Whalers merchandise still sells big

The National Hockey League's (NHL) Hartford Whalers, moved to North Carolina in 1997 to become the Carolina Hurricanes. The team never won a Stanley Cup in Hartford; but they did once they moved to North Carolina (2005).

But, fans in Hartford, CT still love their team. And the team's merchandise is still a hot seller in Hartford and beyond.

It was tough for Hartford when they played in Hartford. Being in-between the Boston Bruins and the New York Rangers; but they pulled through.

It was long rumored that the Whalers might be headed to the Minneapolis/St. Paul area in the mid-90s. The Twin Cities had lost an NHL team of their own a couple years before to Dallas. After unsuccessful tries to get the Whalers, the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets, the NHL finally realized their mistake and awarded an expansion franchise to the area to start in the 2000 season.

Hartford was a small market, and who knows why jerseys are still selling in the region and beyond. But, who knows why North Stars jerseys still sell in the Twin Cities, 17 years after they departed for greener pastures in Dallas?

Heck, they still have a "fan fest" in Hartford celebrating the Whalers. People loved the team there.

And the league allows for the jerseys to still be manufactured, even though the franchise technically isn't in the league anymore. The only problem is that sales of jerseys, shirts and other Whalers apparel can't be ranked among the other NHL teams.

It could just be fans wanting a piece of Whalers history. You still see lots of people in the Twin Cities wearing North Stars jerseys, too. Yes, it was a bitter ordeal in the 1993 off-season when the team left for Dallas; but fans here still love the North Stars, even with the new team in town.

And, they still love the Whalers in Hartford.

The Whalers came over to the NHL from the World Hockey Association in 1979. They played at the Hartford Civic Center during their time there. The team relocated to North Carolina to become the Hurricanes in 1997. As of now, the Whalers were the last NHL team to relocate.