Charlie Hodge Makes Early Seals History With First Franchise Shutout

The Oakland Seals’ debut season couldn’t have started on a more optimistic note. Fresh off their 1967 expansion debut, the Seals grabbed wins in each of their first two games, an early spark for a brand-new franchise. And in just the second outing of the 1967-68 campaign, fans were treated to a milestone moment: the first shutout in team history.

Charlie Hodge, the Seals’ marquee pickup at the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft, brought both pedigree and poise to the crease. Selected sixth overall out of Montreal, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner proved he still had game. On October 14, 1967, inside the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena, Hodge stopped all 20 shots he faced against the Minnesota North Stars, recording his 22nd career shutout and his first in Seals colors. He’d add two more that season before finishing his NHL career with 24.

Oakland wasn’t just airtight defensively, they overwhelmed Minnesota at the other end. Cesare Maniago faced a barrage of 38 shots, allowing six goals in a decisive 6-0 Seals victory. Gerry Ehman opened the scoring on a first-period power play, with Bill Hicke supplying the first of his four assists on the night. Kent Douglas added a standout performance of his own with a goal and two helpers.

Though the Seals’ early-season success didn’t last, they went winless in their next 14 games, this shutout remains a bright, defining moment from the franchise’s earliest days.

About Charlie Hodge

Charlie Hodge played 358 regular season and 16 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1954-55 and 1970-71 with the Montreal Canadiens, Oakland Seals and Vancouver Canucks. He was the sixth player selected overall at the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft by the Seals and the 39th overall at the 1970 NHL Expansion Draft by the Canucks.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Charlie Hodge

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Which NHL team did Charlie Hodge win multiple Vezina Trophies with?

Boston Bruins
Oakland Seals
Montreal Canadiens
Minnesota North Stars

2. How many career shutouts did Charlie Hodge finish with?

12
18
24
31

3. In which season did Charlie Hodge appear in 58 games for the Oakland Seals?

1967–68
1968–69
1965–66
1969–70

4. Before joining the Seals, Charlie Hodge primarily backed up which legendary Canadiens goalie?

Lorne Worsley
Jacques Plante
Ken Dryden
Rogie Vachon

5. How many Stanley Cups did Charlie Hodge win with the Montreal Canadiens?

Two
Three
Four
Six

Blair MacDonald Delivers First NHL Hat Trick in Edmonton Oilers History

When the Edmonton Oilers skated into their fourth-ever NHL game on October 19, 1979, they walked out of Northlands Coliseum with not just a victory but a milestone. Blair MacDonald recorded the first hat trick in the franchise’s NHL history, powering the Oilers to a 6-3 win over the Quebec Nordiques. The performance also marked the Oilers’ first NHL win, cementing MacDonald’s place in the team’s earliest big moments.

The Oilers carried a 2-1 lead after the opening period, and MacDonald wasted no time widening the gap. Early in the second, he struck twice, his 3rd and 4th goals of the 1979-80 season. Doug Hicks and a teenage Wayne Gretzky set up the first, while Al Hamilton and Brett Callighen assisted on the second, which would stand as the game-winner. Both goals beat Quebec goaltender Michel Dion.

MacDonald capped the night with his third goal in the final minute of play, again assisted by Gretzky. He also added an assist of his own on a Callighen tally, finishing with four points and a team-leading six shots. On the Nordiques' side, Marc Tardif paced all skaters with seven shots, scoring twice on Eddie Mio and helping set up a Serge Bernier goal.

The 1979–80 season would be MacDonald’s finest NHL campaign. His four hat tricks tied him with Marcel Dionne for the league lead, and his 46 goals ranked second on the Oilers behind Gretzky’s 51. But his time in Edmonton was short-lived, MacDonald was traded to Vancouver midway through the 1980–81 season in a deal involving Lars-Gunnar Pettersson, Ken Berry, and Garry Lariviere.

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About Blair MacDonald

Blair MacDonald carved out a reputation as a natural goal scorer long before he made his NHL mark. Born in Cornwall, Ontario, he became a prolific junior forward with the Cornwall Royals of the QMJHL, posting standout offensive totals that propelled him into the professional spotlight. His scoring touch earned him early attention from the World Hockey Association, where he would take his first major step as a pro.

