The World
Hockey Association existed for just seven years in the 1970’s. Most years,
they ran an amateur draft alongside that of the National Hockey League. Often,
the results of the drafts in each league were quite similar and the prospects
had the option to choose between the two professional hockey leagues. The NHL
was stable and the WHA was a risky venture that offered a chance to make a
whole lot of money or lose everything.
Test and expand your knowledge of hockey trivia with these
four questions based on the WHA’s Amateur Draft.
Q. In 1973, the first overall draft pick at the WHA Amateur Draft opted
to play for what NHL team?
A. Bob Neely was
selected first overall in the 1973, WHA Amateur draft but decided to sign with
the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs chose Neely tenth overall in the 1973
NHL Entry Draft. Bob went on to play 283 regular season games in the NHL,
scoring 39 goals and assisting on 59 for 98 points. He played an additional 26
games in the Stanley Cup playoffs, adding 12 points.
Neely played pro hockey from 1973-74 to 1979-80 in the NHL,
CHL and AHL. Typically, a player will go from being an offensive star in junior
to a role player and even enforcer in the NHL. Bob is an odd case study where
that went nearly in reverse.
With the Roger Neilson coached Peterborough Petes of the OHL
in 1972-73, Neely led the league with 304 penalty minutes over 55 regular
season games. However, he also scored 24 and totalled 76 points. With the
Toronto Maple Leafs in 1976-77, he wasn’t exactly a powerhouse but his 17 goals
and 33 points over 70 games were decent numbers for that time in NHL history.
However, his penalty minute totals were certainly eye-catching at just 16 PIM.
Q. Bob Neely was a draft pick of what World Hockey Association team?
A. The Chicago
Cougars selected Bob Neely. The Cougars were an original WHA team that played
three seasons before folding. Their greatest success came in their second
season when they lost in the Avco Cup finals to the Houston Aeros.
Q. What first overall pick in 1974 played one season in the WHA then
moved to the NHL where he had a 700+ regular season game career?
A. Pat Price was
selected first overall by the Vancouver Blazers. Price played one full season
with the Blazers then went on to play for the New York Islanders, Edmonton
Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Quebec Nordiques, New York Rangers and Minnesota
North Stars.
In 1975, Pat was the eleventh overall pick at the NHL Amateur
Draft by the Islanders after four years of junior with the Saskatoon Blades.
The defenseman topped out with eleven goals as a member of the Edmonton Oilers
in 1979-80, the team’s first year in the NHL. Price retired after playing just
14 games with the North Stars in 1987-88.
Q. Who was the last first overall pick in the WHA Entry Draft?
A. Scott Campbell
was taken first overall by the Houston Aeros in 1977. The league would continue
for one more season but did not have a draft before that last season. Campbell
played a year for the Aeros then moved on to the Winnipeg Jets.
Scott was also taken ninth overall by the St. Louis Blues at
the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft. He would play three games with St. Louis but not
until 1981-82. After three years of junior with the London Knights of the
Ontario Hockey League, Campbell played pro from 1977-78 to 1981-82 in the WHA,
NHL and CHL.
