Those of you knowing Bay Area hockey history are aware that the San Jose Sharks are not the area’s first NHL team. That honor belongs to the California Golden Seals. The Seals were part of the league’s doubling of its “original six” for the 1967-1968 season; thus, this is the Seals 40th anniversary.

At the time, the league and CBS had a television agreement that included California getting two expansion teams, one in Los Angeles and the other in Oakland.

The team was known by three names over its nine years in Oakland. The team was originally named the California Seals at the beginning of the 1967 season. After a month into the season the team was renamed the Oakland Seals for seasons 1967 - 1970. The 1970-1971 season saw the team renamed for the third and final time as the California Golden Seals (1970 - 1976).

Over the years owners/minority owners/investors included Barry van Gerbig, Bing Crosby, Pat Summerall, Whitey Ford, the NHL, Charlie O. Finley (he had them wear white skates), Mel Swig, George and Gordon Gund.

Some notable players and fan favorites includes Reggie Leach, Dennis Maruk, Gilles Meloche, Gary Smith, Ivan Boldirev, Ron Stackhouse and Carol Vadnais.

After the 1975-1976 season the Seals moved to Cleveland and became the Barons.

The Barons struggled financially for two years when majority owners George and Gordon Gund were permitted to merge the Barons with another financially struggling team, the Minnesota North Stars.

Years later the Gunds would sell their share of the North Stars allowing the Gunds to be awarded an expansion team in the Bay Area, the San Jose Sharks.

During some Sharks radio broadcasts play-by-play announcer Dan Rusanowsky is featuring the Seals 40th anniversary on the This Date In NHL History segment. Tune in and discover a bit about Bay Area hockey history.

Happy 40th anniversary!

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