1967-1968 Season

The Seals actually had the distinction of firing a GM before they even participated in the expansion draft. Rudy Pilous, who ran the Seals entry in the WHL was fired by Barry van Gerbig, the team's owner, just before the June expansion draft was held. So, the Seals began their unaugural season with Hall of Famer Bert Olmstead as coach and general manager, assisted by Gordie Fashoway. Most experts predicted the Seals would be among the best teams in the NHL's new West Division if not picking them to win the division outright. The Seals won their first two games and tied their third, but it was all downhill from there as the club finished with a dreadful 15-42-17 record, 10 points in back of 5th place Pittsburgh in the NHL's West Division. Olmstead had a hard time accepting the losing and eventually gave way to his assistant, Gordie Fashoway. Attendance was also dreadfully low and all attempts to increase local interest seemed to have little or no affect. Originally, the club was called the California Seals in an attempt to attract fans from San Francisco and the outlying parts of the Bay Area. When the owners of the team realized that few people were crossing the bridge to Oakland, the team's name changed on December 8, 1967 to the Oakland Seals. As early as a month into the season, rumours abounded that the club would be moved. Olmstead himself vocally advocated a move to Vancouver. Certainly, all the talk of moving did not help attendance. On the ice, the Seals biggest problem was scoring goals. They scored 153 goals in 74 games, a paltry 2.06 goals per game. Only one player, Bill Hicke, managed 20 or more goals for the Seals. At the end of the year, Bert Olmstead was gone and Fred Glover was hired as coach for the second season. Frank Selke, Jr. was moved from team president to General Manager.

