Hi everyone! Well, it’s finally done! Book number two is in the can, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m very much looking forward to holding an actual copy in my hands, but for the time being, just seeing a .pdf version of the book feels very satisfying. I hope you all will agree that this book stands up well against other hockey history books, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did writing it (and that you enjoy WAAAAAAYYYYY more than I enjoyed creating that bloody index). For anyone who is interested, When the NHL Invaded Japan: the Washington Capitals, the Kansas City Scouts, and the Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Cup, 1975-76 is due to be released August 3, and you can pre-order it now at Amazon.ca and Amazon.com.

And hey, check this out! You can be the first on your block to own (OK, download) the official When the NHL Invaded Japan bookmark and poster. Sure, you’ll have to print it out at your home, but hey, it’s free! And the great thing about these things is that they can be posted just about anywhere! On bulletin boards at the office, on street lamps, on dumpsters, on old plywood surrounding construction sites. Anywhere I tells ya! So if you’ve got the ink and the time, please go risk getting arrested for littering to help me out! I can’t say I’ll pay your bail money, but you will earn my eternal gratitude, and really, when you think about it, isn’t that what’s most important.

Of course, this is a California Golden Seals tribute site, so this week we’re heading back to December 1971, and the Chicago Black Hawks are in Oakland to take on the soon-to-be white-skated Seals. The Seals are in the running for a playoff spot, and are in need of the two points, but the Hawks prevailed thanks to two very controversial goals by Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. You can read all about the game right here.

Finally, I need to remind all of you that there is only three weeks left to cast your vote for this year’s Seals Hall of Fame induction. The final day to vote will be June 30, and the newest Hall of Fame class will be announced July 15, the day after the Seals announced they were moving to Cleveland way back in 1976. If you haven’t voted yet, you can do so by clicking on this link.

Until next time, stay gold!