Cleveland Crusaders

The Cleveland Crusaders were not an original WHA team, however they did participate in the league's inaugural season in 1972-73. They were previously known as the Calgary Broncos, but they were relocated to Cleveland after their owner passed away. In Cleveland, the Crusaders achieved success, ranking second in their division three out of four seasons and averaging 6,000 people per game. They never had much playoff success though, winning only one series in five attempts. The Crusaders folded following the 1975-76 season, fearful of the NHL transferring the Golden Seals to Cleveland as the Barons, which happened in the summer of '76. The Crusaders were sold to a group that intended to relocate them to South Florida and rename them the Florida Breakers. After the deal fell through, the team relocated to Minnesota to become the Fighting Saints' second incarnation.