Misplaced Pages

#11988

88-458: On March 11, 1965, NHL President Clarence Campbell announced that the league would expand to 12 teams from six by creating a new six-team division for the 1967–68 season. In response to the announcement, a partnership of nine men, led by Walter Bush, Jr. , Robert Ridder , and John Driscoll, was formed to seek a franchise for the Twin Cities area of Minnesota . Their efforts were successful, as

176-673: A 15–2 win. Following the 1981 NHL realignment to a more geographically grouped configuration, the North Stars were in the Norris Division . Ciccarelli scored a franchise record 55 goals in just his second season in 1981–82, leading Minnesota to its first division title. The team bowed out of the playoffs in the first round against the Chicago Black Hawks . In the summer of 1982, general manager Lou Nanne drafted Brian Bellows , who scored 35 goals in his rookie season of 1982–83 , when

264-730: A 4–3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets , was played October 13, 1972, at the St. Paul Auditorium . The team moved to the new St. Paul Civic Center , which opened in January 1973. The first game in the new arena was on January 1, 1973, a 4–4 overtime tie with the Houston Aeros . The team colors were royal blue, white and new gold. The name was taken from the St. Paul Saints of the Central Hockey League, who had used

352-662: A French phrase meaning "The Star of the North". Months after the naming of the team, ground was broken on October 3, 1966, for a new hockey arena in Bloomington. The home of the North Stars, the Metropolitan Sports Center , was built in 12 months at a cost of $ 7 million ($ 65.7 million in 2023 dollars). The arena was ready for play for the start of the 1967–68 NHL season , but parts of its construction were incomplete. Spectator seats were still being installed as fans arrived for

440-528: A complete redesign. The new logo and uniforms were carried over to Dallas after the team moved south. The team had 17 playoff appearances, a 77–82 playoff record, two Norris Division championships, and one Campbell Conference championship. Players These numbers remain retired with the Dallas Stars . In addition to Goldsworthy and Masterton, the Stars have retired the number 7 of Neal Broten , who played with

528-655: A direct connection to the franchise's time in Minnesota. NHL hockey returned to Minnesota when the NHL announced in 1997 that the state had been awarded an expansion franchise to begin play in the 2000–01 NHL season . In 1998, the team name for the new franchise became the Minnesota Wild . On December 17, 2000, the Wild hosted the Dallas Stars in the latter's first visit to Minnesota since

616-465: A former part-owner of the Calgary Flames and a last-minute newcomer to Baldwin and Belzberg's group, purchased 51% controlling interest in the North Stars from them, with Baldwin and Belzberg sharing the remaining 49% stake. Green agreed to purchase Baldwin's 24.5% share, giving him more than 75% control of the team shortly after a dispute with Baldwin arose. Belzberg maintained his share of the rest of

704-590: A franchise based in St. Paul, the Minnesota Fighting Saints . While a number of exhibition games were played between teams in the two leagues, the North Stars never played their cross-town rivals. But the competition for the hockey dollar between these two clubs was fierce. Despite making a good account of themselves on the ice, insurmountable financial difficulties forced the Fighting Saints to fold midway through their fourth season. A second incarnation of

792-559: A game that night. After the NHL's California Golden Seals moved to Cleveland to become the Cleveland Barons , the WHA's Cleveland Crusaders moved to St. Paul for the 1976–77 season. Like their predecessors, this second version of the Saints (called the "New Fighting Saints" in advertising and promotional material) had a winning record through their first 42 games (19–18–5), but owner Nick Mileti

880-639: A goal. This was the first use of video replay in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Wings won the seventh game at home, 5–2. By 1992, Norman Green was arranging a deal to turn the team into the Los Angeles Stars, playing at a new arena (which is now the Honda Center ) under construction in Anaheim, California . However, as The Walt Disney Company was already in negotiations with the NHL to create an expansion team in

968-478: A handful of expensive marquee players such as Mike Walton , Dave Keon and John McKenzie . Eventually, it was the team's high payroll that largely contributed to its demise. Without a marketable star in Gordie Howe or Bobby Hull 's mold, the Saints were unable to secure a lucrative television deal. As a result, even above-WHA average gate receipts were not enough to overcome the team's financial woes. In 1975–76,

