After being selected in the preliminary round of the 1972 General Player Draft, Ernie Wakely became the Winnipeg Jets' first announced signing at a press conference on the morning of May 24, 1972. Wakely left the NHL's St. Louis Blues to sign a three-year contract with the Jets.
Wakely split time with Joe Daley over his first two seasons with the Jets and was outstanding in backstopping the Jets to the Western Division crown and an appearance in the finals in 1972-73. Early in the 1974-75 season, Wakely found himself as the odd man out in a three-man logjam and the Jets traded him to the San Diego Mariners. Wakely soon took over the starting position and San Diego and excelled over the next two and a half seasons with the Mariners, leading them to a post-season berth three times.
After the Mariners folded following the 1976-77 season, Wakely signed with the Cincinnati Stingers, but in November, he was traded to the Houston Aeros. He again seized the starting position and backstopped the Aeros to a third-place finish in the eight-team league. Wakely was on the move once again after the Aeros folded and he signed with the Birmingham Bulls for the 1978-79 season. He teamed up with rookie Pat Riggin on a young Bulls squad that fell just short of qualifying for post-season play in the Bulls' and WHA's final season.
Wakely retired following the 1978-79 season. He was a Second Team All-Star in 1977-78 and appeared in the WHA's first two All-Star Games. He was the WHA's all-time leader in games played and shutouts. |
