Minnesota North Stars
The goaltender who bridged the North Stars and Bruins via a pivotal 1993 trade.
Jonathon James Casey (born March 29, 1962) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender whose career spanned from 1984 to 1997. He played in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars, Boston Bruins, and St. Louis Blues. Casey spent the majority of his tenure with the North Stars before a significant trade sent him to Boston on June 25, 1993. This transaction completed a deal where the Dallas Stars (the relocated franchise) traded Casey for Andy Moog, while Boston sent Gord Murphy to Dallas for future considerations.
- career_span
- 1984 to 1997
- teams
- ['Minnesota North Stars', 'Boston Bruins', 'St. Louis Blues']
- wins_tied_1989-90
- 31 (tied with Patrick Roy and Daren Puppa)
- all_star_game
- 44th National Hockey League All-Star Game (1993)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Casey's connection between these franchises is defined by his rise as a key figure in Minnesota. He played college hockey at the University of North Dakota from 1980 to 1984, winning two NCAA National Championships in 1980 and 1982 before signing with the North Stars as a free agent on April 1, 1984. His peak came during the 1989-90 season when he tied Patrick Roy and Daren Puppa for the league lead in wins with 31. He was also selected for the Campbell Conference's roster at the 44th National Hockey League All-Star Game in 1993, just before his departure.
In Their Own Story
The narrative of Casey's career includes two specific, famous moments where he was scored upon that remain etched in history. The first occurred in Game 2 of the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals when Mario Lemieux split North Stars defensemen Neil Wilkinson and Shawn Chambers to score past Casey. The second memorable moment happened during the 1996 Stanley Cup playoffs while Casey was with the St. Louis Blues; Steve Yzerman scored the game-winning goal in 2OT of Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals with a long shot from the blue line. These high-stakes plays bookend his most notable playoff appearances.
Reader's Guide
Fans looking to understand Casey's impact should note his AHL dominance prior to his NHL tenure, where he earned the First All-Star Team, Harry Hap Holmes Memorial Award (fewest goals against), and Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award in 1985. His career trajectory saw him move from Minnesota to Boston in mid-1993, followed by a stint with the St. Louis Blues starting June 30, 1994. He ultimately retired from professional hockey on December 16, 1997, concluding a career that began with collegiate glory and included regular-season excellence and deep playoff runs.
Did You Know?
- Casey was the second of four children, born to James and Colleen Casey in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
- He won two NCAA National Championships with the University of North Dakota in 1980 and 1982 before turning pro.
- In the 1996 playoffs, Steve Yzerman scored a game-winning goal against Casey from the blue line in double overtime.
- Casey was traded to Boston on June 25, 1993, as part of a three-team deal involving Andy Moog and Gord Murphy.
- He played his final professional game before retiring on December 16, 1997.
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