 He was offered a similar contract which he declined, by the World Hockey Associations' Cleveland Crusaders, who retained his professional rights.After attending the St. Louis Blues training camp in 1973, he was sent down to begin and develop his pro career with the Blue's minor league affiliate, the Denver Spurs in the Western Hockey League.In Denver, he played only 7 games before being traded in November 1973 to the Philadelphia Flyers for Bob Stumpf a defenseman who was a later draft pick in the same draft year as Pesut.