Neal Broten

Last updated

Neal Broten
Neal Broten.jpg
Broten with the Minnesota North Stars in 1984
Born (1959-11-29) November 29, 1959 (age 64)
Roseau, Minnesota, U.S.
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Center
Shot Left
Played for Minnesota North Stars
BSC Preussen
Dallas Stars
New Jersey Devils
Los Angeles Kings
National teamFlag of the United States.svg  United States
NHL draft 42nd overall, 1979
Minnesota North Stars
Playing career 19801997
Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing the Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 1980 Lake Placid Team

Neal LaMoy Broten (born November 29, 1959) is an American former professional ice hockey player. A member of the 1980 US Olympic hockey team that won the gold medal at Lake Placid in 1980, Broten was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000 having appeared in 1,099 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season games from 1981 to 1997 with the Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings. [1] He is the older brother of Aaron and Paul Broten.

Contents

Early career

Broten, like his two brothers, attended Roseau High School, a perennial hockey contender in the state of Minnesota, where he appeared with the Rams in the state tournament in three consecutive years (1977–79). [2] His 1978 achievement of four assists in a single period still stands as a Roseau Rams' record today. [3]

As a college freshman playing for Herb Brooks and the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Broten scored 21 goals, had 50 assists, and was named WCHA Rookie of the Year [1] His final goal of that season was the game winner that clinched the 1979 NCAA Championship in which the Gophers defeated the University of North Dakota by a score of 4–3. [1] Broten would later win the inaugural Hobey Baker award in 1981, which honors the US collegiate hockey's best player.

Broten is one of two players, along with Ed Belfour, to have played on teams that won the NCAA hockey championship (University of Minnesota in 1979), the Olympic Gold Medal (Team USA, 1980), and the Stanley Cup (New Jersey Devils, 1995).[ citation needed ] He is the only player to have won the Hobey Baker, the Olympic Gold Medal and the Stanley Cup. He is one of only two American players, along with Ken Morrow, to have won both the Olympic gold and the Stanley Cup.

NHL/International career

Broten was a member of the United States Olympic team that won a gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics in an event known as the Miracle on Ice . He was also a member of Team USA at the 1981 Canada Cup and 1984 Canada Cup tournaments as well as the 1990 Ice Hockey World Championship.

Broten played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League. Highlights of his long NHL career include the first American to score more than 100 points in a single season (1985–86) as well as two NHL All-Star Game appearances in 1983 and 1986.

He won a Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 1995, scoring the game-winning goal in Game Four against the Detroit Red Wings to clinch the title. Coincidentally, his 1980 Soviet counterpart Viacheslav Fetisov was on the ice for the heavily favored Red Wings when Broten scored the clincher. [4] Broten became the first American to score a Cup-winning goal. Fellow Americans Brett Hull, Mike Rupp, Patrick Kane, and Alec Martinez have done it since.

Broten served as the captain of the Dallas Stars for two months during the lockout-shortened 1994–95 NHL season after the trade of previous captain Mark Tinordi. He was traded to New Jersey before the end of the season. He had previously served as an alternate captain on a number of occasions.

During the 1982–83 NHL season, Broten participated in a rare fight against Wayne Gretzky. It was one of only a handful of fights during both his and Gretzky's careers. Broten later recalled how he and his teammates would later have to deal with Gretzky's enforcers, Marty McSorley and Dave Semenko. [5]

Broten initially refused to play for the North Stars in 1991–92 due to a contract dispute, instead playing in Germany for BSC Preussen Berlin where he filled in for his former U.S. Olympic teammate Dave Silk who was on temporary leave in the U.S. with his pregnant wife.

Post career

Broten in 2008 (second from right) PHparty.jpg
Broten in 2008 (second from right)

Broten briefly came out of retirement in 1999 to once again play for the US national team in the 1999 Ice Hockey World Championship qualifying tournament (the U.S. team featuring several NHL players had surprisingly finished among the bottom four in the previous 1998 world championship tournament) when no active NHL players were available. He scored six points in three games as the U.S. won the tournament, before retiring from hockey for good. He lives in River Falls, WI. In 2014, Broten's nephew, Shane Gersich, was drafted by the Washington Capitals.

Broten is not featured in the 1981 TV movie about the 1980 U.S. hockey team called Miracle on Ice except in archival footage of the gold medal ceremony.

In the 2004 Disney movie Miracle , he is portrayed by Trevor Alto. Alto played college hockey for the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. [6]

In the 2008 documentary, Pond Hockey , he reflects on his youth growing up playing hockey in his hometown of Roseau, MN.

