LJRomanoff
2nd Team Getting Their First Start
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As a Bruins fan of a particular age my all time favorite Cup Final moment involved the Blues.
The Blues went from this to being abandoned by their ownership and days away from being dissolved a decade later:
In 1980-81, with Berenson behind the bench, the Blues had a 107-point season and put hockey back on the St. Louis radar. But the renaissance was short-lived. The team slipped under .500 the following season and managed just 65 points in 1982-83. Dean retired and his successor, William Stiritz, had no interest in continuing the involvement in hockey. Looking at losses of more than $10 million over six seasons, the pet food giant put the Blues up for sale and in January 1983, announced it had a buyer in Saskatoon-based Batoni-Hunter Enterprises, Ltd.
Batoni's president, Bill Hunter, said his group was ready to break ground on a $43 million building, which could be ready for the Saskatoon Blues in time for the 1983-84 season. Reluctant to give up on the St. Louis market, the NHL blocked the sale. Incensed, Ralston Purina sued the NHL, padlocked the Checkerdome and abandoned the franchise, leaving a mess for the league to sort out. The team did not even participate in the 1983 NHL draft, forfeiting all of its picks.
Batoni's president, Bill Hunter, said his group was ready to break ground on a $43 million building, which could be ready for the Saskatoon Blues in time for the 1983-84 season. Reluctant to give up on the St. Louis market, the NHL blocked the sale. Incensed, Ralston Purina sued the NHL, padlocked the Checkerdome and abandoned the franchise, leaving a mess for the league to sort out. The team did not even participate in the 1983 NHL draft, forfeiting all of its picks.











