WHA Minnesota Fighting Saints 74-75 Video part 1

whahockey.tv The Fighting Saints was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises. They played four seasons, beginning in 197273. The Fighting Saints' first game, a 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, was played Friday, Oct. 13, 1972, at the St. Paul Auditorium. Partway through the first season, the new St. Paul Civic Center opened in January 1973. The first game in the new arena was Jan. 1, 1973, a 4-4 overtime tie with the Houston Aeros.

The team colors were royal blue, white and new gold. The name was taken from the St. Paul Saints of the Central Hockey League, who had used the nickname "The Fighting Saints" in promotional material.

At the outset, the Saints had a policy of favoring local players, with the 197273 roster featuring no fewer than 11 athletes who were either born in Minnesota or (in the case of former Team USA players Keith Christiansen, George Konik and Carl Wetzel) American citizens. This was almost unheard of in the early 1970s, when few NHL or WHA teams had even a single American player.

Despite their on ice success - the Saints never missed the playoffs nor had a losing record - attendance was poor in the crowded Minnesota market. Direct competition with the NHL Minnesota North Stars, the powerful University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (winners of two NCAA national championships in that period) and popular high school hockey teams doomed the WHA's future in the market. The Saints had a winning record of 30-25-4 when they ceased operations on February 28, 1976, due to financial struggles.

The last game was played Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1976 at the Civic Center, a 2-1 overtime loss to the San Diego Mariners in front of an announced crowd of 6,011.

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Sports

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• the hanson brothers
• harry neale
• WHA hockey
• Jack Carlson
• mike walton
• john garrett

[tomtrh]

The St. Paul Civic Center, home of the funkiest boards in Hockey!

[arkham335]

i wish i was born 10 years earlier to witness the wha

[vexacon]

They had big crowds to watch them, but bad management killed them! Still have my pennant and media guide!

[sawyerg13]

FUNKY....

[flyerspa67]

Super 70's....I Loved It...

[sonmor]

amen!

[WatchVenusSpa]

The Saints had what is still one of the greatest logos ever!!