Hartford Whalers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hartford Whalers |
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| Founded | 1972 |
| History | New England Whalers 1972–1979 (WHA) Hartford Whalers 1979–1997 (NHL) Carolina Hurricanes 1997–present |
| Home arena | Boston Arena Boston Garden The Big E Coliseum Springfield Civic Center Hartford Civic Center |
| City | Hartford, Connecticut |
| Colors | Green, black, white (1972–1975) Green, gold, white (1975–1979) Green, blue, white (1979–1992) Navy, green, silver, white (1992–1997) |
| Stanley Cups | 0 |
| Avco World Trophy | 1 (1972–73) |
| Conference championships | 2 (1972–73, 1977–78) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 0 |
| Division championships | 4 (1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1986–87) |
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team. They played in Hartford, Connecticut, for most of their history. The team was part of the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 to 1979. Then, they joined the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to 1997.
The team started in Boston in 1972. Back then, they were called the New England Whalers. They moved to Hartford in 1974. In 1979, the Whalers joined the NHL when the WHA and NHL merged. In 1997, the team moved to North Carolina and became the Carolina Hurricanes.
Contents
WHA History: The Whalers' Early Years
Starting in Boston (1971–1974)
The Whalers team began in November 1971. Businessmen in New England started the team for the new World Hockey Association (WHA). They signed many talented players. These included Tom Webster and Ted Green.
The New England Whalers also signed many American players. Some were from Massachusetts. They included Larry Pleau, Kevin Ahearn, and John Cunniff.
The Whalers had the best record in the WHA in their first season (1972–73). They won the first-ever WHA championship. They beat the Winnipeg Jets in the finals.
The team played its first home games in Boston Garden and Boston Arena. But these arenas were not ideal. The Boston Garden was often used by the rival NHL Bruins. So, the Whalers' owner decided to find a new home.
Moving to Hartford (1974)
Hartford, Connecticut, was building a new arena. It was called the Hartford Civic Center. City leaders contacted the Whalers. Hartford had not had a major professional hockey team before.
The Civic Center was still being built in 1974. So, the Whalers played some early games in West Springfield, Massachusetts. On January 11, 1975, the team played its first game in the Hartford Civic Center. The arena was full of excited fans.
The team stayed in Hartford until 1997. They briefly moved to Springfield Civic Center in the late 1970s. This happened when the Hartford arena's roof collapsed due to heavy snow and rain.
The New England Whalers were a strong team in the WHA. They always made the playoffs. They won their division three times. Key players like Rick Ley and Tom Webster played many games for the team. In 1977, they signed the famous player Gordie Howe and his sons, Mark and Marty.
The Whalers reached the WHA finals again in 1978. Gordie Howe, at 50 years old, led the team in scoring! The next season was not as good. But the team still had great players like Andre Lacroix.
Joining the NHL: A New Chapter
The Whalers were one of the strongest WHA teams. Because of this, they were one of four teams allowed to join the NHL. This happened when the WHA and NHL merged in 1979. Many Whalers players, like the Howes, stayed with the team.
The New England Whalers changed their name to the Hartford Whalers in May 1979. The Boston Bruins did not want another team named after "New England." A designer named Peter Good created a new logo. It showed a whale's tail over a "W." The empty space in the middle formed an "H." New team colors were green and blue.
NHL History: Challenges and Triumphs
The Whalers found the NHL much tougher than the WHA. They had only three winning seasons in 18 years. They made the playoffs eight times. But they won only one playoff series. Fans sometimes called them "The Forever .500s." This was because they often had an equal number of wins and losses.
The team often faced strong rivals like the Boston Bruins or Montreal Canadiens. The Whalers had a big rivalry with the Bruins. This was because Boston was only 100 miles away. Games against the Bruins always drew large crowds.
The Whalers also faced challenges off the ice. Hartford was the smallest American city with an NHL team. This made it hard to attract fans and sponsors. Also, the Hartford Civic Center was one of the smallest arenas in the league. It held about 15,635 fans. Most sellouts happened when rival teams like the Bruins or New York Rangers visited.
First NHL Season (1979–80)
The Whalers' first NHL season in 1979–80 looked promising. Key players included Mike Rogers, Blaine Stoughton, and Gordie Howe. They even added NHL legend Bobby Hull later in the season. The Whalers finished with 73 points and made the playoffs. They had the best record of the four former WHA teams that joined the NHL.
