First Season "Harpoon Program"




New England Whalers VS Ottawa Nationals  November 18, 1972
WHALERS WIN!!!! 3-2

Cost $1.00 Volume 1 Number 11 56 pages

  This program was for the November 18, 1972 game between the hometown New England Whalers and the Ottawa Nationals (Later Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls).   Being that it was the first season of the WHA, there wasn't much to comment on as far as personal game accomplishments was concerned.  However, there was still plenty of information in the magazine.    There wasn't much competition with the Boston Bruins.  The Whalers knew that the Bruins were going to still have the edge in the hockey market in Boston.  Nevertheless, with Ted Green as captain, the knowledgeable Boston hockey fan saw the Whalers as a high caliber team.   Players such as Jim Dorey, Rick Ley and Brad Selwood (all former Maple Leafs) were considered the "envy of the National Hockey League's top three" and solidified the blue line.    Larry Pleau was the featured Whaler in this edition (even though Tom Webster was on the cover).  

faxless payday loans "Fifteen Miles-The Hard Way"

   Larry Pleau is from Gallagher Park in Lynn, Massachusetts, no more than 15 miles away from Boston.   Larry's first ice skating experience was bitter.  "I was out there five minutes and I came back and told him (his father) I never wanted to skate again," Pleau stated.
   Pleau started playing in his home area.  He moved on to the Montreal Junior Canadiens after playing in high school and learning more of the sport in a Worcester hockey school.  Pleau played hockey for the Army with the Olympic team in France in 1967.   After his stint in the Army, he returned to the Montreal farm system and played about a season in the NHL over two years.  The last time he was called up he scored 11 points in 13 games.  Despite that, he was benched.
   "Then I knew I had no future with Montreal," Pleau stated.
   Jack Kelley called, Larry accepted a contract offer, and the rest is history.
Larry Pleau Scores
   More articles centered on Tommy Williams, scorer of the Whalers first regular season goal, an article on American players in the WHA, and a very good article by Bill Dineen, head coach of the Houston Aeros.  Dineen defined hockey as:
...the fastest-growing professional spectator
sport in North America.  Its fan appeal
is due to the explosiveness and excitement
generated by the participants.  Action
takes place in a relatively confined space
at terrific speed leading to violent body
seo contact unequalled in any other game.
Back to WHA Page