List of WHA seasons


The World Hockey Association operated for seven seasons from 1972 until 1979.
SeasonTeamsAvco Cup Champion
1972–73Eastern:
Cleveland Crusaders • New England Whalers • New York Raiders • Ottawa Nationals • Philadelphia Blazers • Quebec Nordiques
Western:
Alberta Oilers • Chicago Cougars • Houston Aeros • Los Angeles Sharks • Minnesota Fighting Saints • Winnipeg Jets		New England Whalers
1973–74Eastern:
Chicago Cougars • Cleveland Crusaders • New England Whalers • NY Golden Blades / NJ Knights • Quebec Nordiques • Toronto Toros
Western:
Edmonton Oilers • Houston Aeros • Los Angeles Sharks • Minnesota Fighting Saints • Vancouver Blazers • Winnipeg Jets
  • New York Raiders renamed New York Golden Blades, which were then renamed New Jersey Knights midseason.
  • Ottawa Nationals relocated to Toronto as the Toros.
  • Philadelphia Blazers relocated to Vancouver, switching divisions with Chicago Cougars.
  • Alberta Oilers renamed Edmonton Oilers, having dropped playing some home games in Calgary.
Houston Aeros
1974–75Canadian:Edmonton Oilers • Quebec Nordiques • Toronto Toros • Vancouver Blazers • Winnipeg Jets
Eastern:
Cleveland Crusaders • Chicago Cougars • Indianapolis Racers • New England Whalers
Western:
Houston Aeros • Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades • Minnesota Fighting Saints • Phoenix Roadrunners • San Diego Mariners
Houston Aeros
1975–76Canadian:Calgary Cowboys • Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics • Edmonton Oilers • Toronto Toros • Quebec Nordiques • Winnipeg Jets
Eastern:
Cleveland Crusaders • Cincinnati Stingers • Indianapolis Racers • New England Whalers
Western:
Houston Aeros • Minnesota Fighting Saints • Phoenix Roadrunners • San Diego Mariners
  • Baltimore Blades and Chicago Cougars folded.
  • Two expansion teams, Cincinnati Stingers and Denver Spurs, are added.
  • Also halfway through the season, Denver moved to Ottawa as the Civics, which folded later on.
  • Vancouver Blazers relocated to Calgary as the Cowboys.
Winnipeg Jets
1976–77Eastern:Birmingham Bulls • Cincinnati Stingers • Indianapolis Racers • Minnesota Fighting Saints • New England Whalers • Quebec Nordiques
Western:
Calgary Cowboys • Edmonton Oilers • Houston Aeros • Phoenix Roadrunners • San Diego Mariners • Winnipeg Jets
  • The Canadian Division ceased to exist as Calgary, Edmonton, and Winnipeg rejoined the Western Division while Toronto and Quebec rejoined the Eastern Division.
  • The first Minnesota Fighting Saints are folded, but the Cleveland Crusaders relocate to Minnesota as the second Fighting Saints, still remaining in the Eastern Division,;they also folded midseason.
Quebec Nordiques
1977–78Birmingham Bulls • Cincinnati Stingers • Edmonton Oilers • Houston Aeros • Indianapolis Racers • New England Whalers • Quebec Nordiques • Winnipeg Jets
  • Both divisions ceased to exist as Calgary, Phoenix, and San Diego fold; the league realigned into a single table.
    • Two international all-star teams, the Soviet All-Stars and Czechoslovakia All-Stars, play a limited schedule.    		Winnipeg Jets
    1978–79Birmingham Bulls • Cincinnati Stingers • Edmonton Oilers • Indianapolis Racers • New England Whalers • Quebec Nordiques • Winnipeg Jets
    		Winnipeg Jets
    The WHA ceased operations after the 1978–79 season. As part of the NHL-WHA merger, four WHA franchises moved to the National Hockey League for the 1979–80 NHL season: Edmonton, New England, Quebec, and Winnipeg. The other two WHA-enfranchised teams, Birmingham and Cincinnati, folded.