Minnesota Fighting Saints Fan Shop

The Minnesota Fighting Saints Collection — Royal Retros Minnesota Fighting Saints Fan Shop

Authentic 1972–1976 Minnesota WHA Throwbacks. Custom Names & Numbers. Sizes S–5XL. The Real Hanson Brothers.

Royal Retros carries the deepest Minnesota Fighting Saints throwback collection on the open web — authentic 1972–1976 WHA-era jerseys, hats, T-shirts, hoodies, and Minnesota hockey fan apparel honoring the St. Paul-based franchise that gave the world the real-life Hanson Brothers from Slap Shot. The Carlson brothers (Jeff, Steve, Jack) wore Fighting Saints sweaters before becoming the Hanson Brothers on screen. Custom name and number on most jerseys. Sizes S–5XL with no big & tall upcharge. If you're looking for the deepest-cut Slap Shot connection at retail, this is the shop.

What You Can Shop in the Minnesota Fighting Saints Collection

Minnesota Fighting Saints Jerseys — Throwback hockey jerseys spanning the WHA-era Saints timeline (1972–1976). The original 1972 inaugural-season jerseys, the 1973–75 competitive-era designs, and the 1975–76 final-season throwbacks featuring the Carlson brothers. Twill construction, period-correct sleeve striping, color-matched crests. Custom name and number available on most styles.

Minnesota Fighting Saints Hats — Snapbacks, fitted caps, dad hats, trucker styles, and unstructured caps featuring the Saints wordmark, the iconic Saints logo, and Minnesota hockey graphics.

Minnesota Fighting Saints T-Shirts — Premium pre-shrunk soft-blend tees featuring vintage Saints logos, Carlson Brothers/Slap Shot graphics, "Hanson Brothers" callouts, and Minnesota hockey history designs.

Minnesota Fighting Saints Hoodies, Sweatshirts, and Crewnecks — Heavyweight pullovers and crewnecks for vintage hockey collectors and Minnesota sports fans.

Customization — Most Saints jerseys can be personalized with your name and number. Free customization on eligible items. Pick a Carlson brother's number or your own.

Sizes — Small through 5XL on virtually every product. We don't upcharge for big & tall sizes.

Why Royal Retros Is the Home of Minnesota Fighting Saints Throwback Gear

• The Slap Shot connection. The Saints donated the three Carlson brothers to the iconic 1977 hockey film, where they became the Hanson Brothers. The deepest-cut Slap Shot gear at retail.
• WHA-era authenticity. Period-correct color values, proportions, and stitching for the 1972–1976 Saints.
• Authentic period-correct construction. Twill stitched crests, sublimated fabrics on custom builds.
• Free customization on most jerseys. Name and number at no extra cost.
• Sizes Small through 5XL. No big & tall upcharge.

Quick Buying Questions

What sizes do Saints jerseys come in?

Small through 5XL on virtually every jersey style.

Can I customize my Saints jersey?

Yes — most styles offer free customization. Custom items are final sale and made to order. Allow 7–10 business days for production.

What materials are Saints jerseys made from?

Heavyweight twill on most replica jerseys, sublimated polyester on custom and remix styles.

How accurate is the design?

Color palettes, lettering style, sleeve striping, and crest detail match 1972–1976 game-worn references.

How fast does it ship?

Standard products ship within 3–5 business days. Custom items ship within 7–10 business days.

Gift Ideas for the Minnesota Fighting Saints / Slap Shot Fan

• For the Slap Shot superfan: A Carlson brother jersey or T-shirt — the actual real-life players who became the Hanson Brothers on screen. The deepest-cut Slap Shot gift at retail.
• For the Minnesota native who watched at the Civic Center: A classic Saints jersey from the franchise's competitive 1973–75 era.
• For the WHA history collector: Anything Fighting Saints. The Saints' two-iteration story is one of the most distinctive in WHA history.
• For the goon-hockey fan: Saints gear honors the era when goon hockey was the center of the sport's identity.
• Year-round demand. Slap Shot nostalgia is a year-round gift driver.

What Were the Minnesota Fighting Saints?

The Minnesota Fighting Saints (1972–1976, 1976–1977) were a major professional ice hockey franchise based in St. Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association across two distinct iterations. The original Saints (1972–1976) were a WHA charter franchise that played four seasons before financial collapse. A second incarnation (1976–1977) was actually the relocated Cleveland Crusaders, who briefly took the Fighting Saints name in St. Paul before folding mid-season.

The Saints' lasting cultural footprint comes from their connection to the 1977 film Slap Shot. The franchise donated three real-life enforcers — brothers Jeff, Steve, and Jack Carlson — to the production. The trio became the Hanson Brothers on screen, the bespectacled brawlers who upend the fictional Charlestown Chiefs' season. The Carlson brothers' actual Fighting Saints sweaters were used in the film, and their goon-style brawling was a stylized version of actual EHL and WHA hockey of the era. The film immortalized the Saints — and by extension, the entire scrappy, glorious, sometimes-violent, always-entertaining world of WHA-era and EHL-era minor-pro hockey.

The Minnesota Fighting Saints Era-by-Era History

1972 — Founding. The Fighting Saints were founded as a WHA charter franchise for the 1972–73 season. The franchise was placed in St. Paul to compete with the NHL's Minnesota North Stars in the broader Twin Cities market. The Saints played their home games at the St. Paul Civic Center (capacity ~16,000).

1972–73 — The Inaugural Season. The Saints opened WHA play in the West Division. The team finished respectably and made the playoffs in their first season — a remarkable achievement for an expansion franchise. Coach Glen Sonmor and goaltender Mike Curran anchored the inaugural roster.

