Ottawa Nationals
Encyclopedia
The Ottawa Nationals were a professional men's ice hockey
team based out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
that played in the World Hockey Association
(WHA) during the 1972–73 WHA season.
The WHA had originally announced a franchise to Doug Michel for "Ontario." Original plans called for the team to play at Maple Leaf Gardens
in Toronto
. However, Michel couldn't get a suitable lease for the Gardens. Afterward, there was some expectation that Hamilton
would be the team's home, but the franchise was eventually placed in Ottawa. Nick Trbovich became majority owner before the season began, with Michel running hockey operations.
The Nationals were coached by Billy Harris and led on the ice by Wayne Carleton
, who scored 42 goals and 92 points during the season.
Their home ice was the Ottawa Civic Centre
, but the team was a flop at the box office, averaging about 3,000 fans per game. Before the season ended, the City of Ottawa demanded a payment of $100,000 to secure dates for the following season. Rather than agree to this demand, the Nationals opted to move elsewhere for the next season and play its playoff dates in Toronto. During this playoff series, the team was referred to as the Ontario Nationals. After the end of the season, the team was sold to John F. Bassett and permanently moved to Toronto as the Toronto Toros
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
that played in the 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...
(WHA) during the 1972–73 WHA season.
The WHA had originally announced a franchise to Doug Michel for "Ontario." Original plans called for the team to play at Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens
Maple Leaf Gardens is an indoor arena that was converted into a Loblawssupermarket and Ryerson University athletic centre in Toronto, on the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto's Garden District.One of the temples of hockey, it was home to the Toronto Maple Leafs of the...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. However, Michel couldn't get a suitable lease for the Gardens. Afterward, there was some expectation that Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
would be the team's home, but the franchise was eventually placed in Ottawa. Nick Trbovich became majority owner before the season began, with Michel running hockey operations.
The Nationals were coached by Billy Harris and led on the ice by Wayne Carleton
Wayne Carleton
Kenneth Wayne "Swoop" Carleton is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward.Carleton started his National Hockey League career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He would also play with the Boston Bruins and California Golden Seals. His career would last from 1966 to 1972...
, who scored 42 goals and 92 points during the season.
Their home ice was the Ottawa Civic Centre
Ottawa Civic Centre
The Ottawa Civic Centre, also known as the J. Benson Cartage Centre for 2011–2012, is an indoor arena located in Ottawa, Ontario, seating 9,862. With temporary seating and standing room it can hold 10,585. Opened in December 1967, it is used primarily for sports, including curling, figure skating,...
, but the team was a flop at the box office, averaging about 3,000 fans per game. Before the season ended, the City of Ottawa demanded a payment of $100,000 to secure dates for the following season. Rather than agree to this demand, the Nationals opted to move elsewhere for the next season and play its playoff dates in Toronto. During this playoff series, the team was referred to as the Ontario Nationals. After the end of the season, the team was sold to John F. Bassett and permanently moved to Toronto as the Toronto Toros
Toronto Toros
The Toronto Toros were an ice hockey team based in Toronto that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973 to 1976.The franchise was awarded to Doug Michel in 1971 to play in the WHA's inaugural 1972–73 season...
.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1972–73 1972–73 Ottawa Nationals season The 1972–73 Ottawa Nationals season was the Nationals' only season, as they were one of the original teams in the newly created WHA. The Nationals played most of the season in Ottawa, but transferred their playoff games to Toronto... |
78 | 35 | 39 | 4 | 74 | 279 | 301 | 1067 | 4th, Eastern | Lost Quarter-final to New England Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97... |
See also
- Ice hockey in OttawaIce hockey in OttawaOttawa ice hockey clubs date back to the first decade of recorded organized ice hockey play. The men's senior-level Ottawa Hockey Club is known to have played in a Canadian championship in 1884...
- List of ice hockey teams in Ontario