ST PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota broadcasting legend and longtime voice of the North Stars Al Shaver has died at his home in Vancouver Island, B.C. following a brief illness.
Shaver was 96.
The news of Shaver's passing was shared with The Athletic by Al's son Wally Shaver, who detailed how his father's broadcasting career led to the family moving from community to community across Canada, with stops in Edmonton, Montreal, Windsor and finally... Toronto.
“After moving four years in a row, I finally told Mom just to keep the boxes packed because we’d probably be moving again,” Wally Shaver said. “Dad said the move to Minnesota would be our last for a long time and we were very grateful for that.”
It while working in Toronto that Shaver was offered a gig as play-by-play announcer for the new NHL expansion franchise in Minnesota.
Minnesota hockey legend Lou Nanne, who was both a player and a general manager during his relationship with Shaver, recalled for The Athletic how then-owner Walter Bush was ready to hire another broadcaster when Al's audition tape came in.
“At the last minute of the last day, Al’s tape came in, Walter listened and changed his mind,” Nanne shared with The Athletic beat writer Michael Russo. “Al was the best. He was an unbelievable broadcaster. He painted a picture like you’d think you’re there, and he lived and died with the team. But he didn’t sugarcoat it. If you weren’t good, or if the team wasn’t good, he let you know. He wasn’t a homer. He was so well-respected. Just so talented and so good at what he did.”
Al Shaver was the only radio announcer in Minnesota North Stars history, until the team relocated to Dallas in 1993 and Shaver decided to stay behind. He handled the play-by-play call for the Gophers for a few more years before officially retiring in 1996.
Many fans from that era remember him affectionately as "The Goal Mouth," a man whose exuberant and colorful style made radio listeners feel like they were in the stands.
His impact on professional hockey in Minnesota is so profound that the Wild press box at Xcel Energy Center is named after Al.
KARE 11's Randy Shaver and Sports Director Reggie Wilson will be talking with North Stars and fellow broadcasters who knew and admired Al Shaver, and will share their memories on tonight's broadcasts.
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