List of WHA broadcasters

After CBS lost the American television rights of the National Hockey League to NBC following the 1971-72 season (CBS was paying less than $2 million a year and NBC jumped to $5.3 million), the network covered the inaugural season of the World Hockey Association. The WHA's TV deal permitted it to sell week‐night games to other networks (CBS meanwhile, would show games on Sunday afternoons in addition the all-star game and playoffs). In addition, the WHA also sold a $3‐million package to Canada. On January 7, 1973, CBS aired its first WHA game between the Minnesota Fighting Saints and Winnipeg Jets live from the new St. Paul Civic Center with Ron Oakes, Gerry Cheevers and Dick Stockton announcing.
==Local broadcasters==
Team 	Radio station 	Radio announcers 	Television station 	Television announcers
Baltimore Blades 	WCBM 	 	WMAR 	
Birmingham Bulls 	WAPI 	Eli Gold 	WBRC 	
Calgary Cowboys 	CFAC 	Eric Bishop 	CFAC 	
Chicago Cougars 	WTAQ 	Howard Balson, Bud Kelly 	WSNS 	Brad Palmer (1972–73), Red Rush(1973–75), and Bobby Hull
Cincinnati Stingers 	WKRC 	Andy MacWilliams 	WXIX 	
Cleveland Crusaders 	WWWE 	Steve Albert (1972-75) and Lee Hamilton (1975-76) 	WUAB 	
Denver Spurs 	KLZ 	 	KOA 	
Edmonton Oilers 	CJCA 	Bryan Hall and Rod Phillips 	CFRN 	Al McCann and Bruce MacGregor
Houston Aeros 	KIKK 	 	KHTV 	Jerry Trupiano and Jack Stanfield
Indianapolis Racers 	WNDE 	Bob Lamey 	WLWI 	
Los Angeles Sharks 	KNX 	 	KTTV 	
Michigan Stags 	WWJ 	Gary Morrel and Norm Plummer 	WXON 	Vince Doyle and Marty Pavelich
Minnesota Fighting Saints 	WLOL 	Frank Buetel, Roger Buxton, Bill Allard, and Bob Halvorson 	WTCN 	Frank Buetel and Roger Buxton
New England Whalers 	WHDHWTIC 	Dave Martin, John Moynihan, Bill Rasmussen, Ron Ryan, Bob Neumeier, Dennis Randall, and John Hewig	WKBGteam was located in Boston at the timeWFSBConnecticut Public Television	Bob Neumeier, Bill Rasmussen, Dennis Randall, and John Hewig
New York Golden Blades 	WMCA 	John Sterling and Fritz Peterson 	WNEW 	
Ottawa CivicsOttawa Nationals	CKOY 	 	 	TVOntario
Philadelphia Blazers 	WIBG (Vancouver Blazers) (CJJC)Vancouver Broadcasters, NorthWest Broadcasters, BC Radio History, Gary Rable did Colour with Ron Oakes PXP	 	WKBS 	
Phoenix Roadrunners 	KOY 	Al McCoy 	KPHO 	
San Diego Mariners 	KOGO 	Roy Storey 	KCST 	
Toronto Toros 	CFRB 	William Stephenson 	CKGN 	
Winnipeg Jets 	CJOB 	Ken Nicholson and Don Wittman 	 	Don Wittman
===Notes===
*The Michigan Stags' radio station was WWJ 950. Gary Morrel was play-by-play announcer while Norm Plummer handled color commentary. (At least one broadcast had only two sponsors mentioned: Nolwood Chemical, a company owned by the Stags' owners, and the Stags themselves.) Michigan played just one game on local television: the season opener against the Indianapolis Racers, broadcast live from Indianapolis on WXON Channel 20. Detroit radio icon Vince Doyle called play-by-play and former Red Wing Marty Pavelich was the color commentator. The Stags won the game, 4-2, but few saw it; the Stags were up against game five of the 1974 World Series. Eight other games were scheduled to be televised but money became a problem by mid-November, especially after Michigan lost 11 of their next 12 following their season-opening win.
*Games of the original Minnesota Fighting Saints were heard on WLOL Radio (1330 AM) from 1972 to 1976, with Frank Buetel as play-by-play announcer. Buetel was the original TV voice of the NHL's Minnesota North Stars from 1967 to 1970 on WTCN-TV (now KARE-TV). Buetel's color commentators included Roger Buxton and Bob Halvorson, the Saints' first-season public relations director (1972–73), and Bill Allard (1973–76). Al Hirt's version of "When the Saints Go Marching In" was used as the theme song for WLOL's Fighting Saints broadcasts. No local radio station carried games of the New Fighting Saints (1976–77). Fighting Saints games were televised sporadically on WTCN from 1973 to 1975. The first WTCN game was a home contest versus Cleveland on December 23, 1973, with Buetel and Allard simulcasting. Buxton called subsequent games on WTCN. In the 1973–74 season, one Saints home game was carried on KTCA-TV (PBS). No local TV station aired games of the New Fighting Saints.
==See also==
*List of Edmonton Oilers broadcasters
*List of Hartford Whalers broadcasters
*Quebec Nordiques#Broadcasters
*List of Winnipeg Jets broadcasters
==References==
 
Category:Ice hockey-related lists
Category:CBC Sports
Category:CBS Sports