Awards and honors

AwardYear
All-WCHA First Team 1980–81 [7]
AHCA West All-American 1980–81 [8]

Transactions

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1977–78 Roseau High School HS-MN 264377120
1978–79 University of Minnesota WCHA 4021507118
1979–80 United States National Team Intl5525305520
1980–81 University of MinnesotaWCHA3617547156
1980–81 Minnesota North Stars NHL320212191789
1981–82 Minnesota North StarsNHL733860984240220
1982–83 Minnesota North StarsNHL7932457743916710
1983–84 Minnesota North StarsNHL76286189431655104
1984–85 Minnesota North StarsNHL8019375639925710
1985–86 Minnesota North StarsNHL8029761054753252
1986–87 Minnesota North StarsNHL4618355333
1987–88 Minnesota North StarsNHL549303932
1988–89 Minnesota North StarsNHL681838565752244
1989–90 Minnesota North StarsNHL8023628545722418
1990–91 Minnesota North StarsNHL791356692623913226
1991–92 BSC Preussen GER 83582
1991–92 Minnesota North StarsNHL76826341671562
1992–93 Minnesota North StarsNHL8212213322
1993–94 Dallas Stars NHL791735526292136
1994–95 Dallas StarsNHL170444
1994–95 New Jersey Devils NHL30820282020712196
1995–96 New Jersey DevilsNHL557162314
1996–97 New Jersey DevilsNHL30110
1996–97 Los Angeles Kings NHL190440
1996–97 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 113364
1996–97Dallas StarsNHL2087151220110
NHL totals1,09928963492356913535639877

International

YearTeamEventGPGAPtsPIM
1979 United States WJC 524610
1980 United States OG 72132
1981 United States CC 63250
1984 United StatesCC63144
1990 United States WC 81564
Junior totals524610
Senior totals27991810

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roseau, Minnesota</span> City in Minnesota, United States

Roseau is a city in, and the county seat of, Roseau County, Minnesota. Its population was 2,744 at the time of the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota North Stars</span> Former National Hockey League team (1967–1993)

The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white. The North Stars played 2,062 regular season games and made the NHL playoffs 17 times, including two Stanley Cup Finals appearances, but were unable to win the Stanley Cup. After the 1992–93 season, the franchise moved to Dallas, and the team was renamed the Dallas Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herb Brooks</span> American ice hockey player and coach

Herbert Paul Brooks was an American ice hockey player and coach. His most notable achievement came in 1980 as head coach of the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team at Lake Placid. At the Games, Brooks' American team upset the heavily favored Soviet team in a match that came to be known as the "Miracle on Ice."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miracle on Ice</span> 1980 Olympic ice hockey game

The "Miracle on Ice" was an ice hockey game during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. It was played between the hosting United States and the Soviet Union on February 22, 1980, during the medal round of the men's hockey tournament. Though the Soviet Union was a four-time defending gold medalist and heavily favored, the United States upset them and won 4–3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Nieuwendyk</span> Canadian ice hockey player (born 1966)

Joseph Nieuwendyk is a Canadian former National Hockey League (NHL) player. He was a second round selection of the Calgary Flames, 27th overall, at the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and played 20 seasons for the Flames, Dallas Stars, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers. He is one of only 11 players in NHL's history to win the Stanley Cup with three or more different teams, winning titles with Calgary in 1989, Dallas in 1999 and New Jersey in 2003. A two-time Olympian, Nieuwendyk won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 winter games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011 and his uniform number 25 was honoured by the Flames in 2014. He was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. In 2017, he was named one of the '100 Greatest NHL Players' in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Rafalski</span> American ice hockey player (born 1973)

Brian Christopher Rafalski is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New Jersey Devils and Detroit Red Wings, in the SM-liiga for HPK and HIFK, in the Elitserien for Brynäs IF, and in the ECHL for the Florida Everblades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Johnson (ice hockey)</span> American ice hockey player and coach

Mark Einar Johnson is an American ice hockey coach for the University of Wisconsin–Madison women's ice hockey team. He is a former National Hockey League (NHL) player who appeared in 669 NHL regular season games between 1980 and 1990. He also played for the gold medal-winning 1980 U.S. Olympic team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Stanley Cup Finals</span> 1995 ice hockey championship series

The 1995 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1994–95 season, and the culmination of the 1995 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Devils and the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings. It was the Devils franchise's first appearance in the Finals, while the Red Wings returned to the Finals for the first time since 1966. The Devils upset the heavily-favored Red Wings in a sweep to win their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history in their 21st season. The Devils became the sixth team to earn a championship after joining the league in 1967 or later. This was the first of nine consecutive Finals to feature only American-based franchises. This also marked the first of four consecutive sweeps in the finals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High school boys ice hockey in Minnesota</span>

Minnesota boys high school ice hockey is made up of multiple leagues and programs representing different associations. The two organizations associated with high school are the Minnesota State High School League and Minnesota Hockey. The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, nonprofit association of public and private schools with a history of service to Minnesota's high school youth since 1916. Minnesota Hockey, an affiliate of USA Hockey, is the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in Minnesota. Minnesota Hockey is governed by a board of directors and consists of approximately 140 community based associations who are formed into 12 districts.

