Podcasts about Cleveland Barons

Arch Ward was a visionary. Sports editor of the Chicago Tribune during the 30s and 40s, Ward is the founder of several marquee sporting events. He created the MLB (Major League Baseball) All-Star Game, he launched the Chicago Charities College All-Star Game, a series that last 42 years where a team of college all-stars played a "serious" exhibition game against the defending NFL Champion. He also created the AAFC (All-American Football Conference) which challenged the NFL from 1946 to 1949. Three teams from the AAFC still play today: the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49ers. He also created the Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament. Ward was also a terrific writer and author. He got his start at his alma mater, Notre Dame, where he worked as a publicity man for the legendary Knute Rockne. Ward wielded power unlike many of his contemporaries, and made long-lasting contributions to the world of sports. On this episode of Sports' Forgotten Heroes, I take a look back at his amazing career with author/radio host/sports' historian Gary Webster. Gary has written books on the AAFC, the NHL's Cleveland Barons, the Browns and the Cleveland Indians (Guardians).

Los Angeles Kings legend Charlie Simmer joins the show to talk about his amazing career, and how he went from bouncing back and forth between the California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, and minor leagues to back-to-back 56-goal seasons and Kings royalty with Marcel Donne and Dave Taylor!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this week's show, Dennis Maruk joins us to share the wild ride of a 60 Goal scorer back in the early 1980's!! Well before Alex Ovechkin became a household name as the most recognizable sniper of the WASHINGTON CAPITALS, Dennis was setting Capitals Franchise scoring records back in the 1980's – and some of his records still haven't broken - even by Ovechkin...!! He has a rare NHL pedigree of being drafted by the California Golden Seals, in the first round of the 1975 NHL Entry Draft, before becoming a member of the Cleveland Barons (remember them?) when the Golden Seals franchise was re-located. He played 14 NHL seasons, but will best be remembered for his five seasons with the Washington Capitals where he led the team in scoring three straight years, and set the Franchise record for most Points and most Assists in a single season in 1982! He played exactly 888 NHL Games, and finished his career with 878 points! Just shy of a “point-per-game” pace. In addition to his record setting team scoring with the Capitals, he is also remembered as one of hockey's biggest personalities, and for having one of the most stellar moustaches in National Hockey League history!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Hill is many things. He's a musician, an actor, a podcast host, and an author. So four things. But it's five things if you count his role as hockey sweater collector. Dave has a lifelong obsession with the hockey sweater, or jersey as one might call it in the States, and he recounts many of his favorites in this dreamily unfocused conversation that also includes discussions of Norway, Pantera, ice hockey legend Len Frig, duvets, and how to start a bar with the government's assistance after being stabbed.Dave's book: The Awesome Game: One Man's Incredible, Globe-Crushing Hockey OdysseyMentioned in the ShowKniven BarLen FrigSudbury WolvesTampereen IlvesHey Sleepy Heads, is there anyone whose voice you'd like to drift off to, or do you have suggestions on things we could do to aid your slumber? Email us at:  sleepwithcelebs@maximumfun.org.Follow the Show on:Instagram @sleepwcelebsTwitter @SleepWithCelebsTikTok @SleepWithCelebsJohn is on Twitter @johnmoe.John's acclaimed, best-selling memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is now available in paperback.Join | Maximum FunIf you like one or more shows on MaxFun, and you value independent artists being able to do their thing, you're the perfect person to become a MaxFun monthly member. 

