Birmingham Bulls
Seeing that the NHL's Atlanta Flames were struggling but surviving
in the American South, Bassett moved the club to Birmingham, Alabama for
1976-77. The "bull"logo was kept while the team was renamed the
Birmingham Bulls. Birmingham took quick advantage of the WHA's liberal
signing restrictions, and soon a talented but young group of players was
on the ice. The club improved on its 1975-76 finish but still was left
out when the playoffs started.
In 1977 the WHA and NHL were talking merger. However, Birmingham,
along with Indianapolis, was never seriously
considered for membership. The club was interested in the talks,
however, because if merger failed the team would survive. Bassett's deep
pockets kept the team running trouble free. The 1977-78 club, under
coach Glen Sonmor, was something of a goon squad, but did make the
playoffs, losing to Winnipeg.
In the WHA's swan song season, the "Baby Bulls", as they were
unofficially dubbed, due to the age of the players, struggled. Led by
Rob Ramage and Michel Goulet, the club finished 32-42-6, but missed the
playoffs. This was also the end of the franchise, as the NHL and WHA had
finally agreed to a merger. Birmingham, along with Cincinnati, was paid to fold. However, when the
ECHL came around in the late 1980's, Birmingham ended up with a new
go-around of the Bulls, if in name only.
Nationals/Toros/Bulls year-by-year
Year W L T pts. Finish Playoffs
1972-73 35 39 4 74 4th Eastern Lost to New England 1-4
1973-74 41 33 4 86 2nd Eastern Beat Cleveland 4-1
Lost to Chicago 3-4
1974-75 43 33 2 88 2nd Canadian Lost to San Diego 2-4
1975-76 24 52 5 53 5th Canadian None
1976-77 31 46 4 66 5th Eastern None
1977-78 36 41 3 75 6th League Lost to Winnipeg 1-4
1978-79 32 42 6 70 6th League None
Information on this page is from The Complete Historical
and Statistical Reference to the World Hockey Associaltion
1972-1979; by Scott Adam Surgent.