Vintage Minnesota Hockey - History

1948:  The 4th annual MSHSL State Boys High School Hockey Tournament is held at the St. Paul Auditorium from Feb. 19-21st.

1953:  The 9th annual MSHSL State Boys High School Hockey Tournament is held at the St. Paul Auditorium from Feb. 19-21st.

1959:  The 15th annual MSHSL State Boys High School Hockey Tournament is held at the St. Paul Auditorium from Feb. 19-21st.

1966:  A group of owners in Minneapolis St. Paul learned that they would become one of the six new NHL teams scheduled to begin play a year and a half later.

1966: Former University of Minnesota Goaltender, John Blue Birthday.

1969:  Bill Goldsworthy scored twice and added an assist and Jean-Paul Parise had four assists as the Minnesota North Stars tied a team goal scoring record (most goals) in a 7-4 win over the Kings at the Met Center.

1972:    Boston's Phil Esposito became the first player in NHL history to score 100 points in a season three times in his career, when he picked up an assist in a 6-4 win over the North Stars at Minnesota.

1978:  Mark Heaslip scored a goal and added two assists to lead the Rangers to a 4-4 tie against the Colorado Rockies, at MSG.

1978:  Minnesota North Stars purchased goaltender Gary Smith from Washington.

1981:  NHL player Jeff Taffe born in Hastings, MN.  Taffe has played in the NHL since 2002-03 with Phoenix, the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Florida Panthers, Chicago and the Minnesota Wild.

1985:  NHL defenseman Clayton Stoner born in Port McNeill, B.C.  Stoner has played in the NHL since 2009-10 with Minnesota and Anaheim.

1986:  Brian Lawton scored his first NHL hat trick and added an assist, and Dennis Maruk had a goal and four assists to lead the Minnesota North Stars to a 6-5 win, at Chicago.

1988:  Phil Housley set a new scoring record for Sabres defensemen, when he got his 25th goal of the season, in a 5-4 loss to the Flyers in Buffalo.

1990:  The Gunds reiterate their position that the money to improve Met Center must be found by February 21, or they will sell or move the Minnesota North Stars.

1997:  NHL announces that St. Paul, MN is a finalist for an expansion franchise.

2004:  Alex Henry scored his first NHL goal as the Wild won 6-2 against the visiting Vancouver Canucks.

2011:  Colorado Avalanche acquired Bloomington, MN native Erik Johnson, Jay McClement and a 1st round pick from St. Louis, in exchange for Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart and a second-round pick in either 2011 or 2012.

2011:  Chris Stewart became the 5th player in St. Louis history to score twice in his debut with the Blues, a 9-3 win over the visiting Anaheim Ducks.  T.J. Oshie had two goals and an assist, including his goal and assist coming in :06 in the 1st period.

2012: Hockey Day America sponsored by NBC with festivities hosted by the Minnesota Wild, with Liam McHugh, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire and Mike Milbury anchored NBC Sports' live pre-game and early-game intermission coverage from the Wells Fargo Winter-Skate Rink at Landmark Plaza in downtown St. Paul, MN.

2012:  Niklas Backstrom set a team record for most saves in a shutout, with 48 and Minnesota natives Chad Rau and Matt Cullen both scored in a 2-0 win over the visiting Boston Bruins.  It was his 26th career shutout and the Wild's first home shutout against Boston.

2012:  Robbinsdale, MN native Blake Wheeler picked up four assists to lead the Jets to a 5-1 win over the visiting Colorado Avalanche.