OT: Sorry, but it's totally revolting watching Carolina fans wear Whalers jerseys at playoff games

[bob15]

Nope. You're wrong. Here are where the Whalers stacked in NHL attendance. Their last 5 seasons before their final one, they were 2nd or 3rd worst in the NHL in average attendance. Often behind expansion teams only. Tampa Bay's first season was 1992. Same for Ottawa.

91-92 - 10,896 (3rd lowest in NHL behind San Jose and Islanders)
92-93 - 10,144 (2nd lowest ahead of only Tampa Bay)
93-94 - 10,407 (2nd lowest ahead of only Ottawa)
94-95 - 11,835 (2nd lowest ahead of only Ottawa)
95-96 - 11,983 (3rd lowest in NHL behind Winnipeg and Islanders)
96-97 (final season) - 13,680

The fair weather fans in CT quit on the Whalers and didn't support them.

The attendance was low, but some due to the size of the CC. Also, let's not forget how ownership jacked up the ticket prices 20%, eliminated partial season plans and raising the season ticket deposit by 750%. Blame ownership, not the fans

A better perspective is via attendance percentage:

86-87: 95%
90-91: 84%
91-92: 74%
92-93: 69%
93-94: 71%
94-95: 80%
95-96: 81%
96-97: 93%

'Canes.....also the perennial lowest attendance team:

2014-15: 61% - 11,000 people (if you want the numbers)
2015-16: 65%

Might want to see the attendance record of the Jets, before leaving & after....with after being around 100%

 

[mauconnfan]

Who cares as AW said. Rangers just came back from a 3-1 deficit let’s hope they stay hot and take care of the Canes you all seem to hate!

 

[Pgh2Storrs]

Who cares as AW said. Rangers just came back from a 3-1 deficit let’s hope they stay hot and take care of the Canes you all seem to hate!

I hope Carolina wins in 4.

 

[drayenob]

They won one playoff series in their entire existence; they didn't qualify for the playoffs for 10 of 19 seasons. This was at a time when 16 of 21 teams got in every year. I used to buy the cheap seats for 8 bucks per game. They more than doubled to 20 per game within a few short years. Attendance was fine between '85 & '90 when they were "good".

Season	GP	W	L	T	Pts	Finish	Playoffs
1979–80	80​	27​	34​	19​	73​	4th, Norris	Lost Preliminary Round (Montreal), 0–3
1980–81	80​	21​	41​	18​	60​	5th, Norris	Did not qualify
1981–82	80​	21​	41​	18​	60​	5th, Adams	Did not qualify
1982–83	80​	19​	54​	7​	45​	5th, Adams	Did not qualify
1983–84	80​	28​	42​	10​	66​	5th, Adams	Did not qualify
1984–85	80​	30​	41​	9​	69​	5th, Adams	Did not qualify
1985–86	80​	40​	36​	4​	84​	4th, Adams	Won Adams Division Semi-Final (Quebec), 3–0
Lost Adams Division Final (Montreal), 3–4
1986–87	80​	43​	30​	7​	93​	1st, Adams	Lost Adams Division Semi-Final (Quebec), 2–4
1987–88	80​	35​	38​	7​	77​	4th, Adams	Lost Adams Division Semi-Final (Montreal), 2–4
1988–89	80​	37​	38​	5​	79​	4th, Adams	Lost Adams Division Semi-Final (Montreal), 0–4
1989–90	80​	38​	33​	9​	85​	4th, Adams	Lost Adams Division Semi-Final (Boston), 3–4
1990–91	80​	31​	38​	11​	73​	4th, Adams	Lost Adams Division Semi-Final (Boston), 2–4
1991–92	80​	26​	41​	13​	65​	4th, Adams	Lost Adams Division Semi-Final (Montreal), 3–4
1992–93	84​	26​	52​	6​	58​	5th, Adams	Did not qualify
1993–94	84​	27​	48​	9​	63​	6th, Northeast	Did not qualify
1994–951	48​	19​	24​	5​	43​	5th, Northeast	Did not qualify
1995–96	82​	34​	39​	9​	77​	4th, Northeast	Did not qualify
1996–97	82​	32​	39​	11​	75​	5th, Northeast	Did not qualify

 

[BrassBonanza]

Proudly have still not watched an NHL game since they left. Not going to.

Whaler season ticket holder for 15 years.

F them.

I'm the same way. love college and Olympic hockey but F the NHL forever.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

So...is the Boneyard now rooting for the Rangers now???

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

 

[UCTitleTown]

Blame prior owners, not the current fans.

 

[August_West]

So...is the Boneyard now rooting for the Rangers now???

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

I was brought home from the hospital when I was born in a rangers shirt. Great comeback against the pens!

 

[Hey Adrien!]

I was brought home from the hospital when I was born in a rangers shirt. Great comeback against the pens!

That's awesome. I can't play a lick of hockey, but I was friends with Dave Maloney's son in elementary and middle school (before he moved onto private school) and I was fortunate to have gone to a few Rangers games with the Maloneys when I was a young kid. As you can imagine, it fully ignited my love for the Rangers.

Zibanejad: from the dog house to G6 and G7 hero! Panarin...hated him all series until the GWG!!! The kids are doing a great job.

Screw the "we're playing on house money" narrative. Just keep winning!

 

[August_West]

That's awesome. I can't play a lick of hockey, but I was friends with Dave Maloney's son in elementary and middle school (before he moved onto private school) and I was fortunate to have gone to a few Rangers games with the Maloneys when I was a young kid. As you can imagine, it fully ignited my love for the Rangers.

Zibanejad: from the dog house to G6 and G7 hero! Panarin...hated him all series until the GWG!!! The kids are doing a great job.

Screw the "we're playing on house money" narrative. Just keep winning!

