Toronto Toros

The Toronto Toros began play in the WHA in the league's season second, 1973-74, after skipping town on money they owed to Ottawa when they were the Ottawa Nationals. The Toros played their first season in Toronto at Varsity Arena and recorded 41 wins and also made the second round of the playoffs. For their second season in 1974-75, the team moved into Maple Leaf Gardens, but were another WHA team that was a victim of poor lease terms in an NHL arena. On the ice, the team had former NHL star Frank Mahovlich and recorded another 40+ win season. They also attracted five-figure crowds which helped them offset the poor lease terms. But the following season, the lease would prove to be too tough as the team had only 24 wins and faced declining attendance. They would pack up and move to Birmingham, Alabama for the 1976-77 season.