A 50th anniversary is a big celebration! Such is the case of the Nordiques and other former players of the WHA who reconnected with emotions last night in Quebec. “A playing career is short, but friends stay for life,” ex-captain Marc Tardif said aptly.
• Also read: A record that will never be broken
Throughout the weekend, some 80 players who have spanned the World Hockey Association (WHA) from its inception in 1972 to its merger with the NHL in 1979 gather at Château Frontenac for a drink or two to make memories .
Photo agency QMI, Marcel Tremblay
Jean-Claude Garneau and Phil Pritchard with the Avco Cup awarded to the WHA Champion Club.
It was enough to see the many elders hugging, laughing out loud, toasting each other, or reveling in anecdotes to realize how the years had passed and that they were overjoyed to make up for lost time.
“It’s incredible to see all these people. When I was younger I saw people organizing meetings and I didn’t understand. I told myself that it would never happen to me to participate. Finally we meet again and from the first minutes it’s amazing,” said Tardif.
From visiting everywhere
For someone who has lived in Quebec since the end of his glittering career with the Nordiques, the journey has been short.
For many others from across North America it was a once in a lifetime opportunity not to be missed.
Photo agency QMI, Marcel Tremblay
Alain Côté and Michel Dubois seemed delighted to see each other again.
“That was 91 [32 degrés Celsius] when I left San Diego. I’ve been freezing since I arrived!” joked Michel Rouleau, who has lived in California since his stint with the San Diego Mariners, after his first three seasons with the Nordiques.
Originally from Outaouais, Rouleau was involved in one of the most significant trades in team history when he was sent to Michigan with Pierre Guité and Alain Caron against Marc Tardif.
“No one ever realized what a good player I was to be traded for Tardif. I came here to clear things up,” he laughed.
Ex-goalkeeper Richard Brodeur is another to earn airline miles, he who landed in Vancouver to celebrate with his former accomplices.
Who are you?
“It’s very special to see friends I haven’t seen in 40 or 45 years! We were rebels when we entered the WHA. We’ve been telling each other stories for a while and there are many others that come back to us,” he smiled.
If many have been replaced at first glance, others have had to refresh their memories, like meeting an old friend from elementary school at the grocery store.
Photo agency QMI, Marcel Tremblay
The honorary president of the weekend and author of the first goal in the history of the Nordiques, François Lacombe.
So does André Lacroix, the top scorer in WHA history, who lives in Cleveland.
“Here are people I haven’t seen in 40 years because I live in the United States. Everyone ages. Back then some had a mustache and now they don’t! Some have gray hair, some don’t.
“When I introduce myself, I tell them I’m André Lacroix and I wait for them to introduce themselves. Because it’s been so long!” he started.
Goalkeeper Jacques Lemelin, who was at the first edition of the Nordiques in 1972, wasted no time in realizing that despite the joy of reuniting with former team-mates, time has done its job.
“I looked at the freshman team photo and there are at least 10 people who died. Time has passed…” he said.
Several conferences are scheduled today, notably on the creation of the circuit and the conquest of the Avco Cup by the Nordiques in 1977.
From Bobby Hull’s visit
The highlight will undoubtedly be the presence of former star forward Bobby Hull, who left the Chicago Blackhawks to join the Winnipeg Jets.
He quickly became the WHA’s biggest catch and is joined by his Swedish ‘Hot Line’ companions Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg.
“We have to do it, bring everyone together! Boys come from everywhere. We have so much to talk about,” said former defender François Lacombe, who is honorary president of the event organized by the National Capital Sports History Society.