Great Canadian Sports Show | Ep. 141 | Dennis Maruk | Battling Demons and Scoring Goals In Episode 141 of the Great Canadian Sports Show, host Joe Tilley sits down for a compelling interview with Toronto native, Dennis Maruk. Maruk's hockey journey began with the Marlies and London Knights, where he earned The Red Tilson Trophy as the Top Player in The OHA. Drafted 21st Overall in 1975 by the California Golden Seals, he went on to amass an impressive 878 Points in 888 NHL Games, playing for the Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, Washington Capitals, and Minnesota North Stars. Maruk's remarkable achievements include being a 3-Time NHL All-Star and a 2-Time 50 Goal Scorer, with his most extraordinary feat being the historic 60 goals scored during the 1981-82 Season. Beyond hockey, Maruk co-authored the book "Dennis Maruk - The Unforgettable Story About Hockey's Forgotten 60 Goal Scorer" with Ken Reid. Additionally, life after hockey had its challenges, as he battled depression, which almost cost him his life. Despite his smaller stature, Dennis Maruk has left a profound and enduring impression, making this interview a must-see for sports enthusiasts and fans alike. Moreover, his post-hockey experiences rubbing shoulders with celebrities like Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, and Bruce Willis add further depth to his fascinating story. #HockeyLegend #demons #NHL #Interview #NHLAllStar #GoalScorer #DennisMaruk #Unforgettable #SportsIcon #CanadianPride #HockeyHero #Inspiring #TopPlayer #Celebrities #Depression #GoldenSeals #ClevelandBarons #WashingtonCapitals #MinnesotaNorthStars #GreatCanadianSportsShow #HockeyJourney #Goals #Triumphs #Challenges #Remarkable #Candid #Fascinating #MustSee #HockeyHistory #Inspiration #darkplace #depression #celebrities #battle #inspiring #reallife #AthleteLife #HockeyBook #HockeyLegendInterview #DennisMarukInterview #SportsEnthusiasts #BehindTheScenes #tilley #joetilley

Hello everyone and welcome back to another amazing episode. Today we talk about the early years of the Minnesota North Stars and we also talk about the merging of the team with the Cleveland Barons. It was so interesting to see how successful this team was early on but then started to cool down in the late 70s. Join us next time as we talk about the 80s era for the team. Also, I would like to throw a shout-out to Kyle Flett who has almost 300 subs on YouTube, and if you haven't yet sub to his channel. Also, Thank you for the amazing support you continue to show to us here on the podcast we are at 706 downloads all time on the show and we can't wait to hit the 750 mark hopefully soon. Support the show and hope you enjoy My social media links:Instagram:Steven Gervais (@steveng123456) • Instagram photos and videosTikTok:Steven Gervais (@sgandfriendspodcast) | TikTokFacebook group: Steven Gervais and Friends Podcast | FacebookYouTube Channel: Steven Gervais and Friends Podcast - YouTubeDeluxe Edition Network website: The Deluxe Edition NetworkGoodpods:Profile (goodpods.com)my website: Steven Gervais and Friend's Podcast (www.stevengervaisandfriendspodcast.com)Copper Johns beard: https://lddy.no/1gh13use SGANDFRIENDSPODCAST12 at check out for a 10 % discount on your purchase https://www.buzzsprout.com/1983118/support

The boys sit down wth Bob Krosky of the Cleveland Barons to discuss the success of the past season and some young talent drafted recently in the OHL. They also catch up with John Malloy to discuss his Gilmour Lancers run to the school's first-ever state championship.

The boy have on guest Matt Rudin this week! He grew up playing hockey in Ohio where he would find his home with the Cleveland Barons. He would collect over 100 points in the Tier 1 Elite League over his time as a Baron and went on to play 2 years for Kenai in the NAHL. After that he would play 4 years at Ohio University.

