Lord Stanley coming to the Lone Star State would be huge for hockey in Texas, right?
AH Timeline: The NHL-WHA merger: A different story
Lord Stanley coming to the Lone Star State would be huge for hockey in Texas, right?
We hope the Aeros will win the Stanley Cup and if they make a great Dynasty five years from now the NHL will now have a team in Dallas.
1983 Stanley Cup Finals
1983 Stanley Cup Finals: Houston Aeros vs Hartford Whalers
TV: CBC (Canada) CBC Announcers: Bob Cole (Play-by-play) & Harry Neale (Color) CBS (United States) CBS Announcers: Ken Wilson (play-by-play) and Stan Fischler (color)
G1: HAR 4 @ HOU 2 Whalers lead series 1-0
Game one in Houston was hard-hitting right from the start as both teams tried to establish themselves early. “You usually don’t see physical play like this at the start of the final, these teams are both showing us how much they want it” said CBC play-by-play man Bob Cole. The Whalers would draw first blood, winning game one 4-2.
G2: HAR 1 @ HOU 3 Series tied 1-1
Houston would then even it up again in game two thanks to two goals from Mark Howe.
G3: HOU 0 @ HAR 2 Whalers lead series 2-1
Grant Fuhr was the hero for Hartford in game three, as the young goaltender earned a shutout to give his team a 2-1 series lead at home.
G4: HOU 1 @ HAR 3 Whalers lead series 3-1
Houston now felt the pressure. Desperate to avoid heading home down 3-1, the Aeros came out hitting once again in game four. Their physical play would cost them, as Guy Carbonneau went down awkwardly after hitting Whaler defensemen Ric Nattress in the second period. Canbonneau left the game and did not return while Hartford took the game 3-1 to lead the series by the same score. “We have to find a way to score goals” said Houston head coach Bill Dineen.
G5: HAR 3 @ HOU 4 (OT) Whalers lead series 3-2
The Aeros took their coach’s words to heart in game five, with the Stanley Cup in their building. Canbonneau still suffered from a lower body injury but played anyway, scoring Houston’s second goal. The game was tied 2-2 when Ray Bourque gave the Whalers the lead. As the minutes wound down, the commentators talked about the possibility that Hartford would unseat the Bruins as New England's most popular NHL team with a Stanley Cup win. Then, with just 1:34 left in regulation, Dave Andreychuk deflected Ted Taylor’s point shot into the net to tie the game. The Whalers were devastated at being so close, and were unable to recover in time for overtime. Just 22 seconds into the extra period, Andre Lacroix scored for Houston to send the series back to Hartford for game six.
G6: HOU 1 @ HAR 3 Whalers win series 4-2
The Hartford Civic Center was packed for game six, as their team had an opportunity to win it all at home. Houston, meanwhile, was determined to spoil the party. Four minutes into the game, Chris Chelios gave the Aeros a 1-0 lead. The lead held until the third period and it looked like the series could go to a seventh game, when Dave Keon, possibly playing in his final game, beat Pelle Lindberg to tie it up. Only a minute after Keon’s goal, Ray Bourque, who had been Hartford’s best player throughout the playoffs, gave the Whalers the lead. With just over a minute left, Houston pulled Lindberg, desperate to tie the game. After Grant Fuhr was forced to make a few big saves to preserve the lead, John McKenzie found himself on a 2-on-1 with Keon heading for the empty net. McKenzie slid the puck to Keon, who sealed the win and the championship with 18 seconds left. The Whalers spilled off the bench and mobbed Keon while the officials scrambled to get things back in order so they could play the final seconds. When the puck finally dropped, the crowd counted down the last ten seconds as the Whalers celebrated a second time while Ray Bourque was named playoff MVP. "He was unbelievable." said Whalers coach Don Blackburn. "I think this kid has a bright future ahead of him."
Comments appricated! Congrats to any Whalers fans out there! (and sorry to any Aeros fans)
TV: CBC (Canada) CBC Announcers: Bob Cole (Play-by-play) & Harry Neale (Color) CBS (United States) CBS Announcers: Ken Wilson (play-by-play) and Stan Fischler (color)
G1: HAR 4 @ HOU 2 Whalers lead series 1-0
Game one in Houston was hard-hitting right from the start as both teams tried to establish themselves early. “You usually don’t see physical play like this at the start of the final, these teams are both showing us how much they want it” said CBC play-by-play man Bob Cole. The Whalers would draw first blood, winning game one 4-2.
