1972-73 O-Pee-Chee 244 Len Fontaine Hockey Card (Front)
1972-73 O-Pee-Chee 244 Len Fontaine Hockey Card (Back)
1972-73 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Started the 1972-73 season as a rookie to pro ranks but after Wings’ first few games was their leading pointman. Moved into Detroit club after being named most valuable player of International League the previous season. Len has hard shot and shows aggressiveness in corners.
En Français
Il commença la saison 1972-73 comme recrue dans les rangs professionnels, mais, après quelques parties pour les Red Wings, il était déjà un de leurs joueurs les plus efficaces. La saison passée, il fut nommé le joueur le plus utile dans la Ligue Internationale.
Details
Len Fontaine was a shooting star in the National Hockey League. In his first three games with the Detroit Red Wings in 1972-73, he had two goals and five assists for seven points. His first two games in the NHL were three point games. But, he would play just 39 games with the Wings that season before ending up in the AHL with the Virginia Red Wings. His final seven games in the NHL were played the following season when he contributed just one assist.
However, Fontaine was a dynamo in the IHL before getting his shot at the NHL and continued to be until the end of 1982-83 season. He helped the Port Huron Flags/Wings to consecutive Turner Cup championships in 1970-71 and 1971-72. In 71-72, he finished tied for third in overall scoring and was awarded the James Gatschene Trophy as the league’s most valuable player.
After being sent down to the AHL in 1972-73, he totaled 63 points in 59 games, just three behind team leader Robbie Ftorek. Ftorek had the benefit of playing six more games.
Later on, Fontaine would lead the IHL in scoring with 53 goals and 112 points in 1975-76 with the Flags. He was again named MVP. Two years later, he would capture his third Turner Cup, leading the Toledo Goaldiggers to a championship.
Between 1972-73 and 1973-74, Len Fontaine played 46 games in the NHL, all with the Detroit Red Wings. He did not play in the post season. In 1974-75, he played 21 games with the Michigan Stags in the World Hockey Association.