WHA Revival
 

What if the WHA came back?

The league will start in the 2018-19 season with 8 teams in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Quebec City, Albany, Worcester, Hamilton, and Indianapolis. There are no divisions, nor are there any conferences. Just 8 teams, and that's it (for now).

The 8 teams:

Baltimore Blades
https://i.gyazo.com/416e1ed5bc9ea640...840439fdec.png
This team never really got a chance to exist in the WHA... until now. They will play in the Royal Farms Arena.

Cincinnati Stingers
https://i.gyazo.com/aeb05cf06c43d922...dce4cd1465.png
This team however, did exist from 1975 to the end of the old WHA in 1979. However, they didn't get to enter into the NHL when the merger happened. 38 years later, they're back! They'll play their home games in the US Bank Arena, where the old franchise played.

Cleveland Cardinals
https://i.gyazo.com/951dd768fca35d2a...54c9d416d4.png
This is yet another market that had an old WHA team. I chose not to revive the Crusaders name, but instead went on and named this team the Cardinals, because the cardinal is the state bird of Ohio. They'll play their home games at Quicken Loans Arena in downtown Cleveland.

Hamilton Panthers
https://i.gyazo.com/6c1774e644052cce...07a6e14975.png
Finally, a market the old WHA didn't tap into. The Hamilton Panthers will play their home games at FirstOntario Center in downtown Hamilton, sharing the venue with the Bulldogs of the OHL.

Albany Knights
https://i.gyazo.com/f4d42951dd78f1bb...51819d7d0d.png
Albany hasn't had a hockey team since Devils left for Binghamton before the 2017-18 AHL season. But now, hockey has come back to the capital of New York! They'll play their home games at Times Union Center in downtown Albany.

Indianapolis Racers
https://i.gyazo.com/0e204b7f45eb3810...3210682f70.png
The team that started Wayne Gretzky has been resurrected! They're even using the original logo. Unfortunately, their original arena was demolished in 2001, so it's not a 100% resurrection. They'll play their home games at the new Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Quebec City Polar Bears
https://i.gyazo.com/ec0c85e44b6d0333...39a4961a48.png
Finally the Videotron Centre has a tenant that might fill more than 1000 seats!

Worcester Bobcats
https://i.gyazo.com/c1ce4c0c5032b94d...43e0b54a63.png
And lastly, WHA hockey is back in New England. But unfortunately, the Whalers aren't coming back. Instead, New England's WHA team will be placed in Worcester, the 2nd largest city in Massachusetts. They'll play their home games at the DCU Center.

Look forward to following this.

Very cool idea!!!

I was going to sim the initial draft, but the game decided to completely skip over that, and preseason. So instead, here's the standings at the trading deadline!

https://i.gyazo.com/ddf964e7892e58f9...04c169c41c.png

And to follow that up, here are the final regular season standings!
https://i.gyazo.com/468813eb2ab03117...452721a946.png

And also the round 1 playoff matchups
https://i.gyazo.com/c8fb74d860c3e55a...8a455bddd8.png

In the game setup/options menu, make sure to check the “sim day by day” box.

Round 1 results:
https://i.gyazo.com/242f6bed17514265...d18b16bae5.png

Albany vs Cincinnati. The two best teams in the league. Definitely going to be a close one.

who is in the league? Real players, fictional? We need context!

Fictional players.

The Albany Knights have won the National Cup!
https://i.gyazo.com/45a1a0dbd10f0857...8b2c514b93.png

I decided to go with the National Cup because Avco was bought out around 20 years ago and renamed.

Next will be the awards

AWARDS:
https://i.gyazo.com/4b068ed83b3bf274...cb41571081.png
https://i.gyazo.com/c26d3fafeb0b3c51...159f45a4b4.png
https://i.gyazo.com/c97297d394bf241f...d12b2c8a17.png

FIRST ENTRY DRAFT ORDER:
https://i.gyazo.com/0fa1a16bdeae963d...9eab4a03a9.png
Just for clarification, all rounds will have the exact same order.