Game Date Opponent Result Seals Goalie Opp. Goalie W/T Goal Notes
1. Oct 11 67 Philadelphia W 5-1 Charlie Hodge Bernie Parent Ron Harris 1st game for both teams. Attendance only 6,886. Kent Douglas scores the first goal in Seals history.
2. Oct 14 67 Minnesota W 6-0 Charlie Hodge     1st ever Seals shutout.
3. Oct 18 67 Los Angeles T 2-2 Charlie Hodge Wayne Rutledge Kent Douglas 1st ever tie in Seals history.
4. Oct 21 67 @ Minnesota L 3-1       1st road game for Seals, first home game for North Stars.
5. Oct 22 67 @ Philadelphia L 5-2        
6. Oct 25 67 @ Pittsburgh L 4-1 Charlie Hodge Hank Bassen Val Fonteyne Bill Hicke scores the only goal for the Seals.
7. Oct 26 67 @ Detroit L 8-2 Charlie Hodge Roger Crozier Dean Prentice Dean Prentice and Gordie Howe had 2 goals and 2 assists each for Detroit.
8. Oct 28 67 @ Toronto L 5-2 Charlie Hodge Bruce Gamble Ron Ellis The Seals led 2-1 after 2 periods in their first ever visit to Maple Leaf Gardens.
9. Oct 29 67 @ Philadelphia T 2-2 Charlie Hodge Doug Favell Aut Erickson The Seals finish their first road trip 0-5-1. The tie represents the club's first ever road point.
10. Nov 01 67 NY Rangers L 2-0 Charlie Hodge Ed Giacomin Orland Kurtenbach Rod Gilbert of New York has a goal and an assist.
11. Nov 04 67 Pittsburgh L 1-0 Charlie Hodge Les Binkley Bill Dea The Seals are now winless in their last 9 games (0-8-1) and have not scored a goal in 121:38.
12. Nov 05 67 Chicago T 2-2 Charlie Hodge   Gerry Ehman Charlie Hodge stopped 4 breakaways to preserve the tie.
13. Nov 07 67 @ Los Angeles L 5-4     Bryan Smith Bryan Smith scored with less than 4 minutes to go in the game to extend the Seals winless streak to11 games (0-8-3)
14. Nov 08 67 Toronto L 6-1 Charlie Hodge Johnny Bower Murray Oliver Murray Oliver and Jim Pappin scored 2 goals each while Johnny Bower made 38 saves and picked up an assist for Toronto.
15. Nov 11 67 @ Boston L 2-1 Charlie Hodge Gerry Cheevers John McKenzie Billy Hicke scored the only goal for the Seals.
16. Nov 12 67 @ NY Rangers L 5-3 Charlie Hodge (1st period)and Gary Smith (2nd & 3rd period) Ed Giacomin Harry Howell Reg Fleming scored 2 goals for the Rangers, George Swarbrick scored twice for the Seals.
17. Nov 15 67 Los Angeles W 4-1 Charlie Hodge Terry Sawchuk George Swarbrick The Seals finally ended their 14 game winless streak (0-11-3). Larry Cahan a goal and an assist for California.
18. Nov 16 67 Detroit T 1-1 Gary Smith Roy Edwards Gary Jarrett Alain Caron scores for Seals. Gary Smith makes 20 saves in his first start for the Seals.
19. Nov 18 67 Montreal W 2-1       Seals first win against an origianl six team.
20. Nov 22 67 @ Los Angeles L 3-1 Charlie Hodge Wayne Rutledge Bob Wall Alain Caron scores the only goal for Seals. California manages only 1 shot on goal in the 2nd period.
21. Nov 25 67 Pittsburgh T 2-2 Charlie Hodge Hank Bassen Bob Dillabough The Seals led 2-0 after 2 periods. Tom Thurlby scores first NHL goal.
22. Nov 29 67 @ Pittsburgh L 6-1 Charlie Hodge Les Binkley Gene Ubriaco Keith McCreary scored twice for Pittsburgh while Bob Dillabough had a goal and 2 assists. Gerry Ehman scored for California.
23. Nov 30 67 @ Philadelphia W 3-1 Charlie Hodge Bernie Parent Gerry Ordowski First ever Seals road win. Gerry Odrowski scores twice.
24. Dec 02 67 @ Toronto L 3-0 Charlie Hodge Johnny Bower Mike Walton Gerry Ellis scored twice for Toronto. The Leafs registered 49 shots on goal against Charlie Hodge in this game.
25. Dec 06 67 Philadelphia W 4-2 Charlie Hodge Doug Favell Bill Hicke Billy Harris scored twice for the Seals to end a month long goal scoring drought. Bill Hicke had a goal and an assist.
26. Dec 09 67 St. Louis L 1-0   Glenn Hall   First game after team name changed from California Seals to Oakland Seals. The shutout was the first in the history of the Blues.
27. Dec 13 67 @ St. Louis L 3-1 Charlie Hodge Glenn Hall Gary Sabourin Alain Caron scored the only Oakland goal. Gary Sabourin scored the first 2 goals of his NHL career for the Blues.
28. Dec 15 67 Boston W 4-1 Charlie Hodge Gerry Cheevers Bill Hicke Wally Boyer scored twice for Oakland while Charlie Burns had 2 assists in the Seals first ever win over Boston.
29. Dec 16 67 Minnesota L 1-0 Charlie Hodge Cesare Maniago Parker MacDonald Seals hold North Stars to only 13 shots on goal. It was the third straight shutout for Maniago. Attendance in Oakland was only 2,784.
