T he 2 leagues faced off in a series of exhibition games 4 of the 7 years both leagues competed. Though they did manage to lure many future Hall of Famers away from the NHL for a year or two, it was generally conceded the rebel league didn't possess the overall depth of talent pool to actually compete with them. Others however maintained that certain clubs in particular could not only survive, but thrive. The WHA won the series, with a 34-22-7 record. Edmonton, Quebec, Winnipeg and New England, (who moved to Hartford and changed their jerseys) were among 7 clubs to have winning records against the NHL. These four merged with the NHL for the '79-'80 season, but only the Edmonton Oilers survive today. Incidentally, though they never won the Avco Cup they're the only former WHA team to have won the Stanley Cup - and hockey's last true dynasty in my personally biased opinion.





1-2-0 2-4-0 1-1-0 0-1-0 7-5-2 1-0-0

6-1-1 5-4-0 1-1-0 1-0-0 9-3-4

Scroll down for individual game results ...

WINNERS ARE IN RED ...

losses are in blue

ties are in black

1972 No exhibition games were played.

1973 No exhibition games were played.

1974 (September 26 - October 6)

Houston Aeros 5 , St. Louis Blues 3

New England Whalers 2, Philadelphia Flyers 4

Winnpeg Jets 1, Atlanta Flames 3

San Diego Mariners 4 , California Golden Seals 3

Toronto Toros 3, Minnesota North Stars 5

Edmonton Oilers 3, Vancouver Canucks 4

Cleveland Crusaders 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 5

1975 No exhibition games were played.

1976 (September 21 - October 1)

Birmingham Bulls 7 , Atlanta Flames 6

Houston Aeros 1, Pittsburgh Penguins 5

Calgary Cowboys 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 7

Calgary Cowboys 4 , St Louis Blues 1

Winnipeg Jets 5 , Pittsburgh Penguins 3

Edmonton Oilers 1, Pittsburgh Penguins 3

Indianapolis Racers 1, Washington Capitals 2

Winnipeg Jets 6 , St. Louis Blues 2

New England Whalers 2, New York Rangers 2

1977 (September 25 - October 10)

New England Whalers 2, Chicago Black Hawks 2

New England Whalers 5 , Washington Capitals 4

Winnipeg Jets 1, Minnesota North Stars 2

Birmingham Bulls 0, Atlanta Flames 3

New England Whalers 7 , New York Rangers 4

New England Whalers 0, Boston Bruins 5

Winnipeg Jets 4 , Minnesota North Stars 3

Edmonton Oilers 3 , St.Louis Blues 2

New England Whalers 5 , Atlanta Flames 4

Houston Aeros 3, Atlanta Flames 5

Winnipeg Jets 6 , St.Louis Blues 2

Winnipeg Jets 3 , St Louis Blues 0

New England Whalers 9 , Pittsburgh Penguins 0

Birmingham Bulls 0, St. Louis Blues 4

Quebec Nordiques 5, New York Rangers 5

Edmonton Oilers 5 , Detroit Red Wings 4

New England Whalers 4 , Atlanta Flames 3

Edmonton Oilers 2, Cleveland Barons 4

Winnipeg Jets 1 , Detroit Red Wings 0

Quebec Nordiques 5 , Washington Capitals 1