Quebec Nordiques

World Hockey Association (1972-1979)
National Hockey League (1979-1995)

Background

The team that would become the Quebec Nordiques began in 1971 as the San Francisco Sharks, a charter member of the World Hockey Association (WHA), the rebel league established to take on the National Hockey League (NHL). The new league was started by Gary Davidson and Dennis Murphy, the men behind the American Basketball Association (ABA). That league began play in 1967 as a challenger to the established National Basketball Association (NBA). As part of the WHA’s initial set-up, Davidson gave himself the San Francisco franchise. The Sharks, though, never made it to the ice.

It turns out the NHL’s team across the bay, the Oakland Seals, was struggling mightily on the ice and at the ticket window. This gave the WHA brain trust second thoughts about placing a team in San Francisco. Luckily, Davidson and Murphy were able to connect with the group that owned the Quebec Ramparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. On February 11, 1972, the team was sold to Marius Fortier, John Dacres, and Jean-Marc Bruneau, who named the team the Nordiques (Les Nordiques, si vous parlez Francais). Major league hockey had come to Quebec City.

Big League Aspirations

Though it’s just under a three-hour drive from Montreal, Quebec City, like the entire province, had historically been Canadiens’ territory. Going back to 1928, the provincial capital was home to the minor league Quebec Aces. In 1959, they were promoted to minor league hockey’s top circuit, the American Hockey League (AHL). Throughout the 60s, the Aces were quite popular– until they weren’t.  A series of  post-season disappointments led to a severe drop in attendance. The Aces went from a peak of just over 8,000 fans a game during the 1963-64 season to just under 3,000 by the close of the 1970-71 campaign. The Aces’ parent club, the Philadelphia Flyers, announced the team’s relocation to Richmond, Virginia on April 26, 1971.

In spite of this, Quebec City was still seen as a viable hockey market by the WHA. There was only one problem– the ownership group didn’t have any money. After paying Davidson $125,000 for the franchise, the trio was down to just $60,000 with six months to go before the WHA’s inaugural season was set to open. However, things soon fell into place.

Show Us The Money

Bill Hunter, who had co-founded the Western Hockey League (WHL) back in 1952, was brought in by Davidson and Murphy to help get the WHA organized, as neither man knew anything about hockey. Hunter was also awarded the Alberta franchise to be based in Edmonton.

At a WHA league meeting in April 1972, Hunter guaranteed the Nordiques franchise fee. This was odd, as Hunter had less money than the Nordiques owners. Still, that was good enough for former Quebec premier Jean Lesage and noted local businessman Paul Racine. Both soon joined the team’s ownership group.

The first big signing the Nordiques made wasn’t a player but a former player who was hired as the coach. Hockey legend and former Montreal Canadien Maurice “The Rocket” Richard was tapped to lead Quebec City’s first foray into major league hockey.

Let The Games Begin

The Nordiques opened the 1972-73 season against the Cleveland Crusaders in the old Cleveland Arena. The home team won 2-0. The Nordiques bounced back two nights later at their home opener in the Colisee de Quebec before 10,441 fans. That night, they defeated the Alberta Oilers 6-0. An impressive result, to be sure, but not enough to keep Richard behind the bench. He stepped down and was replaced by Maurice Fillion.

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The Nordiques finished the season with a record of 33-40-5, missing the final playoff spot in the WHA’s East Division by three points. They drew just under 7,000 fans for their debut season, near the top in the new league, trailing only the New England Whalers in that department.

The following season, nearly 8,000 fans a game passed through the turnstiles at the Colisee, though the result on the ice was just about the same as the previous season. The Nordiques missed the playoffs again, this time by just a single point. The following season, though, the team got it sorted, finishing first in the division and drawing nearly 9,500 fans a game.

In the first round, the Nordiques eliminated the Phoenix Roadrunners four games to one. In the second round, they dispatched the Minnesota Fighting Saints four games to two and reached the finals. The magic ended there as the powerful Houston Aeros swept the Nordiques in four games.

The next season found the Nordiques exiting in the first round of the playoffs, but with even more fans filing into the Colisee de Quebec. They finally reached the promised land during the 1976-77 post-season, as they defeated the Winnipeg Jets in seven games to capture the Avco World Trophy, the WHA’s championship. It would be the team’s only championship.

Merger/Absorption And Life In The NHL

In the summer of 1979, after several fits and starts over the years, the NHL agreed to merge with, or more accurately, absorb the WHA. Though six teams remained in the rebel league, the NHL agreed to take only four: The New England Whalers, Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, and Quebec. The survivors were considered expansion teams and, as such, were on the hook for $6 million each as part of their acceptance into the NHL.

In their first NHL season, Quebec finished with the league’s second-worst record at 25-44-11. Only the hapless Colorado Rockies fared worse. However, things turned around during the 1980-81 season with the arrival of the Stastny brothers, Peter and Anton, who had recently defected from Czechoslovakia. The duo helped propel the Nordiques to seven straight playoff appearances.

Highlights of that era included the team’s first post-season series win, which came in 1982 against, of all teams, the mighty Montreal Canadiens. In Game 5, the deciding contest, Quebec’s Dale Hunter put the biscuit in the basket 22 seconds into overtime. At first, the goal wasn’t awarded. As Canadiens goalie Rick Wamsley sat on the puck, the referee skated around the net, took a good hard look, and put his hands up to confirm the Nordiques had scored.

In the 1984 playoffs, the two teams were involved in what came to be known as the Good Friday Massacre, or “La Bataille du Vendredi Saint,” to the French-speaking fans. During Game 5 of a second-round match-up, the two teams fought, literally, throughout the game, racking up 252 total penalty minutes and 11 player ejections, including Nordiques stars Peter Stastny and Dale Hunter. The Canadiens, with five unanswered goals in the third period, won the game and took the series.

Seasons Change, Teams Change

In the late 80s, the Nordiques went on a skid in which they missed the playoffs five years in a row. The team improved during the 1992-93 season, finishing with an impressive mark of 47-27-10, but several off-ice factors were beginning to take their toll. Rising salaries, a weak Canadian dollar, and the fact that Quebec City was the second-smallest sports market in North America were all working against the Nordiques. Being in a city where the majority of fans spoke French, and French alone, further hampered the team. A plan for all-new uniforms was planned for the 1996-1997 season, but by then, the team would no longer be in Quebec.

Our Favorite Gear

Shop at Royal Retros!

Quebec Nordiques Proposed Jersey

When it comes to replica jerseys, we turn to our friends at Royal Retros, who put extraordinary detail into their fully customizable hockey sweaters, including this proposed jersey for Quebec’s 1996-97 season.

• Free Customization Included

• Each jersey individually handmade

• Any name and number

• Sewn tackle twill crest, numbers & letters

• 100% polyester

• Heavyweight fabric made to game standards

• Fight strap included

Honor the memory of one of hockey’s most beloved teams in this great jersey. Available in blue and white.

Owner Marcel Aubut wasn’t losing money, but he feared it was only a matter of time before that day would come. In May of 1995, he sold the team to a group of Colorado businessmen, who moved the team to Denver and renamed it the Avalanche.

Pro hockey returned to Quebec City a year later when the Atlanta Knights of the International Hockey League (IHL) relocated and became the Rafales. At the time, the IHL was harboring desires of possibly becoming a major league. The Rafales, though, only lasted two seasons as poor play and fan disinterest soon took their toll.

Links

World Hockey Association Media Guides

World Hockey Association Programs

National Hockey League Media Guides

National Hockey League Programs

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