FIRST ROUND PICKS:

With the first pick, the Hamilton Panthers selected American Albert Straley.
With the second pick, the Cleveland Cardinals selected Canadian Andrew Soucy
With the third pick, the Baltimore Blades selected American Jonathan McGinn
With the fourth pick, the Worcester Bobcats selected American Jack Sturgill
With the fifth pick, the Indianapolis Racers selected Lithuanian Rimvydas Petrauskas
With the sixth pick, the Quebec City Polar Bears selected Russian Kirill Romantsev
With the seventh pick, the Cincinnati Stingers selected Canadian Jordan Nicholson
With the eighth pick, the Albany Knights selected American Jack Wells.
https://i.gyazo.com/8660cc5c8b13e081...557541aba1.png

https://img00.deviantart.net/c198/i/...er-d9b8ls5.png

6/26/20, 1 PM PST

The WHA and the owner of the Portland Winterhawks, Bill Gallacher held a press conference at the Moda Center in Portland OR. There have been rumors since February about the WHA possibly putting an expansion team in Portland, Oregon, and many people speculated that this conference will be about the rumors of a new expansion team. They were right.

Both the WHA and Gallacher announced that an expansion team based in Portland, Oregon will start operations in the 2019-20 season. No name or logo has been announced yet, but that announcement will come sometime around mid-July according to Gallacher.

The locals around the Portland area were excited to hear that a professional hockey team was coming to town. One resident said "The new hockey team will positively impact the hockey culture in Portland. Usually our only option was the Winterhawks. Now we have an alternative, and choices are something I like".

The Portland WHA team will play home games at the Moda Center in downtown Portland.

More expansion?

After the announcement that a WHA team was coming to Portland, more rumors started going around about other cities that have bid for WHA teams.

According to these rumors, Sacramento, San Diego, Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco have placed a bid for a WHA expansion franchise. Eugene Melnyk was rumored to have placed a bid for a team in Ottawa, but he denied having any involvement with the WHA.

7/20/20, noon PST

Gallacher has announced the name and logo for his new WHA team.

Introducing, the Portland Lumberjacks!

https://i.gyazo.com/5a1b907b7077af79...dc532dd7d3.png
credit to Tyler Rodgers for the logo

WHA taking a look at another expansion team?

10/17/20, 3 PM EST

After announcing a 9th team, the WHA is apparently considering another expansion team to make the league even at 10 teams. Rumors are going around that the California bay area could possibly be home to the WHA's 10th team after an image leaked on the internet showing what appears to be Joe Lacob, owner of the Golden State Warriors, having a meeting with the WHA's board of directors. If rumors are correct, the team would likely play in San Francisco's new arena, the Chase Center.

STANDINGS AS OF THE TRADING DEADLINE (2/1/20)
https://i.gyazo.com/97f327ff50729bbe...1995e349c7.png

2/1/20, 7 PM EST

The rumors have been confirmed. A WHA team is coming to San Francisco. The team will be owned by Joe Lacob, and they will play in the brand new Chase Center. Team name and logos will be unveiled on June 1st.

EDIT: 4/11/20, unknown time

While simming through to the end of the regular season, I got a job offer from Portland as GM. I of course declined, because I'm not controlling a team in this simulation. This team is so entertaining to follow. They're setting records for ineptitude. Some might never be broken.

Aside from unleashing my inner UrinatingTree, Portland fired their GM Matt Gartman and replaced him with Keith Allen.
https://i.gyazo.com/50f5f424ed049fb1...3c8e7e9cb8.png
https://i.gyazo.com/c6580e1dd895a6b1...c53954d876.png

FINAL 2019-20 REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS
https://i.gyazo.com/1234d73a48b9c64e...4ba6b8e744.png

PLAYOFF MATCHUPS:
https://i.gyazo.com/40188734a07c348a...432f11a81a.png

ROUND 1 RESULTS:
https://i.gyazo.com/44ffb20308b6415a...a47cd48e1c.png

Yet again the finals are between the top 2 teams in the league.

