1974–75 Minnesota Fighting Saints season

1974–75 Minnesota Fighting Saints
Division	3rd Western
1974–75 record	42–33–3
Goals for	308
Goals against	279
Team Information
General Manager	Glen Sonmor
Coach	Harry Neale Jack McCartan
Captain	Ted Hampson
Alternate captains	John Arbour Don Tannahill
Arena	St. Paul Civic Center
Team Leaders
Goals	Mike Walton (48)
Assists	Mike Walton Fran Huck (45)
Points	Mike Walton (93)
Penalties in minutes	Gord Gallant (203)
Wins	John Garrett (30)
Goals against average	John Garrett (3.38)

<1973–74

1975–76>

The 1974–75 Minnesota Fighting Saints season was the 3rd season of the Fighting Saints franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Fighting Saints finished 3rd in the Western Division and lost in the Semi-finals to the Quebec Nordiques 4 games to 2.

Off-season

The Fighting Saints jerseys were the same design as in the 1973-74 season.

Regular Season

Final Standings

Western Division

	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM
Houston Aeros	78	53	25	0	106	369	247	1257
San Diego Mariners	78	43	31	4	90	326	268	1058
Minnesota Fighting Saints	78	42	33	3	87	308	279	1233
Phoenix Roadrunners	78	39	31	8	86	300	265	1388
Michigan Stags / Baltimore Blades	78	21	53	4	46	205	341	1104

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

Game Log

Regular Season Results
No.	R	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	L	October 19, 1974	1–3	Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)	0–1–0
2	L	October 22, 1974	2–11	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)	0–2–0
3	W	October 24, 1974	3–2	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	1–2–0
4	L	October 26, 1974	2–3	@ Houston Aeros (1974–75)	1–3–0
5	W	October 27, 1974	6–5 OT	Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	2–3–0
6	L	October 29, 1974	3–4 OT	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	2–4–0
7	W	November 2, 1974	6–3	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	3–4–0
8	L	November 5, 1974	4–6	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	3–5–0
9	L	November 9, 1974	4–7	Toronto Toros (1974–75)	3–6–0
10	W	November 10, 1974	10–4	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	4–6–0
11	L	November 13, 1974	5–8	Houston Aeros (1974–75)	4–7–0
12	W	November 17, 1974	7–1	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	5–7–0
13	L	November 20, 1974	1–3	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	5–8–0
14	L	November 23, 1974	3–5	San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	5–9–0
15	L	November 24, 1974	2–3	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	5–10–0
16	W	November 26, 1974	6–2	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)	6–10–0
17	L	November 30, 1974	5–7	Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	6–11–0
18	W	December 1, 1974	4–3	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	7–11–0
19	W	December 4, 1974	6–3	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	8–11–0
20	W	December 6, 1974	4–2	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	9–11–0
21	L	December 8, 1974	2–4	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	9–12–0
22	W	December 10, 1974	4–2	@ Toronto Toros (1974–75)	10–12–0
23	L	December 11, 1974	1–3	@ New England Whalers (1974–75)	10–13–0
24	L	December 13, 1974	4–5	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	10–14–0
25	L	December 14, 1974	3–4	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	10–15–0
26	W	December 15, 1974	6–4	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	11–15–0
27	W	December 19, 1974	6–0	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	12–15–0
28	W	December 20, 1974	6–4	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	13–15–0
29	W	December 26, 1974	5–1	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	14–15–0
30	W	December 27, 1974	6–3	New England Whalers (1974–75)	15–15–0
31	L	December 28, 1974	3–5	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	15–16–0
32	W	December 29, 1974	6–0	Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)	16–16–0
33	W	January 1, 1975	6–2	Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)	17–16–0
34	L	January 3, 1975	1–2	San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	17–17–0
35	W	January 5, 1975	9–3	New England Whalers (1974–75)	18–17–0
36	W	January 7, 1975	4–2	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	19–17–0
37	L	January 9, 1975	2–3	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	19–18–0
38	W	January 15, 1975	4–2	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)	20–18–0
39	L	January 18, 1975	2–3	@ Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	20–19–0
40	W	January 19, 1975	3–1	@ New England Whalers (1974–75)	21–19–0
41	L	January 22, 1975	1–2	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	21–20–0
42	W	January 24, 1975	7–5	Toronto Toros (1974–75)	22–20–0
43	W	January 26, 1975	2–1	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	23–20–0
44	W	January 30, 1975	6–3	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	24–20–0
45	W	January 31, 1975	4–1	Houston Aeros (1974–75)	25–20–0
46	W	February 2, 1975	5–4 OT	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	26–20–0
47	W	February 5, 1975	4–2	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	27–20–0
48	T	February 6, 1975	2–2	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	27–20–1
49	L	February 7, 1975	1–4	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	27–21–1
50	L	February 8, 1975	4–8	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	27–22–1
51	L	February 12, 1975	1–3	Houston Aeros (1974–75)	27–23–1
52	L	February 14, 1975	3–7	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	27–24–1
53	W	February 16, 1975	5–2	San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	28–24–1
54	W	February 17, 1975	2–1	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)	29–24–1
55	W	February 19, 1975	5–3	@ Cleveland Crusaders (1974–75)	30–24–1
56	L	February 21, 1975	2–5	@ Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	30–25–1
57	L	February 23, 1975	4–6	@ Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	30–26–1
58	T	February 25, 1975	6–6	@ Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	30–26–2
59	W	February 26, 1975	4–3 OT	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	31–26–2
60	L	February 27, 1975	2–5	@ New England Whalers (1974–75)	31–27–2
61	W	March 1, 1975	4–1	@ Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	32–27–2
62	W	March 2, 1975	5–3	Toronto Toros (1974–75)	33–27–2
63	W	March 5, 1975	5–3	New England Whalers (1974–75)	34–27–2
64	L	March 9, 1975	5–6 OT	Winnipeg Jets (1974–75)	34–28–2
65	W	March 11, 1975	6–4	@ San Diego Mariners (1974–75)	35–28–2
66	L	March 12, 1975	2–4	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	35–29–2
67	W	March 18, 1975	5–3	@ Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	36–29–2
68	W	March 23, 1975	4–2	Edmonton Oilers (1974–75)	37–29–2
69	W	March 25, 1975	5–4	Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	38–29–2
70	W	March 26, 1975	4–3	Chicago Cougars (1974–75)	39–29–2
71	T	March 28, 1975	2–2	@ Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	39–29–3
72	L	March 29, 1975	2–8	@ Houston Aeros (1974–75)	39–30–3
73	W	March 30, 1975	5–3	Indianapolis Racers (1974–75)	40–30–3
74	W	April 1, 1975	5–2	Vancouver Blazers (1974–75)	41–30–3
75	L	April 2, 1975	3–5	Quebec Nordiques (1974–75)	41–31–3
76	L	April 4, 1975	1–2	Phoenix Roadrunners (1974–75)	41–32–3
77	L	April 5, 1975	2–8	@ Houston Aeros (1974–75)	41–33–3
78	W	April 6, 1975	6–5 OT	@ Michigan Stags/Baltimore Blades (1974–75)	42–33–3

