The Ottawa Nationals were an original WHA franchise. Doug Michel would be the team’s first owner, but it would take bringing on a well funded co-owner to keep the franchise alive before they had even played a game. In May of 1972 Mick Trbovich became the co-owner that the team needed. Now amply funded, but short on time, Michel set out to build a franchise with only months to go before play would commense. After failing to strike a deal with Howard Ballard to use Maple Leaf Gardens, Michel would settle on the Ottawa Civic Center, a small 10,000 seat arena that played home to the junior 67’s. Because the National’s had such a limited amount of time to procure a roster, they didn’t wind up with a bunch of name players as some of their competition did.

Billy Harris was the team’s coach and behind the leadership of Wayne Carleton among others the team made the Eastern Division playoffs. The major problem that arose for the franchise was that the city of Ottawa demanded a $100,000 payment prior to the playoffs beginning to secure the Civic Center thru the next season. Playing their home playoff games in Ottawa would be contingent on this payment which the owners ultimately decided against. Instead, they chose to negotiate a deal to play their playoff games in Toronto. Maple Leaf Gardens did play host to the 2 home playoff games that the Nationals played that season. Drawing crowds of 5,000 were quite good by Ottawa standards and it wasn’t long before Michel and Trbovich sold the franchise to John Bassett Jr. who headed a group of 20+ investors and renamed the new Toronto franchise the Toros.

Despite playing their playoff games at the Gardens, the Toros were forced to play their 1973-74 home games in front of fans at a small university rink named the Varsity Arena. They were able to get playing dates at the Gardens for 1974-75 and 1975-76. Under new ownership, and playing in hockey mecca Toronto, the team was able to secure players such as Frank Mahovlich and Czech defector Vaclav Nedomansky. Toronto became an offensive force during the 1973-74 and 1974-75 seasons, finishing 2nd both seasons but lacking any real playoff success. Hockey fans in Toronto embraced the team for those two seasons as attendance averaged 10,000 per game. 1975-76 saw the club finish with a horrible 24-52-4 record and attendance dipped. Owner Bassett decided it wise to relocate the franchise and on June 30th of 1976, the Toros were no more.

The new city was Birmingham in the state of Alabama and the new team name was now the Birmingham Bulls. Bassett began targeting teenagers as a way to bolster his team and thus the nickname the Baby Bulls was born. Youngsters such as Mark Napier, Michel Goulet, Rod Langway, Rob Ramage, Pat Riggin and Rick Vaive were all signed up under the aggressive Bassett. The Bulls, while exciting offensively each season, would never find playoff success. They were able to field a team for the league’s final 3 years making them one of only five original franchises to survive the entire 7 years of the WHA.

This road blue dureen gamer by Maska was worn by Larry Mavety during the 1974-75 WHA season. Mavety began his WHA career in the inaugural 1972-73 season, playing for three squads, the Los Angeles Sharks, the Philadelphia Blazers and the Chicago Cougars. He would remain with the Cougars into the 1974-75 season when he was dealt to the Toronto Toros. The 1975-76 season saw Larry play for the Denver Spurs and the Ottawa Civics. His final WHA season was 1976-77, where he suited up for the Indianapolis Racers. All told he played in 248 WHA games while representing a resounding 7 different teams over 5 seasons.

The game wear on this vintage dureen is solid consisting of stick marks, board burns, un-repaired holes, fine inner pilling and an elongated straight lined team-sewn repair. The crest is the embroidered variety which remains in fabulous condition. The color and sheen really stand out on this beautiful Toronto gamer and will be a welcomed addition to any WHA collection.