In the first round of the playoffs, they played the Montreal Canadiens. The Canadiens swept them, winning three games to none. After this season, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, and Andre Lacroix retired from hockey.
The Early 1980s: Rebuilding the Team
After their first NHL season, the Whalers had many older players. The team also started making some difficult trades. They traded away star players like Mark Howe and Mike Rogers. This was an attempt to get more players, but it didn't always work out well.
In 1981–82, the NHL changed its divisions. The Whalers moved to the Adams Division. In 1982–83, the team had a tough season, winning only 19 games. In 1983, Emile Francis became the new general manager. He worked to rebuild the team. By 1987, almost all the players from the 1982–83 team were gone. Only Ron Francis, Paul MacDermid, and Paul Lawless remained.
Success in the Mid-1980s
The Whalers had a good period in 1985–86 and 1986–87. In 1985–86, they looked like a playoff team. They struggled when star players Ron Francis and Kevin Dineen got injured. But when they returned, the team played much better.
The Whalers made the playoffs for the first time since 1980. They beat the Quebec Nordiques in three games. This was their first, and only, NHL playoff series win in Hartford. They then played the Montreal Canadiens. The Whalers pushed the series to seven games, but lost in overtime. The Canadiens went on to win the Stanley Cup.
The next season, 1986–87, the Whalers won their only division championship. Key players included Ron Francis, Ray Ferraro, Kevin Dineen, and goalie Mike Liut. They earned 93 points, their most as an NHL team in Hartford. However, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Nordiques. The Whalers made the playoffs for the next five seasons. But they never matched this success.
The 1989–90 Season
In 1989–90, the Whalers finished seventh overall in the NHL. This was their second-highest point total in Hartford. Captain Ron Francis had a great season, scoring 101 points.
Before the playoffs, the general manager traded goalie Mike Liut. This left the team with a less experienced goalie. The Whalers faced the Boston Bruins in the playoffs. In Game 4, the Whalers had a big lead, but the Bruins came back and won. The Bruins won the series in seven games. Goaltending was a big difference in this series.
The Ron Francis Trade
On March 4, 1991, Ron Francis was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. This was a very unpopular trade with Whalers fans. Francis was one of the team's most beloved players. He held many scoring records for the team.
The trade was even more painful because Francis and other players helped the Penguins win two Stanley Cups. The players the Whalers received in the trade did not perform as well. This trade hurt the team's talent and fan support in Hartford.
The 1992 Playoffs
The Whalers made the playoffs one last time in 1992. They won only 26 games that season. They faced the strong Montreal Canadiens. The Whalers lost the first two games. But they came back to win Games 3 and 4 at home.
Game 5 was a turning point. The Whalers had a lead, but the Canadiens scored four quick goals. The Whalers lost that game. In Game 6, the Whalers won in overtime. The series went to Game 7 in Montreal. The Whalers lost a dramatic double overtime game. This was the last time the Whalers qualified for the playoffs in Hartford.
After this, the coach and general manager were fired. Many players from before this period were traded or left the team.
New Management and Challenges
In 1992, Brian Burke became the new general manager. He hired Paul Holmgren as head coach. They named Pat Verbeek the new captain. The team also got goalie Sean Burke. Young stars like Andrew Cassels and Geoff Sanderson emerged. Future NHL star Michael Nylander also started his career with the Whalers.
The 1992–93 season was a rebuilding year. The Whalers finished with only 58 points and missed the playoffs. In 1993–94, the team drafted defenseman Chris Pronger, who became an NHL star. However, there were problems with management. Brian Burke resigned, and Holmgren took over both coaching and general manager roles. The team continued to struggle with various challenges.
New Owners and Final Seasons
In 1994, Peter Karmanos and his partners bought the Whalers. Jim Rutherford became the new general manager. The new owners wanted to make the team a winner. They signed new players and drafted Jeff O'Neill. They also traded for defenseman Glen Wesley.
Despite these changes, the Whalers started the 1994–95 season poorly. They improved later but missed the playoffs. Before the 1995–96 season, Chris Pronger was traded for Brendan Shanahan. Shanahan was not happy playing in Hartford. He was made captain but later traded. Paul Maurice became the new head coach. The team also got back popular player Kevin Dineen.
Before the 1996–97 season, Brendan Shanahan demanded a trade. He said he didn't want to play in a small market. He was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. Kevin Dineen became the new captain. The Whalers started the season well. But they had losing streaks in January and March. They missed the playoffs in their final week.
