WHA' The term 'WHA' is a three-letter acronym that stands for the World Hockey Association, which was a professional ice hockey league that operated from 1972 to 1979. The WHA was the first major competitor to the National Hockey League (NHL) since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926. The WHA was known for introducing many rule changes to the game of hockey, such as the use of a red line to divide the rink into two halves and the introduction of the penalty shot. The WHA also introduced the concept of player's free agency, allowing players to move freely between teams. The WHA ultimately merged with the NHL in 1979, bringing four of its teams into the NHL.