1976-77 O-Pee-Chee WHA 55 John Garrett Hockey Card (Front)
1976-77 O-Pee-Chee WHA 55 John Garrett Hockey Card (Back)
1976-77 O-Pee-Chee WHA Checklist
Card Notes
John has been in the WHA since signing with Minnesota Fighting Saints in 1973. Had distinction of being his league’s leading goalie his first 3 seasons in pro hockey. In 2 seasons with Peterborough TPTs, John had averages of 2.99 and 2.96. Was winner of Dave Pinkney Trophy.
En Français
John débuta dans l’Association Mondiale lorsqu’il fut engagé par les Fighting Saints du Minnesota en 1973. Il fut le meilleur gardien de sa ligue durant ses trois premières saisons professionnelles. En deux saisons avec Peterborough, John eut des moyennes de 2.99 et 2.96. Gagnant du Trophée Dave Pinkney.
Details
I’m not sure how John Garrett supposedly led during the first three years of his pro career but it certainly wasn’t goals against average, or wins. Originally a draft pick of the St. Louis Blues at the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft, Garrett’s first year of pro was with their CHL affiliate in 1971-72, the Kansas City Blues. He sported a modest 3.55 GAA on a last place Blues team.
The following year, he played in the AHL with the Richmond Robins. He played an impressive 37 games for the club but his 3.26 GAA was nowhere near the top. The Robins finished fourth in the six team Western Division and were an early first round exit from the playoffs.
Garrett’s third year of pro hockey was 1973-74, his first in the WHA with the Minnesota Fighting Saints. His 3.59 goals against average placed him outside the top 5 in the league and didn’t even make him the best goaltender on the Fighting Saints. Mike Curran played the same number of games as John as sported a 3.27 GAA.
Peteborough Petes
His numbers with the Petes shown on the back of the card are correct. However, the nickname TPTs is an error. Peterborough was known as the Petes from the 1966-67 season until the present. He wasn’t just the winner of the Dave Pinkney Trophy once but in both years he played in the Ontario Junior A, 1969-70 and 1970-71.
Major League Playing Career
John Garret played 323 regular season games in the World Hockey Association from 1973-74 to 1978-79 with the Fighting Saints, Toronto Toros, Birmingham Bulls and New England Whalers. He moved to the NHL when the two leagues merged for the 1979-80 season. Between 1979-80 and 1984-85, he played for the Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks.