Joe Daley became the Winnipeg Jets' second announced signing during a press conference on the afternoon of 26 May 1972 at the International Inn. Daley left the NHL's Detroit Red Wings to sign a three-year contract with his hometown team and paired with fellow NHL veteran Ernie Wakely to give the Jets a formidable tandem between the pipes as the Jets and the WHA began play in the 1972-1973 season.
Daley split time with Wakely during the Jets' first two seasons, then he seized the number one position in 1974-1975. Wakely was traded and Daley carried the bulk of the load for the Jets for three seasons until 1977-1978, when he split time with Gary Bromley. In 1978-1979, he played a lesser role, giving way to Markus Mattsson, then later, Gary Smith. Daley retired following the WHA's final season.
Daley's finest seasons came in 1975-1976, when he backstopped the Jets to their first AVCO Cup championship, and in 1976-1977, when he was named the Jets' most valuable player as the Jets advanced to the finals for the second consecutive season.
Daley holds numerous Jets and WHA records. He was named as a WHA First Team All-Star selection following the 1975-1976 season, a Second Team selection following the 1976-1977 season, and was selected as the outstanding goaltender at the 1976 Izvestia Tournament in Moscow.
Daley was one of the last pro goaltenders to play without a mask when he suited up barefaced in 1972-1973, but he donned a mask in 1973-1974 and kept it for the remainder of his career as a Jet. |