Leaving Hartford: The Final Move
Owner Peter Karmanos had promised to keep the Whalers in Hartford for four years. But after two years, he was unhappy with low attendance. He said he would move the team if they didn't sell enough season tickets.
Fans started a "Save the Whale" campaign. They sold many season tickets, even with higher prices. This helped the team stay in Connecticut through 1997.
However, talks with Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland about building a new arena fell apart. Karmanos wanted more money to cover losses during construction. The Whalers announced they would leave Hartford after the 1996–97 season. This was unusual because they didn't have a new city lined up yet. Karmanos had considered Norfolk, Virginia, but those plans didn't work out.
After the Whalers Left
On April 13, 1997, the Whalers played their last game in Hartford. They beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2–1. Captain Kevin Dineen scored the final goal in Whalers history.
On May 6, 1997, Karmanos announced the team would move to Raleigh, North Carolina. They became the Carolina Hurricanes. They played in Greensboro Coliseum for two seasons while their new arena was built.
The American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Binghamton Rangers, moved to Hartford in 1997. They became the Hartford Wolf Pack. For a few years, they were called the Connecticut Whale and used the old Whalers colors. But they later changed back to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Glen Wesley was the last player active with the Hartford/Carolina franchise. He retired in 2008. Craig Adams was the last player drafted by the Whalers. Goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere was the final former Hartford Whalers player still playing in the NHL.
Hurricanes' Whalers Tribute
In recent years, the Carolina Hurricanes have honored their past. In 2018, they announced they would wear Hartford Whalers throwback uniforms. They wore them for games against the Boston Bruins. This was a way to recognize the team's history. The Hurricanes have worn the Whalers uniforms several times since then.
Adidas also created "Reverse Retro" Whalers uniforms in 2021. These silver jerseys combined designs from both Whalers eras.
"Brass Bonanza" Theme Song
The Whalers had a special theme song called "Brass Bonanza." It was composed by Jacques Ysaye. The song was very popular with the team and fans. It played when the Whalers warmed up and after they scored a goal. It started in the mid-1970s when they were still the New England Whalers.
In 1992, the general manager stopped using the song. He said some players were embarrassed by it. But "Brass Bonanza" was brought back quickly after he left.
The song is still popular in Hartford today. It's played at XL Center events, including Hartford Wolf Pack games. The city's minor-league baseball team, the Hartford Yard Goats, plays it when they hit a home run. Many other teams and bands in Connecticut also play the song. The Carolina Hurricanes even play it during special "heritage night" games.
"Pucky The Whale" Mascot
The Whalers' official mascot was named "Pucky The Whale." He was a green whale. Pucky was also a secondary logo for the team. He appeared on the shoulders of their jerseys from the 1970s to the mid-1980s.
In the 2010s, a new Pucky mascot costume appeared. This was when the Hartford Wolf Pack briefly changed their name to the Connecticut Whale. Pucky still makes appearances around Connecticut.
Season-by-Season Records
Here are the Hartford Whalers' season records.
WHA – New England Whalers
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1972–73 | 78 | 46 | 30 | 2 | 94 | 318 | 263 | 858 | first, Eastern | Won Quarter-final (Nationals) Won Semi-final (Crusaders) Won Final (Jets) |
| 1973–74 | 78 | 43 | 31 | 4 | 90 | 291 | 260 | 875 | first, Eastern | Lost Quarter-final (Cougars) |
| 1974–75 | 78 | 43 | 30 | 5 | 91 | 274 | 279 | 867 | first, Eastern | Lost Quarter-final (Fighting Saints) |
