Jersey Knights
| Raiders/Golden Blades/Knights | |
|---|---|
| League | World Hockey Association |
| Operated | 1972–1974 |
| Franchise history | |
| 1972–1973 | New York Raiders |
| 1973–1974 | New York Golden Blades/ Jersey Knights |
| 1974–1977 | San Diego Mariners |
| New York Raiders | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | New York City, NY |
| Home arena | Madison Square Garden |
| Head coach | Camille Henry |
| New York Golden Blades | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | New York City, NY |
| Home arena | Madison Square Garden |
| Jersey Knights | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| City | Cherry Hill, New Jersey |
| Home arena | Cherry Hill Arena |
The New York Raiders were an ice hockey team and founding member of the World Hockey Association based in New York City. Intended to be the WHA's flagship franchise, its short lifespan was a result of being unable to compete with the National Hockey League's established New York Rangers, and the expansion New York Islanders. After its inaugural season, the team was known as the New York Golden Blades and eventually relocated to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, becoming the Jersey Knights.
The New York Raiders participated in the first WHA draft. Its coach was Camille Henry and the very first draft pick – second overall – was Al Sims. Sims did not, however, play for the Raiders, but he signed with the Boston Bruins instead.
The team was initially slated to play in the brand-new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island. However, Nassau County didn't consider the WHA a major league and wanted nothing to do with the Raiders. Nassau County retained William Shea to get an NHL team to play in the new building. The NHL responded by hastily awarding a franchise to Long Island—the New York Islanders. The Islanders' lease with the Coliseum was structured in such a way to effectively lock out non-NHL teams.
The Raiders were forced to play in Madison Square Garden, where they faced being tenants to their major competitor, the New York Rangers. The situation rapidly became untenable, with an onerous lease and poor attendance. The three original owners defaulted, and the league ended up taking control of the team midway through the season.
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