St. Paul Saints

The **St. Paul Saints** are a team of the Twin Cities Hockey League, where they have played as a charter member since the league's inaugural 1915-16 season. Based in Minnesota's capital of St. Paul, the Saints play their home games at the 8,000-seat St. Paul Coliseum (the largest arena in the MAHL), sharing a home ice with their rivals, the Como Sea Lions.

## History

Originally founded in 1914 as the **St. Paul Athletic Club**, the team played as an independent program for the first two years of its history before becoming a charter member of the Twin Cities League and the MAHL in 1916. In 1919, the club changed its name to the Saints, after the former Triple-A baseball team which played from 1901-1960 and was affiliated first with the Chicago White Sox and then the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. The Athletic Club remains the Saints' owner and primary sponsor, and players must be a member of the Athletic Club to play for the Saints.

The Saints have had a fair amount of success in their history, winning the 1946 Kellogg Cup as well as 9 Twin Cities League Titles and 3 Super Series appearances (the first 3 Super Series from 1962-1964)

From 1962-1971, the Saints played as a member of the TCHL's East Division (where they won a league-best 6 Division Titles) before the league returned to its single-table format.

### Culture

#### Traditions

Saints fans count how many goals they have scored. At the conclusion of "When the Saints Go Marching In" after a goal, it is tradition for fans to yell-count the amount of goals the team has scored. For example; if the Saints have just scored their third goal of the game, fans will chant *"One! Two! Three!"*

#### When the Saints Go Marching In

Notably, the Saints were the first team to have an organ at their games; the Coliseum's organ plays "When the Saints Go Marching In" when the Saints get onto the ice for each period as well as after wins. In both cases, fans are encouraged to sing along. In 1951, the Saints began playing the song after goals, a tradition which still continues to this day.

Lyrics:

> *"Oh, when the Saints go marching in*
>
>
> *Oh, when the Saints go marching in*
>
>
> *I want to be in that number*
>
>
>
> *When the Saints go marching in!"*
>
>

### Saint Paul

Beginning in 1974, the Saints have a mascot named Saint Paul. A man dressed in a green and cream cassock with a cream halo sticking out of the back of his head, Saint Paul can be seen at all of the Saints' home games at the St. Paul Coliseum, skating in a right-handed stance. Going by numerous names (including Saint Paul, The Saint, Paul and Paulie), he is also known for his rivalry with Vinny Vulcan, mascot for the Saints' archrivals the Twin Cities Vulcans.

### Rivalry Trophies

#### The Milk Jug

The Saints play for two rivalry trophies; the first being The Milk Jug with their in-city rivals the St. Paul Victorias, for which they have competed since 1946 (the oldest rivalry trophy in the MAHL).

In the second round of the 1946 Kellogg Cup Playoffs, after the Victorias won Game 1, some Saints players discovered the "lucky" milk jug which V's captain Lance Ogden brought to every game. The Halos players were able to seize the jug from the V's locker room after the game, and their team went on to win Game 2. Before Game 3, the Saints made an offer to the Victorias, that whoever won the rubber match would get to keep the jug after the game. The Saints would go on to win Game 3 (and eventually their first Kellogg Cup), parading around the ice with the milk jug after the game to further taunt the Victorias. Since then, whichever team has won the head-to-head series between the Halos and V's would take home the Milk Jug.

So far, the Victorias lead the Milk Jug series 30-13. The Saints currently hold the Jug, having won it back in 1988.

#### The Holy War Trophy

In addition, since 1960 the Saints have played for the The Holy War Trophy with their archrivals the Twin Cities Vulcans (Lou Tschida founded the Vulcans after leaving the Saints following numerous disputes with other players, deliberately branding them to be the "opposite of Saints").

Currently, the Saints hold the Trophy, having won it back in 1985 and holding it the following three years. The Halos lead the all-time trophy series, 16-13.

### Retired Numbers

* **14** - RW Otto Paradise (1962-1967): Played for the Saints for 6 seasons, leading them to 2 Twin Cities League Titles, 4 East Division Titles and 3 Super Series appearances. Drafted by the NHL's Minnesota North Stars for their inaugural 1967 season.