6/1/20, 1 PM PST

Joe Lacob has announced the name and logo for his new WHA team. They will start playing in the 2020-21 season at the Chase Center in San Francisco

Ladies and gentlemen, the Bay Area Sea Lions!
https://i.gyazo.com/bd4cbbff04a20db7...3af06710c6.png

Alternate logo:
https://i.gyazo.com/0f4f8347cbc4e6e9...3af0c38e7c.png

The Worcester Bobcats are the 2020 National Cup champions!

https://i.gyazo.com/32ad5c4f6c5c9a27...e16ff73387.png

Awards:

https://i.gyazo.com/15a390c4b4affded...91d9a17183.png
https://i.gyazo.com/7062da545283575c...becdf09a5e.png
https://i.gyazo.com/0e273ac26ba72650...8a78477a03.png

Draft order:
https://i.gyazo.com/65e55c5f938a997c...413503e7bb.png
It's the same order every round

TOP 5 DRAFT PICKS BY POSITION (2020 edition)

Goalie:
Round 2, 13th overall: Slovakian Jozef Heriban (Indianapolis)
Round 3, 24th overall: American Dan Avery (Baltimore)
Round 4, 37th overall: American Raleigh Woods (Quebec City)
Round 4, 38th overall: Austrian Manuel Bernhard (Worcester)
Round 5, 49th overall: American Pat Peterson (Albany)

Left Defense:
Round 1, 9th overall: American Denny Franklin (Albany)
Round 2, 14th overall: Swede Anton Blomkvist (Baltimore)
Round 3, 22nd overall: American Ken Lott (Hamilton)
Round 3, 26th overall: American Arnie Montgomery (Cincinnati)
Round 4, 31st overall: American Kyle Kessel (Portland)

Right Defense:
Round 1, 4th overall: American Scott Kilters (Baltimore)
Round 1, 5th overall: Canadian Alex Flesch (Cleveland)
Round 2, 16th overall: American Desi McCarthy (Albany)
Round 2, 17th overall: Finn Janne Raisanen (Quebec City)
Round 5, 41st overall: American Duane Sparks (Portland)

Left Wing:
Round 1, 1st overall: Canadian Michael Kuznik (Portland)
Round 1, 2nd overall: American Jack Leadbeater (Hamilton
Round 1, 7th overall: American Lawrence Meinertzhagen (Quebec City)
Round 2, 18th overall: American Robert Muto (Worcester)
Round 3, 25th overall: American Michael Murphy (Cleveland)

Center:
Round 1, 3rd overall: American Will Willard (Indianapolis)
Round 1, 6th overall: Canadian Ron Rizzuto (Cincinnati)
Round 2, 11th overall: Finn Markus Borgstom (Portland)
Round 2, 15th overall: American Ken Cropley (Cleveland)
Round 3, 27th overall: American Rob Osborne (Quebec City)

Right Wing:
Round 1, 8th overall: American Alonso Garcia (Albany)
Round 2, 12th overall: American Earl Greenawalt (Hamilton)
Round 2, 19th overall: American Tommy Austin (Albany)
Round 3, 21st overall: American Tom Nagle (Portland)
Round 3, 23rd overall: Slovakian Blahoslav Mankovecky (Indianapolis)

CHANGES FOR THE 2020-21 SEASON

There are now 2 divisions with 5 teams in each division. There's an eastern division, and a western division

As seen at the top of the page, there will be a 10th team in the league.

STANDINGS AS OF TRADE DEADLINE (2/1/21)
https://i.gyazo.com/16da33a81efa88e3...99f58b7d57.png
For some reason, the game won't hold an expansion draft. I simmed to the day of the expansion draft (7/2), and nobody was in the draft pool, so the new team had to sign a bunch of free agents. Not sure why this happens, but it's very infuriating, because I don't want expansion teams to be THIS bad.

FINAL 2020-21 REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS:

https://i.gyazo.com/49541fba6dc7bc65...5c1bf612ee.png
The top 4 teams in each division are in the playoffs. Worcester and Cleveland get a first round bye. For some reason the game did an 8 team playoff with a first round bye instead of top 3 teams in each division. I'll have to fix that when I sim to July 1st.

5/17/21

THE WORCESTER BOBCATS HAVE WON THE NATIONAL CUP FOR THE 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR!
https://i.gyazo.com/47d85c5b24a96790...776057e191.png
I don't know about you, but I smell a dynasty in the distance...

AWARDS:
https://i.gyazo.com/7c587e39c93c6ecf...eb69b39ab6.png
https://i.gyazo.com/ac53f7a7602e2540...42464730c6.png
https://i.gyazo.com/3b0861a41d904861...38a47178a6.png

DRAFT ORDER:
https://i.gyazo.com/e6f8de35d7e6f011...a55032ce56.png
It's the same order for all rounds.