30. Dec 19 67 @ Los Angeles L 3-1 Gary Smith Wayne Rutledge   Brian Smith scored twice for the Kings while Bob Wall added a goal and an assist. Bill Hicke scored for Oakland.
31. Dec 20 67 St. Louis L 2-1 Charlie Hodge Glenn Hall Frank St. Marseille St. Marseille scored both Blues goals. Wally Boyer scored for the Seals.
32. Dec 23 67 @ Montreal L 4-2 Charlie Hodge Gump Worsley    
33. Dec 25 67 @ Boston L 6-3 Gary Smith Andre Gill Derek Sanderson Sanderson had 2 goals and an assist to lead the Bruins attack. Larry Popein had 2 assists for Oakland.
34. Dec 27 67 @ Pittsburgh T 0-0 Gary Smith Les Binkley None Gary Smith's first career shutout resulted in a scoreless tie. The Penguins out shot the Seals 34-24.
35. Dec 30 67 @ Montreal L 2-0 Gary Smith Gump Worsley Yvon Cournoyer Worsley made 24 saves to earn the shutout. Jean Beliveau was the other Habs goal scorer, Gilles Tremblay had 2 assists.
36. Dec 31 67 @ Chicago L 3-0 Gary Smith Denis DeJordy Dennis Hull The Seals were shutout for the third consecutive game. They were now scoreless in their last 207:49.
37. Jan 03 68 @ St. Louis L 4-0 Gary Smith Glenn Hall Red Berenson Glenn Hall earned the 70th shutout of his career as the Seals were blanked for the 4th straight game. Frank St. Marseille scored twice for St. Louis. The Seals were now winless in their last 9 games (0-8-1).
38. Jan 04 68 @ Detroit L 9-3 Gary Smith Roy Edwards Gary Jarrett The Seals scoreless streak finally ended at 276:15. Gordie Howe and Doug Roberts each score twice and add 2 assists as the Red Wings win in a route.
39. Jan 06 68 Minnesota T 5-5        
40. Jan 07 68 Los Angeles W 6-0 Charlie Hodge Terry Sawchuk   Gerry Ehman tallies the first hat trick in Seals history as Oakland finally ended their 10 game winless streak. Charlie Hodge earned the shutout.
41. Jan 10 68 St. Louis T 2-2     Ted Hampson Hampson's goal with 8:48 left tied the game for the Seals. It was Hampson's first game with Oakland since being acquired from Detroit. Only 2,810 attend the game.
42. Jan 13 68 @ Minnesota T 2-2 Charlie Hodge Cesare Maniago   Bill Masterton is injured in this game when his head hits the ice after a clean check by Larry Cahan and Ron Harris. Masterton goes into a coma and dies 2 days later. To this day, it remains the only on ice death in NHL history. The Seals were now 1-0-3 in their last 4 games.
43. Jan 14 68 Philadelphia L 6-3 Charlie Hodge Bernie Parent Bill Sutherland Brit Selby and Jean Gauthier scored twice for Flyers. John Brenneman scored 1 goal and 2 assists for Oakland.
44. Jan 17 68 Pittsburgh T 1-1 Charlie Hodge Les Binkley Andy Bathgate John Brenneman scored the only goal for Oakland.
45. Jan 20 68 NY Rangers L 3-0 Charlie Hodge Ed Giacomin Jim Neilson Rod Gilbert and Jim Neilson each had a goal and an assist while Ed Giacomin made 15 saves to earn the shutout.
46. Jan 21 68 Los Angeles W 3-0 Charlie Hodge   Gerry Odrowski Alain Caron scored a goal and added an assist to lead the Seals attack while Charlie Burns had 2 assists. Charlie Hodge made 39 saves to blank the Kings.
47. Jan 24 68 @ Los Angeles W 4-1 Charlie Hodge Terry Sawchuk Gerry Ehman Bill Hicke and Wally Boyer each scored a goal and set up another as the Seals swept the home and home series from Los Angeles.
48. Jan 27 68 @ Minnesota L 3-1     Wayne Connelly Charlie Burns scored the only Seals goal. Connelly, Mike McMahon and Parker MacDonald each had 2 points for Minnesota.
49. Jan 28 68 @ NY Rangers L 4-2 Charlie Hodge Don Simmons Harry Howell Rangers outshoot Seals 46-13. Rod Gilbert scored twice for the Seals. Charlie Hodge played very well in defeat for the Seals.
50. Feb 01 68 @ Philadelphia T 3-3     Don Blackburn The Seals led 3-1with 11 minutes left in game. Bob Baun scored his first goal with the Seals. Gerry Ehman and John Brenneman also scored for Oakland.
51. Feb 03 68 @ St. Louis L 4-1 Charlie Hodge Glenn Hall Red Berenson Red Berenson scored twice for the Blues. The only Seals goal was scored by Charlie Burns.
52. Feb 04 68 @ Minnesota L 4-3 Gary Smith Cesare Maniago J.P. Parise John Brenneman scored twice for the Seals but Parise's 60 foot slap shot with just over 6 minutes left was the game winner.
53. Feb 07 68 Pittsburgh L 4-2   Les Binkley   Gene Ubriaco scored twice for Pittsburgh while Gerry Ehman scored the only goal for Oakland. The Seals were now winless in their last 6 games (0-5-1).
