After CBS lost the American television rights of the National Hockey League to NBC following the 1971-72 season (CBS was paying less than $2 million a year and NBC jumped to $5.3 million[1]), the network covered the inaugural season of the World Hockey Association.[2] The WHA's TV deal[3] permitted it to sell week‐night games to other networks (CBS meanwhile, would show games on Sunday afternoons in addition the all-star game and playoffs[4]). In addition, the WHA also sold a $3‐million package to Canada. On January 7, 1973, CBS aired its first WHA game between the Minnesota Fighting Saints and Winnipeg Jets live from the new St. Paul Civic Center with Ron Oakes, Gerry Cheevers and Dick Stockton announcing.
Local broadcasters[]
Team | Radio station | Radio announcers | Television station | Television announcers |
Baltimore Blades | WCBM | WMAR | ||
Birmingham Bulls | WAPI | Eli Gold | WBRC | |
Calgary Cowboys | CFAC | Eric Bishop | CFAC | |
Chicago Cougars | WTAQ | Howard Balson, Bud Kelly | WSNS | Brad Palmer (1972–73),[5] Red Rush(1973–75),[6] and Bobby Hull[7] |
Cincinnati Stingers | WKRC | Andy MacWilliams[8] | WXIX | |
Cleveland Crusaders | WWWE | Steve Albert (1972-75) and Lee Hamilton (1975-76) | WUAB | |
Denver Spurs | KLZ | KOA | ||
Edmonton Oilers | CJCA | Bryan Hall[9] and Rod Phillips | CFRN | Al McCann[10] and Bruce MacGregor |
Houston Aeros | KIKK | KHTV | Jerry Trupiano and Jack Stanfield[11] | |
Indianapolis Racers | WNDE | Bob Lamey[12] | WLWI | |
Los Angeles Sharks | KNX | KTTV | ||
Michigan Stags | WWJ | Gary Morrel and Norm Plummer | WXON | Vince Doyle and Marty Pavelich |
Minnesota Fighting Saints | WLOL | Frank Buetel, Roger Buxton, Bill Allard, and Bob Halvorson | WTCN | Frank Buetel and Roger Buxton |
New England Whalers | WHDH WTIC |
Dave Martin, John Moynihan, Bill Rasmussen, Ron Ryan, Bob Neumeier, Dennis Randall, and John Hewig | WKBG[13][14] WFSB Connecticut Public Television[15] |
John Carlson, Tim Horgan, Stan Fischler, Shirley Fischler, |Bob Neumeier, Bill Rasmussen, Dennis Randall, and John Hewig |
New York Golden Blades | WMCA | John Sterling and Fritz Peterson[16] | WNEW | |
Ottawa Civics Ottawa Nationals |
CKOY | TVOntario | ||
Philadelphia Blazers | WIBG (Vancouver Blazers) (CJJC)[17] | WKBS | ||
Phoenix Roadrunners | KOY | Al McCoy[18] | KPHO | |
San Diego Mariners | KOGO | Roy Storey | KCST | |
Toronto Toros | CFRB | William Stephenson[19] | CKGN | |
Winnipeg Jets | CJOB[20] | Ken Nicholson and Don Wittman | Don Wittman[21] |
Notes[]
- The Michigan Stags' radio station was WWJ 950. Gary Morrel was play-by-play announcer while Norm Plummer handled color commentary. (At least one broadcast had only two sponsors mentioned: Nolwood Chemical, a company owned by the Stags' owners, and the Stags themselves.) Michigan played just one game on local television: the season opener against the Indianapolis Racers, broadcast live from Indianapolis on WXON Channel 20. Detroit radio icon Vince Doyle called play-by-play and former Red Wing Marty Pavelich was the color commentator. The Stags won the game, 4-2, but few saw it; the Stags were up against game five of the 1974 World Series. Eight other games were scheduled to be televised but money became a problem by mid-November, especially after Michigan lost 11 of their next 12 following their season-opening win.
