WHA General Player Draft

The World Hockey Association General Player Draft was held over the course of two days, February 12 and February 13, 1972, in Anaheim, California. The purpose of the draft was to establish an orderly process through which WHA teams would stock their rosters by the beginning of their inaugural season later that year. As such, players from other professional teams (notably National Hockey League clubs) were eligible to be drafted. The draftees were not under any legal obligation to sign with the drafting WHA club: other WHA clubs were prevented from negotiating with the players who had been drafted.

The draft was held in two parts: a "Preliminary" round in which teams made so-called "priority" selections, and the rounds of the "General Draft" which followed. For the Preliminary round, each team wrote four names on a piece of paper, which were then submitted and announced prior to the start of the General Draft.[1] The priority selections were the most sought after players, consisting mostly of NHL veterans and highly touted prospects.

Twelve teams took part in the draft: the Calgary Broncos, Chicago Cougars, Dayton Aeros, Edmonton Oil Kings, Los Angeles Sharks, Miami Screaming Eagles, Minnesota Fighting Saints, New England Whalers, Winnipeg Jets, and three then-unnamed franchises based in New York (later the Raiders), Ontario (later the Ottawa Nationals) and Quebec City (later the Nordiques).

The Broncos folded within months, before the beginning of the season, and the negotiating rights to their picks were transferred to a new club: the Cleveland Crusaders. Similarly the Screaming Eagles never took to the ice, and their picks transferred to the Philadelphia Blazers. The Dayton Aeros moved to Houston before the playing season, and the Oil Kings changed their name to Alberta Oilers with the intent of splitting home games between Edmonton and Calgary.

Preliminary round

Selections by team

Calgary Broncos

Player Position Nationality Team League
Gibbs, BarryBarry Gibbs D  Canada Minnesota North Stars NHL
Harrison, JimJim Harrison C  Canada Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
Hoganson, DaleDale Hoganson D  Canada Montreal Canadiens NHL
Norris, JackJack Norris G  Canada Seattle Totems WHL

Chicago Cougars

Player Position Nationality Team League
Mikita, StanStan Mikita F  Canada Chicago Black Hawks NHL
Korab, JerryJerry Korab D  Canada Chicago Black Hawks NHL
McKenny, JimJim McKenny D  Canada Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
Smith, GaryGary Smith G  Canada Chicago Black Hawks NHL

Dayton Aeros

Player Position Nationality Team League
Trottier, GuyGuy Trottier RW  Canada Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
Hinse, AndreAndre Hinse LW  Canada Phoenix Roadrunners WHL
Lund, LarryLarry Lund D  Canada Phoenix Roadrunners WHL
Rutledge, WayneWayne Rutledge G  Canada Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL

Edmonton Oil Kings

Player Position Nationality Team League
Ullman, NormNorm Ullman C  Canada Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
Clarke, BobbyBobby Clarke C  Canada Philadelphia Flyers NHL
MacGregor, BruceBruce MacGregor C  Canada New York Rangers NHL
Myre, PhilPhil Myre G  Canada Montreal Canadiens NHL

Los Angeles Sharks

Player Position Nationality Team League
Dryden, KenKen Dryden G  Canada Montreal Canadiens NHL
Perreault, GilbertGilbert Perreault C  Canada Buffalo Sabres NHL
Ravlich, MattMatt Ravlich D  Canada Boston Bruins NHL
Sutherland, SteveSteve Sutherland LW  Canada Port Huron Wings IHL

Miami Screaming Eagles

Player Position Nationality Team League
Parent, BernieBernie Parent G  Canada Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
Drouin, JudeJude Drouin C  Canada Minnesota North Stars NHL
Sanderson, DerekDerek Sanderson C  Canada Boston Bruins NHL
White, BillBill White D  Canada Chicago Black Hawks NHL

Minnesota Fighting Saints

Player Position Nationality Team League
Mahovlich, PetePete Mahovlich LW  Canada Montreal Canadiens NHL
Curran, MikeMike Curran G  United States United States Olympic team
Goldsworthy, BillBill Goldsworthy RW  Canada Minnesota North Stars NHL
Tallon, DaleDale Tallon D  Canada Vancouver Canucks NHL

