Al Shaver, a Hockey Hall of Fame media honoree and longtime radio voice of the Minnesota North Stars, has died at the age of 96.
Shaver was the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1993, selected by the NHL Broadcasting Association to recognize radio and television personnel who have made outstanding contributions to the profession and to hockey. He is also a member of the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame in recognition of his contributions with the North Stars from 1967 until the team moved to Dallas in 1993. He continued to coach men's hockey games at the University of Minnesota until his retirement in 1996 after his 48 years of service. In the broadcast.
Shaver graduated from Toronto's Lorne Greene Academy of Radio and Television Arts in 1948 and worked as a morning talk show host and baseball play-by-play announcer in Guelph, Ontario, Calgary, and Medicine Hat, Alberta. He has played Canadian football since 1952 in the Edmonton League, where he played for the Eskimos, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Gray Cup, where he was in charge of the championship game five times.
After stints in Montreal and Toronto in the 1960s, Shaver arrived in Minneapolis-St. Paul. He has been named Minnesota Sportscaster of the Year 10 times and was inducted into the Public Broadcasting Pabeck Museum Hall of Fame in 2003.
His son Wally is currently the voice of the Golden Gophers hockey program.
The Al Shaver Press Box at Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild, is named in his honor. On April 15, 1993, after a 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena, Shaver called the final game in North Stars history, ending the game with “Last Call.” Ta.
“The Stars are down 5-3 here, so it's time to pack up and head to Dallas,” Shaver declared. “We wish them the best of luck and thank everyone at North Stars for providing great entertainment over the past 26 years.”
“It's a pleasure to know you. The Minnesota loss is definitely a positive and a big one for Dallas. But we really appreciate the great night you gave us at the Met Center.” Plenty of entertainment Thank you and your legacy to the communities in which you played will always be remembered by all of us as Minnesota North Stars. Good night, everyone. ”
