Birmingham Bulls

For other teams named Birmingham Bulls, please see Birmingham Bulls (disambiguation).
The Birmingham Bulls were a professional team in the World Hockey Association from 1976 to 1979, and the Central Hockey League from 1979 to 1996. The Bulls were based out of Birmingham, Alabama at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. Prior to being in Birmingham, the team was known as the Ottawa Nationals and the Toronto Toros.
==History==
John Brophy, who would become Toronto Maple Leafs coach, joined the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association as assistant to coach Glen Sonmor. Brophy became head coach in the 1978-79 when Sonmor joined the Minnesota North Stars. His team finished last in the league, but was in the middle of a youth movement. 
Wayne Gretzky was heavily recruited by Birmingham Bulls owner John F. Bassett to be part of the youth movement. Bassett wanted to confront the NHL by signing as many young and promising superstars as possible and saw Gretzky as the most promising young prospect. 
Although Bassett failed to sign Gretzky, the Bulls (affectionately known as the Baby Bulls) included several future NHL stars at the beginning of their professional careers: Rick Vaive, Michel Goulet, Rob Ramage, Craig Hartsburg, and Gaston Gingras, as well as a 36-year-old Paul Henderson. Even though his team was the only one in the league not to make the playoffs, Brophy was awarded the Robert Schmertz Memorial Trophy as the WHA's coach of the year. 
==After the WHA==
After the WHA ceased operations in 1979, the Birmingham Bulls joined the Central Hockey League, playing during the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons. The CHL team included returning coach John Brophy, and six players carried over from the previous season's WHA team; Paul Henderson, Pat Riggin, Rick Adduono, and Dave Hanson. The team disbanded during its second season.
==Season-by-season record==
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
;World Hockey Association
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	Pts	GF 	GA 	PIM 	Finish 	Playoffs
1976-77	81 	31	46 	4 	66 	289	309	1179	5th, Eastern	Did not qualify
1977-78	80 	36	41 	3 	75 	287	314	2177	6th, WHA 	Lost Quarterfinals (Winnipeg)
1978-79	80 	32	42 	6 	70 	286	311	1661	6th, WHA 	Did not qualify
Totals 	241	99	129	13	211	862	934	5017	 	
;Central Hockey League
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	T	Pts	GF 	GA 	PIM 	Finish 	Playoffs
1979-80	80 	36	39	5	77 	260	295	1595	4th, CHL	Lost first round
1980-81	58 	17	37	4	38 	204	277	1593	n/a 	Incomplete season
Season 	138	53	76	9	115	464	572	3188	 	
==External links==
* BirminghamProSports.com
* WHAhockey.com - Birmingham Bulls
* WHA Bulls on Magic City Hockey
Category:World Hockey Association team
Category:Established in 1976
Category:Disestablished in 1981
Category:American ice hockey teams