I've been holding onto this puck since 1975. It was given to me from an usher when my Dad took me to a Toros game. The puck is symbolic of the hockey history in Ontario. The team started in 1972 as the WHA Ottawa Nationals for the regular season but ended up in Maple Leaf Gardens for their home ice during the playoffs due to the costs imposed by the City of Ottawa to play at the Civic Centre. The team was known as the Ontario Nationals until it was sold to John F. Bassett in 1973 and renamed the Toronto Toros.
The team bounced between Varsity Arena and Maple Leaf Gardens from 1973 to 1976 due to different controlling interests between Harold Ballard and his son Bill. The cost of playing at Maple Leafs Gardens was too high so Bassett moved the team to Birmingham, Alabama in 1976. The team was renamed the Birmingham Bulls and would remain there until the WHA folded in 1979.
Some notable names include Steve Atkinson, Bob Baun (coach), Les Binkley, Carl Brewer, Wayne Carleton, Brian Conacher, Jim Dorey, John Garrett, Billy Harris (coach), Paul Henderson, Pat Hickey, Frank Mahovlich, Mark Napier, Vaclav Nedomansky, Brit Selby
- Dean Sprung
Digital NFTs of this puck are available for your collection.