for the fall back-to-skating season. The Sunday kickoff includes a $5 pass to enjoy skating, skate rental, bounce house, clowns, balloons and face painting from 1:30-4:30 pm. There will also be free skating lessons provided throughout the afternoon.
The World Hockey Association was a major hockey league in the U.S. and Canada from 1972-1979, and Lacroix is the WHA all-time scoring champion, and is one of a handful of players to play in all seven years of the league’s existence. The Cleveland Crusaders was a member of the WHA from 1972-1976, and the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979.
The Andre Lacroix WHA Hall of Fame Day will start with a screening of new WHA films (starting at 11:30 a.m.), then feature an autograph session (12:30-1:30 p.m.) with Lacroix and other hockey luminaries. An on-ice induction ceremony and exhibition game featuring Lacroix will conclude the day (1:30-3 p.m.). Other former WHA stars are also expected to attend and skate – check www.WHAhof for updates on the developing lineup.
The WHA Hall of Fame will also have a limited supply of pucks, T-shirts, hockey cards and DVDs available for sale – please bring cash for WHA HOF purchases.
Event information and tickets are available at www.skateatthepond.com
The August 28 Cleveland festivities will be the final stop on the WHA HOF Summer 2010 tour. The WHA HOF started the tour as a featured guest of the major vintage WHA jersey exhibit on July 17 at the MeiGray Expo in Newark, New Jersey, will travel to Hartford, Connecticut on August 14 for the Whalers FanFest, then head to the World Premiere of the new WHA HOF Jets documentary film with Bobby Hull and other WHA stars on August 20 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Complete information is at www.WHAhof.com
Andre Lacroix WHA Hall of Fame Day
Saturday, August 28
11am-3pm (see web site for event schedule)
at The Pond Family Friendly Ice Rink
9999 E. Washington St. (Chagrin Falls)
Phone: (440) 543-3884
www.skateatthepond.com
Set for August 28 in Cleveland
with Exhibition Game
At the Pond in Chagrin Falls
The World Hockey Association Hall of Fame is proud to announce a day of celebration for major league hockey All-Star Andre Lacroix in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday, August 28, at the The Pond ice complex, 9999 E. Washington Street (in Chagrin Falls, Ohio).
WHA Hall of Fame President Timothy Gassen will travel from Arizona to Cleveland and emcee an induction ceremony for recently elected WHA HOF member (and Chagrin Falls resident) Andre Lacroix. Documentary films from the new WHA Hall of Fame DVD Series, an autograph session, and an exhibition hockey game will also be featured.
Following the Andre Lacroix Day, The Pond will host on Sunday, August 29 its kickoff for the fall back-to-skating season. The Sunday kickoff includes a $5 pass to enjoy skating, skate rental, bounce house, clowns, balloons and face painting from 1:30-4:30 pm. There will also be free skating lessons provided throughout the afternoon.
The World Hockey Association was a major hockey league in the U.S. and Canada from 1972-1979, and Lacroix is the WHA all-time scoring champion, and is one of a handful of players to play in all seven years of the league’s existence. The Cleveland Crusaders was a member of the WHA from 1972-1976, and the WHA merged with the NHL in 1979.
The Andre Lacroix WHA Hall of Fame Day will start with a screening of new WHA films (starting at 11:30 a.m.), then feature an autograph session (12:30-1:30 p.m.) with Lacroix and other hockey luminaries. An on-ice induction ceremony and exhibition game featuring Lacroix will conclude the day (1:30-3 p.m.). Other former WHA stars are also expected to attend and skate – check www.WHAhof for updates on the developing lineup.
The WHA Hall of Fame will also have a limited supply of pucks, T-shirts, hockey cards and DVDs available for sale – please bring cash for WHA HOF purchases.