54. Feb 10 68 Minnesota L 5-2 Charlie Hodge Cesare Maniago Bill Collins J.P. Parise and Parker MacDonald had 2 assists each to lead the North Stars. Larry Cahan and Ted Hampson scored for the Seals.
55. Feb 11 68 Toronto W 4-3 Gary Smith Bruce Gamble Charlie Burns The Seals ended their 7 game winless streak with a 4-3 comeback win over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Leafs. Charlie Burns scored twice while Ted Hampson had 2 assists. All 4 Seals goals came in the third period.
56. Feb 14 68 Philadelphia W 4-0 Charlie Hodge and Gary Smith     Hodge and Smith share a shutout for the Seals.
57. Feb 17 68 Boston W 3-1       The Seals win their third straight game. This was their longest winning streak of the season.
58. Feb 21 68 Chicago L 1-0   Dave Dryden Bobby Hull Gerry Odrowski shadowed Hull and shut him down until "The Golden Jet" broke free and scored the game winner with 2:50 left in the game. This was the first ever home sellout in Seals history as 12,025 attended the game.
59. Feb 24 68 @ Pittsburgh W 3-1 Charlie Hodge Les Binkley Gerry Ehman The Seals defeated Pittsburgh for the first time in 8 tries. Gerry Ehman scored twice for the Seals. Billy Harris and Wally Boyer had 2 assists each. Charlie Hodge made 29 saves.
60. Feb 25 68 @ Minnesota T 3-3 Charlie Hodge Carl Wetzel Wayne Connelly John Brenneman, Gerry Ehman and George Swarbrick scored for the Seals.
61. Feb 28 68 Minnesota W 6-3       Ted Hampson Hampson and Billy Harris each had 2 goals and an assist for Oakland. Final win of the season for Seals, who would finish the season 0-8-5..
62. Mar 02 68 @ Pittsburgh T 6-6        
63. Mar 03 68 @ Philadelphia T 1-1 Charlie Hodge and Gary Smith Doug Favell Larry Cahan The game was played at Madison Square Garden in New York since the Spectrum roof collapsed. It was part of the first double header in NHL history as the Rangers and Blackhawks game followed. Ticket holders to the Rangers game were admitted free as were people who had tickets at the Spectrum. 12,127 fans attended the game which was also televised nationally by CBS.
64. Mar 06 68 Montreal L 2-0 Gary Smith Gump Worsley Henri Richard Richard and Ralph Backstrom scored for the Canadiens. Worsley made 22 saves to earn the shutout.
65. Mar 07 68 @ Los Angeles L 9-2 Charlie Hodge Terry Sawchuk Lowell MacDonald Bill Hicke and Larry Cahan scored the Seals goals. Nine goals allowed by the Seals was the season high. Lowell MacDonald scored twice for Los Angeles.
66. Mar 09 68 @ St. Louis L 3-1 Gary Smith Glenn Hall Gary Sabourin Gary Smith made 41 saves in a losing cause for the Seals. Larry Popein scored the only Oakland goal.
67. Mar 10 68 St. Louis L 1-0 Charlie Hodge Glenn Hall Craig Cameron Glenn Hall blanked the Seals for the third time this season. The Seals were held to 16 shots on goal including only 2 in the third period.
68. Mar 13 68 Detroit L 4-2   Roger Crozier Alex Delvecchio The Seals led 2-0 after 2 periods on goals by Larry Popein and Ted Hampson. Bob Baun had 2 assists. The Wings scored 4 goals in a span of 7:05. Alex Delvecchio had a goal and an assist for Detroit.
69. Mar 15 68 @ St. Louis T 1-1 Gary Smith Glenn Hall Ron Harris The Seals get 42 saves from Gary Smith in a 1-1 tie with the Blues. Red Berenson scored for St. Louis. The Seals finished the year 0-7-3 against the Blues.
70. Mar 17 68 @ Chicago L 4-1 Gary Smith Dave Dryden Doug Jarrett Bill Harris scored the only goal for Oakland. Doug Jarrett had a goal and an assist for Chicago.
71. Mar 20 68 Philadelphia L 5-1        
72. Mar 23 68 St. Louis T 3-3 Charlie Hodge Glenn Hall Jim Roberts Larry Popein gave the Seals the lead with 4:48 left in the game but Jim Roberts tied the score with 2:17 remaining. Charlie Burns and Larry Popein had 2 points each for the Seals. Bill Hicke became the Seals first 20 goal scorer.
73. Mar 27 68 Pittsburgh L 7-4     Alex Hicks John Brenneman scored twice and set up one goal while Bill Hicke had 3 assists for the Seals. Leo Boivin and Ab McDonald each scored twice for Pittsburgh.
74. Mar 30 68 Los Angeles T 2-2 Charlie Hodge Wayne Rutledge Wally Boyer Charlie Hodge made 43 saves for Oakland. The Seals were outshot 45-17. The Seals trailed 2-0 before Bill Hicke and Wally Boyer scored to tie the score. The Kings could have tied the Flyers for first place in the West with a win, but had to settle for second place.