SECTION 10

#1732844023012

1056-608: A pleasure knowing you, Minnesota's loss is definitely a gain for Dallas – and a big one. We thank you, though, from the bottoms of our hearts, for all the wonderful nights at Met Center , when you've given us so much entertainment and you've been such a credit to the community in which you played. We will still remember you as the Minnesota North Stars. Good night, everybody. And goodbye." Al Shaver did all radio play-by-play except in 1992–93, when he did radio play-by-play on non televised games. He also missed some games when he did

1144-486: A version of the 1978 North Stars jersey, featuring a recolored Wild logo as part of the league-wide "Reverse Retro" jersey program. In the 2022–23 season , a green version of the "Reverse Retro" jersey was used. The Wild's green "Reverse Retro" jersey was subsequently promoted to a full-time third jersey as "The 78s" alternate uniform, adding the recolored "State of Hockey" patch on the shoulders. The North Stars were known for their "classic" green and gold color scheme. For

1232-502: A wild player named Ogie Oglethorpe, based on Goldthorpe.) Veteran NHL coach Bruce Boudreau made his professional debut with the Saints, playing 30 games in the 1975–76 season and scoring three goals and six assists. The last active Fighting Saints player in major professional hockey was Jack Carlson , who retired after the 1986–87 NHL season with the North Stars (Carlson was also invited to be in Slap Shot , but had to decline as his team

1320-561: The Edmonton Oilers in four games. After 1984, the franchise only had one more winning season in Minnesota, in 1985–86. In 1987–88, it won 19 games, the second-fewest wins in franchise history. A loss to the Calgary Flames coupled with the Leafs' win over the Red Wings not only kept the North Stars out of the playoffs, but also with the worst record in the league. Chronic attendance problems led

1408-613: The Oxford University Ice Hockey Club . Campbell was an executive member of the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association in the 1930s, and was part of a Canadian Amateur Hockey Association committee in 1935 to study the definition of an amateur hockey player and updates needed. Campbell worked as a referee in the NHL from 1933 until 1939 . He officiated some historic games, such as the game in 1937 when

1496-417: The Twin Cities . He called University of Minnesota men's hockey for several seasons, then retired in 1996. Shaver came out of retirement for one season in 2000, when the NHL returned to Minnesota with the debut of the Minnesota Wild , calling their games during their inaugural season in 2000–01. Clarence Campbell Clarence Sutherland Campbell , OBE QC (July 9, 1905 – June 24, 1984)

1584-439: The high school hockey tournament in a number of years. Shaver's replacements were Bob Kurtz (1979–80), Ted Robinson (1980–81 and 1981–82), Frank Mazzocco (1986–87), Ralph Strangis (1990–91). In 1992–93, Doug McLeod did radio play-by-play on televised games with various analysts including Doug Woog , Tom Vannelli , and Wally Shaver. Shaver did not follow the North Stars when they moved to Dallas in 1993, opting to stay in

1672-460: The "S" on the white and blue jerseys. While a halo was part of the team's "little saint" logo in promotions and advertising, it was never used on the jersey. At the outset, the Saints had a policy of favoring local players, with the 1972–73 roster featuring no fewer than 11 athletes who were either born in Minnesota or were at least American citizens (as in the case of former Team USA players Keith Christiansen , George Konik and Carl Wetzel ). This

1760-464: The 1976–77 season. Neither edition of the franchise completed its final season of play. Founded in November 1971, the first Fighting Saints team played four seasons beginning in 1972–73 under the ownership of nine local businessmen. St. Paul attorney Wayne Belisle purchased the team late in the 1973–74 season. Belisle was the front man for a group of owners that included Jock Irvine. The Saints' first game,

1848-399: The 1991 Finals run, the North Stars adopted a new logo – the word "STARS" in italicized gold capitals over a green star with a gold outline; the gold now a more metallic shade than the previous yellowish shade. The team also adopted black as its primary color for its road uniforms, and eliminated gold from the uniform, except for the logo. Even before the logo change, it had been speculated that

SECTION 20

#1732844023012

1936-519: The 1991–92 season. North Stars radio broadcasts originated from WCCO Radio from 1967 to 1978, then moved to another Twin Cities-based clear-channel station , KSTP , where radio broadcasts stayed until the team moved to Dallas in 1993, save a few seasons on a 5,000-watt radio station, WAYL . Al Shaver was the play-by-play radio announcer throughout the Stars' stay in Minnesota. During the WCCO era, Shaver

