The Whalers: The Rise, Fall, and Enduring Mystique of New England's (Second) Greatest NHL Franchise

by Patrick Pickens

More than twenty years after departing Hartford, Connecticut, for Raleigh, North Carolina, the NHL's Whalers continue to inspire passion among fans. As HartfordBusiness.com reported in 2015, "Whalers merchandise...still has a cult following not only among fans in Connecticut but around the country." But Whalers devotees aren't just clamoring for jerseys, hats and t-shirts. They're nostalgic for a team that had New England roots for nearly 25 years--in Boston, Springfield, and Hartford--and featured some of the greatest players in NHL history, including Gordie Howe (with his sons Mark and Marty), Bobby Hull, and Ron Francis.

Pat Pickens’s book details the Whalers’ origin in Boston in 1972, the team’s WHA championship in 1973, the roof collapse of their home arena that indirectly led to their entrance to the NHL in 1979, their stunning NHL playoff-series win against the top-seeded Quebec Nordiques in 1986, the 1986-87 season when they claimed their first division championship, and their relocation south in 1997 as the Carolina Hurricanes. Pickens imagines a Stanley Cup delivered to hockey-crazed Hartford in 2006, when the Hurricanes instead brought it home to North Carolina. The book also explores the likelihood of an NHL team returning to the Nutmeg State.

Genres: Sports, Hockey, History, Nonfiction

284 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2023

Reviews

[Krystle Pickens · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated the commentary and color as well as the history and research that went into this book. There were so many great quotes from hockey greats that made the story feel complete.

The chapter about the sun belt didn’t cover any info about the whalers at all, but it really gave good background to ice hockey and the NHL looking to move teams south-something that definitely doesn’t seem intuitive or natural.

I lived in CT long after the whalers were gone, but have seen plenty of whalers gear and this book made me feel connected with the team and while reading through the games, I found myself really rooting for them, and ultimately celebrating with the hurricanes when they found success after the move.

Great read!

[Jason Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Really cool book about a team that probably should still be in Hartford!!!
Very well researched, and the book goes through the history of the Whalers.
Hopefully the NHL’s higher ups read it, and give a franchise back to Hartford!

[Bradley Proctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched, well written. A sad story about a small market that let their support for the team slip. If you’re a small market professional sports town, you have to support the team win or lose.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pat Pickens' first book is essential reading for anyone looking to understand the foundation, history and continued cultural relevance of the Hartford Whalers. Pickens, an experienced hockey reporter from the Hearst Connecticut Media Group and NHL.com among others, draws on conversations with 25 former Whalers personnel to tell the story of one of the most unique and beloved sports franchises in North American history.

A must-read for hockey fans or anyone looking to understand why a hockey team that hasn't existed in nearly 25 years still sells more merchandise than half of the teams in the NHL.

[John Galluzzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege to grow up in the northeast in the days of the Bruins-Canadiens-Sabres-Nordiques-Whalers Adams Division. Although a diehard B's fan, I lamented the loss of the Whalers to North Carolina. Something died in all of the NHL when the Whalers left town.

I understand now why it happened, but that doesn't make it any less depressing. (I could say the same for the Nordiques).

The author covers the whole story from the start-up of the organization, in a very hockey-centric book. It's easiest to read if you know the sport, but even with a small hockey-to-English dictionary you can enjoy it for the behind-the-scenes stories. Most of what we get in the way of sports news is the logistics of the business: this team won, that defenseman got traded, this coach was fired. This book tells us the inside stories, the tales of deals that fell through, of why trades were made, how they affected the athletes and more. It goes - a little harshly, I felt - into why Hartford hasn't bounced back onto the NHL scene while other smaller markets have jumped into the pool and thrived.

There's a fun balance of interviewees: owners, coaches, players, media members and fans. The author provides a wide array of voices and in some cases it was wonderful to see the names in print again. I often wondered what happened to certain players inextricably linked to the big W on the sweater.

For me, this book was a walk down memory lane, one on which I got to peek into windows that had been previously closed to my eyes. I miss the Whalers, if just as a team to hate in a sporting way.

Not that I don't hate the Hurricanes...

[Sam Dakota · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few former North American teams have the enduring mystique of the Hartford Whalers, and, despite that nostalgia, few books have been written about this franchise. Pat Pickens does a great job covering that gap, starting with the team's roots in the WHA, and continuing up and through their move to Raleigh and their 2006 Stanley Cup win as the Carolina Hurricanes.

The most valuable and insightful aspect of this book are the firsthand interviews Pickens was able to conduct with a litany of former Whalers. Hearing Ray Ferraro, Ron Francis, Peter Karmanos, and Paul Maurice (among others) talk about their experiences in Hartford and with the organization was informative and shed light on the inner goings-on of a franchise in seeming constant turmoil.

