Avco World Trophy

Information about Avco World Trophy

The Avco World Trophy was the championship trophy of the original World Hockey Association (1972-1979). The trophy's naming rights were sold to the former Avco Corporation (a name originally derived from "Aviation Company"), a defence contractor who bought the rights to advertise their consumer finance division. The trophy was mocked in many circles and was never to develop anything approaching the significance and sentiment of its National Hockey League comparison, considering the age and prestige of the Stanley Cup.

The Avco Trophy in fact may have been most famous, or perhaps infamous, in its absence. When the New England Whalers won the league's inaugural championship in 1973 the trophy had not yet been completed, and the Whalers were forced to "skate" their divisional championship trophy around the ice surface, much to the embarrassment of the WHA office.

The AVCO World Trophy was given yearly to the championship team of the World Hockey Association (WHA). The trophy was donated to the new league in 1972 along with approximately $500,000 by the AVCO Financial Services Corporation. Thus the WHA became the only major sports league to have its championship trophy bear the name of a private corporation. There actually exist three AVCO trophies. Besides the one that is on display at the Hockey Hall of Fame, the others reside in Nova Scotia and Winnipeg. The Avco Trophy was retired after the WHA ceased operations in 1979. The Bobby Hull–led Jets claimed the trophy on three occasions including the final league championship against Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers. Gordie Howe and the Aeros won it twice.

The cup was a trophy developed by Frank Bonnerkopf of Boise, Idaho. He won the contract for creating the trophy after he decorated the Avco CEO's home.

One of the remaining Cups can be found in the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in Halifax.

Avco World Trophy winners

See also

World Hockey Association (French: Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League after
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The 1972-73 WHA season was the first regular season of the now defunct World Hockey Association (WHA). Twelve teams played 78 games each. The league was officially incorporated in June of 1971 by Garry L. Davidson and Dennis A.
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The 1978-79 WHA season was the seventh and final regular season of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Prior to the start of the season, the Houston Aeros folded leaving seven teams to start the season.
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Naming rights are the right to name a piece of property, either tangible property or an event, usually granted in exchange for financial considerations. Institutions like schools, places of worship and hospitals have a tradition of granting donors the right to name facilities in
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For the record label, see Avco Records
Avco Corporation is a subsidiary of Textron which operates Textron Systems Corporation and Lycoming.
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Sport Ice hockey
Founded 1917
No. of teams 30
Country(ies)  Canada
 United States

Most recent champion(s) Anaheim Ducks

TV partner(s) CAN: CBC, TSN, RDS, RIS, RSN (regional)
USA:
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Stanley Cup

Established 1893
Current holder Anaheim Ducks
Awarded to the Team that wins the playoffs of the National Hockey League

The Stanley Cup (French: La Coupe Stanley
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Hartford Whalers

Founded 1979
History New England Whalers
1972 - 1979
Hartford Whalers
1979 - 1997
Carolina Hurricanes
1997 - Present

Home Arena Hartford Civic Center
City Hartford, Connecticut
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The 1972-73 WHA season was the first regular season of the now defunct World Hockey Association (WHA). Twelve teams played 78 games each. The league was officially incorporated in June of 1971 by Garry L. Davidson and Dennis A.
..... Click the link for more information.
Position Left Wing

Shot Left

Nickname(s) The Golden Jet
Height
Weight
208 | lb (0 kg)

Pro Clubs NHL
 Chicago Blackhawks
 Winnipeg Jets
 Hartford Whalers
WHA
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Position Centre

Shot Left

Nickname(s) The Great One
Height
Weight
185 | lb (0 kg)

Pro Clubs WHA
 Indianapolis Racers
 Edmonton Oilers
NHL
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Edmonton Oilers

Conference Western
Division Northwest
Founded 1972
History Edmonton Oilers
1979-present (NHL)
1973-1979 (WHA)
Alberta Oilers
1972-73 (WHA)
Home Arena Rexall Place
City Edmonton, Alberta
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Position Right Wing