2024-486: The Fighting Saints lasted only half of the next season before also folding. By 1978 the North Stars had missed the playoffs in five of the previous six seasons, and had only tallied two winning seasons since joining the league. Attendance had tailed off so rapidly that the league feared that the franchise was on the verge of folding. At this point, Gordon and George Gund III , owners of the equally strapped Cleveland Barons , stepped in with an unprecedented solution—merging

2112-595: The Flyers in 1980 and against the Calgary Flames in 1981. By defeating the Flames in 1981 , the North Stars reached their first Stanley Cup Finals . They lost in five games to the heavily favored New York Islanders . On November 11, 1981, the Winnipeg Jets visited Met Center. Fueled by an eight-goal second period, and a four-goal, seven-point night by Bobby Smith, the North Stars scored the most goals in an NHL game since 1944 in

2200-543: The Minnesota Wild's current radio announce team). KITN (now WFTC ) televised North Stars games with Frank Mazzocco on play-by-play with color commentators Fred Barrett , Roger Buxton, and Wally Shaver from the 1984–85 through 1986–87 seasons. The 1987–88 season saw North Stars' games telecast over Saint Cloud -based UHF station KXLI (with Kurtz on play-by-play and former Islander goalie Glenn "Chico" Resch on color). After Kurtz moved on to Massachusetts -based NESN in

2288-421: The Minnesota roster were Jeff Carlson , Steve Carlson , and David Hanson , who played the infamous Hanson Brothers in the 1977 cult movie Slap Shot . (The trio weren't the Saints' only connection to the film: in the 1974 WHA semifinals against Houston , controversial forward Bill "Goldie" Goldthorpe played three games for the Fighting Saints, compiling no points and 25 penalty minutes; Slap Shot featured

2376-430: The NHL awarded one of its six expansion franchises to Minnesota on February 9, 1966. The five other franchises were awarded to Oakland , Los Angeles , Philadelphia , Pittsburgh , and St. Louis . The expansion fee for each new team was $ 2 million ($ 18.8 million in 2023 dollars). The "North Stars" name was announced on May 25, 1966, after a public contest. The name derives from the state motto, " L'Étoile du Nord ",

2464-601: The NHL clubs decided to highlight the achievements of the league president by donating the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl in his honour. When the league realigned into two conferences and four divisions in 1974 , it further honoured Campbell by naming one of the two conferences after him, and awarding the Campbell Bowl to the conference's regular-season (later playoff) champion. Although the Clarence Campbell Conference

2552-453: The NHL named Red Dutton president. Dutton did not want the job, however, and when Campbell returned to Canada in 1946, Dutton resigned and Campbell accepted the presidency. One of his first acts of authority was in 1948, when he expelled players Billy Taylor and Don Gallinger from the NHL for betting on games. As NHL President, Campbell is perhaps best remembered for suspending Montreal Canadiens superstar Maurice "Rocket" Richard for

2640-477: The NHL's Minnesota North Stars from 1967 to 1970 on WTCN-TV (now KARE-TV ). Buetel's color commentators included Roger Buxton (1972–73) and Bob Halvorson, the Saints' first-season public relations director (1972–73), and Bill Allard (1973–1976). Al Hirt 's version of " When the Saints Go Marching In " was used as the theme song for WLOL's Fighting Saints broadcasts. No local radio station carried games of

2728-406: The NHL's and major league sports’ longest undefeated streak, a 35-game run of 25 wins and 10 ties. An all-time record Met Center crowd of 15,962 squeezed into the arena, which remained the highest total in all 26 seasons of the North Stars franchise. Minnesota ended the Flyers' streak with a 7–1 win. Seven different North Stars scored seven unanswered goals. In the quarterfinals of the 1980 playoffs ,

Minnesota North Stars - Misplaced Pages Continue

2816-459: The National Anthem. George Nagobads was the team's physician from 1973 to 1976. Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes Games of the original Fighting Saints were heard on WLOL Radio (1330 AM) from 1972 to 1976, with Frank Buetel as play-by-play announcer. Buetel was the original TV voice of

