The WHA brought a new pro hockey team to Cleveland when owner Nick Mileti moved the Crusaders in to the Cleveland arena for the 1972 season. The first coach for the Crusaders was Bill Needham, a long-time minor leaguer with the AHL's Cleveland Barons, who coached them to a winning record in their first season. The Crusaders were displaced from Cleveland in 1976, when the NHL's California Golden Seals moved to Cleveland and became the Cleveland Barons. The team was going to relocate to South Florida and become the Florida Breakers, in so far to even having a logo designed. After the proposed move fell through, the Crusaders relocated to St. Paul, Minnesota, becoming the second incarnation of the Minnesota Fighting Saints.
One of only a handful of Nova Scotians to make it to the NHL Paul Andrea made NHL stops in New York, Pittsburgh, California and Buffalo before joining the Crusaders in '72. His only hockey card, as a Sabre, was issued in the '70-71 OPC and Topps sets.
Ron Buchanan successfully followed in his father Bucky's footsteps by making it to the NHL, and although his stay was short, he outlasted his father's tenure by four games. Ron appeared in 3 games with the Bruins and 2 more with the St. Louis Blues. He signed with the new WHA and the Cleveland Crusaders for the 1972-73 season. In 75 games he scored 37 goals and 81 points, marking the best pro season of his career, in any league. His only hockey card was issued, as an Oiler, in the '74-75 OPC WHA set.
Ray Clearwater had spent 9 seasons in the minor pro leagues before signing with Cleveland for the '72-73 season. He was a offensive minded defenseman notching 47 points in '72-73. He would never get a hockey card issued but did appear as part of the '72-73 Crusaders postcard set.
Grant Erickson played two games with the Boston Bruins during the 1968-69 season and four more NHL games with the North Stars in 1969-70. With just six games and one goal to his credit, Erickson's NHL career was over. He spent the next two years of his career with the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League. When the World Hockey Association formed as a rival to the NHL for the 1972-73 season, an opportunity presented itself for Erickson. He was selected by the Cleveland Crusaders in the WHA General Player Draft and continued his career in the city he'd been playing in for the last two years. He would never get a hockey card issued
Joe Hardy spent parts of two seasons with the Oakland/California Seals. After starting the 1969-70 season with the AHL's Providence Reds, Hardy was recalled by the Seals and helped the team reach the playoffs and played 40 games for the California Seals in 1970-71. After spending the 1971-72 season with the AHL's Nova Scotia Voyageurs he jumped at the chance to sign with the Cleveland Crusaders of the newly founded WHA. He would never get a hockey card issued but did appear as part of the '72-73 Crusaders postcard set.
Ralph Hopiavuori was a 3rd round draft pick of the Maple Leafs in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft. After spending the '71-72 season with the IHL's Port Huron Wings he joined the Crusaders for 29 games in their first season. He would never get a hockey card issued but did appear as part of the '72-73 Crusaders postcard set.
Gary Jarrett was a solid NHL performer with the Red Wings and Seals before he retired temporarily in 1972 only to return a few weeks later in the WHA. Jarrett was originally picked by the Alberta Oilers in the WHA General Player Draft but was soon dealt to the Cleveland Crusaders. He had a Red Wing rookie card issued as part of the '67-68 Topps set.
Jim McMasters was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft by Buffalo but signed with the WHA Crusaders playing in 74 games. He would get another 9 WHA appearances in '73-74 before heading to the minors. He finished his career in '76-77 with MoDo in the Swedish league. He would never get a hockey card issued but did appear as part of the '72-73 Crusaders postcard set.
Richard Pumple played Junior B hockey with his hometown Lachine Maroons, drawing comparison to the great Jean Beliveau and being described as "the outstanding junior prospect in hockey today" but sadly he never reached those pinnacles. He played 2 seasons with the Jr. Habs but then took 3 years off before joining Providence College. In his freshman season he set records for most goals (38) and points (71). He turned pro in '71-72 with the IHL Muskegon Mohawks before joining the Crusaders in '72-73. He would never get a hockey card issued but did appear as part of the '72-73 Crusaders postcard set.
Paul Shmyr began his NHL career with a brief three game stint with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1968-69 season. He would play the next season with both Chicago and their CHL affiliate Dallas Blackhawks. The 1970-71 season would see Shmyr spend his first full season in the NHL as a Hawk, only to be traded to the California Golden Seals before the start of the next season. He would only play one season for the Seals before moving to the Crusaders of the WHA. His rookie card, as a Golden Seal, was part of the 1971-72 OPC set.
Jim Wiste spent four years at the University of Denver before turning professional in 1968 with the Chicago Black Hawks. He played in only three games with the Black Hawks during the 1968-69 season and another 26 in '69-70 before being dealt to the Canucks. After 23 games as a Canuck he was dealt to the Rangers but skipped to the WHA. After being selected by the New York Raiders in the 1972 WHA General Player Draft, Wiste signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Crusaders after securing his release from the Raiders. In two seasons with the Crusaders Wiste recorded 51 goals and 78 assists. His rookie, and only, card was issued as an Indianapolis Racer in the 1974-75 OPC WHA set.