Shot Right

Nickname(s) Mr. Hockey
Height
Weight
205 | lb (0 kg)

Pro Clubs USHL
 Omaha Knights
NHL
 Detroit Red Wings
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Nova Scotia
Nouvelle-Écosse, Alba Nuadh

Flag Coat of arms
Motto: Munit Haec et Altera Vincit   (Latin)
"One defends and the other conquers"
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For other uses, see Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The Halifax urban area (2006 pop: 282,924 [1] ), also referred to as Metropolitan Halifax, Metro Halifax, and sometimes, incorrectly, as Halifax, Nova Scotia
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The 1972-73 WHA season was the first regular season of the now defunct World Hockey Association (WHA). Twelve teams played 78 games each. The league was officially incorporated in June of 1971 by Garry L. Davidson and Dennis A.
..... Click the link for more information.
Hartford Whalers

Founded 1979
History New England Whalers
1972 - 1979
Hartford Whalers
1979 - 1997
Carolina Hurricanes
1997 - Present

Home Arena Hartford Civic Center
City Hartford, Connecticut
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The 1973-74 WHA season was the second season of the now defunct World Hockey Association. Twelve teams each played 78 games. The Philadelphia Blazers relocated to Vancouver in Canada, becoming the Vancouver Blazers.
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Houston Aeros were a World Hockey Association team that played from 1972 to 1978.

Franchise history

The Aeros became one of the original franchises in the World Hockey Association when the Dayton Aeros franchise was moved to Houston in 1971.
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The 1974-75 WHA season was the third season of the now defunct World Hockey Association. Fourteen teams each played 78 games.

Regular season

The WHA expanded by adding the Indianapolis Racers and Phoenix Roadrunners, and splitting into 3 divisions (Western, Eastern, and
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Houston Aeros were a World Hockey Association team that played from 1972 to 1978.

Franchise history

The Aeros became one of the original franchises in the World Hockey Association when the Dayton Aeros franchise was moved to Houston in 1971.
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The 1975-76 WHA season was the fourth season of the now defunct World Hockey Association. After the Baltimore Blades and Chicago Cougars folded, the league stayed at 14 teams by adding the Cincinnati Stingers and Denver Spurs.
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Winnipeg Jets

Founded 1972
History Winnipeg Jets
1972–1979 (WHA)
1979–1996 (NHL)
Phoenix Coyotes
1996–present (NHL)

Home Arena Winnipeg Arena
City Winnipeg, Manitoba
Colours''' Blue, red and white
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The 1976-77 WHA season was the fifth season of the now defunct World Hockey Association (WHA). Prior to the season, the Toronto Toros moved to Birmingham, AL and became the Bulls.
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Quebec Nordiques

Founded 1972
History Quebec Nordiques
1972 - 1995
Colorado Avalanche
1995 - Present

Home Arena Colisée de Québec
City Quebec City, Quebec
Colours''' Red, White, and Blue
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The 1977-78 WHA season was the sixth season of the now defunct World Hockey Association (WHA). Eight teams played 80 games each. The Avco World Trophy winner was the Winnipeg Jets.
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Winnipeg Jets

Founded 1972
History Winnipeg Jets
1972–1979 (WHA)
1979–1996 (NHL)
Phoenix Coyotes
1996–present (NHL)

Home Arena Winnipeg Arena
City Winnipeg, Manitoba
Colours''' Blue, red and white
..... Click the link for more information.
The 1978-79 WHA season was the seventh and final regular season of the World Hockey Association (WHA). Prior to the start of the season, the Houston Aeros folded leaving seven teams to start the season.
..... Click the link for more information.
Winnipeg Jets

Founded 1972
History Winnipeg Jets
1972–1979 (WHA)
1979–1996 (NHL)
Phoenix Coyotes
1996–present (NHL)

Home Arena Winnipeg Arena
City Winnipeg, Manitoba
Colours''' Blue, red and white
..... Click the link for more information.
World Hockey Association (French: Association Mondiale de Hockey) was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League after
..... Click the link for more information.

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