August 9, 1977 – The National Hockey League voted to refuse a merger of six World Hockey Association franchises. The NHL President John Ziegler reported that the NHL owners at the time rejected an offer to expand the League by absorbing 6 teams from the WHA.
These 6 squads were the Edmonton Oilers, New England Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, Cincinnati Stingers, Houston Aeros, and the Winnipeg Jets. Almost a year later the NHL decided to accept the merger on June 22, 1979, thus ending the existence of the WHA.
To find more great daily sports history make sure to check out the Sports Jersey Dispatch and Pigskin Dispatch.
More From Sports History Network
Every Ball Can Change the Odds: Why Cricket Is Built for Live Betting
A sport where the game can change 240 times in a match Six months

Seahawks Remain the NFC West’s Measuring Stick After Wild Openers to 2026 Season
Melbourne Cricket Ground, the site of the Rams’ Week 1 stunner – Source: Unsplash

What Actually Makes a FUT Card a Smart Long-Term Hold
EA Sports FC 27 is a football video game, and its most popular mode,

5 Best Places to Buy a Golf Simulator: A Complete Buyer’s Guide
Photo by Mariah Hewines on Unsplash Golf simulators are a serious investment, and there’s

Ontario’s Long History of Betting on Its Own Games
Ontario’s long history of betting on its own games. Long before anyone in Ontario

Chuck Bednarik: The Legacy of NFL’s Last Two-Way Player
Just say the name Chuck Bednarik (bed-nare-ick) and you can be certain you’re not talking

Mark Morthier’s Favorite Sport Cards (1972 – 1989)
Although I was never a big hockey fan, I would consider myself a NY

NFL Over/Under Lines: What Past Scoring Trends Could Mean for 2026
NFL scoring patterns rarely stay the same from one season to the next. Offensive