Event information and tickets are available at www.skateatthepond.com
The August 28 Cleveland festivities will be the final stop on the WHA HOF Summer 2010 tour. The WHA HOF started the tour as a featured guest of the major vintage WHA jersey exhibit on July 17 at the MeiGray Expo in Newark, New Jersey, will travel to Hartford, Connecticut on August 14 for the Whalers FanFest, then head to the World Premiere of the new WHA HOF Jets documentary film with Bobby Hull and other WHA stars on August 20 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Complete information is at www.WHAhof.com
Andre Lacroix WHA Hall of Fame Day
Saturday, August 28
11am-3pm (see web site for event schedule)
at The Pond Family Friendly Ice Rink
9999 E. Washington St. (Chagrin Falls)
Phone: (440) 543-3884
www.skateatthepond.com
Monday, July 19, 2010
back in AZ, Phoenix is next!
You only realize how far NYC is from Tucson once you go there and back within 72 hours! Though a blur, we kicked off the summer 2010 WHA HOF show in NJ this past weekend with great success. I'll have lots of photos, stories and video online later this week when I catch my breath.
This next weekend we hope to meet with former WHA-ers in Phoenix, in preparation for our next public event, the big Whalers reunion and WHA HOF induction ceremonies in Hartford on August 14.
And the new Jets-Aeros DVD set has arrived, and I''l try to get the order form online at the site by July 20. The WHA league DVD set is @ 2 weeks away from being available, too.
OK, I gotta go unpack my bags now and get some sleep!
This next weekend we hope to meet with former WHA-ers in Phoenix, in preparation for our next public event, the big Whalers reunion and WHA HOF induction ceremonies in Hartford on August 14.
And the new Jets-Aeros DVD set has arrived, and I''l try to get the order form online at the site by July 20. The WHA league DVD set is @ 2 weeks away from being available, too.
OK, I gotta go unpack my bags now and get some sleep!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
See you in New Jersey & new DVDs!
Don't miss your opportunity in the NYC area to see the major exhibit of WHA jerseys and the public premiere of the new WHA documentaries this weekend, July 17. This kicks off the Summer 2010 WHA HOF tour, and as we travel from Arizona we only hope the weather has broken in NJ and is cooler than here, lol. So much to do before we head to the east coast...the press interviews are picking up, for one. check out of events page for details!
Upon our return, on July 19, the new WHA DVDs will be available for sale! We'll also have some special new items, available only here...
AND a very special event announcement should be ready for next week. Stay tuned, and wish us luck in NJ. We'll post updates from NJ on the WHA HOF Facebook page; the link is on the main page here.
Upon our return, on July 19, the new WHA DVDs will be available for sale! We'll also have some special new items, available only here...
AND a very special event announcement should be ready for next week. Stay tuned, and wish us luck in NJ. We'll post updates from NJ on the WHA HOF Facebook page; the link is on the main page here.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Facebook for the WHA HOF
So I've followed the pied piper called Facebook and will post there shorter updates for the WHA HOF (see link), and use this blog for more article-like musings. Except for these thoughts...
Thanks to Shawn Lavigne for putting me on the "Hockey This Morning" show with Mike Ross this morning...
My best wishes and thoughts to Jacques Demers for a speedy recovery in Ottawa. Hard to believe it's been 35 years since I first met Jacques in Indianapolis with the WHA Racers! I like the detail in one report that Jacques has a hard time keeping his oxygen mask on because he's talking so much, lol...
Our first WHA HOF visit to NYC is next Saturday (July 17) for the game jersey Expo. It's hotter there than here in Arizona, and I'm praying for a weather break before we go, or I'll sweat myself away!
The new WHA DVDs ship next week, and will go on sale on the site @ July 19, upon our return from the east coast...
Thanks to Shawn Lavigne for putting me on the "Hockey This Morning" show with Mike Ross this morning...
My best wishes and thoughts to Jacques Demers for a speedy recovery in Ottawa. Hard to believe it's been 35 years since I first met Jacques in Indianapolis with the WHA Racers! I like the detail in one report that Jacques has a hard time keeping his oxygen mask on because he's talking so much, lol...
