The Calgary Broncos were an original

World Hockey Association The World Hockey Association () was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972–73 WHA season, 1972 to 1978–79 WHA season, 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (N ...

franchise, founded November 1, 1971. In the first WHA draft, the Broncos chose Barry Gibbs, Jim Harrison, Dale Hoganson and Jack Norris. The team participated in the February 1972 WHA General Player Draft, but folded prior to the October 1972 start of the first WHA season when team owner Bob Brownridge died. The franchise license was sold to businesspeople in Ohio, who founded the

Cleveland Crusaders The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–73 WHA season, 1972 to 1975–76 WHA season, 1976. Their home ice was the Cleveland Arena from 1972 to 1974, and t ...

, which played on the opening night of that inaugural WHA season. The Broncos were established in anticipation of an Alberta rivalry with the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

. After the team moved, the Edmonton Oilers were renamed Alberta Oilers with the intention of splitting their home games between Calgary and

Edmonton Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

. The Oilers ultimately did not play any home games in Calgary, and reverted to the name "Edmonton Oilers" after one season. Calgary later joined the WHA in 1975 when the

Vancouver Blazers The Vancouver Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973 to 1975. The Blazers played at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, sharing the facility with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hocke ...

relocated to become the

Calgary Cowboys The Calgary Cowboys were an ice hockey team that played two seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1975 to 1977. The Cowboys played at the Stampede Corral in Calgary. The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles ...

References

{{WHA Ice hockey teams in Alberta Broncos, Calgary World Hockey Association teams Defunct ice hockey teams in Canada Ice hockey clubs established in 1971 1971 establishments in Alberta

See also

References