WHA (World Hockey Association)

The World Hockey Association (WHA) was a professional ice hockey league that operated from 1972 to 1979 as a competitor to the National Hockey League (NHL). It aimed to challenge the NHL's dominance by offering higher salaries, new teams, and innovative ideas to grow the sport. The WHA attracted talented players, including some who jumped from the NHL, and helped increase player wages and expand the sport's popularity. In 1979, four WHA teams merged into the NHL, solidifying its impact on professional hockey despite its relatively short existence.