Bruce Boudreau was a 5-9 center who made a large reputation as a hockey player in his hometown of Toronto during three seasons for the Marlboros junior team. In his final season of 1974-75, he had 68 goals and 165 points in 69 games.
Boudreau edged Tim Young for the scoring title in the Ontario Hockey Association by two points.
"That little so-and-so, he got two points in the last game to beat me out," Young told the Minneapolis Tribune's John Gilbert in late September 1975.
Young and Boudreau were both rookie centers in the training camps of Minnesota teams: Young with the North Stars in Bloomington, and Boudreau with the Fighting Saints in St. Paul.
The Saints had taken Boudreau as a 19-year-old in the 1974 World Hockey Association draft. There were rumors Boudreau already had a deal with the Saints, so he fell to the third round and was selected by the Maple Leafs in the 1975 NHL draft.
Wayne Belisle was serving as the managing partner for the Saints entering the 1975-76 season. Boudreau came to the Twin Cities after the Marlboros' season ended to meet with Belisle, General Manager Glen Sonmor and coach Harry Neale.
"We didn't know how to entertain, since he wasn't old enough to drink," Belisle said. "So we took him on a pontoon ride around White Bear Lake and made our pitch."
Belisle paused and added: "He must have liked the boat ride. He signed with us."