PHOENIX, Ariz. – Tim Gassen has been a fan of the World Hockey Association since the league was formed in the ‘70’s. That affection for the WHA and the players and fans was evidenced when he released his video collection, Gretzky, Indy & The WHA , and reviewed in these pages . Gassen is back (or is still here) and has announced the WHA Hall of Fame Tour for 2010.
“I’ve been involved in the league since 1975, as a rabid WHA teenage fan in Indianapolis. Now, through my films and writing, I’ve been blessed to know my boyhood hockey heroes as people. To know such brilliant players such as Pat Stapleton, Andre Hedberg, Andre Lacroix as people, not statistics or as performers, is a great reward. And I think they realize how serious our efforts are to recognize their WHA careers and the careers of their teammates. All of the documentaries, books and other media we’re making aren’t really about a hockey league at all – it’s about the hockey people we admire and our desire to share them with others in a historically accurate way,” explained Gassen.
The rebel major league WHA now has its own Hall of Fame – and will debut its new 6-DVD WHA Hall of Fame DVD Series at four summer 2010 events across the U.S. and Canada, with Bobby Hull, Gordie Howe and other 1970s hockey stars . The sites for the tour include:
Saturday, July 17 in North Branch, New Jersey:
The WHA HOF tour begins at the Seventh Annual MeiGray Game Worn Jersey Expo, Saturday July 17 at Raritan Valley Community College Conference Center in North Branch, New Jersey.
“We believe the MeiGray WHA jersey collection could be the finest and most complete in the world,” Gassen said. “This is a rare opportunity for fans to see WHA jerseys in a historically accurate way.”
Saturday, August 14 in Hartford, Connecticut:
The second stop for the WHA HOF tour is the Whalers Summer Fan Fest and Reunion , Saturday August 14, 2010 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. Timothy Gassen will emcee an induction ceremony for recently elected WHA HOF members Gordie Howe, Howard Baldwin and Andre Lacroix , among others.
The admission price to the day-long event is a $5 donation to the Whalers Alumni Foundation. Event Information is here .
Friday, August 20 in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada):
The Amadeus Steen Foundation is proud to announce the Friday, August 20, 2010 World Premiere of the new WHA Hall of Fame documentary film “WHA Legends: Remembering the Winnipeg Jets” at the 4Play Sports Bar, 323 Portage Avenue in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The star-studded premiere will feature in-person appearances by former Winnipeg hockey greats, including a reunion of the Jets’ famous “Hotline” of Bobby Hull, Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson . Former Jets and other 1970s World Hockey Association stars will travel from across the globe for the film premiere event, capping the Amadeus Steen Foundation’s annual weeklong charity fundraising events.
“I’ve dedicated a few years to the WHA because as a journalist I found there was very little credible published information about the league. And then last year I saw this museum display in Toronto that quite erroneously labeled the major league WHA as a ‘defunct minor league.’ That got my blood boiling, to be sure,” said Gassen.
So a great part of the WHA HOF is a concerted effort to ‘set the record straight’ with accurate information. Also, as I found more and more original game footage, I fell in love again with the style of play and the personalities of the WHA. It was just plain fun!”
A limited number of admission tickets are available to the public, and can be purchased at the 4Play Sports bar in person or online at their web site .
Saturday, August 28 in Cleveland, Ohio:
The World Hockey Association Hall of Fame concludes its Summer 2010 tour with a day of celebration for major league hockey All-Star Andre Lacroix in Cleveland, Ohio, on Saturday, August 28, at the The Pond ice complex, 9999 E. Washington Street (in Chagrin Falls, Ohio).
As WHA Hall of Fame President, Gassen will emcee an induction ceremony for recently elected WHA HOF member (and Chagrin Falls resident) Andre Lacroix, the all-time WHA scoring leader. Documentary films from the new WHA Hall of Fame DVD Series, an autograph session, and an exhibition hockey game with former WHA stars will also be featured.
The August 28 event information and tickets are available here .
Fans are encouraged to come early for the events. The WHA Hall of Fame will operate a merchandise table with a limited supply of exclusive T-shirts, pucks, hockey cards and DVDs available only at this premiere event. Bring cash for merchandise sales and see complete information at WHAhof.com
The WHA Hall of Fame DVD series: (each are 2-DVD box sets) Volume 1: Gretzky, Indy & The WHA
Volume 2: WHA Legends: Winnipeg Jets vs Houston Aeros
Volume 3: Remembering the WHA
Complete event information is available at the WHA Hockey Hall of Fame web site .
“What’s next for the WHA HOF are induction ceremonies throughout the US and Canada for WHA players, and we hope soon to announce the museum location for the WHA Hall of fame display. Then the real fun begins,” Gassen added.
Contact Lou.Lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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