- Games of the original Minnesota Fighting Saints were heard on WLOL Radio (1330 AM) from 1972 to 1976, with Frank Buetel as play-by-play announcer. Buetel was the original TV voice of the NHL's Minnesota North Stars from 1967 to 1970 on WTCN-TV (now KARE-TV). Buetel's color commentators included Roger Buxton and Bob Halvorson, the Saints' first-season public relations director (1972–73), and Bill Allard (1973–76). Al Hirt's version of "When the Saints Go Marching In" was used as the theme song for WLOL's Fighting Saints broadcasts. No local radio station carried games of the New Fighting Saints (1976–77). Fighting Saints games were televised sporadically on WTCN from 1973 to 1975. The first WTCN game was a home contest versus Cleveland on December 23, 1973, with Buetel and Allard simulcasting. Buxton called subsequent games on WTCN. In the 1973–74 season, one Saints home game was carried on KTCA-TV (PBS). No local TV station aired games of the New Fighting Saints.
See also[]
- List of Edmonton Oilers broadcasters
- List of Hartford Whalers broadcasters
- Quebec Nordiques#Broadcasters
- List of Winnipeg Jets broadcasters
References[]
- ↑ Craig, Jack. "NHL finds NBC coverage more to its liking".
- ↑ Jonathan Lucas (2007). First, Fourth and Last. Trafford Publishing, 60. ISBN 9781425111311.
- ↑ Eskenazi, Gerald. "Raiders Win, 7‐6", The New York Times, October 27, 1972.
- ↑ Looking Back At The WHA (November 21, 2005).
- ↑ About The Professor.
- ↑ Red Rush passes away (January 15, 2009).
- ↑ WHA: Dec.17/1972 Chicago Cougars - Minnesota Fighting Saints at YouTube
- ↑ REMEMBERING THE CINCINNATI STINGERS HOCKEY TEAM (November 8, 2018).
- ↑ Gaschnitz, K. Michael (11 September 2015). The Edmonton Oilers, 266. ISBN 9780786455461.
- ↑ 1979 Avco Cup Edmonton vs Winnipeg Bobby Hull and Wayne Gretzky interviews at YouTube
- ↑ 1978.04.04.WHA WinnipegJets- Houston Aeros at YouTube
- ↑ WIBC Hockey Bob Lamey Indianapolis Racers at YouTube
- ↑ "Whalers Rule Out Home Playoff TV", The Day, April 4, 1973.
- ↑ team was located in Boston at the time
- ↑ Bob Strecker. "Whalers hockey goes on Channel 53", The Day, November 1, 1975.
- ↑ New York Raiders Memories.
- ↑ Vancouver Broadcasters, NorthWest Broadcasters, BC Radio History, Gary Rable did Colour with Ron Oakes PXP
- ↑ Cluff, Jeremy. "Legendary Phoenix Suns broadcaster Al McCoy returning for 48th season with team in 2019", The Arizona Republic.
- ↑ Csillag, Ron. "William (Bill) Stephenson: Broadcaster was voice of CFRB sports for four decades", The Globe and Mail, August 3, 2014.
- ↑ "Wittman, Don", Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame.
- ↑ 1977-05-26 Gm 7 coupe AVCO nordiques-jets at YouTube
NHL on CBS | |||||||
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Related programs | CBS Sports Spectacular - NHL on RKO General - Olympics on CBS - WHA on CBS | ||||||
Related articles | History of the NHL on US TV )1950s - 1960s - 1970s - 1980s - Stanley Cup Finals television ratings) | ||||||
Commentators | All-Star Game - Stanley Cup playoffs (Original Six era) - Stanley Cup Finals - American television | ||||||
Current figures |
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Stanley Cup Finals | 1967 (Games 2, 5) - 1968 (Games 1, 4) - 1969 (Games 1, 4) - 1970 (Games 1, 4) - 1971 - (Games 3, 6, 7) - 1972 (Games 1, 4, 6) - 1980 (Game 6) | ||||||
All-Star Game | 1970 - 1971 - 1972 - 1979 (Challenge Cup) (Game 2, third period only) | ||||||
Lore | 1967 NHL expansion - Super Series '76 (Soviet Wings/Buffalo Sabres)
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