Al Shaver

{{Short description|Canadian sportscaster (1927–2024)}}

{{infobox person

|name=Al Shaver

|birth_date={{birth date|1927|10|25}}

|birth_place=London, Ontario, Canada

|death_date={{death date and age|2024|04|22|1927|10|25}}

|death_place=Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

|occupation=Sportscaster

|employer=

|years_active=1948–1996, 2000–2001

|spouse=

|awards=Foster Hewitt Memorial Award (1993)

}}

Allan Nelles Walter Shaver (October 25, 1927 – April 22, 2024) was a Canadian sportscaster who covered the Minnesota North Stars. He won the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1993 and is a member of the media section of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was also a member of the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Shaver attended the Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts in Toronto, graduating in 1948. He was a play-by-play announcer for radio and television stations in Guelph, Ontario (CJOY), Calgary, Alberta (CJCJ), Medicine Hat, Alberta (CHAT), Edmonton, Alberta (CFRN), Montreal, Quebec (CKGM), Windsor, Ontario (CKWW) and Toronto (CKEY){{cite web|url=http://www.edmontonbroadcasters.com/S/|title=Edmonton Broadcasters - S|work=edmontonbroadcasters.com|accessdate=19 May 2015}} prior to becoming the North Stars' broadcaster in 1967 on WCCO Radio and later KSTP-AM and WAYL-AM.

Shaver did not follow the North Stars when they moved to Dallas in 1993, opting to stay in the Twin Cities. He called University of Minnesota men's hockey for several seasons, then retired in 1996. His son, Wally, and grandson Jason are also sportscasters.{{cite web|url=http://history.vintagemnhockey.com/page/show/812013-al-shaver-|title=Al Shaver|work=Vintage Minnesota Hockey - History|accessdate=19 May 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.pavekmuseum.org/Shaver.htm|title=Al Shaver|work=pavekmuseum.org|accessdate=19 May 2015}} The press box at the Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild, is named after him.

Shaver resided in Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, and was married to Shirley until her death in 2019.Lions spot a favourite for Ellen Douglas, Greg. The Vancouver Sun [Vancouver, B.C] 21 June 2008: E.6. Shaver died at his home on Vancouver Island, on April 22, 2024, at the age of 96.{{cite web|title=Allan Nelles Walter Shaver|url=https://www.yatesmemorial.ca/obituary/Allan-Shaver|publisher=Yates Memorial|access-date=April 28, 2024}}{{cite web |last=Russo |first=Michael |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5442508/2024/04/24/al-shaver-north-stars-broadcaster-obit/ |title=Al Shaver, voice of the North Stars and Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner, dies at 96 |website=The Athletic |date=April 24, 2024 |access-date=April 24, 2024}}{{cite news |title=Al Shaver, Minnesota North Stars play-by-play voice, dies at 96 |url=https://www.startribune.com/al-shaver-obituary-north-stars-radio-announcer-dies/600361339/ |access-date=24 April 2024 |publisher=Star Tribune |date=24 April 2024}}{{Cite web |date=2024-04-24 |title=Shaver dies at 96, was radio voice for Minnesota North Stars {{!}} NHL.com |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/al-shaver-dead-at-96 |access-date=2024-06-26 |website=www.nhl.com |language=en}}