One of the most obscure teams in the history of the NHL is the Cleveland Barons. In existence for just two years, the Barons moved to Cleveland from Oakland where they were first known as the California Golden Seals and ultimately merged with the Minnesota North Stars who are now the Dallas Stars. After playing in front of few fans and experiencing financial hardships in Oakland, the Seals packed up during the summer of 1977 and headed east to Cleveland. Ownership thought it had uncovered a great location for the team. Cleveland's AHL team had once been invited to join the NHL - although that version of the Barons turned down the offer. Now, the NHL was coming. Cleveland had a new arena, and 18,000-seat palace known as the Richfield Coliseum. But, the location of the Coliseum, the fact that the Seals owner, Mel Swig, had never been to Cleveland, failed to research the region's appetite for hockey, failed to market the team in any meaningful way, and the failed to study the issues that the previous barons faced and the difficulties the Cleveland Crusaders of the WHA experienced all spelled doom for the Barons. What followed were two incredibly disappointing seasons. The Barons played in front of empty seats. In their first year (1977-78), average attendance was just 6,194 per game, and in their second season attendance fell to 5,676 per game. A television contract could not be found and radio coverage was barely adequate. The team did have a few stars in Dennis Maruk (Dennis joined SFH for episode 18), Jim Neilson and Gilles Meloche, but there wasn't enough depth on the team and they struggled to score goals and win games. The lack of marketing and fan support led to more financial hardships and the team was thisclose to missing payroll and shutting down in the middle of the season. Gary Webster returns to SFH for an in-depth conversation on all that went wrong in Cleveland. He recently authored a book, published by MacFarland and Company called, "The NHL's Mistake By The Lake: A History of the Cleveland Barons." Gary covers it all, from the original Barons and Crusaders, to the dysfunction of Swig's ownership group, the team's performance on the ice, the want to save the team and the eventual merger with Minnesota. Amazingly, Gary even notes that very few who lived in Cleveland at the time - and still live there - even know that the Barons existed.

Jeff Leitch's grandfather had a role in founding the NBA. He hopped on with Baskin & Phelps to talk about the milestones of his grandfather, and his ownership of the old Cleveland Arena and the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League. Listen to the full interview here!

Jacob Valk conducts an exclusive interview with Gary Webster, the author of The NHL's Mistake by the Lake: A History of the Cleveland Barons! Before that, he breaks down the latest NFL and college football news!

Sophia Bellina has stopped pucks all over the place – for the Cleveland Barons, Gilmour Academy and the Pittsburgh Pens Elite. This past season she took her gear to Indiana to play at Culver Academy for their U18 Girls Prep team.She is keeping her game sharp this summer by stymying shooters in Ohio Hockey Project's Futures Hockey League as she prepares for her next trip – to the Rochester Institute of Technology – where she will begin her NCAA Division I career in the fall.

We close the gap between our previous explorations of the National Hockey League's former California Golden Seals and Minnesota North Stars with a deep dive into the two-year curiosity that bridged between them - the unforgettably forgettable Cleveland Barons.   Episode 111 guest and WKKY-FM/Geneva (OH) radio jock Gary Webster ("The NHL's Mistake By the Lake: A History of the Cleveland Barons") returns the 'cast - this time to go deep into the baffling prelude, chaotic operations, and historically debatable termination/relocation of a franchise that was seemingly snakebitten even before its hasty arrival in Northeastern Ohio in the summer of 1976.   Named for a decades-old, nine-time minor league AHL championship-winning team that preceded it until 1973 - which itself had been replaced by the struggling "major league" Crusaders of the wobbly World Hockey Association - the Barons came close to folding in both of its two NHL seasons, despite the frantic efforts of two separate ownership groups, a brand-new state-of-the-art arena, and at least one league bailout.   Along the way, attendance was meager, media coverage was scant, and on-ice play was woeful - the perfect ingredients for an episode sure to please!

Parma native Alex Nedeljkovic starred for the Cleveland Barons and represented the U. S. at the U18 and U20 levels before going on to great success in the Ontario Hockey League and the American Hockey League. He earned Goalie of the Year honors at both levels and guided the AHL's Charlotte Checkers to the 2019 Calder Cup championship. "Ned" saw significant action in the NHL this season with the Carolina Hurricanes, posting a 15-5-3 record with a 1.90 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. He then started nine of the team's 11 games in the Stanley Cup playoffs (2.17/.920). He is one of three finalists for the NHL's 2020-21 Rookie of the Year.

