Walking off the ice after its 6-4 win, Minnesota North Stars alumni Steve Payne had one word the assembled media.
“Medic,” he playfully said.
Both the Team Minnesota players, made up of former North Stars and Wild players, and the Chicago Blackhawks alumni were all smiles coming off the ice. They were chatting amicably on the way to their side-by-side locker rooms in TCF Bank Stadium. Something you probably wouldn’t have seen 25 years ago.
Bobby Smith scored the game-winner from Dino Ciccarelli at 17:03 of the third period.
“It was a fun game,” said former North Star Neal Broten. “It was a good back and forth. Both teams played really hard. Some of the guys who were retired recently can still skate pretty good.”
Minnesota’s younger players did a fair amount of damage. Andrew Brunette scored a penalty shot goal to break a 2-2 tie in the second period, and added an assist on Dennis Maruk’s first period goal. Mike Modano scored the final goal of the game for Minnesota and assisted on Brian Bellows’ goal. Wes Walz scored 12 seconds into the third period.
The story of the game was Don Beaupre’s second period. Beaupre, who played last six years ago, stopped 17 shots in the second period.
“Donny was standing on his head,” he said. “He played great. Gilles [Meloche] played good in the first, too.”
Eric Daze scored twice for Chicago, with Jeremy Roenick and Troy Murray also scoring.
“It was the chance of a lifetime,” Daze said. “We all played outside when we grew up, but this was really special. I got to play with [Chris] Chelios and Roenick when I just came to Chicago and play with [Denis] Savard again was a real pleasure and a lot of fun.”
Chicago’s alumni coach Pat Foley, usually in the radio broadcaster’s booth, said he was like a fish out of water but had a great time behind the bench.
“They were trying but no one was going to get too carried away with it,” Foley said. “Both teams were trying, but they weren’t going to take liberties to try and do it.”
Ciccarelli said everyone had fun getting after the game.
“Guys are 20 years older and we’re a little bit slower, but everyone’s still competitive and no one wants to get embarrassed,” he said.
Ciccarelli also reminisced on the passion that Chicago Stadium crowd brought every time the North Stars came to town.
“That stadium had such passionate fans,” he said. “If you weren’t ready to play they got you ready. They motivated me all the time with the Dinosaurs, and the Dino sucks chants.
Broten was joined in locker room by his grandson Henry, who, along with many of the players, were getting sticks and jerseys signed by their teammates.
Broten said he’d probably be a little sore tomorrow, but not too bad.
“We got together and skated yesterday,” he said. “It’s been a fun last couple of days.”
Follow Lonny on Twitter @lonny_goldsmith and you can always reach him at Lonny.Goldsmith@prohockeynews.com
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