Philadelphia Blazers
The Philadelphia Blazers were a one-season WHA franchise who played at the Philadelphia Civic Center in the City of Brotherly Love. The club was founded as the Miami Screaming Eagles, but when they were unable to get an arena in Florida, they were sold and relocated to Pennsylvania. Before the season started, the team made a big splash by signing Boston's Derek Sanderson to what was at the time the biggest contract in pro sports (5 years, $2.65 million). The Blazers also had long time Flyer Bernie Parent in net, as he had come along with the Miami Screaming Eagles deal.
Unfortunately, the Blazers' stint in Philly was doomed from the start. They got off to a rocky start when the ice shattered under the weight of the zamboni on opening night, forcing the game to be postponed. Only eight games into his lucrative deal, Sanderson got hurt and would never play for the team again. In that 1972-73 season, the Blazers won nearly half of their games but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. After the season, the team was sold and relocated to the northwest to become the Vancouver Blazers.
Unfortunately, the Blazers' stint in Philly was doomed from the start. They got off to a rocky start when the ice shattered under the weight of the zamboni on opening night, forcing the game to be postponed. Only eight games into his lucrative deal, Sanderson got hurt and would never play for the team again. In that 1972-73 season, the Blazers won nearly half of their games but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. After the season, the team was sold and relocated to the northwest to become the Vancouver Blazers.
