Allan Nelles Walter Shaver

Allan Nelles Walter Shaver passed away on April 22 after a brief illness on his beloved Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. He was born on October 25, 1927 in London, Ontario to Allene Ruth Nelles and Walter Wood Shaver. His mother died in childbirth. Several years later, Walter married Sarah Jane Richardson who was a devoted mother to Al. He was schooled at Saint Andrews School and then attended the Lorne Green School of Radio Arts in Toronto graduating in 1948, He was a play-by-play announcer for radio and television stations in Guelph, Ontario, Calgary, Alberta and Medicine Hat, Alberta. It was in in Medicine Hat where he met the love of his life, Shirley Caroline Parker. They were married on January 12, 1952.

His broadcasting career continued in Edmonton, Alberta, where his five children were born. The family moved frequently following Al’s broadcasting career. Shirley managed the multiple moves and five active children as they moved across Canada from Edmonton to Montreal, to Tecumseh, then Windsor and finally, Toronto. In 1967, Al was offered the position as the radio broadcaster for the NHL expansion team, the Minnesota North Stars calling games on WCCO Radio and later KSTP-AM and WAYL-AM.

This was a big move for the family and would not have been possible without Shirley’s support. “After moving four years in a row, I finally told Mom just to keep the boxes packed because we’d probably be moving again,” said son Wally after the move to Windsor, “Dad said the move to Minnesota would be our last for a long time and we were very grateful for that.”

They settled in a lovely home in Minnetonka, Minnesota which soon became the hub for gatherings of friends and sports colleagues and big holiday dinners with family. As grandchildren were born, Al became a devoted grandfather who smiled at their antics and took great pride in their accomplishments. Al and Shirley downsized to a townhome in Bloomington, Minnesota where they lived until 1996.

Al was the radio play by play broadcaster for all 26 years the team was in Minnesota. He did not follow the North Stars when the team moved to Dallas in 1993, choosing to stay in Minnesota. He called games for the University of Minnesota men's hockey for three seasons, then retired in 1996. The press box at Xcel Energy Center, home of the Minnesota Wild, bears his name. 

Al received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 1993 and is a member of the media section of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He is also a member of the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Al and Shirley retired to Qualicum Beach, BC in 1996. They enjoyed beautiful Vancouver Island, extensive travel and many visits back to Minnesota. Shirley passed away on August 6, 2019. They were married for 67 years. In April 2020, Al moved to Hawthorne Place Independent Living Center in Qualicum Beach where he received loving compassionate care.

Al is survived by sons, Wally (Connie), Jim (Cheryl) and Gary (Michaelyn) and daughters, Judy (Dave) Molnau and Sue (Doug) Bergemann, nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren with one more coming in September, and two great great granddaughters with another little great great grandbaby due in June, brothers-in-laws Brian (Marg) Parker and Bob Parker, sister-in-law Joyce Parker and many other family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Shirley, parents, his Aunt Isobel Shaver, four sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law.