Calgary Cowboys The Calgary Cowboys are a defunct professional hockey team based in Calgary , Alberta , Canada . The Blazers were established in 1975 following the relocalisation of the Vancouver Blazers and lasted a mere two seasons before folding in 1977 . History . In 1972 , the fledgling WHA attempted to place a team in Calgary , to be known as the Broncos in the hopes of taking advantage of an anticipated rivalry with Edmonton , and the Oilers . The franchise failed to get off the ground , however , prompting the Oilers to rename themselves the " Alberta Oilers " , with the intention of splitting their home schedule between the two cities . This plan similarly failed to materialize , and the Oilers dropped the Alberta moniker after one season . Calgary would get its second chance in the WHA in 1975 , when the Vancouver Blazers moved across the Rocky Mountains . Owner Jim Pattison , failing in his goal of taking the Vancouver market away from the NHL ' s Vancouver Canucks chose to relocate to Calgary . However , by the time the WHA did arrive , the league was already in difficulty , and the team was viewed as minor - league , despite the presence of aging superstars such as Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull in the league . The franchise played out of the 6 , 500 Stampede Corral knowing that its small size would prevent the team from achieving profitability initially . They were hoping for strong attendance figures that would encourage the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede board , who owned and operated the Corral , to expand the faciilty to 15 , 000 seats . Such an expansion had been planned by the Stampede board , but with no timelines , and no commitment to finance it . In their first season , the Cowboys were not expected to ice a strong team , having inherited a franchise that finished in a last place tie with the Oilers the previous year . Calgary finished 41 – 35 – 4 however , as a 44 - goal season by Danny Lawson and 42 goals from Ron Chipperfield helped the Cowboys finish a surprising third in the Canadian division . In the 1976 playoffs , the Cowboys met the Quebec Nordiques in the first round . The series is best known for one of hockey ' s most legendary brawls . The incident began when Calgary ' s Rick Jodzio cross - checked Quebec ' s Marc Tardif in the head , causing both teams to leave their benches . The brawl lasted 20 minutes , and ended only when Quebec police gathered at the players benches and escorted the teams back to their dressing rooms . The game resumed following a 20 minute break to allow both teams to cool down , then resumed without eleven players who were ejected from the game . The incident caught the attention of Quebec ' s Solicitor General Francois Lalonde , who had the incident investigated as a criminal matter . Jodzio was suspended indefinitely by the league , and later plead guilty in a Quebec court to a charge of assault over the incident . Cowboys coach Joe Crozier was suspended for the rest of the series . Calgary went on to defeat the Nordiques , who had finished 18 - points ahead of Calgary in the regular season , but were defeated by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round . The team never really captured the attention of Calgarians , as fewer than 5 , 000 fans , on average , attended playoff games against the Jets . During the 1976 – 77 season , attendance fell to below 4 , 500 per game . Rumours abounded that the franchise would move again to Ottawa , though it completed the season in Calgary . Team owner , Jim Pattison , attempted to keep the Cowboys afloat in 1977 – 78 , with the ultimate hope of being a part of the expected amalgamation with the National Hockey League . Pattison was also hoping that the Cowboys would be one of six WHA teams to join the NHL in 1977 following as part of a proposed merger . When the NHL made it clear it had no interest in a team playing out of the Corral , it was expected that Pattison would request a two year leave of absence in the hopes of building a new arena . The NHL voted down the 1977 merger plan , while only 2 , 000 fans purchased season tickets for the 1977 – 78 season . With no imminent hope for a new arena , Pattison chose to fold the franchise on August 18 , 1977 . Calgary would have to wait only three years for the NHL to arrive , however , as the Atlanta Flames were relocated to the city in 1980 – 81 , playing in the Corral as a temporary home while the Olympic Saddledome was constructed .