David William Christian is an American former professional ice hockey forward. He played on the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team that won the gold medal during the 1980 Winter Olympics. Christian went on to play for five National Hockey League teams over a 15-season career, from 1980 to 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Ramsey (ice hockey)</span> American ice hockey player (born 1960)

Michael Allen Ramsey is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 1,070 regular season games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings between 1980 and 1997, after helping the United States men's national ice hockey team win the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Christoff</span> American ice hockey player

Steven Mark Christoff is an American former professional ice hockey forward who played 248 regular season games in the NHL with the Minnesota North Stars, Calgary Flames, and Los Angeles Kings in 1980–84.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991–92 NHL season</span> National Hockey League season

The 1991–92 NHL season was the 75th regular season of the National Hockey League. The league expanded to 22 teams with the addition of the expansion San Jose Sharks. For the first time, the Stanley Cup Finals extended into June, with the Pittsburgh Penguins repeating as Stanley Cup champions, winning the best of seven series four games to none against the Chicago Blackhawks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zach Parise</span> American ice hockey player (born 1984)

Zachary Justin Parise is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played for the New Jersey Devils, Minnesota Wild, New York Islanders, and Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL) Parise captained the Devils to the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in six games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Suter</span> American ice hockey player (born 1985)

Ryan Suter is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has previously played for the Nashville Predators, Minnesota Wild, and Dallas Stars. Internationally, Suter has represented the U.S. national team at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Thomas Patrick Chorske is an American former professional ice hockey player. A forward, he played for eleven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). In September, 2006, he was named color commentator for New Jersey Devils radio broadcasts, a position he only held for one season before resigning. He was replaced with former team color commentator Sherry Ross. Chorske returned to Minnesota and now works in business and is hockey analyst for Fox Sports North covering The NHL Minnesota Wild and University of Minnesota Golden Gopher NCAA hockey games.

Aaron Kent Broten is an American former professional ice hockey player. Drafted in the sixth round, 106th overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Rockies, Broten went on to play 748 regular season games in the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey</span> Mens ice hockey team of the University of Minnesota

The Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team at the Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota. They are members of the Big Ten Conference and compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I ice hockey. The Golden Gophers are one of the most prominent and storied programs in college hockey, having made 41 NCAA Tournament appearances and 23 trips to the Frozen Four. They have won five NCAA national championships, in 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 and 2003. The team also shared the 1929 National Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship with Yale, and captured the national Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championship for amateur hockey in 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 Stanley Cup Finals</span> 1991 ice hockey championship series

The 1991 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 1990–91 season, and the culmination of the 1991 Stanley Cup playoffs. It was contested by the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Minnesota North Stars. It was the Penguins' first Final series appearance and their first Stanley Cup victory. This is the first and only Stanley Cup Finals to feature two teams from the expansion group of 1967. It was Minnesota's second Final series appearance, and their last before the franchise's relocation to Dallas two years later. It was also the first time since 1983 that an American franchise would win the Stanley Cup. This was the first all-American finals since 1981, which also featured the North Stars in their first appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1978–79 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey season</span> College ice hockey team season

The 1978–79 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Minnesota in college ice hockey. In its 7th year under head coach Herb Brooks the team compiled a 32–11–1 record and reached the NCAA tournament for the eighth time. The Golden Gophers defeated North Dakota 4–3 in the championship game at the Olympia Stadium in Detroit, Michigan to win their third national championship.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "USA Hockey". USA Hockey. Archived from the original on November 17, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  2. "2010-2011 Roseau Rams Hockey - History". Roseauramshockey.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  3. "Neal Broten". Vintageminnesotahockey.com. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  4. Michael Farber (July 3, 1995). "The surprising Devils crushed the favored Red Wings four - 07.03.95 - SI Vault". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  5. "Wayne Gretzky vs. Neal Broten | Off Wing Opinion". Ericmcerlain.com. January 17, 2007. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  6. Trevor Alto biography at the Internet Movie Database
  7. "WCHA All-Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  8. "Men's Ice Hockey Award Winners" (PDF). NCAA.org. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  9. "Wild hockey fans pick greatest high school team, player | Minnesota Public Radio News". Minnesota.priprod.publicradio.org. April 10, 2009. Archived from the original on April 15, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
Sporting positions
Preceded by Dallas Stars captain
January–February 1995
Succeeded by
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
None
Winner of the Hobey Baker Award
1980–81
Succeeded by