This early 1970s ad for the New England Whalers of the upstart World Hockey Association plugs the WHA’s plunder of aging NHL stars, including some of my beloved Bruins.

The inset photos feature Bruins goalie Gerry Cheevers (“Cheesy get back in your cage!” as my mother used to scream) and blue-collar wing Johnny “Pie” McKenzie. The Turk, Derek Sanderson, also headed to the WHA.

Among the ad’s then-politically acceptable pitches: “Businessmen – Cement the Deal over Lunch and a Hockey Game.”

The Whalers started playing in Boston in 1972, including at the Boston Arena, moved to Hartford in 1974 and  joined the NHL in 1979.