Birmingham Bulls

The Birmingham Bulls were an ice hockey team from Birmingham, Alabama, which until 1981 was active from 1976 to 1979 in the North American World Hockey Association (WHA ), and from 1979 in the Central Hockey League. The franchise was originally founded in 1972 in Ottawa and was called the Ottawa Nationals. After a year, the team moved to Toronto, where he played three years as a Toronto Toros.

History

The owner John F. Bassett had chosen a location with Birmingham, who had not had contact with the great hockey in the past. Nearly 8,500 spectators on average showed that they had chosen the right location. The team played at the Birmingham - Jefferson Civic Center, which offered 16 753 spectators. After the bull that had the Toros as an emblem, was suitable for use in the Bulls, related to the old jerseys from Toronto.

In team were with Frank Mahovlich and Václav Nedomansky the two top stars of the pre-season from Toronto. Best scorer was Mark Napier who had moved with the Toros. The team that was severely disappointed in the preseason in Toronto, played better in the first season in Alabama, but this was not enough for a playoff participation.

In the second season of 1977/78 could keep the average attendance and almost reached the playoffs for the first time. The team was nicknamed Baby Bulls, as you increasingly on young talented players sat, which were not eligible to play in the NHL. Among them were Ken Linseman and Rod Langway, who would eventually evolve into one of the strongest NHL defenseman. You had to cope with the departure of Václav Nedomansky, who moved to the Detroit Red Wings in the NHL early in the season. Leading the Bulls were in the penalty time statistics. There occupied four players the Bulls, each with over 240 penalty minutes, the first places. Among Dave Hanson, which was one of the Hanson brothers in the movie Slap Shot. Disappointing for the Bulls was certainly the fact that it is in negotiations with the NHL never an issue was to take the team from Birmingham in the NHL. After the Atlanta Flames did not develop as hoped, another team in the Southeast never played a role in the considerations.

The uncertainty about the continued existence in the summer of 1978 forced the leaders of the trend at a very young player in the 1978/79 season to continue. Goalkeeper Pat Riggin, defenders Rob Ramage and Craig Hartsburg and the attacker Michel Goulet and Rick Vaive were among the Baby Bulls the last WHA season. The team did not reach the playoffs and the WHA was disbanded after the season. Although the team had to move twice in the history of the franchise, it succeeded but the entire time the WHA to survive. With Rob Ramage and Michel Goulet two former players played to the mid -90s in the NHL.

After the WHA had been dissolved in 1979, the Birmingham Bulls were transferred to the Central Hockey League, in which they spent two more years before they set following the 1980/81 season playing mode permanently. The gap left by the team in the city, was filled by the Birmingham South Stars, who also played in the CHL. In the 1983/84 season an eponymous team in the game operation of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League participated.

Known player

• Michel Goulet
• Rod Langway
• Frank Mahovlich
• Václav Nedomansky
• Rob Ramage

Game times: 1972/73 | 1973/74 | 1974/75 | 1975/76 | 1976/77 | 1977/78 | 1978/79

Franchises: Alberta Oilers (1972-1973), Edmonton Oilers (1973-1979) | Chicago Cougars (1972-1975) | Cincinnati Stingers (1975-1979) | Cleveland Crusaders (1972-1976) | Denver Spurs (1975 ), Ottawa Civics (1976 ) | Houston Aeros (1972-1978) | Indianapolis Racers (1974-1979) | Los Angeles Sharks (1972-1974), Michigan Stags (1974-1975), Baltimore Blades ( 1975) | Minnesota Fighting Saints ( 1972-1977 ) | New England Whalers (1972-1979) | New York Raiders (1972-1973), New York Golden Blades ( 1973), Jersey Knights ( 1973-1974 ), San Diego Mariners ( 1974-1977 ) | Ottawa Nationals ( 1972-1973 ), Toronto Toros (1973-1976), Birmingham Bulls (1976-1979) | Philadelphia Blazers (1972-1973), Vancouver Blazers (1973-1975), Calgary Cowboys (1975-1977) | Phoenix Roadrunners (1974-1977) | Quebec Nordiques (1972-1979) | Winnipeg Jets (1972-1979)

Albuquerque Six Guns | Amarillo Wranglers | Birmingham Bulls | Birmingham South Stars | Cincinnati Stingers | Cincinnati Tigers | Cincinnati Wings | Colorado Flames | Dallas Blackhawks | Denver Spurs | Fort Worth Texans | Fort Worth Wings | Houston Apollos | Indianapolis Capitals | Indianapolis Checkers | Iowa Stars | Kansas City Blues | Kansas City Red Wings | Memphis South Stars | Memphis Wings | Minneapolis Bruins | Minnesota Rangers | Montana Magic | Nashville South Stars | Oklahoma City Blazers | Oklahoma City Stars | Omaha Knights | Phoenix Roadrunners | St. Louis Braves | St. Paul Rangers | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | Seattle Totems | Tucson Mavericks | Tulsa Oilers | Wichita Wind

• Hockey Association (World Hockey Association )
• Hockey Club ( Central Hockey League, 1963-1984 )
• Sport ( Alabama)
• Birmingham ( Alabama)