G2: HAR 1 @ HOU 3 Series tied 1-1
Houston would then even it up again in game two thanks to two goals from Mark Howe.
G3: HOU 0 @ HAR 2 Whalers lead series 2-1
Grant Fuhr was the hero for Hartford in game three, as the young goaltender earned a shutout to give his team a 2-1 series lead at home.
G4: HOU 1 @ HAR 3 Whalers lead series 3-1
Houston now felt the pressure. Desperate to avoid heading home down 3-1, the Aeros came out hitting once again in game four. Their physical play would cost them, as Guy Carbonneau went down awkwardly after hitting Whaler defensemen Ric Nattress in the second period. Canbonneau left the game and did not return while Hartford took the game 3-1 to lead the series by the same score. “We have to find a way to score goals” said Houston head coach Bill Dineen.
G5: HAR 3 @ HOU 4 (OT) Whalers lead series 3-2
The Aeros took their coach’s words to heart in game five, with the Stanley Cup in their building. Canbonneau still suffered from a lower body injury but played anyway, scoring Houston’s second goal. The game was tied 2-2 when Ray Bourque gave the Whalers the lead. As the minutes wound down, the commentators talked about the possibility that Hartford would unseat the Bruins as New England's most popular NHL team with a Stanley Cup win. Then, with just 1:34 left in regulation, Dave Andreychuk deflected Ted Taylor’s point shot into the net to tie the game. The Whalers were devastated at being so close, and were unable to recover in time for overtime. Just 22 seconds into the extra period, Andre Lacroix scored for Houston to send the series back to Hartford for game six.
G6: HOU 1 @ HAR 3 Whalers win series 4-2
The Hartford Civic Center was packed for game six, as their team had an opportunity to win it all at home. Houston, meanwhile, was determined to spoil the party. Four minutes into the game, Chris Chelios gave the Aeros a 1-0 lead. The lead held until the third period and it looked like the series could go to a seventh game, when Dave Keon, possibly playing in his final game, beat Pelle Lindberg to tie it up. Only a minute after Keon’s goal, Ray Bourque, who had been Hartford’s best player throughout the playoffs, gave the Whalers the lead. With just over a minute left, Houston pulled Lindberg, desperate to tie the game. After Grant Fuhr was forced to make a few big saves to preserve the lead, John McKenzie found himself on a 2-on-1 with Keon heading for the empty net. McKenzie slid the puck to Keon, who sealed the win and the championship with 18 seconds left. The Whalers spilled off the bench and mobbed Keon while the officials scrambled to get things back in order so they could play the final seconds. When the puck finally dropped, the crowd counted down the last ten seconds as the Whalers celebrated a second time while Ray Bourque was named playoff MVP. "He was unbelievable." said Whalers coach Don Blackburn. "I think this kid has a bright future ahead of him."
Comments appricated! Congrats to any Whalers fans out there! (and sorry to any Aeros fans)
My thoughts exactly. Side note: Despite the loss, all games in Houston were sellouts and TV ratings on CBS were high across Texas and the US.
Here's an idea for the NBA ITTL: have the Houston Rockets trade Ralph Sampson to Portland for Clyde Drexler and Portland's first-round pick (the #2 pick). The Rockets would likely use the pick to get Michael Jordan. Imagine the Rockets with Hakeem, Jordan, and Drexler...
Another option would be for Patrick Ewing to come out in 1984 instead of 1985 ITTL (he stayed in part because he promised his mother he'd graduate from college)--imagine a Rockets team with Ewing, Jordan, and Drexler...
Another option would be for Patrick Ewing to come out in 1984 instead of 1985 ITTL (he stayed in part because he promised his mother he'd graduate from college)--imagine a Rockets team with Ewing, Jordan, and Drexler...
Last edited:
To be fair, around this time period, the NBA was in pretty rough shape PR wise. Bird, Magic and MJ were credited for rebuilding that league's fanbase.
The NHL on the other hand could use some more superstars of their own that can really rival Gretzky and a stronger TV presence on both sides on the border to keep up.
Last edited:
Mark Messier is getting pretty good but his team (the Capitals) just don’t have a good supporting cast. Ray Bourque could be Gretzky’s rival In this universe, since the Whalers just won a cup and seem to just be getting started.
You bet it does. Helps their viability in Rhode Island and western Massachusetts too since most of that area is closer to Hartford than it is to Boston.