2904-539: The New Fighting Saints (1976–77). Fighting Saints games were televised sporadically on WTCN from 1973 to 1975. The first WTCN game was a home contest versus Cleveland on December 23, 1973, with Buetel and Allard simulcasting. Buxton called subsequent games on WTCN. On January 7, 1973, CBS aired its first WHA game between the Fighting Saints and Winnipeg Jets live from the new St. Paul Civic Center with Ron Oakes , Gerry Cheevers and Dick Stockton announcing. In

2992-564: The No. 1 Canadian War Graves Investigation Unit. After the war he was appointed Queen's Counsel, and was one of the prosecutors at one of several trial courts of leading Nazis who were put on trial for crimes against humanity . It has been widely reported that Campbell participated in the Nuremberg Trials , but he said that was untrue in a Sports Illustrated article published in 1974. Meanwhile, Calder had died, and with Campbell overseas,

3080-626: The North Stars defeated the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, 8–1. Tim Young became the second player in NHL history to score five goals on five shots. His five-goal game remains the best offensive output by a player in the Minnesota/Dallas franchise. In the middle of this transition, a historic night awaited the North Stars. On January 7, 1980, Minnesota was scheduled to play the Philadelphia Flyers , who came to Bloomington with

3168-701: The North Stars faced the St. Louis Blues in a series that also went seven games. Minnesota was one game away from advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals but lost the deciding game in double overtime. The team was led in the early years by the goaltending duo Lorne "Gump" Worsley and Cesare Maniago . Defenseman Ted Harris was the North Stars' captain . The first Stars team also included high-scoring winger Bill Goldsworthy and other quality players such as Barry Gibbs , Jude Drouin , J. P. Parise , Danny Grant , Lou Nanne , Tom Reid and Dennis Hextall . The World Hockey Association (WHA) began play in 1972 with

3256-650: The North Stars from 1981 to 1993, and the number 9 of Mike Modano who played from 1988 to 1993. Note: This list does not include Dallas Stars , California Golden Seals and Cleveland Barons captains . Clarence S. Campbell Bowl Calder Memorial Trophy Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy This is a listing of the top ten point scorers in franchise history. Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game WTCN-TV Channel 11 (now KARE ) carried North Stars games from 1967 to 1979. Usually, 27 road games and three home games were televised each season. Frank Buetel

3344-413: The North Stars upset the four-time defending champion Montreal Canadiens in seven games before bowing out to Philadelphia in the next round. With the addition of new players such as Minnesota native and 1980 Olympian Neal Broten and sniper Dino Ciccarelli , the North Stars had five straight winning seasons starting in 1979–80 , which included back-to-back trips to the Stanley Cup semifinals, against

3432-577: The North Stars with the Barons. The merged team retained the North Stars name, colors, and history, and remained in Minnesota. But the wealthier Gunds became majority owners of the merged team, and the North Stars moved from the then five-team Smythe Division to the Barons' place in the Adams Division (which would otherwise have been left with only three teams) for the 1978–79 season . The recently retired Nanne

3520-506: The North Stars would adopt a new logo following the 1990–91 season, as the future primary logo was first painted on the Met Center ice before the aforementioned season, albeit in a reverse color scheme from its upcoming incarnation. To celebrate the team's 25th anniversary, the team wore a commemorative patch on the left shoulder of its uniforms. The patch depicted Bill Goldsworthy, wearing a green uniform, facing off against Mike Modano, wearing

3608-460: The North Stars. An alumni game pitting the Chicago Blackhawks against Team Minnesota took place the day prior to the 2016 NHL Stadium Series . Team Minnesota featured a mix of former North Stars and Wild players, and wore throwback North Stars jerseys with the former's logo on the right shoulder and the Wild logo on the left shoulder. For the 2020–21 season , the Minnesota Wild introduced

Minnesota North Stars - Misplaced Pages Continue

3696-518: The Saints and instead stuck to his day job—as Governor of Minnesota . The Saints never missed the playoffs nor had a losing record. Perhaps even more impressively, given that they were in direct competition with the Minnesota North Stars of the established National Hockey League , the Fighting Saints always drew more fans than the WHA average. On a few occasions, the Fighting Saints drew more fans than their local NHL rivals. They also boasted