Playoffs

Minnesota Fighting Saints 4, New England Whalers 2

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 9	Minnesota Fighting Saints	6 – 5	New England Whalers	1–0
2	April 11	Minnesota Fighting Saints	2 – 3 OT	New England Whalers	1–1
3	April 13	New England Whalers	3 – 8	Minnesota Fighting Saints	2–1
4	April 15	New England Whalers	5 – 2	Minnesota Fighting Saints	2–2
5	April 18	Minnesota Fighting Saints	4 – 0	New England Whalers	3–2
6	April 19	New England Whalers	1 – 6	Minnesota Fighting Saints	4–2

Quebec Nordiques 4, Minnesota Fighting Saints 2

Michel Parizeau scores the series winner, Game 6 of the 1975 Semi-finals, May 1, 1975.

#	Date	Visitor	Score	Home	Record
1	April 22	Minnesota Fighting Saints	1–4	Quebec Nordiques	0–1
2	April 23	Minnesota Fighting Saints	5–3	Quebec Nordiques	1–1
3	April 26	Quebec Nordiques	6–1	Minnesota Fighting Saints	1–2
4	April 27	Quebec Nordiques	2–4	Minnesota Fighting Saints	2–2
5	April 29	Minnesota Fighting Saints	3–6	Quebec Nordiques	2–3
6	May 1	Quebec Nordiques	4–2	Minnesota Fighting Saints	2–4