Zibanejad can't lose a faceoff. Incredible. He won every draw on the PP before Panarin scored.



My dad had season tix when I was a kid during the Don and Dave Maloney era. With Duguay, Esposito, Barry Beck etc.... fun teams.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Zibanejad can't lose a faceoff. Incredible. He won every draw on the PP before Panarin scored.



My dad had season tix when I was a kid during the Don and Dave Maloney era. With Duguay, Esposito, Barry Beck etc.... fun teams.

Never snub the Staten Island Stallion, Nick Fotiu!

 

[booneNC]

couple days late on this because I was celebrating the Canes win with everyone else here in Raleighwood, but are you guys really mad they left Hartford? Based on the some of the above seemed like attendance stunk and since moving here, they've made a cup, won a cup and the last 4 seasons have been one of the elite teams in the NHL. What am I missing?

 

[August_West]

Never snub the Staten Island Stallion, Nick Fotiu!

Nicky gave me pucks after warmups as a Ranger in MSG AND as a Whaler at HCC. Great guy. Great ritual. Kids loved him.

He took all the laces out of his hockey gloves so he could drop them faster for fights. Lol.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Zibanejad can't lose a faceoff. Incredible. He won every draw on the PP before Panarin scored.



My dad had season tix when I was a kid during the Don and Dave Maloney era. With Duguay, Esposito, Barry Beck etc.... fun teams.

I go back to the days when Eddie Giacomin didn't wear a mask. The GAG line, Brad Park, Walt Tkaczuk, hell, that team even had Chris Jericho's father and Tim Horton (yes, the donut Tim Horton) on it.

 

[karstenkibbe]

Nicky gave me pucks after warmups as a Ranger in MSG AND as a Whaler at HCC. Great guy. Great ritual. Kids loved him.

He took all the laces out of his hockey gloves so he could drop them faster for fights. Lol.

I remember as an 8 year old being taken to the Garden for a Rangers-Islanders game and being blown away by the atmosphere. The smoke haze that hovered up in the blue seats, the “Potvin Sucks” chants, a bloody fish thrown on the ice when Potvin scored on a slap shot from the point. I could even sense the unease Rangers fans felt from the “Swedish Invasion” of Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg. Everything was palpable in that building.

 

[Deepster]

couple days late on this because I was celebrating the Canes win with everyone else here in Raleighwood, but are you guys really mad they left Hartford? Based on the some of the above seemed like attendance stunk and since moving here, they've made a cup, won a cup and the last 4 seasons have been one of the elite teams in the NHL. What am I missing?

There is a super weird portion of this state that can't get over the fact that an owner took a franchise with terrible attendance and moved them to somewhere that promised them a better arena and arrangement.

And here we are decades later and the Civic Center is still that same decrepit hunk of concrete the Whalers left. Nothing here has changed one bit.

I don't root for or against Carolina.

 

[August_West]

I go back to the days when Eddie Giacomin didn't wear a mask. The GAG line, Brad Park, Walt Tkaczuk, hell, that team even had Chris Jericho's father and Tim Horton (yes, the donut Tim Horton) on it.

Oh man that’s when I cut my teeth on them going to games . I’ve got a ton of memorabilia at home including a personalized letter and autograph from Vic Hadfield. I’ll take some pics when I get home today. Eddie G is my all time fav.

 

[August_West]

I remember as an 8 year old being taken to the Garden for a Rangers-Islanders game and being blown away by the atmosphere. The smoke haze that hovered up in the blue seats, the “Potvin Sucks” chants, a bloody fish thrown on the ice when Potvin scored on a slap shot from the point. I could even sense the unease Rangers fans felt from the “Swedish Invasion” of Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg. Everything was palpable in that building.

I miss the blues. It was nuts. I saw a couple having sex up there in middle of section. The cops wouldn’t even go into the blues.

 

[SubbaBub]

Correct-Thanks Gov Rowland.

Rowland couldn't do a damn thing about it. Offers were made, but ponytail bought the team specifically so he could move it.

 

[Punkbo]

Never snub the Staten Island Stallion, Nick Fotiu!

It was great seeing Nicky at the game last night. The nicest guys on those Whalers teams were Nick and Gordie. I was at the Brawl at the Mall. Incredible memories!

 

[booneNC]

for the record, i do think it's super weird when the Canes wear Whalers jerseys. They changed the name and color scheme and, maybe I am wrong with this, but doesn't seem like the Whalers had some rich tradition or history the Canes need to uphold. The Thunder don't wear Sonics gear.

 

[Waquoit]

It’s revolting people still give a poop about a team that dipped out 25 years ago

People still give a poop about the Brooklyn Dodgers. The difference is the Whalers out drew them.

 

[Waquoit]

There is a super weird portion of this state that can't get over the fact that an owner took a franchise with terrible attendance and moved them to somewhere that promised them a better arena and arrangement.

Heh. The Canes aren't even the prime tenant in their own building.

 

[Waquoit]

Rowland couldn't do a damn thing about it. Offers were made, but ponytail bought the team specifically so he could move it.

Rowland's people gave him a standing ovation when he announced the Whale was leaving. Still haven't figured that one out. But it was Weicker's fault. He steered the purchase away from local owner's who promised to keep the team in town for longer. That made a difference because the salary cap was established in that window. In return, Weicker got a decades-long appointment to the Compuware Board of Directors.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Who cares as AW said. Rangers just came back from a 3-1 deficit let’s hope they stay hot and take care of the Canes you all seem to hate!

So...is the Boneyard now rooting for the Rangers now???

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!

Only NYC team I don't despise. Had a babysitter who introduced me to hockey, and he was a Rangers fan. But with Whalers players in my neighborhood, I definitely didn't become a Rangers fan. But the hate isn't there. Glad the Penguins are gone.