3784-465: The Saints had a record of 30–25–4 and were second in the West behind the Houston Aeros when they ceased operations because of financial struggles. Saints officials announced on December 31, 1975, that the team was broke, and the players would continue to play without pay. (Belisle's group withdrew its backing at the start of the season.) A permanent buyer was never found, and the players received one paycheck in

3872-557: The Sharks endured the typical struggles of an expansion team and finished last overall, the North Stars modestly improved from the 1990–91 regular season though still finishing with a losing record. They made the 1992 playoffs and took a 3–2 series lead into game six at the Met Center against the Norris Division champion Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings won, 1–0, in overtime after a video referee review confirmed that Sergei Fedorov had scored

3960-517: The Stars defeat the Senators 6–1. Due to mounting financial problems resulting from poor management of his non-hockey business ventures, Green only kept the Stars for three more years before selling them to Tom Hicks in 1996. On the other hand, the Dallas franchise has taken some steps to mend the emotional wounds left in Minnesota. When the Dallas Stars won the 1999 Stanley Cup–three years after Green sold

4048-483: The Stars prevailed over the Wild in both series. On April 4, 2017, the Wild honored the North Stars by wearing North Stars jerseys for warmups, despite the North Stars history belonging to the Dallas Stars . Martin Hanzal warmed up with number 91, as the North Stars retired number 19 in honor of Bill Masterton . Zach Parise also warmed up with equipment belonging to his father, the late Jean-Paul Parise , who played for

4136-599: The Stars' radio network. Shaver is a ten-time Minnesota Sportscaster of the Year and, as the 1993 Foster Hewitt Memorial Award -winner, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame . Following the team's departure to Dallas, he called University of Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey games until his retirement in 1996. It was on the night of the Stars' final game at Joe Louis Arena versus the Detroit Red Wings that Shaver first shared

4224-518: The West Division halfway through the 1967–68 season. Tragedy struck the team on January 13, 1968, when Masterton suffered a fatal hit during a game against the Seals at Met Center. Skating towards the Seals goal across the blue line, he fell backward, hitting the back of his head on the ice, rendering him unconscious. He never regained consciousness and died on January 15, 1968, two days after the accident. He

4312-469: The area, the league instead asked Green to let Disney create the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim while the North Stars would be allowed to relocate to any city of Green's choosing. In January 1993, Green chose Dallas, Texas as the new home of the franchise, and the decision was formally announced on March 10. Several reasons were cited for the relocation, including poor attendance during a string of losing seasons,

4400-486: The broadcast booth with his son, Wally, who is the current Gopher hockey radio announcer. The elder Shaver's call of the closing moments of the last-ever North Stars game went thus: "It's Ludwig , giving it to Dahlen ... 4, 3, 2, 1 ... and it's all over. The Stars lose it here, 5–3, and now it's pack-'em up time and on to Dallas . We wish them good luck. And to all the North Stars over the past 26 years, we say thank you, all of you, for so much fine entertainment. It's been

4488-575: The face. On March 17, Campbell attended a game at the Montreal Forum between the Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings . Throughout the first period he was taunted and pelted with debris by outraged Montreal fans, who saw him as a prime example of the city's English-Canadian elite oppressing the French-Canadian majority. After a tear gas bomb was released in the arena, Campbell exited the building,

SECTION 50

#1732844023012

4576-412: The failure to reach deals for a new arena in either Minneapolis or Saint Paul, and a sexual harassment lawsuit against Green that resulted in his wife threatening to leave him unless he moved the team. The subsequent decision to relocate the franchise to Texas made Green much reviled in Minnesota, where he derisively came to be known as "Norm Greed". Another factor that also precipitated the move to Dallas

4664-600: The final two months. The Fighting Saints' last game was played February 25, 1976, at the Civic Center, a 2–1 overtime loss to the San Diego Mariners in front of an announced crowd of 6,011. The decision to fold the franchise occurred February 28, 1976, in the lobby of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport , moments before the team was scheduled to board a flight to Cincinnati for

4752-562: The finals for the second time in franchise history. The team fought hard against the eventual champion Pittsburgh Penguins , led by Mario Lemieux . They won two out of the first three contests before being obliterated 8–0 in game six of the best-of-seven series. It was the most lopsided defeat in a deciding game of the Stanley Cup Finals since the original Ottawa Senators defeated the Dawson City Nuggets 23–2 in 1905. Following

