Here’s all the latest happenings in the world of the California Golden Seals…
June 7, 2019: The Society for International Hockey Research reported that “SIHR member Eric Weltner is pleased to announce that “International Incidents”, his documentary film, is slated to premiere in the autumn of 2019. The film chronicles Columbus’ three original professional hockey teams that called the city home between 1966 and 1977. The Checkers, Golden Seals and Owls of the International Hockey League blazed the trail for professional hockey in Columbus and deserve to have their history preserved.” Check out the trailer here.
September 15, 2017: On October 23, Seals fan (and Golden Seals Hockey subscriber) Gene Willis is organizing a Seals/Barons Night at St. Mike’s College in Ontario’s capital city. Bob Baun, Joey Johnston, Dennis Maruk, Terry Clancy, Howie Menard, Wayne Carleton, and Morris Mott are all planning on attending the event. I will be there as well with (hopefully) a few advanced copies of my book, so if you want to pick one up a week before it hits the market, you’re (hopefully) in luck. There will be lots of Seals memorabilia showcased, and Gene is also hoping to have Mark Greczmiel come on down as well to show his 2017 documentary on the Seals.
March 17, 2017: I’ve recently gotten a glimpse of the cover that will be used for my Seals book, The California Golden Seals: a Tale of White Skates, Red Ink, and One of the NHL’s Most Outlandish Teams. The cover features a cool black-and-white shot of Gilles Meloche, Stan Weir, and Terry Murray in the Seals’ classic yellow home uniforms and, yup, they are wearing Charlie O’s white skates. When the legal mumbo-jumbo is taken care of, I will post a photo of the cover to the site.
February 3, 2017: Former Seals and Barons defenseman Bobby Stewart passed away. He was 66. R.I.P.
January 29, 2017: Mark Greczmiel’s long-awaited documentary, The California Golden Seals Story, will be available for download on February 6, 2017. You can check out the trailer at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/california-golden-seals-story/id1189538880?ls=1.
December 23, 2016: The January 23, 2017 issue of The Hockey News is all about expansion. There’s a feature on the 1967 expansion, “The Great Expansion”, as well as a fun guide on what to do and what not to do to build a successful expansion team. Editor in chief Jason Kay has modified the format of his “First Word” editorial by instead writing an article on the history of the California Golden Seals.
Mark Greczmiel is looking to raise $11,000 to finish his much-anticipated documentary, The California Golden Seals Story, so if you have a few bucks to spare, head on over to https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/california-golden-seals-story-final-fundraiser#/ to help him out and pick up some neat Seals-related perks as well, such as pennants, replica jerseys, game programs, media guides, hockey cards, even a Seals puck-shaped coin bank! The deadline to raise funds is Friday the 23rd, i.e. TODAY! While you’re on the Indiegogo site, be sure to check out the trailers for the documentary. I’m telling you, there is some great old stuff in the film: photos, interviews, rare game footage; you won’t be disappointed.
December 18, 2016: Former Golden Seal Ken Baird has passed away. He was 65. R.I.P.
December 16, 2016: “Seals Throwback T-shirt Night” will be taking place January 7 at the Sharks-Red Wings game in San Jose. According to Terry O’Connell of the Seals Booster Club, “18,000 Seals T-shirts will be given away that night. Former players will be on hand to sign autographs and talk about their days with the Seals… Len Shapiro oversees the Seals page on Facebook. It is titled “California Golden Seals.” More specific information concerning activities on January 7th commemorating the Seals should be available there.”