Broten Brothers

It's the 1970s. You and your two brothers are growing up in hockey-mad Roseau, Minnesota. And you're all making names for yourselves at the rink.

 

As the oldest by a year, you're the first to hit the college ranks, attending the University of Minnesota. As the decade nears an end, your coach, Herb Brooks, invites you to try out for the upcoming 1980 United States Olympic ice hockey team. And you make the cut. As exciting as that might have been, it was nothing compared to the miracle gold-medal victory that your and your teammates would carry out a few months later.

 

Instead of heading straight for the NHL (your hometown Minnesota North Stars selected you in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft), you decide to go back to University. Younger brother Aaron is on the team now, and during the 1980-81 season, the two of you help carry the Golden Gophers all the way to the final game of the NCAA championships, losing out to Wisconsin.

By that time, Aaron had also been selected by an NHL team—the Colorado Rockies—and you were both ready to make the jump to the pros, while teenage brother Paul waited in the wings.

 

The next season, 1981-82, you and Aaron get your first big taste of NHL action. You both have excellent success over the next few years, while Paul begins attending that same University of Minnesota and hones his hockey skills. At the 1984 NHL Entry Draft, he's selected by the New York Rangers. After finishing four years at University, he'd make the jump to minor league hockey in 1988-89. Then, in 1989-90, a few great things happen. 

 

First, Paul makes it to the NHL, meaning all three of you are officially NHLers. 

 

Next, during the second half of the season, Aaron gets traded to the North Stars. You'd be playing pro hockey with your brother! 

 

And if that weren't cool enough, on February 4, 1990, all three of you would play in the same NHL game for the first time when you and Aaron travel to Madison Square Garden to take on little brother Paul and the New York Rangers.

Paul would have the last laugh that night, as the Rangers took the game by a score of 4–3. It was pretty quiet on the scoresheet for the family, though. You'd post an assist on rookie sensation Mike Modano's 22nd goal of the season, and Aaron would take two penalties. Paul had three shots on goal, all stopped by another rookie standout: Mike Richter.

Still, what a night for the Broten clan. Here are all three brothers on hockey cards from that same time period.

 

1990-91 Bowman #178 Neal Broten, #185 Aaron Broten, and #224 Paul Broten

 

Just a few seasons later, the landscape had changed. The Minnesota North Stars had moved to Dallas, and you'd go with them. Aaron had retired. Paul wasn't producing in New York. 

 

However, it wasn't all bad news. After the 1992-93 season ended, Paul would be traded by the Rangers. And he was shipping off to . . . Dallas!

 

You'd already played on the same NHL team with Aaron. Now you'd have the chance to play with your other brother. How cool.

 

Here's a statistical rundown for all three Brotens.   

CAREER TOTALS

	NEAL (17 seasons)	AARON (12 seasons)	PAUL (7 seasons)
GAMES PLAYED	1099	748	322
GOALS	289	186	46
ASSISTS	634	329	55
POINTS	923	515	101
PENALTY MINUTES	569	441	264
GAME-WINNING GOALS	34	25	4

 

 

BEST INDIVIDUAL SEASON
(Career highs in bold)

	NEAL (1985-86, Minnesota)	AARON (1987-88, New Jersey)	PAUL (1991-92, NY Rangers)
GAMES PLAYED	80	80	74
GOALS	29	26	13
ASSISTS	76	57	15
POINTS	105	83	28
PENALTY MINUTES	47	80	102
GAME-WINNING GOALS	0	4	1

 

Neal would eventually join the New Jersey Devils, just in time to help them hoist the Stanley Cup in 1994-95. Across his career he played for the North Stars/Dallas Stars, Devils, and Kings, and received Calder, Selke, and Lady Byng Trophy consideration. He was inducted into the US Hockey Hall of Fame in 2000.

Aaron is also a US Hockey Hall of Fame member, having been inducted in 2007. He suited up for the Rockies, Devils, North Stars, Nordiques, Maple Leafs, and Jets.

Paul was the only brother to play four years of college hockey at the University of Minnesota. Across his career he played for the Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Blues.
 

 

So here's to the Broten brothers. Hockey royalty in Minnesota, and a legendary name in US hockey.