4840-475: The game was forfeited to the Red Wings, and the Forum was evacuated. What ensued was a full-fledged riot in which 60 people were arrested and $ 500,000 in damage was done. Campbell was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966. He was instrumental in the 1967 expansion , which doubled the league in size, and often worked 18 hours a day in his office. At the beginning of the league's Expansion Era in 1967–68 ,

4928-523: The great Howie Morenz 's career was ended when he broke his leg, an injury that eventually led to his death. Campbell even refereed a rough playoff game between the Montreal Maroons and the Boston Bruins in which Dit Clapper used his stick on a player. Angry at Clapper's actions, he called Clapper a profane name, which brought a powerful punch from the hardrock defenceman that knocked Campbell to

5016-538: The ice. Campbell, aware of his provocative action, then submitted a very lenient report on Clapper, and NHL president Frank Calder gave Clapper only a fine as a result. Campbell made a controversial call in 1939 when refereeing a game involving the Toronto Maple Leafs when defenceman Red Horner was struck with a stick and Campbell doled out only a minor penalty, even though Horner was bleeding. Leafs owner Conn Smythe called for Campbell not to be rehired, and

5104-575: The league agreed. League president Frank Calder decided to let Campbell work in his office after his career as a referee, and it was becoming evident that the president was grooming a successor. But World War II broke out and Campbell enlisted in the Canadian Army . He rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1945. At the end of the war he served with

5192-415: The majority of their existence, the North Stars wore white jerseys with green and gold striping at home and green jerseys with white and gold stripes on the road. Black trim was added to the white jerseys in 1981, and to the green jerseys in 1988. In 1988–89, the pants changed from green to black, with three stars on each side in place of stripes. In 1991, black became the primary color, as the team underwent

5280-582: The naming of the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl for him. Born in Fleming, Assiniboia District, North-West Territories , Campbell attended high school at the Strathcona Collegiate Institute, now known as Old Scona Academic , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in law and arts in 1924 and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University , where he played for

5368-400: The new black uniform. Per the 1991 expansion agreement, the North Stars were allowed to protect fourteen players from selection by the Sharks. This meant the core of their 1991 conference championship roster essentially remained intact, with the team losing only four players from its NHL roster to San Jose (the Sharks' remaining selections from Minnesota were minor-leaguers). As a result, while

SECTION 60

#1732844023012

5456-464: The news of Masterton's death, the North Stars lost the next six games. The North Stars achieved success in their first year of existence by finishing fourth in the West Division with a record of 27–32–15 and advancing to the playoffs. During the 1968 playoffs, the North Stars defeated the Los Angeles Kings in seven games after losing the first two in the series. In the next round, the West finals,

5544-432: The nickname "Fighting Saints" in promotional material. The team originally had three sets of jerseys—white, blue and gold—all bearing the Saints "S" logo on the front, with the word "Saints" across the middle of the "S." (The gold jerseys were rarely used, and were worn only in the first season.) When the Saints left the St. Paul Auditorium for the new Civic Center on January 1, 1973, the familiar "little saint" logo replaced

5632-555: The opening home game on October 21, 1967. On October 11, 1967, the North Stars played the first game in franchise history on the road against the St. Louis Blues , another expansion team. The game was a 2–2 tie, with former US National Team forward Bill Masterton scoring the first goal in franchise history. On October 21, 1967, the North Stars played their first home game, against the California Seals . The North Stars won 3–1. The team achieved success early, reaching first place in

5720-561: The other 20 NHL teams in an expansion draft . A group previously petitioning for an NHL team in the Bay Area, led by Howard Baldwin and Morris Belzberg , bought the North Stars as part of the deal. Baldwin and Belzberg purchased the team from the Gunds for approximately $ 38.1 million (including $ 1 million in liabilities as well as giving the Gunds their share of the fees from the next three expansion teams, expected to be $ 7.14 million). Norman Green ,

5808-587: The owners to threaten to move the club to the San Francisco Bay Area , against the league's wishes. The NHL instituted a compromise for the 1990–91 season whereby the Gund brothers were awarded an expansion team in the Bay Area, the San Jose Sharks , that would receive players from Minnesota via a dispersal draft with the North Stars. Both the Sharks and North Stars would then be able to select players from

