1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints season

World Hockey Association team season August 2023 St. Paul Auditorium (20 games)St. Paul Civic Center (19 games) 5,855 (48.9%) WHA 1972–73 1972 Minnesota Fighting Saints 38–37–3 24–14–1 14–23–2 Western 4th 250 269 Glen Sonmor Glen Sonmor (28–28–3)Harry Neale (10–9–0) Ted Hampson Wayne ConnellyJohn ArbourMike McMahon Wayne Connelly (40) Ted Hampson (45) Wayne Connelly (70) Dick Paradise (189) Mike Curran (23) Mike Curran (3.09) The 1972–73 Minnesota Fighting Saints season was their first season of operation in the newly created World Hockey Association (WHA).World Hockey Association World Hockey Association 1972 WHA 1972-73 Media Guide World Hockey AssociationWorld Hockey Association World Hockey Association 1973 WHA 1973-74 Media Guide World Hockey Association 2 Regular season Final standings MIN Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#000084 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFC600 5px solid; 1972–73 regular season1972-73 Minnesota Fighting Saints Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MFS/1973_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 11, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#000084 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC600 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||L||October 13, 1972||3–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||0–1–0 |- |2||W||October 15, 1972||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||1–1–0 |- |3||L||October 17, 1972||1–5 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||1–2–0 |- |4||L||October 19, 1972||1–5 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||1–3–0 |- |5||T||October 20, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||1–3–1 |- |6||W||October 22, 1972||5–4 || align="left"| @ New York Raiders (1972–73) ||2–3–1 |- |7||L||October 23, 1972||1–5 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1972–73) ||2–4–1 |- |8||L||October 26, 1972||4–5 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||2–5–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000084 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC600 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |9||W||November 1, 1972||3–0 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||3–5–1 |- |10||L||November 2, 1972||2–4 || align="left"| New York Raiders (1972–73) ||3–6–1 |- |11||W||November 5, 1972||3–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||4–6–1 |- |12||W||November 10, 1972||5–1 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||5–6–1 |- |13||W||November 14, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) ||6–6–1 |- |14||W||November 16, 1972||5–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||7–6–1 |- |15||W||November 18, 1972||5–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||8–6–1 |- |16||L||November 19, 1972||3–4 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||8–7–1 |- |17||W||November 21, 1972||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||9–7–1 |- |18||W||November 23, 1972||4–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||10–7–1 |- |19||W||November 24, 1972||6–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||11–7–1 |- |20||W||November 26, 1972||3–1 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1972–73) ||12–7–1 |- |21||L||November 28, 1972||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||12–8–1 |- |22||L||November 30, 1972||2–5 || align="left"| @ New York Raiders (1972–73) ||12–9–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000084 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC600 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |23||W||December 1, 1972||6–4 || align="left"| @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||13–9–1 |- |24||L||December 3, 1972||1–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||13–10–1 |- |25||L||December 5, 1972||2–3 OT|| align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||13–11–1 |- |26||W||December 7, 1972||3–0 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||14–11–1 |- |27||L||December 8, 1972||3–4 OT|| align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||14–12–1 |- |28||W||December 10, 1972||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) ||15–12–1 |- |29||T||December 12, 1972||3–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||15–12–2 |- |30||W||December 14, 1972||6–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||16–12–2 |- |31||L||December 15, 1972||2–3 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||16–13–2 |- |32||W||December 17, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||17–13–2 |- |33||W||December 19, 1972||7–5 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1972–73) ||18–13–2 |- |34||W||December 21, 1972||3–0 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||19–13–2 |- |35||L||December 23, 1972||1–3 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) ||19–14–2 |- |36||L||December 26, 1972||2–6 || align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||19–15–2 |- |37||W||December 28, 1972||4–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||20–15–2 |- |38||L||December 29, 1972||2–5 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||20–16–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000084 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC600 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |39||T||January 1, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||20–16–3 |- |40||L||January 7, 1973||2–6 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||20–17–3 |- |41||L||January 9, 1973||3–4 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||20–18–3 |- |42||L||January 11, 1973||3–4 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) ||20–19–3 |- |43||W||January 12, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||21–19–3 |- |44||W||January 14, 1973||3–2 OT|| align="left"| Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||22–19–3 |- |45||L||January 16, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1972–73) ||22–20–3 |- |46||L||January 18, 1973||3–6 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||22–21–3 |- |47||W||January 20, 1973||10–5 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||23–21–3 |- |48||W||January 22, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ New York Raiders (1972–73) ||24–21–3 |- |49||L||January 25, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||24–22–3 |- |50||W||January 26, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||25–22–3 |- |51||L||January 30, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||25–23–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000084 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC600 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |52||L||February 1, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||25–24–3 |- |53||L||February 3, 1973||1–7 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||25–25–3 |- |54||W||February 5, 1973||6–3 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||26–25–3 |- |55||W||February 6, 1973||5–4 || align="left"| New York Raiders (1972–73) ||27–25–3 |- |56||L||February 8, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||27–26–3 |- |57||L||February 9, 1973||0–6 || align="left"| @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||27–27–3 |- |58||L||February 11, 1973||5–7 || align="left"| @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||27–28–3 |- |59||W||February 15, 1973||3–0 || align="left"| Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||28–28–3 |- |60||W||February 17, 1973||7–3 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) ||29–28–3 |- |61||W||February 18, 1973||7–5 || align="left"| Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||30–28–3 |- |62||L||February 25, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1972–73) ||30–29–3 |- |63||W||February 27, 1973||3–0 || align="left"| Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||31–29–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000084 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC600 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |64||L||March 1, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1972–73) ||31–30–3 |- |65||W||March 4, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1972–73) ||32–30–3 |- |66||W||March 6, 1973||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||33–30–3 |- |67||L||March 8, 1973||1–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Blazers (1972–73) ||33–31–3 |- |68||L||March 10, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1972–73) ||33–32–3 |- |69||W||March 11, 1973||2–1 || align="left"| Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||34–32–3 |- |70||W||March 15, 1973||7–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||35–32–3 |- |71||L||March 16, 1973||4–7 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1972–73) ||35–33–3 |- |72||L||March 20, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| @ Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||35–34–3 |- |73||W||March 22, 1973||2–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Chicago Cougars (1972–73) ||36–34–3 |- |74||W||March 24, 1973||2–1 OT|| align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1972–73) ||37–34–3 |- |75||L||March 25, 1973||1–6 || align="left"| @ Ottawa Nationals (1972–73) ||37–35–3 |- |76||W||March 27, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| New York Raiders (1972–73) ||38–35–3 |- |77||L||March 29, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1972–73) ||38–36–3 |- |78||L||March 30, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| Alberta Oilers (1972–73) ||38–37–3 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black 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. background:#fff; border-top:#000084 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFC600 5px solid; 1973 Avco Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#000084 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC600 2px solid; Preliminary round vs. Alberta Oilers – Fighting Saints win 1–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 4 || Minnesota Fighting Saints || 4–2 || Alberta Oilers || 1–0 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#000084 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC600 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. Winnipeg Jets – Jets win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 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 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters + Regular season Player Position GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points PIM Penalty minutes +/- Plus/Minus PPG Power play goals SHG Short-handed goals GWG Game-winning goals Wayne Connelly C 78 40 30 70 1601006 Ted Hampson C 77 17 45 62 200402 Bill Klatt Bill Klatt (ice hockey) RW 78 36 22 58 2201205 Mike McMahon Mike McMahon, Jr. D 75 12 39 51 870400 Keith Christiansen ice hockey C 64 12 30 42 240200 George Morrison George Morrison (ice hockey) LW 70 16 24 40 200900 Bob MacMillan RW 75 13 27 40 480100 Terry Ball Terry Ball (ice hockey) D 78 6 34 40 660100 Mike Antonovich Mike Antonovich (ice hockey) C 75 20 19 39 460100 John Arbour D 76 6 27 33 1860100 Fred Speck C 47 13 16 29 520500 Jim Johnson Jim Johnson (ice hockey b. 1942) C 33 9 14 23 120000 Len Lilyholm Leonard Lilyholm RW 77 8 13 21 370000 Mel Pearson Mel Pearson (ice hockey b. 1938) LW 70 8 12 20 120000 Terry Ryan Terry Ryan (ice hockey b. 1952) C 76 13 6 19 130160 Dick Paradise D 77 3 15 18 1890000 Frank Sanders Frank Sanders (ice hockey) D 76 8 8 16 940100 George Konik D/LW 54 4 12 16 340000 Bill Young Bill Young (ice hockey) LW 23 5 6 11 200200 Craig Falkman RW 45 1 5 6 120000 Mike Curran G 43 0 1 1 260000 Blaine Rydman D 29 0 1 1 650000 Jack McCartan G 38 0 0 0 190000 Carl Wetzel G 1 0 0 0 00000 + Playoffs Player Position GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points PIM Penalty minutes PPG Power play goals SHG Short-handed goals GWG Game-winning goals Mike McMahon Mike McMahon, Jr. D 5 0 5 5 2000 Ted Hampson C 5 3 1 4 0000 Wayne Connelly C 5 1 3 4 0000 Bill Klatt Bill Klatt (ice hockey) RW 5 1 3 4 5100 Jim Johnson Jim Johnson (ice hockey b. 1942) C 5 2 1 3 2000 Terry Ball Terry Ball (ice hockey) D 5 1 2 3 4100 Bob MacMillan RW 5 0 3 3 0000 Mike Antonovich Mike Antonovich (ice hockey) C 5 2 0 2 0000 Mel Pearson Mel Pearson (ice hockey b. 1938) LW 5 2 0 2 0000 George Morrison George Morrison (ice hockey) LW 5 1 1 2 2000 Bill Young Bill Young (ice hockey) LW 5 1 1 2 4001 Terry Ryan Terry Ryan (ice hockey b. 1952) C 5 0 2 2 0000 Keith Christiansen ice hockey C 5 1 0 1 0000 Len Lilyholm Leonard Lilyholm RW 5 1 0 1 0000 John Arbour D 5 0 1 1 12000 Jack McCartan G 4 0 1 1 0000 Dick Paradise D 5 0 1 1 2000 Frank Sanders Frank Sanders (ice hockey) D 4 0 1 1 0000 Mike Curran G 2 0 0 0 0000 Blaine Rydman D 1 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending + Regular seasonPlayer MIN Minutes GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties GA Goals allowed GAA Goals Against Average SO Shutouts 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 + PlayoffsPlayer MIN Minutes GP Games played W Wins L Losses GA Goals allowed GAA Goals Against Average SO Shutouts 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 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-29 1972-73 Minnesota Fighting Saints Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/MFS/1973.html 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; See also 1972–73 WHA season References Category:Minnesota Fighting Saints seasons Minn