Maumee, OH native Ben Schoen is entering his third season with the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League. He recently signed with Penn State with the intention of playing for the Nittany Lions in the Big 10 next season.Chagrin Falls, OH native Curtis Hall played for the Cleveland Barons and Youngstown Phantoms, making the U.S. World Junior team and getting drafted by the Boston Bruins before heading to Yale University.

Logo archivist Chris Creamer (SportsLogos.net) and graphic brand designer Todd Radom (Todd Radom Design) join this week's show to dive into the rich and fascinating visual story of the National Hockey League's nearly 103-year history - as told by the names, logos and uniforms of its teams. Their new book collaboration Fabric of the Game: The Stories Behind the NHL's Names, Logos and Uniforms is a comprehensive look into the rationale behind and the execution of the iconography of each of the league's major historical franchise lineages - from the respective journeys of today's 32 teams to the forgotten former clubs of yore. Of course, we go long and hard into the visual foibles of the latter - who can forget the Cleveland Barons, Kansas City Scouts, Colorado Rockies, California/Oakland/Bay Area/California Golden Seals, the Atlanta Thrashers, or even the New York/Brooklyn Americans? But there are plenty of revealing tidbits and surprising twists for fans of today's NHL franchises - including directionless Stars, wayward Flames, cartoonish Ducks - and a hot debate on just where team histories should go when they pull up stakes for greener pastures.

Solon's own EMack Bentley takes us through his path to NCAA Division III hockey starting with the Cleveland Barons, junior hockey in New Hampshire and Texas, and finally onto the campus at Middlebury College in Vermont where he heads into his junior season and is able to combine high-level hockey and academics. Aidan Spellacy and Quinn Warmuth both played at Saint Ignatius and ended up playing NCAA Division I hockey at Robert Morris University, but they had different experiences in between.Spellacy recounts his three-year stint as captain at Saint Ignatius, playing in the famous seven-OT tie in the state title game in 2014, and a successful junior career in the NAHL before becoming RMU's Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2018-19.Warmuth talks about leaving home to play junior hockey at 17 and getting traded three times and playing for five different teams in four years before being summoned to Robert Morris in the middle of the 2019-20 season.

Ben Simon starred for the Shaker Heights Red Raiders and the Cleveland Barons of the NAHL before going on to play at Notre Dame and then a 11-year pro career that included time in the NHL with Atlanta and Columbus. As a coach, he guided the Cincinnati Cyclones to the Kelly Cup Finals and is now the head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. Simon helped the Orlando Solar Bears win the IHL's Turner Cup in 2001 before hoisting the Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves in 2002. He represented Team USA at both the 1997 and 1998 World Junior Championships, earning a silver medal in 1997. Former Bowling Green Falcon and two-time CCHA All-Academic Team member Dan Bylsma is a 2009 Stanley Cup champion and 2011 Jack Adams Award recipient who is in his second season as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings. Bylsma served as head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2008-14. After taking over as Pittsburgh's head coach during the 2008-09 season, Bylsma guided the club to an 18-3-4 regular-season finish en route to defeating the Red Wings in the 2009 Stanley Cup Final. Bylsma who won the Jack Adams Award as the NHL's top coach in 2009-10, and owns a career mark of 320-190-55 as an NHL head coach. He also guided the Buffalo Sabres from 2015-2017, and was the head coach for Team USA at the 2014 Winter Olympics. As a player, Bylsma appeared in 429 NHL games with the Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Mighty Ducks between 1995-04.

