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Hartford Whalers

Gone since 1997. So who just won the Cup?

Hartford Whalers story slide 1: Whalers players in green - the team that's been gone since 1997, and the franchise that just won its 2nd Stanley Cup. — photo 1 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 2: before the NHL there was a rival league, the WHA - the Whalers started there and set up in Boston Garden. — photo 2 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 3: the gamble worked - the Whalers led the entire WHA in attendance, averaging nearly 7,000 fans a game. — photo 3 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 4: New England beat Bobby Hull's Jets to win the WHA's first title in 1973 - with a stand-in cup. — photo 4 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 5: sharing Boston Garden left too few dates, so in 1975 the Whalers took an arena of their own in Hartford. — photo 5 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 6: the Hartford Civic Center roof caved in at 4:19 a.m. on Jan 18, 1978 - empty building, zero injuries. — photo 6 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 7: the team that walked back into the rebuilt building in 1979 was in a different league - the WHA was gone and Hartford was in the NHL. — photo 7 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 9: that first NHL season had 51-year-old Gordie Howe on the roster, playing alongside his sons Mark and Marty. — photo 9 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 10: good, but not championship-level - in 1986 Hartford won its only playoff series, then lost Game 7 in overtime to Montreal. — photo 10 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 11: the 1986-87 Adams Division Champions banner - the franchise's only division title. — photo 11 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 12: the beginning of the end - in 1991 Hartford traded captain Ron Francis to Pittsburgh. — photo 12 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 13: an aging arena and years of ownership changes - by 1997 Hartford and the state couldn't agree on lease terms. — photo 13 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 14: the franchise relocated to North Carolina and became the Carolina Hurricanes, with Whalers players wearing Hurricanes red. — photo 14 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 15: retired numbers in the Raleigh rafters - Ron Francis and Glen Wesley are two of Carolina's four retired numbers. — photo 15 of 16

Hartford Whalers story slide 16: 2006 first Stanley Cup, 2026 second Stanley Cup - twenty years apart, same continuous franchise. — photo 16 of 16

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The Whalers won the first WHA championship in 1973 as the New England Whalers, then came into the NHL in 1979 as the Hartford Whalers. Gordie Howe played there with his sons Mark and Marty, Brass Bonanza played after goals, and the logo hides an H in the space between the whale's tail and the W.

Hartford Whalers hockey apparel

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