The Calgary Broncos were an original World Hockey Association

World Hockey Association

The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...

 franchise founded November 1, 1971. In the first WHA draft, the Broncos chose: Barry Gibbs

Barry Gibbs

Barry "Gibby" Gibbs is a former professional ice hockey defenceman.-Playing career:...

, Jim Harrison

Jim Harrison (ice hockey)

James David Harrison is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 324 games in the National Hockey League and 232 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Cleveland Crusaders, and Chicago Black Hawks.-External links:...

, Dale Hoganson

Dale Hoganson

Dale Gordon Hoganson is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 344 games in the National Hockey League and 378 games in the World Hockey Association. He played for the Los Angeles Kings, Montreal Canadiens, Quebec Nordiques, and Birmingham Bulls...

 and Jack Norris

Jack Norris

John Wayne "Jack" Norris is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. Although never drafted, Norris went on to play parts of four seasons in the NHL, along with another four seasons in the WHA. He broke into the NHL in the 1964–65 season, playing 23 games as the backup to Eddie Johnston, but...

. The team folded prior to the start of the first WHA season when team owner Bob Brownridge died. Their spot in the league was taken by the Cleveland Crusaders

Cleveland Crusaders

The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland, Ohio. The Crusaders were founded by Nick Mileti, and played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1976...

.

The Broncos were established in anticipation of an Alberta rivalry

Battle of Alberta

The Battle of Alberta is a term applied to the intense rivalry between the Canadian cities of Edmonton, the capital of the province of Alberta, and Calgary, the province's largest city...

 between the Broncos and the Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....

. After the team folded, the Edmonton Oilers were renamed Alberta Oilers with the intention of splitting their home games between Calgary and Edmonton. The Oilers ultimately did not play any home games in Calgary however, and were reverted back to the name "Edmonton Oilers" after one season.

Calgary later joined the WHA in 1975 when the Vancouver Blazers

Vancouver Blazers

The Vancouver Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973-75. The Blazers played at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, sharing the facility with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. The Blazers were owned by...

 relocated to become the Calgary Cowboys

Calgary Cowboys

The Calgary Cowboys were an ice hockey team that played two seasons in the World Hockey Association from 1975–1977. The Cowboys played at the Stampede Corral in Calgary. The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles, though it never played a game in Miami...

.