In this One on One, Erik Kuhre chats with Terry Smith, designer of the San Jose Sharks logos since 1991. Terry has also created the brands for the Cleveland Barons, China Sharks, Worcester Sharks, and San Jose Barracuda. They discuss the story of what it took to create one of the most iconic brands in National Hockey League history. Learn how an expansion team would get to #2 in pro sports merchandise sales prior to ever playing a game. - The process to designing the original Sharks primary logo - Team Teal was almost blood red? - Lime green Tiger Sharks? - Redesigning the logo in 2007 - Having cohesion between the Barracuda and the Sharks brands - And more! See more of Terry's work at TerrySmithCreations.com Teal Town USA - Your favorite San Jose Sharks' post-game vodcast, for the fans, by the fans! Subscribe to catch us after every Sharks game and our weekly wrap-up show, The Pucknologists! Remember to Like, Subscribe, and hit that Notification bell to be alerted every time we go live on YouTube at www.youtube.com/tealtownusa Want other audio options? Subscribe to our audio-only platforms below: - iTunes: tinyurl.com/TealTowniTunes - Spotify: tinyurl.com/TealTownSpotify - TuneIn: tinyurl.com/TealTownTuneIn - iHeart: tinyurl.com/TealTowniHeart - GooglePlay: tinyurl.com/TealTownGoogle - Stitcher: tinyurl.com/TealTownStitcher Follow our Social Media channels for more exclusive content: - Twitter: twitter.com/TealTownUSA - Instagram: www.instagram.com/tealtownusa/ - reddit: www.reddit.com/r/TealTownUSA/ - Facebook: www.facebook.com/TealTownUSA/ Follow the Teal Town USA crew on Twitter! On the web: www.TealTownUSA.com #sanjosesharks #podcast #tealtownusa #nhl #sjsharks #postgame

A years-long ebay quest for a specific cap has me wondering why we hang on to negative stories. Plus, a mini-history of the long defunct Cleveland Barons and the kind of shit that went down on school buses in the 1970s and 80s. Ebay Auction Listing (now expired): https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1970s-NHL-Cleveland-Barons-Winter-Knit-Hat-Hockey/323966571446 Music and SFX Credits - Intro and interstitials by Brian Hake - Additional Interstitials by Kevin Davison - "I'm Not Myself" by Delicious, feat. Brian Hake and Kevin Davison - "I'm Not Myself" by Delicious, feat. Brian Hake and Kevin Davison - "I Will Be There For You" by Alibi, licensed via podcastmusic.com SFX sourced from Freesound.org, including: - Sounds of Winter Jacket rustling by rightaway: https://freesound.org/people/rightaway/sounds/394026/ - Scratchy Record by bone66638 https://freesound.org/people/bone666138/sounds/198855/

Only 20 men in NHL history have scored 60 or more goals in a single season. A sometimes forgotten member of this select club is an undersized, take-no-prisoners centre named Dennis Maruk. And it's only fitting that Dennis is our guest on episode 60 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast. As a junior in the OHA, Maruk was the one of the greatest players in London Knights history, but his 5-8 height scared off NHL teams until the second round of the 1975 Draft, where he was chosen by the woebegone California Seals.  After a standout rookie season in Oakland, Maruk and his mates moved to Cleveland,  where he continued to star while the franchise floundered. After just two seasons in Ohio, the Cleveland Barons were merged with the Minnesota North Stars in 1978, but Maruk was dispatched to Washington after 2 just games.  It was in DC where Maruk would emerge as one of the NHL's premier centers, scoring 50 goals in 1980-81 and following that with the incredible 60-goal, 76-assist campaign in 1981-82. Maruk led the improving Caps in scoring in 1982-83, but was traded back to Minnesota and slotted as the team's 3rd line center.  Amidst reduced playing time, Maruk adjusted to his new role would become one the Stars top post-season performers in the notorious “Chuck Norris” Division in the 1980s. As chronicled in his riveting 2017 autobiography with author Ken Reid, Maruk's post playing days took him from hockey superstar to behind the wheel of a service ship in the Gulf of Mexico,  to carrying bags as a bellhop at an Aspen hotel, to setting up furniture for Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, to working as a farmhand for musician John Oates. And ultimately Maruk's life path took him to a life-and-death decision at edge of the Grand Canyon. Dennis is a great interview and you'll love his recollections of a fascinating career and life.  Among the teammates, coaches and opponents we discuss are:  Gilles Meloche, Bob "Hound" Kelly, Ryan Walter, Jean Pronovost, Kent Nilsson, Herb Brooks, Charlie Simmer, Bryan Murray and more. After our talk with Dennis, stick around for "PHA Overtime" with this week's news and notes from our Facebook pages featuring the Hartford Whalers, Boston Bruins, World Hockey Association and Pro Hockey Alumni as well as a postscript to the Maruk interview. Host:  Mark Willand ITunes/Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Stitcher Twitter Facebook Instagram Google Play Mark Willand Pro Hockey Alumni WHA Hockey Boston Bruins Alumni You Tube  

