Quebec's History in the WHA

Quebec entered the WHA in 1972 after the franchise was originally given to California's Bay Area. The San Francisco Sharks funding fell through, however, leaving the Los Angeles Aces without their planned rivals. So the team was sold (for $215 000) and moved to Quebec City, and L.A. assumed the Sharks name.

The Nords lost their first-ever game, on 11 October 1972, against the Cleveland Crusaders 2-0.

During the Nordiques' seven seasons in the World Hockey Association, they finished with only one losing record (their first season, in 1972) and missed the playoffs their first two years. Over the years, the Quebec Nordiques would lure a number of players from the Montreal Canadiens, such as J.C. Tremblay, Rejean Houle, and Marc Tardif. The rivalry between the Nordiques and the Habs would only heat up even more when Quebec City's team joined the National Hockey League.

In 1979 the WHA folded, but the NHL agreed to bring into its league the four strongest WHA franchises: the Winnipeg Jets, the Edmonton Oilers, the New England Whalers, and the Quebec Nordiques.