5896-456: The playoffs, Nanne paired with McLeod for television broadcasts on both of these same channels. Telecasts were almost exclusively of North Stars' road games, although a handful of home games were televised during that period of time. The 1991 Stanley Cup Finals run saw home games available only on pay-per-view and not available to most hockey fans in Minnesota. Dave Hodge handled TV play-by-play, partnering with color analyst Joe Micheletti in

5984-425: The relocation (excluding the aforementioned neutral-site game at Target Center in 1993). The Wild won that game 6–0 with Darby Hendrickson scoring two goals and Manny Fernandez making 24 saves for a shutout. As of the 2023–24 season, the Stars won 52 of 90 meetings with the Wild, with one tie and nine OT/SO losses. The two teams also faced each other in the 2016 and 2023 first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs ,

6072-494: The remaining three games of the 1955 regular season and for the entirety of the playoffs. This decision came about as a result of Richard's actions during a March 13 game between the Canadiens and Boston Bruins ; Richard had gotten into a vicious stick-swinging fight with the Bruins' Hal Laycoe , and when linesman Cliff Thompson restrained Richard, Laycoe punched Richard repeatedly. One of Richard's teammates knocked down Laycoe, allowing Richard to turn around and punch Thompson in

6160-403: The second-highest victory total in its history with 39 and won its second Norris Division crown in three years. Luckily for them, the Norris Division was very weak that year; they were the only team in the division to have a winning record. In the playoffs, the North Stars defeated the Blackhawks. Minnesota won the series 3–2, then eliminated the St. Louis Blues in seven games. They then lost to

6248-510: The summer of 1988, Doug McLeod joined Resch in the broadcast booth beginning with the 1988–89 season. The North Stars' telecasts returned to KMSP in December 1988. The majority of the road games continued to be shown on KMSP, though late in the season some road games were shown on the premium channel Midwest Sports Channel . For the 1989–90 season, Tom Reid joined McLeod in the booth, replacing Resch as color commentator. The 1990–91 season saw first Lou Nanne , then Dave Maloney , and then again, for

6336-576: The team finished with 40 wins and 96 regular season points – both the most ever recorded in the 26 years the franchise was based in Minnesota. The North Stars lost in the playoffs to the Chicago Black Hawks in the second round. In 1983–84 Bill Mahoney , a defensive-minded coach, took over. Early in the season, Bobby Smith was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for a pair of defense-minded forwards, Keith Acton and Mark Napier . The team posted

6424-477: The team's stock until October 1990, when Green became the team's sole owner by buying Belzberg's shares. In the 1990–91 season, despite a losing record in the regular season, the North Stars embarked on a Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Finals . They knocked off the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues (the top two teams in the NHL during the regular season) in six games each and the defending Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers in five games, making it to

6512-412: The team–their official video "Nothing Else Matters" not only included their past seasons' disappointments, but also paid tribute to the North Stars' 1991 run to the final, of which star Mike Modano and general manager Bob Gainey had been part. Modano, who retired in 2011, was the last former North Star in the NHL, leaving the Stars franchise after the 2009–10 season. The last active former North Star

6600-461: Was Mike Craig , who played in Italy until 2013. After Modano's last game as a Dallas Star, which was in Minnesota playing the Wild, Modano came on the ice as the first star wearing a North Stars jersey, getting a standing ovation from the crowd. With the departure of former North Stars scout Les Jackson from the Dallas Stars franchise on June 30, 2020, there is no longer anyone working for Dallas who had

6688-516: Was 29. Doctors described the cause of death as a "massive brain injury". To date, this remains the only death of a player as a result of an injury during a game in NHL history. The North Stars retired his jersey, and later that year, hockey writers established the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy , which would be given annually to a player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Following

6776-645: Was February 17, 1973). Sonmor coached the Saints again during their final season, 1976–77. Neale became head coach of the New England Whalers after the original Saints folded in 1976, and later coached the Vancouver Canucks in the National Hockey League . The Saints' public address announcers included Al Tighe (1973–74) and Rod Trongard (1974–1977). Team organists included Rob Meads (1973–1976) and Ronnie Newman (1976–77). Jim Bowers often sang