Player, coach, professor, author, and doctor are some titles Vern Stenlund (04:02) has gone by over the years. An NHL alumni with the Cleveland Barons (heard of them?), Windsor Spitfires coach, and ghost writer for Bobby Orr's 'Orr: My Story' memoir are just a few notable accomplishments by Vern. Hear him and Drake discuss various aspects of his life and career. Support the show (http://gf.me/u/xpk4a5)

Episode 45 of the Pro Hockey Alumni Podcast is a tribute to 7-year NHL pro Mike Christie, who passed away on July 11, 2019. Born in Big Spring, Texas, and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Mike was the first native Texan to play in the NHL although it was strictly a technicality as his father was a Canadian citizen working for an American oil company and Mike grew up in Canada. Before turning pro , Mike played for the University of Denver, becoming a first team all-American in 1971 as well being chosen to the US amateur national team at the 1972 Ice Hockey World Championship. Mike then played two seasons with the Dallas Blackhawks (CHL), before signing with NHL's California Golden Seals in 1974, where he played until the franchise moved to Cleveland in 1977, becoming the Cleveland Barons. Mike was captain of the NHL's Colorado Rockies hockey team in the late 1970s, and his NHL career ended with the Vancouver Canucks in 1981. He also represented the United States in the inaugural 1976 Canada Cup tournament. Mike settled in Colorado after his hockey career ended, and started a second career as a sales representative that allowed him to enjoy his other athletic passion - golf. He represented several well-known brands, including Callaway and Top-Flite, before retiring in 2010. Mike died of kidney disease on July 11, 2019. He was married to his wife of 47 years, Molly (née Hamill), and had two daughters, Lisa and Colleen, a son Dan, and four grandchildren. [ In this episode we hear tributes from four of Mike's teammates: former NHLers Mike Lampman, George Pesut, Dave Gardner and Paul Gardner.

Larry Hirsch got his start doing Play by play in the AHL in Providence and New Haven, he was the original voice of 3 franchises, The Cleveland Barons, New Jersey Devils and Tampa bay Lighting, he also did play by play for the Houston Astros, he joins Mark, AJ and Ryan to talk about it all. Tune in each week on 540 am in NY NJ CT and streaming on www.sportstalknylive.com at 7pm Sundays for the live broadcast.Please take a moment to like our fan page WLIE 540 AM SPORTSTALKNY and follow us on twitter @sportstalkny

Not even a year into his tenure as the North Stars general manager, Lou Nanne was told the franchise would be merging with the Cleveland Barons and it was his job to make it work. Nanne's role included deciding which players to keep and which to let go. Nanne talks about this crazy experience in June 1978 and tells the story of how he made sure Minnesota hockey legend John Mariucci kept a job with the North Stars. Also find out which team almost merged with Cleveland instead of the North Stars.

In episode four of Cuda Confidential, Nick and Joey chat with Sharks and Cleveland Barons alum Douglas Murray about his time in the AHL.

