California Seals History, Oakland Seals History, 1967-68 season, 1968-69 season, 1969-70 season, Bert Olmstead first coach, Fred Glover, Coach 1968-69

The Seals began their first season with Bert Olmstead as coach and general manager, assisted by Gordie Fashoway.

The Seals won their first two games and tied their third, but hopes were dashed 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 eventually gave way to his assistant, Gordie Fashoway as he found the losing hard to take.

Attendance was terrible, and all attempts to increase interest locally seemed to have 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 circulated that the club would be moved. Olmstead himself vocally endorsed a move to Vancouver, and all the talk of moving did not help attendance.

The Seals biggest problem was scoring goals. They only managed 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.

By the end of the 1967-68, Bert Olmstead was gone and Fred Glover was hired as coach for the 1968-69 season.

Frank Selke, Jr. was moved from team president to General Manager.

The Seals had their best season in the NHL in 1968-69, finishing second in the West Division and acheiving the most wins and points in franchise history as well as many team and individual records.

The Seals were still seven games below .500, but for a second year expansion team, this was considered a big improvement.

By the end of their second season, only a few of original Seals remained with the team.

The Seals improved from 15 to 29 wins and from 47 to 69 points.

New players on the bench included Carol Vadnais, Norm Ferguson, Gary Jarrett and Earl Ingarfield.

The Seals entered the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings and led the series 3 games to 2 but lost the final two games including the 7th game in Oakland and were eliminated by the Kings.

After the season was over, Ted Hampson won the Masterton Trophy to become the only Seals player to win a major NHL post season award in the team's nine year history. The Sporting News also named Fred Glover coach of the year.

In 1969-70 The Seals managed to hang onto fourth place in the West Division and make the playoffs for the second year in a row, however they again were knocked out of contention, this time by the Pittsburg Penguins in four straight.

After bancruptcy hearings, Oakland A's owner Charlie O. Finley was awarded the franchise prior to the 1970-71 season

California Seals - Oakland Seals History