1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints season

1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints
Division4th Western
1972–73 record38–37–3
Home record24-14-1
Road record14-23-2
Goals for250
Goals against269
Team information
General managerGlen Sonmor
CoachGlen Sonmor (28–28–3)
Harry Neale (10–9–0)
CaptainTed Hampson
Alternate captainsWayne Connelly
John Arbour
Mike McMahon
ArenaSt. Paul Auditorium (20 games)
St. Paul Civic Center (19 games)
Average attendance5,855 (48.9%)
Team leaders
GoalsWayne Connelly (40)
AssistsTed Hampson (45)
PointsWayne Connelly (70)
Penalty minutesDick Paradise (189)
WinsMike Curran (23)
Goals against averageMike Curran (3.09)

The 1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints season was their first season of operation in the newly created World Hockey Association (WHA).[1][2]

Offseason

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


Game log

Regular season schedule
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

[3]

Playoffs

The 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
Wayne Connelly C 78 40 30 70 16 0 10 0 6
Ted Hampson C 77 17 45 62 20 0 4 0 2
Bill Klatt RW 78 36 22 58 22 0 12 0 5
Mike McMahon D 75 12 39 51 87 0 4 0 0
Keith Christiansen C 64 12 30 42 24 0 2 0 0
George Morrison LW 70 16 24 40 20 0 9 0 0
Bob MacMillan RW 75 13 27 40 48 0 1 0 0
Terry Ball D 78 6 34 40 66 0 1 0 0
Mike Antonovich C 75 20 19 39 46 0 1 0 0
John Arbour D 76 6 27 33 186 0 1 0 0
Fred Speck C 47 13 16 29 52 0 5 0 0
Jim Johnson C 33 9 14 23 12 0 0 0 0
Len Lilyholm RW 77 8 13 21 37 0 0 0 0
Mel Pearson LW 70 8 12 20 12 0 0 0 0
Terry Ryan C 76 13 6 19 13 0 1 6 0
Dick Paradise D 77 3 15 18 189 0 0 0 0
Frank Sanders D 76 8 8 16 94 0 1 0 0
George Konik D/LW 54 4 12 16 34 0 0 0 0
Bill Young LW 23 5 6 11 20 0 2 0 0
Craig Falkman RW 45 1 5 6 12 0 0 0 0
Mike Curran G 43 0 1 1 26 0 0 0 0
Blaine Rydman D 29 0 1 1 65 0 0 0 0
Jack McCartan G 38 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 0
Carl Wetzel G 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO
Mike Curran 2540 43 23 17 2 131 3.09 4
Jack McCartan 2160 38 15 19 1 129 3.58 1
Carl 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
Mike McMahon D 5 0 5 5 2 0 0 0
Ted Hampson C 5 3 1 4 0 0 0 0
Wayne Connelly C 5 1 3 4 0 0 0 0
Bill Klatt RW 5 1 3 4 5 1 0 0
Jim Johnson C 5 2 1 3 2 0 0 0
Terry Ball D 5 1 2 3 4 1 0 0
Bob MacMillan RW 5 0 3 3 0 0 0 0
Mike Antonovich C 5 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
Mel Pearson LW 5 2 0 2 0 0 0 0
George Morrison LW 5 1 1 2 2 0 0 0
Bill Young LW 5 1 1 2 4 0 0 1
Terry Ryan C 5 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
Keith Christiansen C 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
Len Lilyholm RW 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
John Arbour D 5 0 1 1 12 0 0 0
Jack McCartan G 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Dick Paradise D 5 0 1 1 2 0 0 0
Frank Sanders D 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0
Mike Curran G 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Blaine Rydman D 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO
Jack McCartan 213 4 1 2 14 3.94 0
Mike Curran 90 2 0 2 9 6.00 0
Team: 303 5 1 4 23 4.55 0

[4]

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

See also

References

  1. ^ World Hockey Association (1972). WHA 1972-73 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  2. ^ World Hockey Association (1973). WHA 1973-74 Media Guide. World Hockey Association.
  3. ^ "1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2009.
  4. ^ "1972-73 Minnesota Fighting Saints Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 29, 2009.