Ryan is joined by Awkward Sean, TC, and Bpoe (live from the fence). This week they do a retro review of the 76-77 Cleveland Barons jerseys and the 72-73 Atlanta Flames jerseys. As always there's Fake or Authentic, Throwback Throwdown, and HJC Mailbag are in this episode as well.Music in this episode:"HJC Theme" Shawn Van de SandeCopyright HockeyJerseyConcepts.com"Discovery Hit" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"Bit Shift" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/"RetroFuture Nasty" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

In this week’s episode, we skate back to the National Hockey League’s 1967 “Great Expansion,” when the league ambitiously doubled in size from its “Original Six” to incorporate a half-dozen new franchises – including the seemingly most obvious and overdue market of all: the hockey-mad state of Minnesota and its cultural epicenter, Minneapolis-St.Paul.  With a skilled management team led by amateur hockey pioneer Walter Bush, the Minnesota North Stars fielded a team-minded and quickly respectable squad of NHL journeymen, castoffs and amateurs that immediately won the hearts of the hometown Met Center faithful.  By the mid-1970s, however, the North Stars had fallen on hard times, with perennially poor records and few playoff berths – until 1978, when, in an unprecedented arrangement, Cleveland Barons (née California Golden Seals) franchise owner-brothers Gordon and George Gund acquired the team and merged them.  Bolstered by an immediate influx of quality Barons like goaltender Gilles Meloche and forwards Al MacAdam and Mike Fidler – plus savvy acquisitions and draft picks like eventual Calder Cup-winning forward Bobby Smith, 1980 US Olympian (and Minnesota native) Neal Broten, and future Hall of Famer Dino Ciccarelli – the North Stars reeled off five straight winning seasons and reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 1980-81. Author Adam Raider (Frozen in Time: A Minnesota North Stars History) joins the show to recount the club’s rise to championship contention, and subsequent relapse in the later 1980s/early 1990s – that ultimately saw: the Gunds trade for rights to a San Jose expansion franchise; Calgary Flames owner Norman Green opportunistically swap his interests for the North Stars; and, despite the addition of Mike Modano and a 1991 Stanley Cup Finals run, Green achieve villainy status (“Norm Sucks!”) by moving the team to Dallas in 1993. If you are a fan of today’s NHL Minnesota Wild, Dallas Stars or even San Jose Sharks, the story of the North Stars is an important part of your hockey education! Please support the show by frequenting our friends at SportsHistoryCollectibles.com, Audible and Podfly!

There was a time when scoring 60 goals in a season in the NHL was rare. Dennis Maruk was one of the first to do it when scored 60 for the Washington Capitals in the 1981-82 season. And that came after scoring 50 the previous year! Yet, Dennis played in relative obscurity as he was a center for the California Golden Seals, the Cleveland Barons and the Minnesota North Stars – all teams that no longer exist! But his trade to a then awful Washington Capitals team was a blessing and helped turn Dennis Maruk from a good player into one the league’s most feared snipers. His just released book, “Dennis Maruk, The Unforgettable Story of Hockey’s Forgotten 60-Goal Man,” is a terrific book, very fun to read. And on this episode of Sports’ Forgotten Heroes, Dennis Maruk joins the podcast to take a look back on his career and talk about his book. Links: Sports' Forgotten Heroes website Sports' Forgotten Heroes Patreon Page Sports' Forgotten Heroes twitter ©2017 Sports' Forgotten Heroes

Ice hockey makes its long-awaited return to the podcast, as host Tim Hanlon revisits the legendarily forlorn California Golden Seals franchise of the late 1960s/early 1970s National Hockey League, with author Steve Currier (The California Golden Seals: A Tale of White Skates, Red Ink, and One of the NHL’s Most Outlandish Teams).   Part of the NHL’s “Great Expansion” of 1967, the Seals never posted a winning record in any of its 11 years of existence (including its last two seasons as the Cleveland Barons), and consistently finished dead last in league attendance despite playing in a then-state-of-the-art  Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena.  Currier recounts: a revolving door of promising players (though not future Hall of Fame legend Guy Lafleur, who might have become a Seal, if not for a previously traded first-round draft pick); hapless owners (from millionaire socialite Barry Van Gerbig, to flamboyant baseball disruptor Charlie Finley, to hotel magnate Mel Swig, to [eventually] the NHL itself); and outlandish marketing decisions (including mid-season name changes, garish green and gold uniforms and scuff-prone white skates,  live seals on ice, and currying favor with a supposedly influential Bay Area barber community) – all of which made the Seals franchise one of the most idiosyncratic footnotes in modern-day hockey and pro sports history. Thanks Podfly and Audible supporting this episode!