SEALS SEASON LEADERS 1967-68
(Franchise Records in Bold)

Games Played Wally Boyer & Larry Cahan 74
Goals Bill Hicke 21
Assists Charlie Burns 26
Points Gerry Ehman 44
Penalty Minutes Tracy Pratt 90
Power Play Goals Bill Hicke 12
Short Handed Goals Gerry Odrowski & Charlie Burns 2
Game Winning Goals Bill Hicke 4
Game Tying Goals Gerry Ehman & Wally Boyer 3
Shots on Goal Gerry Ehman 189
Shooting PCT* George Swarbrick 15.1%
Best +/- * Wally Boyer 0
Worst +/- * Larry Cahan -29
Games by Goalie Charlie Hodge 58
Wins by Goalie Charlie Hodge 13
Goals Agnst Ave** Charlie Hodge 2.86
Shutouts Charlie Hodge 3

Note:
*Shooting PCT and Best and Worst +/- based on minimum of 40 games played.
**Goals Against Average based on minimum 20 games played.


Team Captain: Bob Baun
Alternate Captains: Billy Harris & Wally Boyer
Coach & GM: Bert Olmstead
Assistant Coach: Gordie Fashoway

Record: 15-42-17 47 points--6th in the Western Division
Did not qualify for playoffs.

Record at:
Home: 12-16-9
Road: 3-26-8

vs. West 11-24-15
vs. East 4-18-2

Month Record
October 2-5-2
November 3-8-3
December 2-10-1
January 3-6-4
February 5-5-2
March 0-8-5
April 0-0-0

All Star Game Representative: Bob Baun--0 Goals, 0 Assists 0 Penalty Min.

Power Play 41/259 15.8%
Penalty Killing 45/259 82.0%

Seals win only 3 road games, tying NHL record for least road wins in a season of 70 games or more set by the Boston Bruins in 1960-61.

Seals average only 2.068 goals per game as a team, then a post-expansion NHL record. The record would stand until 1997-98 when it was broken by the Tampa Bay Lightening with 1.841 goals per game.

Ticket Prices: Rinkside $5.50; Side Loge $5.00; End Loge $4.50; Balcony $4.00. End Balcony $3.00.

Home Attendance: 183,507 for 37 home games. Average: 4,960 per game.

Major Transactions:

Date Transaction
April 1966 Seals acquire the rights to Charlie Burns, Tom Thurlby and George Swarbrick from the WHL's San Francisco Seals.
June 6, 1967 Seals take part in the NHL Expansion Draft
December 1967 Seals acquire Larry Popein from the NY Rangers for cash.
January 9, 1968 Seals trade Kent Douglas to Detroit for Ted Hampson, John Brenneman and Bert Marshall.
March 1968 Seals sign Jean Cusson to a 3 game amateur tryout contract.