New England Whalers

Player Position Nationality Team League
Sheehan, BobbyBobby Sheehan C  United States California Golden Seals NHL
Johnston, EddieEddie Johnston G  Canada Boston Bruins NHL
Ley, RickRick Ley D  Canada Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
Pleau, LarryLarry Pleau C  United States Montreal Canadiens NHL

New York

Player Position Nationality Team League
Desjardins, GerryGerry Desjardins G  Canada Chicago Black Hawks NHL
Gardner, DaveDave Gardner C  Canada Toronto Marlboros OHA
Harris, BillyBilly Harris RW  Canada Toronto Marlboros OHA
Shutt, SteveSteve Shutt F  Canada Toronto Marlboros OHA

Ontario

Player Position Nationality Team League
Favell, DougDoug Favell G  Canada Philadelphia Flyers NHL
Keon, DaveDave Keon C  Canada Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
Park, BradBrad Park D  Canada New York Rangers NHL
Shack, EddieEddie Shack LW  Canada Buffalo Sabres NHL

Quebec City

Player Position Nationality Team League
Villemure, GillesGilles Villemure G  Canada New York Rangers NHL
Lapointe, GuyGuy Lapointe D  Canada Montreal Canadiens NHL
Lemaire, JacquesJacques Lemaire F  Canada Montreal Canadiens NHL
McKenzie, JohnJohn McKenzie RW  Canada Boston Bruins NHL

Winnipeg Jets

Player Position Nationality Team League
Hull, BobbyBobby Hull LW  Canada Chicago Black Hawks NHL
Green, TedTed Green D  Canada Boston Bruins NHL
Irvine, TedTed Irvine LW  Canada New York Rangers NHL
Wakely, ErnieErnie Wakely G  Canada St. Louis Blues NHL

Regular rounds

Selections by team

Calgary Broncos

Rounds 1–10

Player Position Nationality Team League
Carlyle, SteveSteve Carlyle D  Canada University of Alberta Golden Bears CIAU
Homenuke, RonRon Homenuke F  Canada Calgary Centennials WCHL
Lonsberry, RossRoss Lonsberry LW  Canada Philadelphia Flyers NHL
McMasters, JimJim McMasters F  Canada Calgary Centennials WCHL
Mott, MorrisMorris Mott RW  Canada Queen's University Golden Gaels CIAU
Pinder, GerryGerry Pinder RW  Canada California Golden Seals NHL
Romanchych, LarryLarry Romanchych C  Canada Dallas Black Hawks CHL
Sheppard, GreggGregg Sheppard C  Canada Oklahoma City Blazers CHL
Walker, BrianBrian Walker C  Canada Calgary Centennials WCHL
Watson, JimmyJimmy Watson D  Canada Calgary Centennials WCHL

Rounds 11–20

Player Position Nationality Team League
Boehm, RonRon Boehm LW  Canada Boston Braves AHL
Firsov, AnatoliAnatoli Firsov F  Soviet Union HC CSKA Moscow USSR
Golonka, JozefJozef Golonka F  Czechoslovakia SC Riessersee Bundesliga
Henning, LorneLorne Henning C  Canada New Westminster Bruins WCHL
Krake, SkipSkip Krake C  Canada Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL
Lukowich, BernieBernie Lukowich F  Canada New Westminster Bruins WCHL
Martyniuk, RayRay Martyniuk G  Canada Columbus Golden Seals IHL
Rota, RandyRandy Rota LW  Canada Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL
Smith, DallasDallas Smith D  Canada Boston Bruins NHL
Weir, StanStan Weir C  Canada Medicine Hat Tigers WCHL

