George Gund III, a onetime owner of the Minnesota North Stars with his brother, Gordon, died Tuesday, reports the San Jose Mercury News. He was 73.
In 1978, the Gunds — owners of the NHL’s Cleveland Barons — merged that franchise with the North Stars. Both clubs were financially-strapped at the time, and the deal preserved professional hockey in Minnesota.
Later, the Gunds would sell their interests to the North Stars and were awarded an NHL expansion franchise in San Jose.
After the Gund era, however, Norm Green would soon become the principal owner of the club. In 1993, Green moved the franchise to Dallas.
