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72-73MinFS
1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints
Division 4th Western
1972–73 record 38–37–3
Home record 24-14-1
Road record 14-23-2
Goals for 250
Goals against 269
Team Information
General Manager Glen Sonmor
Coach Glen Sonmor (28–28–3)
Harry Neale (10–9–0)
Captain Ted Hampson
Alternate captains Wayne Connelly
John Arbour
Mike McMahon
Arena St. Paul Auditorium (20 games)
St. Paul Civic Center (19 games)
Average attendance 5,855 (48.9%)
Team Leaders
Goals Wayne Connelly (40)
Assists Ted Hampson (45)
Points Wayne Connelly (70)
Penalties in minutes Dick Paradise (189)
Wins Mike Curran (23)
Goals against average Mike Curran (3.09)
1973–74>

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[]

Saints-1972-73 jerseys

1972-73 Fighting Saints jerseys.

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.

Regular Season[]

Final Standings[]

Western Division
GP W L T GF GA PIM Pts
Winnipeg Jets 78 43 31 4 285 249 757 90
Houston Aeros 78 39 35 4 284 269 1363 82
Los Angeles Sharks 78 37 35 6 259 250 1477 80
Minnesota Fighting Saints 78 38 37 3 250 269 843 79
Alberta Oilers 78 38 37 3 269 256 1134 79
Chicago Cougars 78 26 50 2 245 295 811 54

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties Minutes, Pts = Points
Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.


Game Log[]