ALL ROUND 1 PICKS:
https://i.gyazo.com/ce5d6aa37b554a75...1e17417836.png

CHANGES FOR THE 2021-22 SEASON:

I finally figured out what the playoff problem was. The game says it's a 6 team playoff with the top teams getting a first round bye. That's basically a fancy way of saying 8 team playoffs. While I didn't want this to happen at first, I think it's an opportunity to differentiate from the NHL. Rather than having the top teams in each division go to the playoffs, the top teams in the league go to the playoffs. However because this league is still very small, only 2 teams miss the playoffs.

The Bay Area Sea Lions will change their name to the San Francisco Sea Lions to connect more to the local community.
https://i.gyazo.com/6888d4849152a6d8...863053203b.png

After fans begged and pleaded, the Hamilton Panthers will re-brand and bring the Tigers name back to Hamilton. The original Hamilton Tigers of the NHL folded way back in 1925.
https://i.gyazo.com/7a7d2c72cc4f5469...3efd0ee1f9.png

STANDINGS AS OF TRADING DEADLINE (2/1/22)
https://i.gyazo.com/f5f2ce856132aa96...27d5ccaa5b.png

Baltimore looking for a new home? 2/1/22, 6 PM EST

After having trouble securing an arena deal in Baltimore, the Blades might be on the move. Struggling ticket sales and poor on-ice performance don't really mix well, and that is the case here. The owner, Alex Hooley, stated that the Blades aren't working too well in Baltimore, and he is losing money each year due to the teams struggles. If a new arena deal isn't done by April, he said he will move the team.

FINAL 2021-22 SEASON STANDINGS:
https://i.gyazo.com/9d7cf7803fb0f046...9547b4fc58.png
Remember when I said playoffs were screwed up? They're not. The top 3 teams in each division make it to the playoffs, and first in both divisions gets a first round bye. Also, Worcester didn't make the playoffs somehow...

A farewell to Baltimore

Despite making the playoffs this season, the Blades were still last in league attendance, and owner Alex Hooley couldn't secure a deal with Royal Farms Arena to keep the Blades in Baltimore. Hooley is excited for a fresh start, as he will be moving the Blades to Minnesota, where they will play in the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis starting in the upcoming 2022-23 season.

Say hello to the Minnesota Thunder!
https://i.gyazo.com/4fafa6d7099b4693...7e6526af11.png

THE HAMILTON TIGERS ARE THE 2022 NATIONAL CUP CHAMPIONS!
https://i.gyazo.com/0e173bb41b49cf1d...917738a652.png

AWARDS:
https://i.gyazo.com/96458173d93f3e65...2cef0b8987.png
https://i.gyazo.com/e2360fc1a16eb1e1...30a37702ce.png
https://i.gyazo.com/b3e3559decc75ef1...d3cccb63ef.png

FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS:
https://i.gyazo.com/33eaeb88fd38603d...fdb89af405.png

CHANGES FOR THE 2022-23 SEASON:

As mentioned in above post, the Baltimore Blades are relocating to Minneapolis and rebranding as the Minnesota Thunder.

EDIT: They will also swap divisions with Cleveland, who will move to the east division.

STANDINGS AS OF THE 2022-23 TRADING DEADLINE:
https://i.gyazo.com/2189bdebf43cc73c...4a2065fc3d.png

FINAL 2022-23 REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS:
https://i.gyazo.com/e8264fc27abee24a...40ff00d6fd.png

This next part is going to be completely unrealistic, but nothing in this thread is real, so why not?

Merger Mania?

4/1/23, 6 PM EST

The WHA is in talks of a merger with the struggling ECHL. The ECHL has been struggling financially for the past couple years, with many teams folding, or moving to other leagues, with no signs of stopping. There is not much information about details of the merger, but what we do know is that if all goes to plan, the leagues will merge starting in the 2029-30 season.

THE HAMILTON PANTHERS WIN THE NATIONAL CUP AGAIN!
https://i.gyazo.com/742783d9d5a1bad8...b6bf7244d5.png

AWARDS:
https://i.gyazo.com/2f092d1f2b87b012...e96dddb47c.png
https://i.gyazo.com/0be254e81297e196...0b4ee4d7bc.png
https://i.gyazo.com/027b9baecf3ff0c3...dbd05fd931.png

FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS:
https://i.gyazo.com/1af94f70369617e7...3e09eef1e1.png
Indianapolis can't draft confirmed. This is the 2nd time in a row they've taken the best goalie in the draft despite the fact they have the best goaltending in the league...