Available for immediate purchase at Amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com/Clevelands-Finest-Vince-McKee/dp/1492973750/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381762480&sr=1-1&keywords=Vince+McKeeBook summary - This book highlights the best moments, players, and media members in Cleveland sports history. It has in-depth, extremely personal interviews with some of the top names in Cleveland sports. Each interview is a no-holds-barred tell-all of the most intimate and sometimes controversial details of the largest impact moments in our town's sports history. This is the first book written from the player's point of view, mixed in with the media that covered it, and the fans that watched. This book will change the way the entire sports nation looks at Cleveland. Finally, the true stories are told!Chapter highlightsChapter 1 Golden Years - 80 year old fan Joe DeLuca talks about what it was like to be apart of the 1945 Cleveland Rams championship game, then the Cleveland Browns championships 46 - 64. Also goes in depth about the Cleveland Barons and their 9 Calder cups along with the 1948 Cleveland Indians World SeriesChapter 2 The Miracle - Joe Tait goes into detail about every dramatic moment of the Miracle of Richfield TeamChapter 3 Super Joe - Joe Charboneau goes into detail about what is what like growing up with a single mother, how his brother had to raise him and taught him about weight training. He goes into detail about his one magical year, the heartbreak of the injury and the struggles he has faced since. Some brutal honesty in this chapter.Chapter 4 Perfection - Len Barker goes into detail about his career, his perfect night, how he was almost late to the game and why the strike screwed everything up.Chapter 5 Team Ball - Larry Nance discussed why he was upset to come to Cleveland in a trade, but then how quickly he fell in love with his teammates and fans. Craig Ehlo describes his early years in the league, then gives a second by second breakdown of "The Shot". finally he reveals what MJ said to his son years later.Chapter 6 The Jake - GM John Hart, Mike Hargrove and Carlos Baerga discuss the rebuilding process and why that first year at "the Jake" was crucial. What did they think about the strike?Chapter 7 Play Ball - Carlos Baerga goes into detail and breaks down their approach in beating Randy Johnson in the dramatic ALCS. John Hart breaks down why he starting crying after they won the pennant. Mike Hargrove calls Kevin Kennedy a "chicken s#$%", and what he told the team in his pre game speech before the clincher.Chapter 8 So Close - Chapter starts off with Baerga and John Hart discussing the trade that stunned Cleveland. Hargrove goes into detail about the trade that sent Lofton away and brought in Justice and Grissom. Also, very dramatic game by game breakdown of the 1997 playoffs. Hargrove tells us why he chose to go with Wright in game 5 of the ALDS against the Yankees and game 7 of World Series against the Marlins. Also, talks about Armando Benetiz tipping his pitches. Complete with Hargrove talking about Bip Roberts asking to come out of the starting lineup before game 7, also what they told Mesa to throw in game 7 ninth inning. The heartbreak of losing the world series. What did Dick Jacobs say to the team after the epic loss?Chapter 9 The Crunch - They were a cult favorite and Hector Marinaro, Otto Orf, Zoran Karic and Bruce Miller tell you why.Chapter 10 The LeBron Era - A complete breakdown of the 2006 and 2007 playoff runs. Complete with key insight from Fred McLeod.Chapter 11 Chico - The dynasty of St. Ignatuis Football through the eyes of Ed DaughteryChapter 12 - In the Booth - The media discussed the passion of Cleveland Sports MediaAbout the AuthorVince McKee grew up in northeast Ohio as an avid Cleveland sports fan. Vince currently meets with the public to further spread the message of "Hero" whenever he can. When he is not writing or public speaking, he enjoys spending time with his wife Emily, and daughter Maggie. Vince is always willing to speak with fans and can be reached at coachvin14@yahoo.com and @VinceTheAuthor.