The World Hockey Affiliation held an beginner draft in 5 of the seven years of the league’s existence. The primary 12 months, there was a normal draft and within the ultimate 12 months, the league dropped the draft, selecting as an alternative to go after junior gamers on to signal them as free brokers (Rob Ramage, Mark Messier, Mike Gartner, and many others.).Of the 5 beginner drafts held by the WHA, all the primary general picks got here from Canadian junior leagues. Two of the 5 had been gamers from the Ontario Hockey League (OHA on the time).In 1973, Bob Neely of the Peterborough Petes was taken first general by the Chicago Cougars. Neely performed OHA hockey for 3 seasons from 1970-71 to 1972-73. His first season was performed with the Hamilton Pink Wings. He was traded to the Peterborough Petes throughout his second season and completed off his junior profession there.
In Bob’s ultimate season with the Petes, he contributed a powerful 76 factors in simply 55 video games. Neely additionally sat out a whopping 304 minutes in penalties. This was a mix the WHA was definitely in search of.Nevertheless, Bob was additionally picked tenth general within the 1973 NHL Novice Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Neely selected the NHL route and performed components of 5 seasons with the Leafs in addition to 22 video games with the Colorado Rockies in 1977-78. He completed out his hockey profession with the AHL’s New Brunswick Hawks in 1979-80. In all, Bob Neely performed in 283 NHL common seasons video games and skated in an extra 26 within the playoffs.Scott Campbell was a product of Invoice Lengthy’s London Knights within the 1970’s. Campbell was the final ever first general decide within the WHA, taking the highest seed within the 1977 draft. The Houston Aeros picked Campbell and he performed the 1977-78 season with the staff that was principally well-known for housing the Howe household.Scott performed three seasons with the London Knights from 1974-75 to 1976-77. In his ultimate season, he scored 23 and totalled 67 from the blueline on a potent protection that included Rob Ramage and Brad Marsh.
After his 12 months with the Aeros, Campbell performed the ultimate 12 months of the WHA with the Winnipeg Jets. He adopted the Jets into the NHL with the 1979-80 merger between the 2 leagues. Scott performed a complete of 77 video games with Winnipeg over the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons and added one other three video games with the St. Louis Blues the next season earlier than calling it a profession. Curiously, it was the Blues who picked Campbell within the 1977 NHL Entry Draft, ninth general.
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