Vintage Minnesota Hockey - History

On January 25, 1972 the Minnesota North Stars played host to the NHL's finest at the formidable Met Center in Bloomington for the leagues 25th Anniversary of the NHL's All-Star game.  The North Stars were the second of the new expansion teams awarded an All-Star game, and that match turned out to be one of the most compelling in NHL history.  In 1972 the format pitted the Eastern All-Stars, coached by Al MacNeil, against the Western All-Stars, coached by Billy Reay.  In all, Reay's Chicago Blackhawks placed nine players on the All-Star squad, and they were accompanied by a quartet of North Stars, Bill Goldsworthy, Ted Harris, Doug Mohns and Gump Worsley.  Unquestionably, the power rested with the Eastern team, which included Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito and Ken Dryden.  Orr was subsequently selected as the games MVP which was won by the East 3-2.   Fast forward 32 years to 2004, the State-of-Hockey, and the capital of Minnesota in St. Paul with the Minnesota Wild were once again the host to the NHL All-Star game held at the Xcel Energy Center.

The city of St. Paul, in honour of the All Star Game being held, erected an Ice Castle adjacent to the X-Cel, for the first time in over 20 years, as the annual Saint Paul Winter Carnival was in full swing during the All-Star festivities.  The Eastern Conference cruised to a 6-4 victory with goals by Adrian Aucoin, Daniel Alfredsson (2), Mark Messier, Gary Roberts and Ilya Kovalchuk.  However, Joe Sakic of the Western Conference walked away with MVP honors as he scored a hat trick.  Coyotes forward Shane Doan also scored for the West.