Minnesota North Stars

Lore & Background

The North Stars were one of six expansion franchises awarded by the NHL on February 9, 1966, for the 1967–68 season. The team name, announced on May 25, 1966, derives from the state motto 'L'Étoile du Nord' (The Star of the North). The Met Center was built in 12 months at a cost of $7 million and opened for the 1967–68 season, though spectator seats were still being installed for the first home game on October 21, 1967. In the early years, the team was led by goaltenders Lorne 'Gump' Worsley and Cesare Maniago, defenseman and captain Ted Harris, and forwards such as Bill Goldsworthy and Bill Masterton. Masterton scored the first goal in franchise history on October 11, 1967, but died on January 15, 1968, after a hit during a game—the only player death from an in-game injury in NHL history. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy was established later that year. In 1978, the North Stars merged with the Cleveland Barons, retaining the North Stars name and history, with the Gund brothers becoming majority owners. The team moved from the Smythe Division to the Adams Division. Notable players from the merger era included Bobby Smith, who won the Calder Memorial Trophy as top rookie, and Steve Payne. In the 1980s, the North Stars had five straight winning seasons starting in 1979–80, reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1981, where they lost to the New York Islanders. The team won its first division title in 1981–82, led by Dino Ciccarelli's franchise-record 55 goals. In 1982–83, the team recorded 40 wins and 96 points—both franchise bests for the Minnesota era. After the 1992–93 season, the franchise moved to Dallas and was renamed the Dallas Stars.

Reader's Guide

The Minnesota North Stars were a foundational expansion team that helped establish the NHL in the United States during the league's first wave of growth in 1967. Despite never winning the Stanley Cup, the franchise reached the Final twice—in 1981 and 1991—and produced memorable playoff runs, including an upset of the four-time defending champion Montreal Canadiens in 1980. The team's history includes the tragic death of Bill Masterton, which led to the creation of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually for perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication. The North Stars also played a role in NHL realignment and franchise survival through the 1978 merger with the Cleveland Barons. The team's move to Dallas after the 1992–93 season ended the NHL's first era in Minnesota, but the North Stars' legacy continues through the Dallas Stars franchise, which retains the team's history. The North Stars' 15–2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on November 11, 1981, remains notable for the most goals in an NHL game since 1944, and Tim Young's five-goal game on January 15, 1979, is still the best offensive output by a player in the Minnesota/Dallas franchise.

Did You Know?

• Bill Masterton scored the first goal in franchise history on October 11, 1967, and died from an in-game injury on January 15, 1968—the only such death in NHL history.
• The North Stars ended the Philadelphia Flyers' 35-game unbeaten streak with a 7–1 win on January 7, 1980.
• Bobby Smith scored four goals and seven points in an 8-goal second period during a 15–2 win over the Winnipeg Jets on November 11, 1981.
• The North Stars merged with the Cleveland Barons in 1978, keeping the North Stars name and history.

The Birth of a Franchise

The Minnesota North Stars emerged from a bold vision announced by NHL President Clarence Campbell on March 11, 1965, when he revealed plans to double the league from six to twelve clubs. A consortium of nine local businessmen, including Walter Bush Jr., Robert Ridder, and John Driscoll, rallied to secure a franchise for the Twin Cities, and their bid succeeded on February 9, 1966. The team's name came from a public contest; "North Stars" was chosen on May 25, 1966, drawing from Minnesota's state motto, "L'Étoile du Nord." Construction on the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington began just weeks later, and the $7 million arena was completed in a remarkable twelve months. Yet the rush left its mark: spectator seats were still being installed when fans filed in for the opening home game on October 21, 1967, a fitting symbol of a franchise racing to establish itself in a league that had just doubled in size.

A Season Stained by Tragedy

The North Stars' inaugural 1967–68 campaign opened with a 2–2 tie against fellow expansion side St. Louis, where Bill Masterton scored the franchise's first-ever goal. The team surged to first place in the West Division by mid-season, but on January 13, 1968, everything shattered. Masterton, skating toward the California Seals' net, fell backward and struck the back of his head on the ice. He never regained consciousness and passed away two days later at age 29, from what doctors described as a massive brain injury. It remains the only in-game player death in NHL history. The team lost its next six games in his wake. Still, the North Stars reached the playoffs, overcame the Los Angeles Kings in a seven-game first round, and pushed St. Louis to a decisive double-overtime loss in the West finals. The league honored Masterton's memory with the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, awarded annually for perseverance and dedication to the sport.

The Merger That Saved a Franchise

By 1978, the North Stars had missed the postseason in five of the previous six seasons, and attendance had plummeted to the point where the NHL feared the franchise might fold entirely. A dramatic rescue came from an unexpected source: Gordon and George Gund III, owners of the financially troubled Cleveland Barons, proposed merging the two clubs. The combined team kept the North Stars identity—name, colors, and history—while relocating to the Adams Division. The Gunds became majority owners, and reinforcements like goaltender Gilles Meloche and forwards Al MacAdam and Mike Fidler joined the roster. The turnaround was swift: rookie Bobby Smith captured the Calder Memorial Trophy, and Steve Payne erupted for 42 goals the following year. On January 15, 1979, Tim Young scored five goals on just five shots in an 8–1 blowout of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, a performance that still stands as the franchise's single-game offensive record.

Two Cup Finals and a New Chapter

Over 26 seasons spanning 1967 to 1993, the North Stars played 2,062 regular-season games and qualified for the NHL playoffs 17 times. Their crowning moments came in the Stanley Cup Finals, where they fell short twice: to the New York Islanders in 1981 and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991. Those near-misses defined a franchise that consistently punched above its weight on the ice. The team's identity was anchored by its green, yellow, gold, and white colors and its home at the Met Center in Bloomington. After the 1992–93 season, the franchise relocated to Dallas and was rebranded as the Dallas Stars, ending the North Stars era but carrying forward the organizational history. The legacy of two Cup Final runs, a record of 17 playoff berths, and a storied early era ensured that the North Stars' mark on Minnesota hockey would endure long after the final horn sounded in Texas.