6864-467: Was a Canadian ice hockey executive, referee, and soldier. He refereed in the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 1930s, served in the Canadian Army during World War II , then served as the third president of the NHL from 1946 to 1977. His tenure as president included the Richard Riot and the 1967 NHL expansion . His career was recognized with induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1966, and

6952-411: Was almost unheard of in the early 1970s, when few NHL or WHA teams had even a single American player. In fact, one of the players the Saints selected in the inaugural WHA draft in 1972 was Wendell Anderson , a former star defenseman at the University of Minnesota and a member of the silver medal-winning Team USA squad at the 1956 Winter Olympics . Anderson said he was flattered, but he chose not to join

7040-669: Was in the playoffs, so his role was recast). The last Saint regularly playing in pro hockey was Bruce Boudreau, who played in the American Hockey League until 1992. (In 1996, Mike Antonovich came out of retirement as a player-coach, playing a few games in the United Hockey League .) Glen Sonmor was the Saints general manager throughout their history. Sonmor coached the Saints for the first part of their inaugural season. When Sonmor gave up his coaching duties, assistant coach Harry Neale took over as head coach (his first game

7128-674: Was interred at the National Field of Honour in Pointe-Claire , Quebec. Minnesota Fighting Saints The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota , that played in the World Hockey Association . The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972 to 1976. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio , and played for part of

7216-428: Was joined for many home games by WCCO's Larry Jagoe in the early seasons, followed by WCCO personality Steve Cannon . Shaver's partners on KSTP were Russ Small, Ted Robinson , and (during the last three seasons) former Dallas Stars announcer Ralph Strangis . During the Stars' final season (1992–93), Shaver and Strangis called games on KMSP, while the Stars' cable TV game announcer, Doug McLeod, called games over KSTP and

7304-469: Was named general manager, and some of the Barons players – notably goaltender Gilles Meloche and forwards Al MacAdam and Mike Fidler – bolstered Minnesota's lineup. Furthermore, Minnesota had drafted Bobby Smith , who went on to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie that year, and Steve Payne , who recorded 42 goals in his second campaign in 1979–80. On January 15, 1979,

7392-549: Was renamed the Western Conference in 1993 , the Campbell Bowl continues to be awarded to the conference's playoff champion. In 1976, Campbell was charged with bribing Senator Louis Giguère in the "Sky Shops" scandal. He was convicted, but the NHL paid his fine and he served no time because of his age. Campbell was a sick man by the time he retired as NHL president in 1977. He spent the last years of his life plagued with respiratory ailments, and died on June 24, 1984. He

7480-476: Was the Saints' captain in their first four seasons. In the final season, Ron Ward was the team captain, replaced on December 28, 1976, by John Arbour . Among the Saints' notable players were Wayne Connelly (the team's career scoring leader with 283 points in 291 games), Mike Walton , Mike Antonovich (the team's career games leader with 309), Hockey Hall of Famer Dave Keon , John McKenzie and Rick Smith , and goalies Mike Curran and John Garrett . Also on

7568-582: Was the fact that the team refused to play at the Target Center , where the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves played, due to the fact that Coca-Cola had advertising and pouring rights at that arena. The North Stars and the Met Center had Pepsi as their sponsor. Despite that, the newly relocated Stars did play at Target Center on December 9, 1993, against the Ottawa Senators , though only 14,058 fans showed up to watch

7656-422: Was the play-by-play announcer from 1967 to 1970. Hal Kelly took over for the next few years, followed by Joe Boyle in the mid-1970s. Boyle was joined by color commentator Roger Buxton. After the station gained NBC affiliation in 1979, telecasts moved to KMSP-TV (now a Fox owned-and-operated station), with most called by Bob Kurtz and retired North Stars defenseman Tom Reid (incidentally, Kurtz and Reid are

7744-517: Was unable to sell the team to local buyers. (Also, the new Saints weren't drawing as well as the old ones: just 6,211 a night, versus the league average of 7,675.) The "New" Fighting Saints played their final game on January 14, 1977, a 9–5 home win over the Indianapolis Racers . The franchise officially folded on January 20, 1977. The team's logo and uniforms were identical to the first team's, but with scarlet replacing royal blue. Ted Hampson

#11988