of building a new arena. The NHL voted down the 1977 merger plan, while only 2,000 fans purchased season tickets for the 1977–78 season. With no imminent hope for a new arena, Pattison chose to fold the franchise on August 18, 1977. Calgary had to wait only three years for the NHL to arrive, however. The Atlanta Flames relocated to the city in 1980–81 as the Calgary Flames. The move came after the WHA had finally merged with the NHL, with its three remaining Canadian teams all surviving to join the NHL. More importantly, serious plans were in the works by then for a new NHL-sized arena. With the promise of a new home, the NHL allowed the move. The Flames played in the Corral as a temporary home until moving into the Saddledome in 1983. The last active player from the Cowboys was Warren Miller who retired during the 1982-83 NHL season. The last active former Cowboy was George Pesut who played in Germany until 1994. Season-by-season record See 1975–76 Calgary Cowboys season See 1976–77 Calgary Cowboys season Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes Team members Honoured members One Hockey Hall of Famer played for the Cowboys. Harry Howell finished his 24-year professional career in 1975–76 with Calgary, playing 31 games and recording three assists. At the time of his retirement, Howell had played more major-league hockey games than any other defenceman in history at 1,581. See also Ice hockey in Calgary List of Calgary Cowboys (WHA) players List of ice hockey teams in Alberta References General Footnotes Ice hockey clubs established in 1975 Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1977 World Hockey Association teams 1975 establishments in Alberta 1977 disestablishments in Alberta Defunct ice hockey teams in Alberta Ice hockey teams in Calgary