While the NHL will celebrate its centennial anniversary this coming year, the 2016-17 season also will mark another historic moment in league history — the arrival of the “second six.”
For the 1967-68 season, the NHL added six new franchises, not only doubling the league at that point, but also marking the largest expansion ever taken at one time by a pro sports league.
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Hall of Fame member Bernie Parent (right) joined a longtime Philadelphia Flyers season-ticket holder to reveal the logo the team will use during its 50th anniversary season.
Photo by: Getty Images |
That year, the California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues all joined the NHL. The four teams still active began celebrating their 50th anniversary last season, with unveilings of special anniversary logos on Feb. 9, the day the teams were initially announced. They plan to celebrate even further across the upcoming season.
Each team will feature the special logos on jersey patches, as well as in-arena and on special merchandise. The teams also plan to host a variety of alumni and legends nights throughout the season, bringing back players from various decades.
The Los Angeles Kings plan a special anniversary, opening weekend celebration around the team’s home opener on Oct. 14, including a reunion of the original 1967-68 Kings, and will wear their original gold jerseys for the only time this season. The team will honor team legends across multiple game nights, and will unveil a new monument outside Staples Center to honor the team’s 50 years. The Kings will also wear a special jersey for all Saturday games. The anniversary celebration will culminate during the 2017 All-Star Game, which will be hosted at Staples Center on Jan. 29.
Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and St. Louis will be marking their anniversaries with big games as well, with the Penguins hosting the Flyers at Heinz Field for a Stadium Series game on Feb. 25, while the Blues will host the Chicago Blackhawks at the Winter Classic at Busch Stadium on Jan. 2.
The Flyers and Penguins also will honor their anniversaries — as well as their rivalry — with a special alumni game that will take place at the Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 14. In addition, the Flyers will have a special 50th anniversary jersey that features gold lettering.
