Ray Clearwater 1976-77 Minnesota Fighting Saints Game Used Jersey w/Provenance

This lot features an exceedingly rare Ray Clearwater 1976-77 Minnesota Fighting Saints game used home white durene jersey. The Saints logo on the front is absolutely stunning. It is very obvious that this jersey was crafted with painstaking detail. Clearwater had a brief stint with the Fighting Saints in 1976-77 after spending his first 3 season in the WHA with the Cleveland Crusaders before Cleveland moved to Minnesota. The Minnesota Fighting Saints were one of the WHA’s original 12 franchises. The initial Fighting Saints franchise began in 1972 and, despite playing well on the ice, the franchise was in dire financial straits. The team wouldn’t survive past the month of February, 1976. They continually missed payroll checks and were losing money until they officially folded on February 27th, 1976. In the summer of 1976, the Cleveland Crusaders were convinced to move out of Ohio and play in the vacant St. Paul Arena for the 1976-77 season. They assumed the Minnesota Fighting Saints team name, but they too would suffer the same fate as the original franchise and fold on January 17th of 1977 after only 42 games. The Rawlings size 48 and Steichens tags remain sewn into the collar. These incredibly scarce 1976-77 Fighting Saints gamers are considered a true prize in the hobby as they existed for merely a half season and marked the end of the WHA era in Minnesota. This beautifully preserved jersey is all original and offers vibrant colors and tremendous overall eye appeal. Highly coveted jersey for the most discriminating of hockey collectors. Originates from the collection of Jimmy Steichen whose family provided the jerseys to the Saints and accompanied by a Letter of Provenance.