MacDonald joined the Edmonton Oilers during their WHA days and quickly proved he could generate offense at the major-league level. His best WHA season came in 1977-78, when he recorded 34 goals and 64 points in just 60 games, a performance that solidified him as one of the team’s most reliable finishers. Skating alongside young talents like Wayne Gretzky during the Oilers’ final WHA season, MacDonald was part of the transition core that bridged the franchise’s move into the NHL.

After leaving Edmonton, MacDonald spent time with the Vancouver Canucks, contributing secondary scoring and veteran presence through the early 1980s. Although his NHL role diminished compared to his peak years, he remained an intelligent shooter with strong positional instincts. His pro career later included stops in the minor leagues, where he continued to produce offense and mentor developing players.

NHL Hockey Trivia: Blair MacDonald

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Blair MacDonald recorded the first NHL hat trick in Edmonton Oilers history during which season?

1980–81
1979–80
1978–79
1981–82

2. How many hat tricks did Blair MacDonald score in the NHL during his career?

2
4
6
1

3. Before joining the NHL Oilers, Blair MacDonald was a standout scorer in which league?

AHL
WHA
CHL
IHL

4. Blair MacDonald scored 46 goals in 1979–80, finishing second on the Oilers behind which teammate?

Mark Messier
Wayne Gretzky
Brett Callighen
Stan Weir

5. MacDonald was traded by the Oilers during the 1980–81 season. Which team acquired him?

Vancouver Canucks
Winnipeg Jets
Quebec Nordiques
Hartford Whalers

Dean Prentice’s Six-Point Explosion Leads Bruins to Stunning 11–0 Rout at Maple Leaf Gardens

When the Boston Bruins hammered the Toronto Maple Leafs 11-0 on January 18, 1964, it wasn’t just another lopsided scoreline, it was a full-blown shocker. Boston entered the game buried in the basement of the six-team NHL, while Toronto was powering toward what would become its third straight Stanley Cup championship. Yet on this night at Maple Leaf Gardens, the underdog Bruins delivered one of the most astonishing road victories of the Original Six era.

Dean Prentice was at the heart of the upset, turning in one of the finest performances of his career. The veteran winger notched the fifth of his six NHL hat tricks and added three assists, giving him a six-point night. Remarkably, four of those points came in the opening period as Boston stormed out to a 6-0 lead. Prentice scored his three goals on just three shots, while linemate Andy Hebenton completed a hat trick of his own on six attempts at Don Simmons.

Murray Oliver led all skaters with nine shots, contributing two goals and two assists in the offensive explosion. John Bucyk also chipped in a four-point night with a goal and three helpers, adding even more punch to a Bruins attack that seemed unstoppable. At the other end, goaltender Ed Johnston stopped all 26 Toronto shots, including six from the always-entertaining Eddie Shack, to secure the shutout.

The victory extended Boston’s modest winning streak to three games, including a 6-3 triumph over Toronto just two games earlier. Although the Bruins managed only a tie against Montreal the following day before sliding back into their struggles, this run briefly lifted them out of an 0-10-1 slump. In fact, five of Boston’s 18 wins in the 1963-64 season came against the Maple Leafs, making Toronto their most generous opponent in an otherwise tough campaign.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Dean Prentice

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Dean Prentice began his NHL career with which team?
New York Rangers
Boston Bruins
Pittsburgh Penguins
Detroit Red Wings

2. Which team was Dean Prentice playing for during the mid-1960s, when he came closest to reaching the Stanley Cup Final?
Detroit Red Wings
Boston Bruins
Chicago Black Hawks
Minnesota North Stars

3. Which major milestone did Dean Prentice surpass during his NHL career?
300 career NHL goals
1,000 career NHL assists
600 penalty minutes
100 power-play goals

4. Dean Prentice was selected to the NHL All-Star Game how many times?
Three
Five
Six
Seven

5. Dean Prentice scored a memorable shorthanded penalty shot goal in 1964 while injured. Which team was he playing for at the time?
Boston Bruins
Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins