In one offseason, the Toronto Toros went from the hotbed of hockey to the heart of Dixie as they became the Birmingham Bulls after being unable to secure a new lease with at the Maple Leaf Gardens. The World Hockey Association, in its fifth year, hoped the find new markets to spread their league, but I doubt they ever had Alabama in mind.

In their first game at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center, the Bulls coached by Gilles Leger defeated the Houston Aeros, one of the premier teams in the WHA led by Gordie Howe 4-2 on October 8th. However, for the most part, wins were few and far between for the Bulls who held a 5-16-1 record through their first six weeks.

In the second half of the season, the Bulls would play better, but they would still finish in fifth place with a record of 31-46-4. Among the bright spots was Mark Napier, who led the team in scoring with 60 goals and 36 assists, while Goalie John Garrett was an all-star thanks in part to four shut outs.

Best of all, the Bulls were one of the better drawing teams, as fans in Birmingham were drawn to the curiosity of professional hockey.