Player Stats

Regular Season
Scoring
# Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG 4 Walton, MikeMike Walton C 75 48 45 93 33 -11 7 4 3 7 Connelly, WayneWayne Connelly C 76 38 33 71 16 14 13 1 6 25 Huck, FranFran Huck C 78 22 45 67 26 7 2 3 4 9 Morrison, GeorgeGeorge Morrison LW 76 31 29 60 30 11 9 0 5 17 Arbour, JohnJohn Arbour D 70 12 43 55 67 -1 4 0 1 5 Tannahill, DonDon Tannahill LW 72 23 30 53 20 13 2 4 4 10 Hampson, TedTed Hampson C 78 17 36 53 6 -8 1 3 2 12 Antonovich, MikeMike Antonovich C 67 24 26 50 20 9 4 0 2 21 Ball, TerryTerry Ball D 76 8 37 45 36 3 2 0 0 22 O'Shea, DannyDanny O'Shea C 76 16 25 41 47 -22 3 0 2 3 Smith, RickRick Smith D 78 9 29 38 112 12 1 0 2 14 Gambucci, GaryGary Gambucci C 68 19 18 37 19 14 2 0 3 16 Gallant, GordGord Gallant LW 66 10 13 23 203 -3 1 0 3 15 Busniuk, RonRon Busniuk RW 73 2 21 23 176 12 0 0 1 26 O'Shea, KevinKevin O'Shea RW 68 10 10 20 42 -9 0 0 3 23 McMahon, MikeMike McMahon D 64 5 15 20 42 6 1 0 0 11 Heatley, MurrayMurray Heatley RW 22 5 9 14 31 0 1 0 0 20 Carlson, JackJack Carlson LW 32 5 5 10 85 -1 0 0 0 Robertson, JoeJoe Robertson C 11 1 4 5 4 5 0 0 0 2 Butters, BillBill Butters D 24 2 2 4 58 -8 0 0 0 20 Johnson, JimJim Johnson C 11 1 3 4 0 -4 0 0 0 6 Westrum, PatPat Westrum D 23 0 3 3 48 0 0 0 0 Brackenbury, CurtCurt Brackenbury RW 7 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 24 Boyd, BobBob Boyd D 13 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 0 30 McCartan, JackJack McCartan G 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Curran, MikeMike Curran G 26 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 35 Garrett, JohnJohn Garrett G 58 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO Garrett, JohnJohn Garrett 3294 58 30 23 2 180 3.28 2 Curran, MikeMike Curran 1367 26 11 10 1 90 3.95 0 McCartan, JackJack McCartan 61 2 1 0 0 5 4.92 0 Team: 4722 78 42 33 3 275 3.49 2

Playoffs
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Walton, MikeMike Walton C 12 10 7 17 10 0 0 2 Huck, FranFran Huck C 12 3 13 16 6 0 0 2 Morrison, GeorgeGeorge Morrison LW 12 5 9 14 0 0 0 0 Connelly, WayneWayne Connelly C 12 8 4 12 10 0 0 1 Smith, RickRick Smith D 12 2 7 9 6 0 0 0 Hampson, TedTed Hampson C 12 1 7 8 0 0 0 0 Ball, TerryTerry Ball D 12 3 4 7 4 0 0 0 Tannahill, DonDon Tannahill LW 10 2 4 6 0 0 0 0 Arbour, JohnJohn Arbour D 12 0 6 6 23 0 0 0 Antonovich, MikeMike Antonovich C 12 1 4 5 2 0 0 0 Gambucci, GaryGary Gambucci C 12 4 0 4 6 0 0 1 Busniuk, RonRon Busniuk RW 12 2 1 3 63 0 0 0 Carlson, JackJack Carlson LW 10 1 2 3 41 0 0 0 Brackenbury, CurtCurt Brackenbury RW 12 0 2 2 59 0 0 0 Gallant, GordGord Gallant LW 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 Butters, BillBill Butters D 12 1 0 1 21 0 0 0 McMahon, MikeMike McMahon D 7 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Garrett, JohnJohn Garrett G 12 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 O'Shea, KevinKevin O'Shea RW 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 O'Shea, DannyDanny O'Shea C 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO Garrett, JohnJohn Garrett 726 12 6 6 41 3.39 1 Team: 726 12 6 6 41 3.39 1

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

• The Fighting Saints did not win any awards this season.

Farm Teams

• Johnstown Jets, NAHL

Gallery

Gerry Desjardins and Ted Hampson, November 2, 1974.

Paul Henderson, goalie Mike Curran, Wayne Dillon, November 26, 1974.

Bobby Hull, John Garrett, January 8, 1975.

Richard Brodeur makes a save behind #4 Francois Lacombe, April 2, 1974.

See Also

• 1974–75 WHA season