| 1975–76 | 80 | 33 | 40 | 7 | 73 | 255 | 290 | 1012 | third, Eastern | Won Preliminary (Crusaders) Won Quarter-final (Racers) Lost Semi-final (Aeros) |
| 1976–77 | 81 | 35 | 40 | 6 | 76 | 275 | 290 | 1254 | fourth, Eastern | Lost Quarter-final (Nordiques) |
| 1977–78 | 80 | 44 | 31 | 5 | 93 | 335 | 269 | 1255 | second, WHA | Won Quarter-final (Oilers) Won Semi-final (Nordiques) Lost Final (Jets) |
| 1978–79 | 80 | 37 | 34 | 9 | 83 | 298 | 287 | 1090 | fourth, WHA | Won Quarter-final (Stingers) Lost Semi-final (Oilers) |
| WHA totals | 555 | 281 | 236 | 38 | 600 | 2,046 | 1,938 | 7,211 |
NHL – Hartford Whalers
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1979–80 | 80 | 27 | 34 | 19 | 73 | 303 | 312 | 875 | fourth, Norris | Lost Preliminary (Canadiens) |
| 1980–81 | 80 | 21 | 41 | 18 | 60 | 292 | 372 | 1584 | fourth, Norris | Did not qualify |
| 1981–82 | 80 | 21 | 41 | 18 | 60 | 264 | 351 | 1493 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1982–83 | 80 | 19 | 54 | 7 | 45 | 261 | 403 | 1392 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1983–84 | 80 | 28 | 42 | 10 | 66 | 288 | 320 | 1184 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1984–85 | 80 | 30 | 41 | 9 | 69 | 268 | 318 | 1606 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1985–86 | 80 | 40 | 36 | 4 | 84 | 332 | 302 | 1759 | fourth, Adams | Won Adams Semifinal (Nordiques) Lost Adams Final (Canadiens) |
| 1986–87 | 80 | 43 | 30 | 7 | 93 | 287 | 270 | 1496 | first, Adams | Lost Adams Semifinal (Nordiques) |
| 1987–88 | 80 | 35 | 38 | 7 | 77 | 249 | 267 | 2046 | fourth, Adams | Lost Adams Semifinal (Canadiens) |
| 1988–89 | 80 | 37 | 38 | 5 | 79 | 299 | 290 | 1672 | fourth, Adams | Lost Adams Semifinal (Canadiens) |
| 1989–90 | 80 | 38 | 33 | 9 | 85 | 275 | 268 | 2102 | fourth, Adams | Lost Adams Semifinal (Bruins) |
| 1990–91 | 80 | 31 | 38 | 11 | 73 | 238 | 276 | 2209 | fourth, Adams | Lost Adams Semifinal (Bruins) |
| 1991–92 | 80 | 26 | 41 | 13 | 65 | 247 | 283 | 1793 | fourth, Adams | Lost Adams Semifinal (Canadiens) |
| 1992–93 | 84 | 26 | 52 | 6 | 58 | 284 | 369 | 2354 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1993–94 | 84 | 27 | 48 | 9 | 63 | 227 | 288 | 1809 | sixth, Northeast | Did not qualify |
| 1994–951 | 48 | 19 | 24 | 5 | 43 | 127 | 141 | 915 | fifth, Northeast | Did not qualify |
| 1995–96 | 82 | 34 | 39 | 9 | 77 | 237 | 259 | 1834 | fourth, Northeast | Did not qualify |
| 1996–97 | 82 | 32 | 39 | 11 | 75 | 226 | 256 | 1513 | fifth, Northeast | Did not qualify |
| NHL totals | 1,420 | 534 | 709 | 177 | 1,245 | 4,704 | 5,345 | 29,636 | ||
| Grand total | 1,975 | 815 | 945 | 215 | 1,845 | 6,750 | 7,283 | 36,847 |
Notes:
- 1 Season was shortened due to the 1994–95 NHL lockout
Notable Players and Records
Hall of Famers
These players and builders connected to the Whalers are in the Hockey Hall of Fame:
- Players
- Paul Coffey, 1996, inducted 2004
- Ron Francis, 1981–1991, inducted 2007
- Gordie Howe, 1977–1980, inducted 1972
- Mark Howe, 1977–1982, inducted 2011
- Bobby Hull, 1980, inducted 1983
- Dave Keon, 1976–1982, inducted 1986
- Chris Pronger, 1993–1995, inducted 2015
- Brendan Shanahan, 1995–1996, inducted 2013
- Builders
- Emile Francis, 1983–1989, inducted 1982
Team Captains
Here are the players who served as captain for the Whalers (both WHA and NHL):
- Ted Green, 1972–1975
- Rick Ley, 1975–1980
- Mike Rogers, 1980–1981
- Dave Keon, 1981–1982
- Russ Anderson, 1982–1983
- Mark Johnson, 1983–1985
- Ron Francis, 1985–1990
- Randy Ladouceur, 1991–1992
- Pat Verbeek, 1992–1995
- Brendan Shanahan, 1995–1996
- Kevin Dineen, 1996–1997
Retired Numbers
The Whalers retired these numbers to honor special players:
| Hartford Whalers retired numbers | ||||
| No. | Player | Position | Tenure | No. Retirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Rick Ley | D | 1972–1981 | December 26, 1982 |
| 9 | Gordie Howe | RW | 1977–1980 | February 18, 1981 |
| 19 | John McKenzie | RW | 1977–1979 | February 27, 1980 |
It's interesting that John McKenzie's number 19 was retired. He never played for the team when it was in the NHL. This is rare in NHL history.
