Bobby Hull seeks to revive WHA

Should the National Hockey Legaue run into labour trouble next season, Bobby Hull is ready.

The 64-year-old Hall of Famer is the commissioner of a new league that hopes to take advantage of predicted NHL labour woes in 2004-05 to renew the World Hockey Association.

Hull has spent months checking out interested cities and inspecting rinks all over North America.

CBC Montreal:
• WHA aims to resurrect Nordiques

"I've seen quite a lot of rinks," Hull said Tuesday after taking a break from a tour of Colisee Pepsi, where he played against the Quebec Nordiques of the WHA 30 years ago.

"As long as there are great buildings to play out of, like this, in great hockey cities, we think there will be a place for the WHA."

The WHA rose to existence in 1972 to compete with the National Hockey League. The league lasted for seven years and boasted such star players as Hull, Gordie Howe, Frank Mahovlich and Bernie Parent.

Later, younger players started their careers in the WHA, including Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier.

Hull says the new league aims to have a dozen teams to play in 2004-2005.

with files from Canadian Press