Regular Season Results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 L October 13, 1972 3–4 Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 0–1–0
2 W October 15, 1972 3–2 Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 1–1–0
3 L October 17, 1972 1–5 Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 1–2–0
4 L October 19, 1972 1–5 @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 1–3–0
5 T October 20, 1972 1–1 @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 1–3–1
6 W October 22, 1972 5–4 @ New York Raiders (1972–73) 2–3–1
7 L October 23, 1972 1–5 @ New England Whalers (1972–73) 2–4–1
8 L October 26, 1972 4–5 @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 2–5–1
9 W November 1, 1972 3–0 Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 3–5–1
10 L November 2, 1972 2–4 New York Raiders (1972–73) 3–6–1
11 W November 5, 1972 3–1 Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 4–6–1
12 W November 10, 1972 5–1 @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 5–6–1
13 W November 14, 1972 5–3 Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 6–6–1
14 W November 16, 1972 5–4 Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 7–6–1
15 W November 18, 1972 5–4 OT @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 8–6–1
16 L November 19, 1972 3–4 Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 8–7–1
17 W November 21, 1972 4–3 OT Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 9–7–1
18 W November 23, 1972 4–3 Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 10–7–1
19 W November 24, 1972 6–4 @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 11–7–1
20 W November 26, 1972 3–1 New England Whalers (1972–73) 12–7–1
21 L November 28, 1972 2–3 OT @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 12–8–1
22 L November 30, 1972 2–5 @ New York Raiders (1972–73) 12–9–1
23 W December 1, 1972 6–4 @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 13–9–1
24 L December 3, 1972 1–5 @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 13–10–1
25 L December 5, 1972 2–3 OT Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 13–11–1
26 W December 7, 1972 3–0 Houston Aeros (1972–73) 14–11–1
27 L December 8, 1972 3–4 OT @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 14–12–1
28 W December 10, 1972 4–3 OT Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 15–12–1
29 T December 12, 1972 3–3 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 15–12–2
30 W December 14, 1972 6–3 @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 16–12–2
31 L December 15, 1972 2–3 Houston Aeros (1972–73) 16–13–2
32 W December 17, 1972 4–2 Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 17–13–2
33 W December 19, 1972 7–5 New England Whalers (1972–73) 18–13–2
34 W December 21, 1972 3–0 Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 19–13–2
35 L December 23, 1972 1–3 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 19–14–2
36 L December 26, 1972 2–6 Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 19–15–2
37 W December 28, 1972 4–2 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 20–15–2
38 L December 29, 1972 2–5 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 20–16–2
39 T January 1, 1973 4–4 Houston Aeros (1972–73) 20–16–3
40 L January 7, 1973 2–6 Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 20–17–3
41 L January 9, 1973 3–4 OT Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 20–18–3
42 L January 11, 1973 3–4 Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 20–19–3
43 W January 12, 1973 3–2 Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 21–19–3
44 W January 14, 1973 3–2 OT Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 22–19–3
45 L January 16, 1973 1–3 @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) 22–20–3
46 L January 18, 1973 3–6 @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 22–21–3
47 W January 20, 1973 10–5 @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 23–21–3
48 W January 22, 1973 3–2 @ New York Raiders (1972–73) 24–21–3
49 L January 25, 1973 2–5 Houston Aeros (1972–73) 24–22–3
50 W January 26, 1973 4–2 Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 25–22–3
51 L January 30, 1973 2–4 @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 25–23–3
52 L February 1, 1973 2–4 @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 25–24–3
53 L February 3, 1973 1–7 @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 25–25–3
54 W February 5, 1973 6–3 @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 26–25–3
55 W February 6, 1973 5–4 New York Raiders (1972–73) 27–25–3
56 L February 8, 1973 1–3 @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 27–26–3
57 L February 9, 1973 0–6 @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 27–27–3
58 L February 11, 1973 5–7 @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 27–28–3
59 W February 15, 1973 3–0 Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 28–28–3
60 W February 17, 1973 7–3 @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 29–28–3
61 W February 18, 1973 7–5 Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 30–28–3
62 L February 25, 1973 1–4 @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) 30–29–3
63 W February 27, 1973 3–0 Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 31–29–3
64 L March 1, 1973 1–4 Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) 31–30–3
65 W March 4, 1973 4–2 New England Whalers (1972–73) 32–30–3
66 W March 6, 1973 4–3 OT Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 33–30–3
67 L March 8, 1973 1–2 @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) 33–31–3
68 L March 10, 1973 1–3 @ New England Whalers (1972–73) 33–32–3
69 W March 11, 1973 2–1 Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 34–32–3
70 W March 15, 1973 7–4 @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 35–32–3
71 L March 16, 1973 4–7 @ New England Whalers (1972–73) 35–33–3
72 L March 20, 1973 3–5 @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 35–34–3
73 W March 22, 1973 2–1 OT @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) 36–34–3
74 W March 24, 1973 2–1 OT @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) 37–34–3
75 L March 25, 1973 1–6 @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) 37–35–3
76 W March 27, 1973 4–3 New York Raiders (1972–73) 38–35–3
77 L March 29, 1973 3–5 Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) 38–36–3
78 L March 30, 1973 3–5 Alberta Oilers (1972–73) 38–37–3

[1]

Playoffs[]

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.

Date Visitor Score Home Record
April 4 Minnesota Fighting Saints 4–2 Alberta Oilers 1–0

Winnipeg Jets 4, Minnesota Fighting Saints 1[]

# Date Visitor Score Home Record
1 April 6 Minnesota Fighting Saints 1–3 Winnipeg Jets 0–1
2 April 8 Minnesota Fighting Saints 2–5 Winnipeg Jets 0–2
3 April 10 Winnipeg Jets 4–6 Minnesota Fighting Saints 1–2
4 April 11 Winnipeg Jets 3–2 OT Minnesota Fighting Saints 1–3
5 April 15 Minnesota Fighting Saints 5–8 Winnipeg Jets 1–4

Player Stats[]