After the team moved, the Hurricanes brought numbers 2 and 19 back into use. However, Glen Wesley's number 2 was later re-retired by the Hurricanes. Gordie Howe's number 9 remains retired by the Hurricanes.
First Round Draft Picks (NHL)
Here are the players the Whalers picked in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft:
- 1979: Ray Allison (18th overall)
- 1980: Fred Arthur (8th overall)
- 1981: Ron Francis (4th overall)
- 1982: Paul Lawless (14th overall)
- 1983: Sylvain Turgeon (2nd overall)
- 1984: Sylvain Cote (11th overall)
- 1985: Dana Murzyn (5th overall)
- 1986: Scott Young (11th overall)
- 1987: Jody Hull (18th overall)
- 1988: Chris Govedaris (11th overall)
- 1989: Bobby Holik (10th overall)
- 1990: Mark Greig (15th overall)
- 1991: Patrick Poulin (9th overall)
- 1992: Robert Petrovicky (9th overall)
- 1993: Chris Pronger (2nd overall)
- 1994: Jeff O'Neill (5th overall)
- 1995: Jean-Sebastien Giguere (13th overall)
- 1996: none
Hartford Whalers Individual Records (NHL)
- Most goals in a season: Blaine Stoughton, 56 (1979–80)
- Most assists in a season: Ron Francis, 69 (1989–90)
- Most points in a season: Mike Rogers, 105 (1979–80/1980–81)
- Most penalty minutes in a season: Torrie Robertson, 358 (1985–86)
- Most points in a season, defenseman: Mark Howe, 80 (1979–80)
- Most points in a season, rookie: Sylvain Turgeon, 72 (1983–84)
- Most wins in a season (goaltender): Mike Liut, 31 (1986–87)
Franchise Scoring Leaders in Hartford
These are the top ten players with the most points in Hartford Whalers history, combining both WHA and NHL totals.
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | P/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Francis | C | 714 | 264 | 557 | 821 | 1.14 |
| Kevin Dineen | RW | 587 | 235 | 268 | 503 | 0.85 |
| Mike Rogers | C | 434 | 182 | 285 | 467 | 1.08 |
| Tom Webster | RW | 352 | 220 | 205 | 425 | 1.21 |
| Pat Verbeek | RW | 433 | 192 | 211 | 403 | 0.93 |
| Mark Howe | LW/D | 360 | 123 | 273 | 396 | 1.10 |
| Blaine Stoughton | RW | 393 | 228 | 161 | 389 | 0.99 |
| Larry Pleau | RW | 468 | 157 | 215 | 372 | .79 |
| Geoff Sanderson | LW | 439 | 189 | 163 | 352 | .80 |
| Ray Ferraro | C | 442 | 157 | 194 | 351 | .79 |
Career Leaders (WHA, 1972–1979)
- Games: Rick Ley, 478
- Goals: Tom Webster, 220
- Assists: Larry Pleau, 215
- Points: Tom Webster, 425
- Penalty minutes: Rick Ley, 716
- Goaltender wins: Al Smith, 141
Career Leaders (NHL, 1979–1997)
- Games: Ron Francis, 714
- Goals: Ron Francis, 264
- Assists: Ron Francis, 557
- Points: Ron Francis, 821
- Penalty minutes: Torrie Robertson, 1,368
- Goaltender games: Sean Burke, 256
- Goaltender wins: Mike Liut, 115
- Shutouts: Mike Liut, 13
Images for kids
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Whaler banners hanging from the Hartford Civic Center rafters in 2007. The numbers 2, 9 and 19 were retired while the team was still in Hartford and honor Rick Ley, Gordie Howe and John McKenzie, respectively. In 2006, the numbers 5, 10 and 11 were added by Hartford Wolf Pack management in honor of Ulf Samuelsson, Ron Francis and Kevin Dineen, respectively. These are joined by a banner commemorating the Whalers' only divisional title and a New England Whalers championship banner.
