Hi everyone! It’s hard to believe sometimes that we are now in January, and we are just gearing up for a new NHL season. I’m still not sure how things are actually going to play out, but I’m sure it will be a nice respite from all the negative crap we keep seeing and hearing about on the news. I hope this week’s update brings a smile to your face and warms the cockles of your heart as we delve back into hockey’s past when life was simpler and far easier to understand.

This week, I’ve posted a brand new article from November 1975 all about how the Seals were turning a corner under the tutelage of rookie coach Jack Evans and his insistence that his team finally adopt a system rather than a slap-dash approach to winning (and usually failing). It’s truly hard to believe that despite all the positive changes that were happening in Oakland the franchise would be packing up and leaving California within less than a year.

I’ve also added a new link to episode 181 of Tim Hanlon’s excellent defunct and forgotten sports history podcast Good Seats Still Available, which will be of interest to all of you, I’m sure. It features an interview with Eric Weltner, who has recently completed his documentary on Columbus’ minor-league hockey history. For those of you who are not aware, the Columbus Golden Seals were the NHL Seals’ minor-league affiliate. Unfortunately for Columbus, the Baby Seals played there from 1971-73, a time when the Seals’ best young players were already in the NHL, and then later, when the WHA took most of them away, were replaced by the more minor-leaguers leaving the Baby Seals almost completely void of talent. Most nights, it wasn’t pretty watching the Seals, whether they were calling Oakland or Columbus home. From top to bottom, the Seals were undoubtedly pro hockey’s most dysfunctional franchise.

Until next time, stay safe and stay gold!