MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Cloudy with a chance of many North Stars jerseys. This is Day One of the NHL Stadium Series in Minnesota at+ TCF Bank Stadium. Just 30 minutes before the Alumni Game, though, bright sunlight penetrated the ice, a threat to the optimal conditions for ice hockey out in the elements.
As a start to the first day of Stadium Series hockey, Spectator Plaza opened at 11 AM on the western fringes of the stadium. The blend of interactive events for fans, a beer garden and the largest hockey store on earth kept fans busy on this cool, but pleasant day. Live music and a band, all wearing 80s-era North Stars sweaters, had hundreds of fans spilling throughout the complex, dancing, singing and anticipating raucous afternoon of hockey.
A gaze across the plaza revealed a forest of green, some Wild apparel, but far more North Stars clothing than anything else. The green and gold are still revered here in the State of Hockey.
The variety of apparel ranged from inaugural 1967 season threads to the final green away jersey with the drop shadow with black trim. Not one black STARS jersey was seen the entire day, the significance of which involved the idea for a change in brand by exiled owner, Norm Green. It was just two years after the fashion change, going from green to black, that Green changed zip codes, moving to Dallas with his team.
Not be outdone, though, there were plenty of crossed tomahawks and indian heads in the stands. Blackhawks red and black travel well and have increased in numbers with three Stanley Cup championships in the last 6 years. You have to think Chicago fans who have come to Minnesota this weekend are thinking “nice event, but nothing beats winning a Cup or multiple Cups or for that matter, being 19 points ahead of the host team in the standings.”
The festive mood allowed for an approachable crowd, eager to talk about the events unfolding.
I ran into a group of four, cleverly dressed with competing allegiances; two loyal to the Wild and two intent on supporting the Blackhawks. Kelly Crandall and Jenna Personius donned their Wild onesies while Rohan and Carrie Phillips dressed in black and red. Somehow they agreed to behave this weekend, regardless of the game’s outcome.
As I mingled through the crowd, I spotted an interesting couple. also with competing loyalties. Brooke Gilbertson from Madison, Wisconsin, a Chicago fan, and Michael Aiello from Racine, Wisconsin, a Wild fan. The couple travelled to Minneapolis last night, looking forward to what will be their first ever NHL game. They were not sure what to expect, but thought it would be neat to attend their first game outside in the elements.
Closer to Spectator Plaza, I passed Mark and Angie Lindsey, proudly wearing North Stars apparel from the early years. They grew up with the original NHL team and spoke of their love of attending games at the Met Center.
Mark said, “it was awesome, in the 80s. The Chicago games were the best. My older brother brought me to games when I was younger.” When asked about the atmosphere at the Met Center, Mark said, “It was a blue collar crowd, fans were highly vocal and the place was loud.”
When asked about favorite players from their memories, Mark said, “I always liked Bobby Smith and Willi Plett.” Angie spoke of her fondness of several players, “Brian Bellows and Neal Broten were my favorites.” She also talked about how excited she was to see the retired players play and believed Sunday would be much more intense.
Wandering around outside the stadium, soaking it all in, I spotted John and Chris Shull just outside TCF Stadium. John sported a 70s era jersey while Chris decided to support the WHA’s Minnesota Fighting Saints. John talked about his love for the early North Stars of the mid 70s.
“My Dad started taking me to the games to see Bill Goldsworthy. What was fun about the games is that my Dad coached me and he would show me the professional game. It allowed me to try and emulate them in my own games. It was fun.”
Chris spoke of his anticipation of the Alumni game. “I am looking forward to a low-key game and maybe even a staged fight. It’s going to be a great time to see all of these players wearing the North Stars jersey.”
Walking out of the merchandise tent at Spectator Plaza, I spotted the Middlestead family, Peggy, Kevin and their daughter Rachel.
Peggy Middleton told me about how she watched the North Stars as a kid. “I just loved the arena. That place could not be beat. It was the coziness. I enjoyed watching Neal Broten and Dino Ciccarelli.”
Kevin talked about his favorites. “I liked Bill Goldsworthy, Cesare Maniago and Lou Nanne.” Nanne was one of the coaches at the Alumni game. Peggy said, “We are looking forward to seeing the North Stars uniform on the ice and being able to say I was here for the first outdoor game.”
Rachel, her arms filled with blankets to withstand the cold, was born after the North Stars left, but was just happy to be part of the event.
As the wind whipped around the stadium and the fans filed into their seats, it was time for the Alumni to take to the ice. The sun was playing havoc as it shined brightly from the West side of the stadium, unobstructed by any seating bowl or scoreboard for shade.
The North Stars won the game 6-4, thanks to timely goaltending. Gilles Meloche defended the Minnesota goal first, wearing his all-fiberglass mask, a throwback in every way to what backstoppers wore in the 80s.
At the opposite end, the only disappointment was that Chicago goalie Murray Bannerman did not mirror Melcohe with his version of the classic protective head gear.
But it was Don Beaupre, who had not played in six years, who kept the game tight when the Blackhawks could have broken things open.
Nearly 38,000 filled the seats to see the Alumni turn back the clock and battle their hated rivals. Lou Nanne, coach for the Minnesota team, said, “The turnout was spectacular. It’s hard to envision this many people coming to watch old-timers play. As much as I knew it’d be great, I didn’t expect that.”
The ceremonial first puck drop was an emotional one as Donna Parise, Helen Oliver, June Ness (Goldsworthy), widows of former North Stars J.P. Parise, Murray Oliver, and Bill Goldsworthy, handled the honors.
One separate battle did not take long to rekindle; that between Dino Ciccarelli and Denis Savard. The two dropped their mitts in front of the Minnesota bench within 30 seconds of the opening draw. It was all in fun and the two chuckled about things as they separated.
“It surprised me with Denis, he normally doesn’t do that unless Al Secord is on his left wing,” Ciccarell remarked. “So he kind of caught me off guard a little bit. I was giving (Brad) Maxwell and (Jack) Carlson crap because normally they come in and take care of business for me. I normally started them and got out of there.”
As the game wore on, Chicago began to double-shift some of their younger players. Once, Eric Daze, began to get more time which Nanne responded by puting Mike Modano out there longer.
“I came away from the experience impressed with the competitiveness of our team. When that game started going, even though guys can’t skate, guys were yelling from the bench, and everybody wants to win,” he said. “It was that litte extra push because you wanted to end up winning the game.
“It might not seem like anything, but as I told them before the game, ‘This is the last game we’re going to play against the Blackhawks. We’re not losing this game.’”
The Minnesota Wild will try to make it 2-0 for the home team on Sunday. The regular season, outdoor tilt between the Wild and Chicago Blackhawks is set for a 3:30 ET face-off. The atmosphere will be a little more intense for this game.
Follow me on Twitter at DMMORRELL and you can contact me at dennis.morrell@prohockeynews.com
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