Though the new World Hockey Association announced plans for only six cities at a media conference last Wednesday, Winnipeg is still on the league’s radar screen.
The city that lured Bobby Hull from the NHL in the days of the original WHA is a possibility for a team in the new league, of which Hull is now the commissioner.
“It’s probably not likely for this year,” said Peter Young, the president of hockey operations for the WHA. “We’d love to have the city of Winnipeg.”
The new WHA is set to begin play is October with an “original six” cities currently enrolled: Halifax, Quebec City, Detroit, Dallas, Orlando, and Jacksonville, Fla.
Toronto and Hamilton both are currently working out agreements with local arenas. Cincinnati also is a possibility.
Any deal with Winnipeg for a franchise would have to involve negotiations with the Manitoba Moose, who currently play at the old Winnipeg Arena, where the now defunct Winnipeg Jets were housed, but will move to the new MTS Centre when it is completed.
The new league is banking on the NHL and NHLPA not reaching a collective bargaining agreement before the Sept. 15 deadline.
Trevor Linden, current president of the NHLPA, has said publicly he would not be at all surprised if players joined the WHA rather than go to Europe if the NHL does not run next season.
The WHA will hold its first free agent and entry draft July 10. It will play a 76-game schedule starting Oct. 29.
The WHA also has announced a salary cap of $15 million (U.S.) per team and four rule changes: removal of the red line, no-touch icing, touch-up offsides, and three-on-three overtime, followed by a shoot-out if a tie remains.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
