1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints season



The 1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints season was the 1st season of the Fighting Saints franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Fighting Saints finished 4th in the Western Division and lost in the Quarter-finals to the Winnipeg Jets 4 games to 1.

Off-season
The Fighting Saints inaugural jersey colours were dark blue, white and yellow. They'd stay with these colours for the next four seasons. Unlike all the others teams in the league, the Fighting Saints had three jerseys, each using one of the three colours as the primary jersey colour. This had not been done in a major professional league since the 1955-56 Boston Bruins. Sweater numbers were outlined while names were not. Wide stripes on the arms and body completed the design. The logo featured a stylized "S" with "SAINTS" written inside it. The three jerseys and the stylized "S" logo were used for the 1972-73 season only. The yellow jersey was rarely worn and few pictures exist.

Minnesota Fighting Saints 1, Alberta Oilers 0
The Alberta Oilers and the Minnesota Fighting Saints were tied at the end of the season. They had the same number of victories and points, and they had both won four games against each other. Subsequently, it was decided that the two teams would play a one game playoff to decide the final spot in the playoffs, to be played in Calgary.

Player Stats
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts

Awards and Records

 * Paul Deneau Trophy (Most Gentlemenly): Ted Hampson

Video
Nearly an hour of game action from the December 17, 1972 Chicago Cougars-Minnesota Fighting Saints match.