Rounds 21–50

Player Position Nationality Team League
Ablett, JeffJeff Ablett LW  Canada Medicine Hat Tigers WCHL
Bell, WayneWayne Bell G  Canada Omaha Knights CHL
Bialowas, DwightDwight Bialowas D  Canada Regina Pats WCHL
Blinov, YuryYury Blinov F  Soviet Union CSKA Moscow USSR
Bradley, LyleLyle Bradley C  Canada Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL
Braun, GaryGary Braun D  Canada Toledo Hornets IHL
Brown, KenKen Brown G  Canada Dallas Black Hawks CHL
Cardiff, JimJim Cardiff D  Canada San Diego Gulls WHL
Kharlamov, ValeriValeri Kharlamov LW  Soviet Union CSKA Moscow USSR
Dunn, DaveDave Dunn D  Canada Seattle Totems WHL
Dyck, EdEd Dyck G  Canada Vancouver Canucks NHL
Erickson, GrantGrant Erickson LW  Canada Cleveland Barons AHL
Eysselt, JanJan Eysselt  Czechoslovakia
Hart, GerryGerry Hart D  Canada Fort Worth Wings CHL
Hejma, PetrPetr Hejma F  Czechoslovakia/ West Germany Düsseldorfer EG Bundesliga
Hodgson, TedTed Hodgson RW  Canada Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL
Horbul, DougDoug Horbul LW  Canada Calgary Centennials WCHL
Horesovsky, JosefJosef Horesovsky D  Czechoslovakia
Ireland, KenKen Ireland C  Canada New Westminster Bruins WCHL
Knibbs, DarrelDarrel Knibbs C  Canada Muskegon Mohawks IHL
McDonough, AlAl McDonough RW  Canada Pittsburgh Penguins NHL
McKay, RayRay McKay D  Canada Cincinnati Swords AHL
McNeil, MurrayMurray McNeil LW  Canada Cleveland Barons AHL
Moser, ErnieErnie Moser RW  Canada Nelson Maple Leafs WIHL
Nedomansky, VaclavVaclav Nedomansky C  Czechoslovakia HC Slovan Bratislava Czech.
Norrish, RodRod Norrish LW  Canada Cleveland Barons AHL
Ketola, Veli-PekkaVeli-Pekka Ketola C  Finland Assat Pori SM-sarja
Sittler, DarrylDarryl Sittler C  Canada Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
Swarbrick, GeorgeGeorge Swarbrick RW  Canada San Diego Gulls WHL
Watson, JoeJoe Watson D  Canada Philadelphia Flyers NHL

Rounds 51–70

Player Position Nationality Team League
Clay, GrantGrant Clay G  CanadaUniversity of ManitobaCIAU
Doll, WayneWayne Doll G  CanadaLong Island DucksEHL
Frig, LenLen Frig D  CanadaDallas Black HawksCHL
Gustafson, KenKen Gustafson C  CanadaSpokane JetsWIHL
Hill, GeorgeGeorge Hill C  CanadaCalgary StampedersPrHL
Jackson, LesLes Jackson LW  CanadaNew Westminster BruinsWCHL
Johnston, MarshallMarshall Johnston RW  CanadaCalifornia Golden SealsNHL
Gunnar Lindquist
Meissner, BarrieBarrie Meissner LW  CanadaOmaha KnightsCHL
Peter Muller
Morusyk, WayneWayne Morusyk D  CanadaOklahoma City BlazersCHL
Pinder, TomTom Pinder F  CanadaSaskatoon BladesWCHL
Rycroft, AlAl Rycroft C  CanadaFort Wayne KometsIHL
Schloder, AloisAlois Schloder RW  West Germany EV LandshutGermany
Shaw, JimJim Shaw G  CanadaPortland BuckaroosWHL
Sidebottom, EdEd Sidebottom D  CanadaCharlotte CheckersEHL
Karl Swetberge
Willy, RonRon Willy C  CanadaSaskatoon QuakersPrHL
Wilson, RichardRichard Wilson D  CanadaUniversity of North DakotaNCAA
Wright, JerryJerry Wright C  CanadaRoanoke Valley RebelsEHL

Rounds 71+

Player Position Nationality Team League
Amadio, DaveDave Amadio D CanadaSalt Lake Golden EaglesWHL
Bannister, LeighLeigh Bannister C CanadaFlint Generals IHL
Bonter, DaveDave Bonter LW CanadaDayton Gems IHL
Hay, BillBill Hay C CanadaRetired
Heaney, RobRob Heaney D CanadaDayton Gems IHL
Howdle, HerbHerb Howdle D CanadaOklahoma City BlazersCHL
Maltsev, AleksanderAleksander Maltsev C Soviet UnionHC Dynamo MoscowUSSR
Mott, DarwinDarwin Mott LW CanadaMichigan TechNCAA
Petrov, VladimirVladimir Petrov C Soviet UnionHC CSKA MoscowUSSR
Stefaniw, MorrisMorris Stefaniw C CanadaProvidence RedsAHL
Swain, GarryGarry Swain C CanadaFort Wayne Komets IHL

Footnotes

References