1974–75 Minnesota Fighting Saints season

1974–75 Minnesota Fighting Saints
Division	3rd Western
1974–75 record	42–33–3
Home record	26–13–0
Road record	16–20–3
Goals for	308
Goals against	279
Team information
Coach	Harry Neale
Captain	Ted Hampson
Alternate captains	Mike McMahon John Arbour Wayne Connelly
Arena	St. Paul Civic Center
Team leaders
Goals	Mike Walton (48)
Assists	Mike Walton (45)
Points	Mike Walton (93)
Penalty minutes	Gord Gallant (203)
Wins	John Garrett (30)
Goals against average	John Garrett (3.28)
←  1973–74 1975–76  →

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

Schedule and results

1974–75 regular season [1]
October Game Result 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
November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 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
December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 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
January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 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
February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 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
March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 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
April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 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
Legend:   Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1975 Avco Cup playoffs [1]
Quarterfinals vs. New England Whalers – Fighting Saints win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series 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
Semifinals vs. Quebec Nordiques – Nordiques win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series 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
Legend:   Win  Loss

Player statistics

Regular season
Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Mike Walton C 75 48 45 93 33 -11 7 4 3 Wayne Connelly C 76 38 33 71 16 14 13 1 6 Fran Huck C 78 22 45 67 26 7 2 3 4 George Morrison LW 76 31 29 60 30 11 9 0 5 John Arbour D 70 12 43 55 67 -1 4 0 1 Don Tannahill LW 72 23 30 53 20 13 2 4 4 Ted Hampson C 78 17 36 53 6 -8 1 3 2 Mike Antonovich C 67 24 26 50 20 9 4 0 2 Terry Ball D 76 8 37 45 36 3 2 0 0 Danny O'Shea C 76 16 25 41 47 -22 3 0 2 Rick Smith D 78 9 29 38 112 12 1 0 2 Gary Gambucci C 68 19 18 37 19 14 2 0 3 Gord Gallant LW 66 10 13 23 203 -3 1 0 3 Ron Busniuk RW 73 2 21 23 176 12 0 0 1 Kevin O'Shea RW 68 10 10 20 42 -9 0 0 3 Mike McMahon D 64 5 15 20 42 6 1 0 0 Murray Heatley RW 22 5 9 14 31 0 1 0 0 Jack Carlson LW 32 5 5 10 85 -1 0 0 0 Joe Robertson C 11 1 4 5 4 5 0 0 0 Bill Butters D 24 2 2 4 58 -8 0 0 0 Jim Johnson C 11 1 3 4 0 -4 0 0 0 Pat Westrum D 23 0 3 3 48 0 0 0 0 Bob Boyd D 13 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 0 Curt Brackenbury RW 7 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 Mike Curran G 26 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 John Garrett G 58 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 Jack McCartan G 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO John Garrett 3294 58 30 23 2 180 3.28 2 Mike Curran 1367 26 11 10 1 90 3.95 0 Jack 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 Mike Walton C 12 10 7 17 10 0 0 2 Fran Huck C 12 3 13 16 6 0 0 2 George Morrison LW 12 5 9 14 0 0 0 0 Wayne Connelly C 12 8 4 12 10 0 0 1 Rick Smith D 12 2 7 9 6 0 0 0 Ted Hampson C 12 1 7 8 0 0 0 0 Terry Ball D 12 3 4 7 4 0 0 0 Don Tannahill LW 10 2 4 6 0 0 0 0 John Arbour D 12 0 6 6 23 0 0 0 Mike Antonovich C 12 1 4 5 2 0 0 0 Gary Gambucci C 12 4 0 4 6 0 0 1 Ron Busniuk RW 12 2 1 3 63 0 0 0 Jack Carlson LW 10 1 2 3 41 0 0 0 Curt Brackenbury RW 12 0 2 2 59 0 0 0 Bill Butters D 12 1 0 1 21 0 0 0 Gord Gallant LW 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 John Garrett G 12 0 1 1 2 0 0 0 Mike McMahon D 7 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Danny O'Shea C 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kevin O'Shea RW 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO John Garrett 726 12 6 6 41 3.39 1 Team: 726 12 6 6 41 3.39 1

^[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;

Draft picks

Minnesota's draft picks at the 1974 WHA Amateur Draft. ^{[3] [4]}

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
WHA Secret Amateur Draft
2	28	John Paddock (F)	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
WHA Amateur Draft
1	14	Bruce Boudreau (C)	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
2	29	Rob Laird (LW)	Canada	Regina Pats (WCHL)
3	44	Buzz Schneider (LW)	United States	University of Minnesota (WCHA)
4	59	David Hanson (D)	United States	St. Paul Vulcans (MidJHL)
5	73	Steve Carlson (F)	United States	Marquette Iron Rangers (USHL)
6	88	Al Hillier (C)	Canada	Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)
7	103	Jack Carlson (F)	United States	Marquette Iron Rangers (USHL)
8	118	Rick Moore (F)	Canada	Montreal Red White and Blue (QMJHL)
9	133	Don Dufek (F)	United States	University of Michigan (WCHA)
10	146	Reg Duncombe	Canada	New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
11	159	Robin Larson (D)	United States	University of Minnesota (WCHA)
12	172	Joe Baker (D)	United States	St. Paul Vulcans (MidJHL)
13	183	Tony Dorn (D)	United States	Three Rivers Dukes
14	191	Reed Larson (D)	United States	Minnesota Junior Stars (MidJHL)
15	196	Kym Yackel (W)	United States	South St. Paul (Minn. H.S.)
16	200	Dana Decker (LW)	United States	Michigan Americans (SOJHL)
17	204	John Rothstein (RW)	United States	Grand Rapids Jrs.

See also

• 1974–75 WHA season

References

1. "1974-75 Minnesota Fighting Saints Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
2. "1974-75 Minnesota Fighting Saints Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
3. "1974 WHA Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
4. "1974 WHA Secret Amateur Draft". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2018.