The only detractor of the book is how each chapter seems episodic in nature. While this often works when presenting a chronology, there was repetition in subsequent pages (often verbatim) of information presenting previously. It almost seems like the author wrote a chapter, set the manuscript down for a month or two, wrote another chapter, and then slammed it all together at the time of publication.

But that shouldn't discourage anyone from picking this up. From the casual sports fan to the diehard member of the Whalers booster club, there's something in this book for anyone who wants to learn more about New England's (second) greatest NHL franchise.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A full history of the Hartford Whalers, from their time in the WHA (as the New England Whalers), to their eventual move to North Carolina and rebrand as the Carolina Hurricanes (with a chapter covering that era). Every season is touched on, though some are only briefly looked at. The few playoff appearances of the Whalers are looked at in great detail, with each of the 46 games getting analyzed.

The book is solid in that it presents things objectively, noting the good and the bad with the team, and why it was unable to work. However a little more depth on some subjects would have been nice, in particular more discussion of off-season moves like the draft, and a bit more on trades and players coming and going (some names show up suddenly without any explanation). Overall though, a good book to read, and a good look at the tumultuous history of the Whalers.

[Mike Siedzik · Rating 4 out of 5]

My formative years were spent cheering for my beloved hometown Whalers from the upper deck of the Civic Center, where I witnessed way more losses than wins. This chronicle of the birth and death of Connecticut's only major league franchise brought be back to section 311. Not only does the book cover the highs and lows, and lows, and lowers of the on ice Whalers, it also sheds light on the front office who was pulling the strings - something I was completely oblivious to as a kid. I'm still a fan of the NHL, but as this book points out its impossible to root for any other current NHL team with the same vigor and hope. p.s. F*** the Bruins!

[Mojoswork · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breezy read through Whalers history, Pickens’ book is rife with new names to add to my Puckdoku regiment (Mike Rogers, Blaine Stoughton). The most amazing thing, though, is in the acknowledgments, Pickens admits he’s NEVER EVEN SEEN THE WHALERS PLAY. The entire time, I felt like the author was a diehard fan with encyclopedic knowledge. I’m impressed. The second most amazing thing is that his parents’ names are Tom and Geri.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great telling of the Whalers conception, rise, and ultimate move to North Carolina. There were some great photos and quotes from former players. Also some play by play descriptions of pivotal games and moments in the franchise's history. Excellent read for any Whalers fan or Hurricanes fan!

[Dave Cottenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hartford Whalers are definitely an interesting story. There is the question as to why it just didn't work in Hartford and Patrick Pickens pulls back the curtain and gives the fan some insight as to what went wrong. Unfortunately, there is too much content that does not really focus on the Whalers and is more in line with the larger NHL at the time. At times the reader questions what this has to do with the Whalers at all. Overall an interesting history.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very nostalgic for me as a hockey fan from CT. There was a lot of information that was new to me in here too, so that was a pleasant surprise. You don’t have to be a Hartford Whaler’s fan to enjoy this. It’s definitely worth a read if you are a hockey fan or a CT sports fan in general.

[Howie · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed the background research and information on a team that should have never left. nicely done.

[Alex K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent write up on the history of the Hartford Whalers. You get the scoop from their early beginnings to the death of the team in the 90’s.

[Pam Koenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book on the history of a hockey team & the people involved with trying to keep an upstart team in the big time.

[Jonas Short · Rating 3 out of 5]

*DNF; lots of skimming

Well researched and written but I learned what I wanted to and moved on. I was mainly interested in the contours of a team history and how a beloved New England franchise moved from to the South, and it was more detailed than I needed.

[Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect book for anyone looking to learn more about the Hartford Whalers and all the mania associated with them. As a Carolina Hurricanes fan, I read this book to try and learn some about the franchise's roots in Connecticut. I was not disappointed. Pickens manages to make this book incredibly engaging while packing it with information. The section of the book dedicated to detailing the Whaler's successive - and failing - playoff runs during the 80s was particularly engaging and absorbing.

Also, the book is greatly balanced. Pickens acknowledges the anger many Whalers fans felt when their team was moved to Raleigh and how it continues to this day. At the same time, he explains the financial and sporting realities that led to the team's move to the Triangle. Balanced, absorbing, and educational, I would highly recommend it to any Caniac, former Whalers fan, or to any hockey fan.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always considered myself a lifelong Whalers fan, but being born in 1986 I wasn’t into them until the last 3 or so years and my fandom didn’t not follow them to Carolina so so much of this book was foreign to me. And while I liked learning more of the history, I must say I preferred the parts where I connected with the names.