Our first WHA HOF visit to NYC is next Saturday (July 17) for the game jersey Expo. It's hotter there than here in Arizona, and I'm praying for a weather break before we go, or I'll sweat myself away!
The new WHA DVDs ship next week, and will go on sale on the site @ July 19, upon our return from the east coast...
Monday, July 5, 2010
Cheers to Whitey Stapleton
I've had the discussion with fellow WHA & Indy Racers fans for years: who was the franchise's most valuable player from 1974-1979? Many immediately claim Wayne Gretzky, who played his first major league games in Indy. Or there's Mark Messier, who also debuted with the Racers. How about Dave Keon? Surely a legend like that is the franchise MVP.
Yes, they are all fine candidates, but defenseman Pat "Whitey" Stapleton outshines them all combined. Whitey played two full seasons with Indy, their finest years, and even returned to coach the Racers in their 1978-79 swan song. On the ice he brought the stability, committment and a winning confident attitude the new team never had before. Off the ice he insipred fans wit his dignity and kind spirit, and made the future in Indy seem bright, indeed.
I was one of those young fans in Indy enraptured with "The General," and I didn't know yet that Whitey had already been a hero for Team Canada in the 1972 USSR series. I didn't know he has started his major league career among the "Original Six" as a very young man, then played in the Stanley Cup finals along side Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull in Chicago. I knew him first as an Indianapolis Racer, a WHA All-Star who contorlled the blueline and the pace of the game unlike any other defenseman I've seen since.
Now, all these years later, I've gotten to know Whitey as a person. He is the most positive, encouraging peerson I have ever come across in hockey. He is a gentleman, a loving person, a warm and intelligent man of the higest caliber. To say I hold Pat Stapleton in high regard doesn't do him justice -- he deserves far greater praise.
But back to the WHA and the 1970s and his play with the Racers. Anyone who was there will agree -- based on what he helped the city achieve, through the caliber of his play, there was never a better Indianapolis Racer than #12, Pat Stapleton. He is my franchise MVP.
Pat Stapleton turned 70 years of age this past Sunday. Cheers to you, Whitey. We are blessed to know you.
---------
PS: Remember that the July 17 MeiGray WHA jersey Expo is July 17 in New Jersey...and a new event will be announced soon!
Yes, they are all fine candidates, but defenseman Pat "Whitey" Stapleton outshines them all combined. Whitey played two full seasons with Indy, their finest years, and even returned to coach the Racers in their 1978-79 swan song. On the ice he brought the stability, committment and a winning confident attitude the new team never had before. Off the ice he insipred fans wit his dignity and kind spirit, and made the future in Indy seem bright, indeed.
I was one of those young fans in Indy enraptured with "The General," and I didn't know yet that Whitey had already been a hero for Team Canada in the 1972 USSR series. I didn't know he has started his major league career among the "Original Six" as a very young man, then played in the Stanley Cup finals along side Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull in Chicago. I knew him first as an Indianapolis Racer, a WHA All-Star who contorlled the blueline and the pace of the game unlike any other defenseman I've seen since.
Now, all these years later, I've gotten to know Whitey as a person. He is the most positive, encouraging peerson I have ever come across in hockey. He is a gentleman, a loving person, a warm and intelligent man of the higest caliber. To say I hold Pat Stapleton in high regard doesn't do him justice -- he deserves far greater praise.
But back to the WHA and the 1970s and his play with the Racers. Anyone who was there will agree -- based on what he helped the city achieve, through the caliber of his play, there was never a better Indianapolis Racer than #12, Pat Stapleton. He is my franchise MVP.
Pat Stapleton turned 70 years of age this past Sunday. Cheers to you, Whitey. We are blessed to know you.
---------
PS: Remember that the July 17 MeiGray WHA jersey Expo is July 17 in New Jersey...and a new event will be announced soon!
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