Regular Season
Scoring
# Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
7 Connelly, WayneWayne Connelly C 78 40 30 70 16 0 10 0 6
10 Hampson, TedTed Hampson C 77 17 45 62 20 0 4 0 2
8 Klatt, BillBill Klatt RW 78 36 22 58 22 0 12 0 5
23 McMahon, MikeMike McMahon D 75 12 39 51 87 0 4 0 0
6 Christiansen, KeithKeith Christiansen C 64 12 30 42 24 0 2 0 0
9 Morrison, GeorgeGeorge Morrison LW 70 16 24 40 20 0 9 0 0
14 MacMillan, BobBob MacMillan RW 75 13 27 40 48 0 1 0 0
21 Ball, TerryTerry Ball D 78 6 34 40 66 0 1 0 0
12 Antonovich, MikeMike Antonovich C 75 20 19 39 46 0 1 0 0
17 Arbour, JohnJohn Arbour D 76 6 27 33 186 0 1 0 0
11 Speck, FredFred Speck C 47 13 16 29 52 0 5 0 0
20 Johnson, JimJim Johnson C 33 9 14 23 12 0 0 0 0
15 Lilyholm, LenLen Lilyholm RW 77 8 13 21 37 0 0 0 0
26 Pearson, MelMel Pearson LW 70 8 12 20 12 0 0 0 0
18 Ryan, TerryTerry Ryan C 76 13 6 19 13 0 1 6 0
2 Paradise, DickDick Paradise D 77 3 15 18 189 0 0 0 0
4 Sanders, FrankFrank Sanders D 76 8 8 16 94 0 1 0 0
19 Konik, GeorgeGeorge Konik D/LW 54 4 12 16 34 0 0 0 0
24 Young, BillBill Young LW 23 5 6 11 20 0 2 0 0
16 Falkman, CraigCraig Falkman RW 45 1 5 6 12 0 0 0 0
22 Rydman, BlaineBlaine Rydman D 29 0 1 1 65 0 0 0 0
1 Curran, MikeMike Curran G 43 0 1 1 26 0 0 0 0
35 Wetzel, CarlCarl Wetzel G 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
30 McCartan, JackJack McCartan G 38 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Curran, MikeMike Curran 2540 43 23 17 2 131 3.09 4
McCartan, JackJack McCartan 2160 38 15 19 1 129 3.58 1
Wetzel, CarlCarl Wetzel 60 1 0 1 0 3 3.00 0
Team: 4760 78 38 37 3 263 3.32 5
Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
McMahon, MikeMike McMahon D 5 0 5 5 2 0 0 0
Hampson, TedTed Hampson C 5 3 1 4 0 0 0 0
Connelly, WayneWayne Connelly C 5 1 3 4 0 0 0 0
Klatt, BillBill Klatt RW 5 1 3 4 5 1 0 0
Johnson, JimJim Johnson C 5 2 1 3 2 0 0 0
Ball, TerryTerry Ball D 5 1 2 3 4 1 0 0
MacMillan, BobBob MacMillan RW 5 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
Antonovich, MikeMike Antonovich C 5 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
Pearson, MelMel Pearson LW 5 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
Morrison, GeorgeGeorge Morrison LW 5 1 1 2 2 0 0 0
Young, BillBill Young LW 5 1 1 2 4 0 0 1
Ryan, TerryTerry Ryan C 5 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
Christiansen, KeithKeith Christiansen C 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Lilyholm, LenLen Lilyholm RW 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Arbour, JohnJohn Arbour D 5 0 1 1 12 0 0 0
McCartan, JackJack McCartan G 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Paradise, DickDick Paradise D 5 0 1 1 2 0 0 0
Sanders, FrankFrank Sanders D 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Curran, MikeMike Curran G 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Rydman, BlaineBlaine Rydman D 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
McCartan, JackJack McCartan 213 4 1 2 14 3.94 0
Curran, MikeMike Curran 90 2 0 2 9 6.00 0
Team: 303 5 1 4 23 4.55 0

[2]

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[]

Transactions[]

Draft Picks[]

Farm Teams[]

Gallery[]

Video[]

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

See Also[]

References[]

  1. 1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints Games. Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-29.
  2. 1972-73 Minnesota Fighting Saints Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com. hockey-reference.com. Retrieved on 2009-06-29.
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