Hartford Whalers to Carolina Hurricanes: A Brief History of Time
In 1972, the Carolina Hurricanes organization would come into existence. From then to now, here’s how we got where we are today.
By now, you are either singing Brass Bonanza alongside me, or you are wondering who the Whalers were. Ether way, you’ve come for a whale tale. The story of the Hartford Whalers is one of tragedy and failure. It’s very unique in a way, so please join me to recap the story of the Hartford Whalers.
We will start at the very beginning, in the World Hockey Association or WHA. In 1972, the WHA came into existence and with it, the New England Whalers. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the Whalers started off playing in the traditional Boston Garden, a building they shared with the Bruins.
Life in the World Hockey Association would get off to the best possible start. New England won the Aveco Cup (The WHA’s version of the stanley cup) in the very first year of existence. It was a fairytale start for the guys in green. However, that would be the end of the fairy tale. They would not win anything else in the WHA. After relocation to Hartford in 1974, they would win even less.
The Whalers were in their final season. They were leaving Hartford, and no one knew what was next for them.
In 1996-97, the Whalers were announced to be leaving the Hartford Civic Center. They would be leaving Hartford, and leaving the New England area entirely to relocate to a brand new market. Hall of Fame owner Peter Karmanos took the Whale down south, originally to Greensboro where they would become the Carolina Hurricanes that we know today.
In their final game in Hartford, the Whalers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. It would end the existence of the Whalers, leaving them only a memory for 2 decades. Kevin Dineen would score the final goal in Whalers history, Craig Adams would be the last active Whalers draft pick, and Glen Wesley would be the final Whaler to play in Carolina.
And thus closed the Whale tale. It had been beached and abandoned. Nothing but a memory for the fans to remind themselves of their age. Gone, but never forgotten, Hartford no longer had an NHL team. The Binghamton Rangers did move to Hartford to become the Hartford Wolf Pack shortly after, but they are the New York Rangers AHL affiliate.
In 2018-19, the Carolina Hurricanes came up with a few things to spark fan interest and engagement in the team.
Tom Dundon’s marketing team found themselves with a gift from Justin Williams and the Hurricanes, when the team started the Storm Surge. Something that was quick to “wash up” if you will, was the Whalers heritage. Dundon did something that had never been done in the NHL before.
On December 23rd 2018, the Hartford Whalers took to the ice again, though not at the Hartford Civic Center as so many fans had hoped for. The 2018-19 Hurricanes roster dawned the logo, jersey, goal horn, and even the iconic Brass Bonanza in tribute to their Hartford-based ancestors. This transpired against the Boston Bruins too, which allowed fans in Hartford to see the game locally.
The Hurricanes that year would win 2 playoff series, to win more series in a single season than the Hartford Whalers won in their history. On January 11th, the Whalers will take to the ice once again at the PNC Arena as they host the LA Kings. Brass Bonanza will replace the goal song, Pucky the Whale will be at the game with Stormy, and the Whalers will play once more.
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Question for CC Readers: What’s your take on the Whalers Night promo? Love it? Hate it? Indifferent?