New Franchises Golden Blades and Knights to Play in WHA

The
World Hockey Association reported this morning that WHA league officials have
approved two new

US
expansion franchises for play in the 2007-2008 hockey season.

The
two new WHA teams will play under the names of the Golden Blades and the
Knights and are backed by an investment group led by Mr. Charles Clay of

San Francisco,
California.
Clay’s group is in contact with several arenas in
Washington

State and

Oregon and is expected to announce the
cities in which the new teams will be located very shortly.

Charles
Clay has had long involvement in the operation of sports franchises. In the
past, Clay has backed teams in both Semi-Pro Baseball and Roller Hockey. During
the launch of the original professional World Hockey Association in the early
1970s, Clay was part of an investment group which was awarded the San Francisco
Seahawks franchise. The Seahawks are noted in WHA lore as a team which never
took the ice due to a subsequent decision to move the franchise to
Canada instead of

San Francisco. At the time this final league
structure decision was made, the investment group of which Clay was a part then
bowed out of the picture.

WHA
CEO Ricky Smith stated, “We are very pleased to now have Mr. Clay and his
investment group’s participation in the WHA. Mr. Clay brings seasoned sports
management to the table and his involvement is a welcome addition to the expansion
of the WHA into the

United
States. Mr. Clay’s group is very excited
about being a part of the coming WHA 2007-2008 expansion season.”