And I take it that Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are still Bruin country?
Yep, though some parts of Vermont is Sabres county. But the Bruins fans still outnumber the Sabre fans by about a 5/1 ratio there.
Other sports in 1982-83
NFL: The Washington Redskins win their first super bowl in team history defeating the Oakland Raiders 29-24. John Riggins won Super Bowl MVP thanks to his 2 rushing touchdowns on the day. The season was cut to 9 games due to a mid-season players strike
NBA: The Philadelphia 76ers are the first team not named Boston Celtics to win the NBA title since 1979. They won the NBA finals over the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1. Julius Erving won mvp of the series, averaging a quadruple-double for the entire series. Magic Johnson comes up short for the third time in four years. “It’s tough losing again and again on the grand stage but I’ll get there someday.” He said after game 5.
MLB: For the first time since 1965, the Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series, defeating the Detroit Tigers in the 1983 World Series in seven games. Steve Garvey won series Most Valuable player by hitting 2 home runs and 10 RBIs, the most of any player in the Series.
NFL: The Washington Redskins win their first super bowl in team history defeating the Oakland Raiders 29-24. John Riggins won Super Bowl MVP thanks to his 2 rushing touchdowns on the day. The season was cut to 9 games due to a mid-season players strike
NBA: The Philadelphia 76ers are the first team not named Boston Celtics to win the NBA title since 1979. They won the NBA finals over the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 1. Julius Erving won mvp of the series, averaging a quadruple-double for the entire series. Magic Johnson comes up short for the third time in four years. “It’s tough losing again and again on the grand stage but I’ll get there someday.” He said after game 5.
MLB: For the first time since 1965, the Los Angeles Dodgers have won the World Series, defeating the Detroit Tigers in the 1983 World Series in seven games. Steve Garvey won series Most Valuable player by hitting 2 home runs and 10 RBIs, the most of any player in the Series.
1983 NHL Draft
1983 NHL Entry Draft - Notable Picks
1. Pat Lafontaine (C) - Detroit Red Wings
2. Steve Yzerman (C) - Edmonton Oilers
3. Tom Barrasso (G) - Calgary Wranglers
9. Cam Neely (D) - Washington Capitals
25. Claude Lemuieux (RW) - Hartford Whalers
47. Bob Probert (LW) - Seattle Thunderbirds
67. Esa Tikkanen (LW) - Colorado Rockies
69. Darren Puppa (G) - Montreal Canadiens
117. Rick Tocchet (RW) - Atlanta Flames
132. Vladislav Tretiak (G) - Washington Capitals (yes, he decides to play in the NHL ITTL)
142. Viacheslav Fetisov (D) - St Louis Blues
196. Dominik Hasek (G) - Quebec Nordiques (Traded to Toronto Maple Leafs for Borje Salming)
230. Sergei Makarov (RW) - Pittsburgh Penguins
Comments apricated!
1. Pat Lafontaine (C) - Detroit Red Wings
2. Steve Yzerman (C) - Edmonton Oilers
3. Tom Barrasso (G) - Calgary Wranglers
9. Cam Neely (D) - Washington Capitals
25. Claude Lemuieux (RW) - Hartford Whalers
47. Bob Probert (LW) - Seattle Thunderbirds
67. Esa Tikkanen (LW) - Colorado Rockies
69. Darren Puppa (G) - Montreal Canadiens
117. Rick Tocchet (RW) - Atlanta Flames
132. Vladislav Tretiak (G) - Washington Capitals (yes, he decides to play in the NHL ITTL)
142. Viacheslav Fetisov (D) - St Louis Blues
196. Dominik Hasek (G) - Quebec Nordiques (Traded to Toronto Maple Leafs for Borje Salming)
230. Sergei Makarov (RW) - Pittsburgh Penguins
Comments apricated!
Last edited:
Lafontaine leaving NY State? Heresy, i say!
Woah, hasek to quebec? That's weird. Does that mean andy moog will get traded at one point like OTL?
Finally, tretiak and fetisov comes to america in their primes!
Well, Hasek got traded after the draft to the Maple Leafs in a blockbuster deal that sent Borje Salming to Quebec in return along with some draft picks and cash. The reason this trade happened is because the Leafs are eying the number 1 pick in next years draft, AKA the Mario Lemieux sweepstakes.
Last edited:
Poor ahsek and lemieux...hope that tthedevil himself will die sooner than OTL... (harold ballard, if you don't know)