1973–1975 — The Competitive Years. The Saints became one of the WHA's more consistently competitive franchises through the mid-decade. The team made the playoffs in 1973, 1974, and 1975, though never advanced past the early rounds. The roster gradually stabilized and the franchise built a devoted Twin Cities fan base.

1975–76 — The Carlson Brothers Era. The Saints featured brothers Jeff, Steve, and Jack Carlson on the roster — three goon-style enforcers who would later become famous as the Hanson Brothers in Slap Shot. The brothers' real-life style of play (heavy brawling, comedic violence) was the inspiration for the film's stylized portrayal.

1976 — Financial Collapse. The original Fighting Saints franchise collapsed financially in February 1976, mid-season. The team's players were dispersed to other WHA franchises. The Twin Cities lost their WHA representation.

1976–77 — The Brief Second Iteration. The relocated Cleveland Crusaders took the Fighting Saints name in St. Paul for the 1976–77 season. This second iteration was financially shaky and folded mid-season, in January 1977. The Saints name has not been used by any major-league hockey franchise since.

The Slap Shot Connection — A Closer Look

The 1977 film Slap Shot — directed by George Roy Hill, starring Paul Newman as Reggie Dunlop, the Hanson Brothers' goonish glory, the Charlestown Chiefs as a struggling minor-pro franchise — was inspired in significant part by the WHA-era Minnesota Fighting Saints and the Eastern Hockey League's Long Island Ducks. The Saints, in particular, donated three real-life enforcers to the film: brothers Jeff, Steve, and Jack Carlson. The trio became the Hanson Brothers on screen — Jack, Steve, and Jeff — the bespectacled brawlers who upend the Charlestown Chiefs' season.

The Carlson brothers were genuine WHA-quality minor-pro players. Their Fighting Saints sweaters in the film are real Fighting Saints sweaters. Their goon-style brawling was a stylized version of actual EHL and WHA hockey of the era. The film immortalized the Saints — and by extension, the entire scrappy, glorious, sometimes-violent, always-entertaining world of WHA-era and EHL-era minor-pro hockey.

For the Slap Shot fan, a Royal Retros Minnesota Fighting Saints jersey is the deepest cut available — the actual real-life franchise that gave the film its three most iconic actors. We don't carry Charlestown Chiefs gear (that's owned by the film studios), but the Fighting Saints jersey is something arguably better: the actual real franchise the Hanson Brothers came from.

The Greatest Minnesota Fighting Saints Players

Jeff Carlson, Steve Carlson, Jack Carlson (1975–1976). Brothers, enforcers, future "Hanson Brothers" in Slap Shot. Their goon-style brawling embodied the Saints' identity in their final WHA season.

Mike Walton (#16, 1973–1976). Right winger, the franchise's all-time leading scorer. Veteran NHL player who joined the Saints in 1973.

Wayne Connelly. Veteran scoring forward from the WHA's early years.

Mike Curran. Goaltender, anchored the Saints through the early seasons.

John McKenzie. Veteran NHL player who joined the Saints in 1972.

Glen Sonmor (Coach). The Saints' inaugural head coach.

Other notables: Pat Westrum, Bill Klatt, Dave Keon Jr., John Garrett (goaltender), Pat Hauley.

The St. Paul Civic Center

The St. Paul Civic Center (capacity ~16,000 for hockey) was the home of the Fighting Saints throughout the franchise's WHA tenure. The building hosted both the original 1972–76 Saints and the brief 1976–77 second iteration. The Civic Center was demolished in 1998 and replaced by the Xcel Energy Center, which hosts the modern NHL Minnesota Wild.

How to Identify Authentic Minnesota Fighting Saints Throwback Apparel

• Verify the WHA-era color values. Authentic Saints gold, white, and red have specific Pantone-matched values.
• Check for the WHA-era Saints logo. The 1972–1976 Saints used a specific stylized "S" crest distinct from any other hockey franchise.
• Era-specific design matters. Make sure the throwback represents the actual WHA Saints (1972–76) and not a modern minor-league iteration.
• For Carlson Brothers customs: Period-correct WHA-era numbering used a specific font family.
• Royal Retros standard: Every product is reviewed for period accuracy.

More Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Minnesota Fighting Saints exist?

The original WHA-era Minnesota Fighting Saints existed for four seasons, from 1972 to 1976, before financial collapse. A brief second iteration (1976–77) operated for half a season before also folding.

Are the Carlson Brothers the same as the Hanson Brothers?

The Carlson brothers (Jeff, Steve, Jack) are the real-life players who portrayed the Hanson Brothers in the 1977 film Slap Shot. They were on the Fighting Saints' roster in 1975–76. The film changed their last name to "Hanson" but otherwise used the brothers themselves.

Did the Saints ever win a championship?

No. The Saints made the WHA playoffs multiple times but never reached the Avco final.

Why did the Saints fold?

Financial collapse in February 1976. The Twin Cities market wasn't large enough to support both the WHA Saints and the NHL North Stars at the time.

Does Royal Retros carry the Cleveland Crusaders successor franchise?

Yes. The Cleveland Crusaders collection covers the franchise's pre-Saints WHA history (1972–76).

Where can I find related Royal Retros collections?

The Saints connect to multiple collections: the broader WHA collection, the Cleveland Crusaders collection (the brief second-iteration's predecessor franchise), the Legacy Hockey collection, and our broader hockey collection.

WHA Cross-Shop

• The WHA collection — for fellow WHA franchises including Winnipeg Jets, Houston Aeros, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and the rest of the league.
• The Cleveland Crusaders collection — the franchise's brief 1976–77 successor.
• The Legacy Hockey collection — for fans of other defunct franchises.

Minnesota Fighting Saints at Royal Retros — Authentic 1972–1976 WHA Throwbacks. Custom Names & Numbers. Sizes S–5XL. The Real Hanson Brothers.