Description
Book Synopsis: The wildest seven years in the history of hockey The Rebel League celebrates the good, the bad, and the ugly of the fabled WHA. It is filled with hilarious anecdotes, behind the scenes dealing, and simply great hockey. It tells the story of Bobby Hull's astonishing million-dollar signing, which helped launch the league, and how he lost his toupee in an on-ice scrap. It explains how a team of naked Birmingham Bulls ended up in an arena concourse spoiling for a brawl. How the Oilers had to smuggle fugitive forward Frankie “Seldom” Beaton out of their dressing room in an equipment bag. And how Mark Howe sometimes forgot not to yell “Dad!” when he called for his teammate father, Gordie, to pass.
There’s the making of Slap Shot, that classic of modern cinema, and the making of the virtuoso line of Hull, Anders Hedberg, and Ulf Nilsson. It began as the moneymaking scheme of two California lawyers. They didn’t know much about hockey, but they sure knew how to shake things up. The upstart WHA introduced to the world 27 new hockey franchises, a trail of bounced cheques, fractious lawsuits, and folded teams. It introduced the crackpots, goons, and crazies that are so well remembered as the league’s bizarre legacy.
But the hit-and-miss league was much more than a travelling circus of the weird and wonderful. It was the vanguard that drove hockey into the modern age. It ended the NHL’s monopoly, freed players from the reserve clause, ushered in the 18-year-old draft, moved the game into the Sun Belt, and put European players on the ice in numbers previously unimagined. The rebel league of the WHA gave shining stars their big-league debut and others their swan song, and provided high-octane fuel for some spectacular flameouts. By the end of its seven years, there were just six teams left standing, four of which—the Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, and Hartford Whalers—would wind up in the expanded NHL.
Details
Experience the wildest seven years in the history of hockey with The Rebel League: The Short and Unruly Life of the World Hockey Association. This exhilarating book celebrates the good, the bad, and the ugly of the fabled WHA, filled with hilarious anecdotes and behind-the-scenes dealing. Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions as you dive into the story of Bobby Hull's astonishing million-dollar signing and the hilarious moment he lost his toupee in an on-ice scrap. With simply great hockey and unforgettable moments, this book is a must-read for all sports enthusiasts.
Discover the untold stories that unfolded in this groundbreaking league. Remember the team of naked Birmingham Bulls causing chaos in an arena concourse? How about the Oilers smuggling fugitive forward Frankie "Seldom" Beaton out of their dressing room? These are just a taste of the legends and crazy tales that became the bizarre legacy of the WHA. With its adventurous spirit, this league will keep you entertained like no other.
But the WHA was more than just a traveling circus of the weird and wonderful. It was a vanguard that revolutionized hockey as we know it. By breaking the NHL's monopoly, this rebel league freed players from the reserve clause, introduced the 18-year-old draft, and brought the game to the Sun Belt. It even paved the way for a wave of talented European players to take the ice in unprecedented numbers.
By the end of its seven years, there were only six teams left standing, with four of them ultimately joining the expanded NHL. Don't miss your chance to relive the thrilling moments that shaped the future of hockey. Immerse yourself in the captivating pages of The Rebel League and witness the birth of legendary teams like the Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, and Hartford Whalers.
Get ready to experience the excitement, passion, and drama of the WHA. Embrace its successes and failures, its stars and flameouts. Order your copy of The Rebel League now and discover the fascinating stories that made this rebel league a true game-changer in the modern age of hockey. Get your copy today!
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