| Round | Overall |
| 1 | 4 |
 |
 |
Left-hand shot
Pre-Draft Statistics
| Year | Team | League | GP | G | A | TP | PIM |
| 1966-67 | Niagara Falls | OHA | 48 | 10 | 19 | 29 | 51 |
| 1967-68 | Niagara Falls | OHA | 54 | 41 | 62 | 103 | 79 |
Pre-Draft Notes
Won 1968 Memorial Cup with Niagara Falls playing on top line with Tom Webster and Don Tannahill. ... Played for Welland Clippers (OHA Jr. B) in 1965-66.
Career Vitals
| First contract: | 1968 |
| Debut: | January 25, 1969 (Pittsburgh vs. Toronto) |
| Final NHL game: | March 30, 1969 (Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia) |
| Retired: | 1977 |
| Stanley Cup: | Never won |
| Number worn: | 24 |
Career NHL Statistics
Team: Pittsburgh
Years: 1969. Playoffs:
None
| Regular Season | |||||
| GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
| 1 year | 9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Stanley Cup Playoffs | |||||
| GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
| 0 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Complete statistics available at NHL.com | |||||
Career Highlights
Won 1973-74 SHL Carlin Trophy for leading league in points (98) with Charlotte in 1973-74. ... Led SHL with 64 assists for Charlotte in 1973-74. ... Named to SHL All-Star Second Team with Charlotte in 1973-74. ... Scored overtime winner for New England (WHA) in first game ever at Hartford Civic Center vs. San Diego on Jan. 11, 1975. ... Set New England (WHA) records for penalty minutes in one playoff series with 41 vs. Minnesota in 1975. ... Led New England with two shorthanded goals in 1974-75. ... Scored game's first goal for New England (WHA) in 5-2 victory over visiting Soviet National Team on Dec. 27, 1976.
Transaction History
September 1974 -- WHA rights traded by Cleveland to New England in exchange for future considerations. October 1974 -- Signed with New England (WHA) as an unrestricted free agent.
Significant Injuries
Missed 12 games during 1974-75 season with injury suffered when checked by Gordie Howe in New England's March 8, 1975, WHA game at Houston.
Life Outside the NHL
Full Name: Garth
Frederick Arthur Swain
Nickname: "Swainy"
Other Post-Draft Teams: Amarillo (CHL); Baltimore (AHL); Fort Wayne (IHL); Charlotte (SHL); New England (WHA); Rhode Island (AHL)
Broadcasting Career: Served as
Hartford (AHL) color commentator for broadcasts on AHL.com during
2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
Management Career: Named Hartford
(AHL) Director of Corporate Partnerships on April 19, 2012. ...
Named commissioner of the American West Tier III junior hockey
league (AWHL) on July 1, 2013.
Career Beyond Hockey: Pursued career
in real-estate development after hockey and later
became successful management consultant in Connecticut.
Miscellaneous:
| Selected by Calgary Broncos in 1972 WHA Draft -- the first-ever WHA Draft -- in February 1972. | A former Niagara Falls junior golf champ, he worked summers as golf pro in Fonthill, Ontario. | Made New England (WHA) roster out of camp in 1974 after being invited there on a tryout basis. | Killed penalties alongside Tom Earl for New England (WHA) in 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons. |
| Played in 1975 Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open golf tournament. | Ran summer hockey school for underprivileged Connecticut children in 1975. | Played second base for New England on the Whalers' off-season softball team in 1975. | Lived year-round in the Hartford area during WHA playing days and remained after retirement. |
| SNAPSHOT '68 | |
| Total Selected: | 24 |
| Forwards: | 13 |
| Defense: | 8 |
| Goaltenders: | 3 |
| Major Junior: | 16 |
| College Players: | 4 |
| Canadian: | 22 |
| USA Citizens: | 2 |
| U.S.-Born: | 1 |
| European: | 0 |
| Reached NHL: | 10 |
| Won Stanley Cup: | 2 |
| Hall of Fame: | 0 |
| All-Star Game: | 2 |
| Year-end All-Star: | 0 |
| Olympians: | 0 |
| Picks Traded: | 1 |