Hi everyone! Yes, it is the first week of October, so you know what that means: new NHL season! So many story lines yet to be unveiled, old records getting set to fall, a new Stanley Cup champion to be crowned… I love the start of the new NHL season. Everyone has a chance to win, optimism runs rampant in every city. Sure, by the end of the month, a lot of people are going to be terribly disappointed in their team’s performance, but as we saw last year with Edmonton, you can never really count anyone out until after the All-Star Game. It’s also the first year in which I’m hoping to get my son excited about pro sports. He seemed interested in watching the Cup final last year, so hopefully, that enthusiasm hasn’t waned. And if he gets excited about hockey, it may be enough to persuade him to put on his pajamas early and not in the 30 seconds before it is time to go to bed. So, win-win…

Because it is the dawn of a brand new season, let’s go back to Game One of the 1968-69 season when the Minnesota North Stars visited the undefeated (!) Seals. Yes, you read that correct, the Seals entered their second season undefeated (6-0-2 in exhibition play!). The regular season didn’t get off to a great start, as you will read, but the ship was eventually righted, and a couple new guys emerged as key performers. You wouldn’t have thought it though based on how the Seals performed in the season opener, which you can read about right here.

Until next time, stay gold!