This week, we dive back into the weird world of the World Hockey Association. A world in a world, is that possible?

Anyway, the WHA was known for a lot of things: blue pucks, using overtime to decide games when the NHL wouldn’t dare think about it, and lots and lots of franchise relocations and player movement. Most players didn’t play in the same place for too long, so you had a lot of awkward moments such as the above photo preserved for all eternity.

Al McLeod had started the 1976-77 season as a member of the Phoenix Roadrunners, but he was traded to Houston after 29 games. This photo was likely taken sometime during that 29-game stint in Arizona, so by the time the cards came out, he was now with the Aeros. Whatever was O-Pee-Chee to do? Well, they thought it best to just paint over Al’s Roadrunner uniform and put him in what looks like a sweater his grandma knitted him for Christmas. I can just see Al sitting in his favourite armchair smoking a pipe and reading War and Peace with his trusty dog nestled on the carpet next to him and in front of a roaring fire.

See, I can write real novel-like scenes, and not just this boring historical stuff too!