Quebec Nordiques

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

Tombstone

Born: February 11, 1972 – WHA founding franchise¹
Moved: May 25, 1995 (Colorado Avalanche)

First Game: October 11, 1972 (L 2-0 @ Cleveland Crusaders)
Last Game: May 16, 1995 (L 4-2 @ New York Rangers)

WHA AVCO Cup Championships: 1977
NHL Stanley Cup Championships: None

Arena

Le Colisee de Quebec (10,012)²
Opened: 1949
Closed: 2015

Marketing

Team Colors: Blue, Red & White

Ownership

Owners:

1972-1976: John Dacres, Jean-Marc Bruneau & Jean Lesage
1976-1988: Carling-O’Keefe
1988-1995: Marcel Aubut, et al.

Sale (1995): $75 million USD (Marcel Aubut, et al. to COMSAT Entertainment Group)³

Best Seller

Background

The team that would become the Quebec Nordiques began in 1971 as the San Francisco SeaHawks, a charter member of the World Hockey Association (WHA), the rebel league established to take on the National Hockey League (NHL). The SeaHawks, though, never made it to the ice.

It turns out the NHL’s team across the bay in Oakland 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.