WHA Hockey.TV: A Tribute to the Legends of the World Hockey Association by Mark Willand

Photo of the Day: "The Brawl in the Mall" Whalers vs. Minnesota

The "Brawl in the Mall" Whaler Rick Ley tries to get to Minnesota's Bill Butters.

WHA Photo of the Day: Rick Ley and Curt Brackenury

Rick Ley (Whalers) and Curt Brackenbury (Fighting Saints) Let 'em fly.

New Minnesota Fighting Saints Video Found: "You're a Saint or You Ain't"

This newly-found Minnesota Fighting Saints 1972-73 Hilite Film includes some of the best WHA footage found in the last 20 years.

Obituary: Kevin O'Shea, Minnesota Fighting Saints

DURHAM, ONT -- Former Minnesota Fighting Saint Kevin O'Shea, died on Monday at the age of 62.

O'Shea joined his older brother, Danny, on the Oshawa Generals team in 1963-64, appearing in just the one game, but his hockey career took him to the highest level. His hockey resumé included playing two seasons at St. Lawrence University, representing Canada at the 1969 World Championships and spending the 1969-70 season with the WHL's San Diego Gulls. He was claimed by the Buffalo Sabres in the inter-league draft in June 1970.

 O'Shea played parts of two seasons with the Sabres and another couple of seasons with the St. Louis Blues. The winger played 133 regular season games and another 12 in the playoffs. He also played in the WHL with Denver, Phoenix and the WHA's Fighting Saints before finishing his career in Sweden in 1976.

After retiring at the age of 29, he enrolled in the University of Windsor's law school, specializing in labour relations.

He is the loving father of Kelly, Daniel and Alexandra.

A funeral will take place on Saturday at St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church in Stouffville, ONT at 10:30 a.m.

BIll Butters Hockey Ministry

Separated by Plexiglas and a generational gap, he watches a familiar scene. Players swoop and spin, occasionally crashing into one another with a shout, or blasting a slap shot that explodes in the empty arena at the National Hockey Center.

"It's a violent game," Bill Butters said.

He should know. Butters, 58, played at the University of Minnesota in the early 1970s, then went on to a pro career that included 100 fights and more than 240 stitches in his face.

Thirty years after he last appeared as a defenseman with the Minnesota North Stars, he's still around the rinks — only now it's with a Bible under his arm. Its black cover carries the logo of a skate with a cross on the heel.

Read Full Story Here:

Mike Antonovich to be Inducted Into University of Minnesota "M Club" Hall of Fame

Ex-New England Whaler and Minnesota Fighting Saints Mike Antonovich is one of eight former University of Minnesota standouts will be inducted into the school's "M" Club Hall of Fame on Thursday in the TCF Bank Stadium DQ Club Room.

His Golden Gopher playing days cut short due to an injury, Antonovich made up for lost time with a lengthy and successful professional hockey career. Antonovich played at the University of Minnesota from 1969-72 and led the team in scoring as a freshman, but suffered a knee injury in a game against the U.S. Olympic team during the 1971-72 season. Antonovich left the Gophers following that season and embarked on a professional career that spanned 11 seasons and five different teams.

Antonovich totaled 45 goals and 40 assists for 85 points in 77 career games as a centerman for the Golden Gophers. He notched team highs in every category as a freshman with 23 goals, 20 assists, 43 points and 60 penalty minutes. Antonovich followed with 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points as a sophomore and was off to a strong start during his junior season with eight goals and two assists before his injury in the ninth game and first home contest of the year.

Gordie "Machine Gun" Gallant and the Harry Neale punch-out

WHA goon Gordie "Machine Gun" Gallant punches out his coaches (Harry Neale and jack McCarten) prior to the 1975 Minnesota Fighting Saints/New England Whalers WHA Playoff.

Ballard Smith,President, San Diego Mariners 1976: "When we came in here today, we knew the Saints were going to play goon-style hockey and that's what came about," said Smith. "The Saints have a lot of goons and Gord Gallant is the worst. He tried to start a brawl and he did. This is the very kind of violence we are trying to legislate against "

Harry Neale Pre-Game Minnesota Fighting Saints vs. Jets 1975

In this video, Coach Harry Neale rallies the troops prior to a big 1975 game vs. Bobby Hull's Winnipeg Jets

As a WHA hockey coach, Neale's career was anything but boring. In 1975, during his tenure as coach of the WHA's Minnesota Fighting Saints, Neale became embroiled in a fight with one of his players-the then notorious tough guy Gordie Gallant-in a hotel.

"I had imposed a curfew that night," recalls Neale. "When I called up to his room, he wasn't there. I told his roommate, Mike McMahon, to inform him that there would be a fine of $100." "Gallant came back a little full," as Harry puts it, and when he found out about the fine he came straight up to Neale's room and "cocked me right in the face." Before the kerfuffle was over, Gallant had taken on both Neale and the assistant coach. "Gordie Gallant was one of the toughest guys I've ever seen," reminisces Neale. "When he first came into the WHA he was only 5'10, 170 pounds, and he took on every tough guy there was. And believe me, there were plenty at that time. Last I heard he saved a child and his girlfriend from a burning car...he was 170 pounds of pure steal, he was." ( Courtesy VarsityOnline.).

After the Saints folded in 1976, Neale coached the New England Whalers through the 1977-78 campaign.  In the 1977-78 WHA season he coached the Whalers to the Avco Cup Finals as well only to lose to the Winnipeg Jets.

In six WHA seasons with Minnesota and New England, Neale's teams never missed the playoffs as he posted a regular-season record of 208-175-20 and a 32-32 playoff mark.

He went on to coach the Vancouver Canucks.  With the Canucks he made a huge error when he passed on Mike Rogers after the WHA folded.  Rogers, who played for Neale in New England, went on to record three 100 campaigns with Hartford and New York.

Minnesota Fighting Saints 74-75 Team Video Now at MyHockeyTV.com

The Minnesota Fighting Saints 1974-75 Team Video -- "Center Ice" -- can now be viewed  at MyHockeyTV.com.

Minnesota Fighting Saints -- "Legends and Lunatics"

A Brief Video history of the WHA's most colorful franchise -- The Minnesota Fighting Saints.

The roughhousing Fighting Saints caught the fancy of  Minnesota hockey market, often out-drawing the cross town North Stars.  When they added Dave Keon prior to the 1975-76 campaign, they become one of the WHA's elite teams.  In fact, the team had a winning record, 30-25-4, when it ceased operations on February 28, 1976, due to its financial struggles.