| Round | Overall |
| 1 | 4 |
 |
 |
Right-hand shot
Pre-Draft Statistics
| Year | Team | League | GP | G | A | TP | PIM |
| 1967-68 | Edmonton | WCJHL | 57 | 24 | 27 | 51 | 85 |
| 1968-69 | Edmonton | WCHL | 41 | 9 | 16 | 25 | 60 |
Pre-Draft Notes
Starred for Tier II New Westminster Royals before moving up to major junior.
Career Vitals
| First contract: | 1969 |
| Debut: | January 24, 1970 (Boston at New York) |
| Final NHL game: | February 13, 1977 (Cleveland at Boston) |
| Retired: | 1978 |
| Stanley Cup: | Never won |
| Numbers worn: | 28 (Boston); 28 (St. Louis); 28 (California/Cleveland) |
Career NHL Statistics
Teams: Boston,
St. Louis, California/Cleveland
Years: 1970-1977. Playoffs:
None
| Regular Season | |||||
| GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
| 5 years | 61 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 12 |
| Stanley Cup Playoffs | |||||
| GP | G | A | TP | PIM | |
| 0 years | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Complete statistics available at NHL.com | |||||
Career Highlights
Played one regular-season game for the 1969-70 Boston team that went on to win Stanley Cup. ... Led CHL with 44 goals for Salt Lake in 1975-76. ... Named to CHL All-Star Second Team with Salt Lake in 1975-76. ... Scored a goal in his final NHL game with Cleveland on Feb. 13, 1977. ... Went to AHL Calder Cup Finals with New Haven in 1978 to close out his pro career. ... Earned Canadian Hockey Order of Merit award for service to amateur hockey in 1981. ... Won Allan Cup with Cranbrook Royals (WIHL) in 1982.
Transaction History
June 8, 1971 -- Claimed by Philadelphia from Boston in NHL Intra-League Draft. Dec. 1, 1973 -- Traded by Philadelphia to St. Louis in exchange for Ray Schultz. Jan. 9, 1975 -- Traded by St. Louis with cash to California in exchange for Bruce Affleck. Feb. 17, 1977 -- Became an unrestricted free agent after financially-troubled Cleveland team failed to pay him his NHL salary on Jan. 31, 1977, and did not come up with the money in the 15 allotted days after that. Sept. 14, 1977 -- Signed WHA contract with Indianapolis. Dec. 5, 1977 -- Traded by Indianapolis (WHA) with future considerations to N.Y. Rangers in exchange for Bill Goldsworthy.
Significant Inuries
Missed nearly half of 1970-71 season with knee injury that required surgery to repair damaged cartilage. ... Missed final eight games of 1974-75 season with strained ligaments in knee. ... Missed part of 1976-77 season with separated shoulder, an injury suffered while playing in CHL.
Life Outside the NHL
Full Name: Franklin
Patrick Spring
Other Post-Draft Teams: Oklahoma City (CHL); Hershey, Richmond (AHL); Denver (WHL); Denver (CHL); Salt Lake (CHL); Indianapolis (WHA);
New Haven (AHL); Cranbrook (WIHL)
Career Beyond Hockey: Went to
work in his family's automotive dealership business in Cranbrook,
British Columbia, after his retirement.
Family: Son of former British
Columbia Amateur Hockey Association President Frank Spring Sr., a
prominent automobile dealer in Cranbrook, B.C. ... Older brother of former WHA
player Dan Spring and former minor-leaguer Derek Spring.
Miscellaneous:
| Selected by Chicago Cougars in 1972 WHA Draft -- the first-ever WHA Draft -- in February 1972. | Shifted from right wing to defense for Richmond (AHL) during 1972-73 season. | Member of California Golden Seals team that relocated to Cleveland on Aug. 26, 1976. | BCAHA named Association of the Year award, the Frank Spring Trophy, in his dad's honor. |
| Selected by Chicago Cougars in 1972 WHA Draft -- the first-ever WHA Draft -- in February 1972. | Played left wing on a line with Dave Keon and Billy MacMillan for Toronto in 1970-71. | Worked as a penalty-killer on pairing with Gerry O'Flaherty for Vancouver in 1975-76 season. | Played for Vancouver Canucks Alumni team after his retirement. |
| SNAPSHOT '69 | |
| Total Selected: | 84 |
| Forwards: | 58 |
| Defense: | 18 |
| Goaltenders: | 8 |
| Major Junior: | 68 |
| College Players: | 8 |
| Canadian: | 78 |
| Euro-Canadian: | 1 |
| American: | 4 |
| European: | 1 |
| Reached NHL: | 49 |
| Won Stanley Cup: | 10 |
| Hall of Fame: | 1 |
| All-Star Game: | 7 |
| Year-end All-Star: | 1 |
| Olympians: | 2 |
| Picks Traded: | 11 |
| 1969 PICKS BY TEAM | ||
| Boston | Chicago | Detroit |
| Los Angeles | Minnesota | Montreal |
| New York | Oakland | Philadelphia |
| Pittsburgh | St. Louis | Toronto |
OTHERS DRAFTED IN 1969