CHANGES FOR 2023-24 SEASON:

Worcester is changing their logo and colors.

https://i.gyazo.com/e903286a9c626b92...8395b3c35f.png

WHA to possibly expand by 2 teams, plus more merger talks.

9/21/23, 11 AM EST

The WHA has announced the possibility of a 2-team expansion in time for the 2024-25 season. The current expansion bids being taken into consideration are Charlotte, Salt Lake City and Oakland. Also, the WHA has confirmed that they will merge with the ECHL, keeping the World Hockey Association name, while also acquiring 6 of the 10 remaining ECHL teams in the 2029-30 season. Those 6 teams are Norfolk, South Carolina, Idaho, Kansas City, Tulsa, and Orlando.

STANDINGS AS OF 2023-24 DEADLINE:
https://i.gyazo.com/cbf722c0671d8aaa...8b65670040.png
I love seeing Indianapolis' bad drafting backfire right in their faces. Remember guys, be smart when drafting.

FINAL 2023-24 SEASON STANDINGS:
https://i.gyazo.com/2a1cc36f1eaa9ae4...c49456e173.png

WHA to expand to Charlotte, Salt Lake City for 2024-25

The WHA has confirmed the 2 expansion teams will be in Charlotte, and Salt Lake City. The teams have also released their identities as well.

After the Carolina Hurricanes went back to Hartford, they decided for logistical purposes, to move their AHL team to the Mohegan Sun Arena. After that happened, Michael Khan, owner of the AHL Charlotte Checkers, placed a bid for a WHA franchise. He got his wish, and he got to bring the Checkers name over to the WHA. The new Charlotte Checkers will remain in the Spectrum Center in downtown Charlotte.
https://i.gyazo.com/6070f510b5813a57...6cd53f948a.png

After seeing the potential the WHA had, Greg Miller, owner of the NBA's Utah Jazz, decided he wanted to see if hockey would work in Salt Lake City. The Utah Vipers will play in the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.
https://i.gyazo.com/f864d882987448e7...f98c57819d.png

THE WORCESTER BOBCATS ARE CHAMPIONS AGAIN!
https://i.gyazo.com/9dc6cbfd0dae8c89...aa08c0334e.png
This is their third cup in five years. I think we are witnessing a dynasty.

AWARDS:
https://i.gyazo.com/7af178202236024f...4fd203f9dd.png
https://i.gyazo.com/b0ef8253e5aa37d6...c54e99dbcb.png
https://i.gyazo.com/310d9391ceac46f6...860fbda120.png
I was surprised to not see Howard Rivett be nominated for the Gerry Cheevers Award. It turns out he only played 26 games, because Worcester made a trade in the offseason with Indianapolis to get Emil Sjoblom. Sjoblom ended up becoming the starting goaltender for the Bobcats, and he definitely delivered.

2024 FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS:
https://i.gyazo.com/783be523a68b7e07...2e18a9ae3e.png

CHANGES FOR 2024-25:

As mentioned 2 posts above, 2 new teams were added in Charlotte, and Salt Lake City.

STANDINGS AS OF 2024-25 TRADE DEADLINE:
https://i.gyazo.com/5dedeb9ac98af970...cc340bed25.png

FINAL 2024-25 SEASON STANDINGS:
https://i.gyazo.com/7e42c009ba62d8cd...86e53c8ba9.png

THE BOBCATS GO 2 IN A ROW AGAIN!
https://i.gyazo.com/cd5d989e907a977b...ca6e9cbbd1.png
This is their 4th cup in 6 years. Dynasty confirmed.

AWARDS:
https://i.gyazo.com/3785ddc51115770e...d358d2e298.png
https://i.gyazo.com/51dc64041974fad2...d1f5cd1e6d.png
https://i.gyazo.com/14da80a36938a451...1420da0aa8.png

2025 FIRST ROUND PICKS:
https://i.gyazo.com/dc7a059e3740ff35...f3f35feed8.png

CHANGES FOR 2025-26 SEASON:

* Regular season extended from 78 games to 80 games

* Salary cap is now $80 million USD, salary floor is now $40 million USD

* Overtime is now 3 on 3 instead of 5 on 5

* Overtime decreased from 20 minutes to 10 minutes