- 1967–68 Minnesota North Stars season
NHLTeamSeason
Season=1967–68
Team=Minnesota North Stars
Conference=
ConferenceRank=
Division= West
DivisionRank= 4th
Record= 27–32–15
HomeRecord=
RoadRecord=
GoalsFor= 191
GoalsAgainst= 226
GeneralManager=
Coach=
Captain=Bob Woytowich
AltCaptain=
Arena=
Attendance=
GoalsLeader=Wayne Connelly (35)
AssistsLeader= Andre Boudrias (35)
PointsLeader= Wayne Connelly (56)
PIMLeader=Dave Balon (84)
WinsLeader=Cesare Maniago (21)
GAALeader= Cesare Maniago (2.77)The 1967-68 Minnesota North Stars season was their first in the NHL.
Offseason
On March 11, 1965, NHL President
Clarence Campbell announced that the league would expand to twelve teams from six through the creation of a new six-team division for the 1967-68 season.Citation | last = Showers | first = Bob | year = 2007 | title = Minnesota North Stars: History and Memories with Lou Nanne | publisher = Beaver's Pond Press | isbn = 1592981976 |pages = 5] In response to Campbell's announcement, a partnership of nine men, led by Walter Bush Jr. and John Driscoll, was formed to seek a franchise for the Twin Cities area ofMinnesota .Citation | last = Showers | first = Bob | year = 2007 | title = Minnesota North Stars: History and Memories with Lou Nanne | publisher = Beaver's Pond Press | isbn = 1592981976 |pages = 8] Their efforts were successful as the NHL awarded one of six expansion franchises to Minnesota on February 9, 1966.Citation | last = Showers | first = Bob | year = 2007 | title = Minnesota North Stars: History and Memories with Lou Nanne | publisher = Beaver's Pond Press | isbn = 1592981976 |pages = 9] In addition to Minnesota, the five other franchises wereCalifornia (Oakland), Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. The "North Stars" name was announced on May 25, 1966, following a public contest. The name is derived from the state's motto "L'Étoile du Nord ", which is a French phrase meaning "The Star of the North".cite web |title=Minnesota North Stars |url=http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nhl/minnystars/northstars.html |publisher=Sports E-cyclopedia |accessdate=2007-11-13] Months after the naming of the team, ground was broken on October 3, 1966, for a new hockey arena in Bloomington, Minnesota. The home of the North Stars, Metropolitan Sports Center, was built in 12 months at a cost ofUS$ 7 million. The arena was ready for play for the start of the1967-68 NHL season , but portions of the arena's construction had not been completed.Citation | last = Showers | first = Bob | year = 2007 | title = Minnesota North Stars: History and Memories with Lou Nanne | publisher = Beaver's Pond Press | isbn = 1592981976 |pages = 28] Spectator seats were in the process of being installed as fans arrived at the arena for the opening home game on October 21, 1967.NHL draft
Regular season
On October 15, 1967, the North Stars played the first game in franchise history on the road against the
California Seals , another expansion team. The North Stars lost that game, but would get a rematch against the Seals six days later at home, this time playing to a 3–3 tie. The team achieved success early as it was in first place in the Western Division halfway through the 1967–68 season.eason standings
Bill Masterton
* On January 13, 1968, 4 minutes into a game against the
Oakland Seals at theMet Center , Bill Masterton was checked byLarry Cahan andRon Harris of Oakland, and fell backwards onto the ice. The force of the back of his head hitting the ice caused much bleeding, and he quickly lost blood.Expansion draft
* Minnesota North Stars selections
Goaltending
"Note: GP= Games played; MIN= Minutes; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against Average"
References
External links
* [http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000371968.html North Stars on Hockey Database]
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