The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Penguins were one of the first expansion teams in the NHL, beginning play in the 1967-68 season as part of the league’s original expansion from 6 teams to 12. This makes the 1967-68 season the inaugural season for the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise.
Expansion of the NHL
The NHL operated as a 6 team league from 1942 until 1967. The Original Six era, as it came to be known, consisted of the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. However, by the mid 1960s, the league was looking to expand. The rise of professional football, baseball, and basketball leagues in the United States and Canada convinced NHL executives that a broader national footprint could increase profitability. Additionally, the threat posed by the Western Hockey League convinced the NHL that expansion could help limit competition for talent.
In 1965, the NHL announced that 6 new franchises would begin play in 1967-68. The new expansion franchises were the Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Oakland Seals, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues. This represented a doubling in the size of the league from the Original Six era. The expansion draft was held in June 1967, allowing the new teams to stock their rosters by selecting players from existing clubs.
Pittsburgh Joins the NHL
Pittsburgh was one of the cities selected for an expansion franchise. The Pittsburgh Penguins officially entered the NHL for the 1967-68 season as part of the “Next Six” expansion clubs. Pittsburgh was a natural choice for an expansion city due to its reputation as a major center for youth and amateur hockey, stemming from the region’s cold winters that allowed for outdoor skating. Additionally, the Civic Arena provided NHL-quality facilities.
The process of establishing the Penguins began in 1965, when Jack McGregor, a state senator, led an ownership group that secured an expansion franchise. The team was named the Penguins in a fan contest, playing off Pittsburgh’s nickname as the “City of Bridges.” The Penguin was ultimately chosen for its alliteration with Pittsburgh and its natural connection to ice and winter sports. Other team names considered included the Hornets, Railers, and Pisces.
The Penguins’ Inaugural 1967-68 Season
The 1967 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 6, 1967. Each existing NHL team had to make available at least 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders to stock the new expansion franchises. The Penguins used their picks to select an initial roster of familiar names along with career minor leaguers. Some key selections included Andy Bathgate, Leo Boivin, Earl Ingarfield, Les Binkley, and Baz Bastien. Bathgate ended up serving as the team’s first captain.
Coaches and Management
The Penguins hired George “Red” Sullivan as the franchise’s first head coach. Sullivan had previously coached in Boston and New York. GM Jack Riley rounded out the initial Penguins’ front office.
The Roster
Here is a look at the players who suited up for the Penguins in their inaugural 1967-68 campaign:
Player | Position |
---|---|
Leo Boivin | Defense |
Ken Schinkel | Center |
Keith McCreary | Right Wing |
Les Binkley | Goalie |
Earl Ingarfield | Center |
Bryan Watson | Defense |
Baz Bastien | Defense |
Andy Bathgate | Right Wing |
Val Fonteyne | Left Wing |
Ab McDonald | Left Wing |
Additional players who saw time with the inaugural Penguins included Noel Price, Bill Sutherland, Billy Dea, George Konik, Al McDonough, Art Stratton, and Hank Bassen. The roster was a mix of NHL veterans, minor league players, and junior hockey graduates.
The Home Arena
The Penguins played home games at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, also known as “The Igloo” due to its unique domed design. The arena held 12,500 for hockey. It would serve as the Penguins home until 2010 when they moved into the Consol Energy Center (now PPG Paints Arena).
The Penguins’ First Game
The expansion Penguins played their first-ever regular season game on October 11, 1967 against the Montreal Canadiens at the Civic Arena. Andy Bathgate scored the first goal in Penguins history at 15:15 of the first period, though Pittsburgh ultimately lost the game 2-1. Les Binkley was excellent in net, making 42 saves in the defeat. The opening night crowd was 8,682 fans.
While the first game ended in a loss, the Penguins managed an early upset in their inaugural campaign, beating the Chicago Blackhawks 4-2 on October 21. Chicago had won the Stanley Cup in 1961 and would go on to take the championship again in 1967-68. The victory provided evidence that the expansion Penguins could compete with the established “Original Six” clubs.
The Inaugural Season Record
The Penguins completed their first NHL regular season with a record of 27-34-13, compiling 67 points. This placed them second in the Western Division among the six expansion clubs, only one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers. The Los Angeles Kings finished last in the West with just 42 points.
Individually, Andy Bathgate led the team with 59 points on 18 goals and 41 assists. Ken Schinkel paced the club with 24 goals. Les Binkley saw the majority of action in goal, recording a team-high 10 wins with a 3.46 goals against average.
While the inaugural campaign was modestly successful, the Penguins were unable to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs in their first season. At that time, only 4 teams from the 12 club league made the postseason. The East Division was represented by Montreal and New York, while Philadelphia and St. Louis made it from the West.
The Penguins’ expansion counterparts found limited success in 1967-68. No club won more than 26 games. Pittsburgh finished with the third highest point total among the six new teams.
The First Season’s Significance
While the on-ice product was understandably imperfect, the 1967-68 season represented an important milestone for the city of Pittsburgh and the National Hockey League. It marked the first time that the “City of Champions” was represented in the NHL. Pittsburgh was part of the league’s ambitious plan to expand nationally into cities rich with hockey history and youth talent.
The inauguration of the Penguins also proved timely, as Mario Lemieux would be drafted by the club with the first overall pick in 1984. Lemieux led Pittsburgh to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, cementing hockey’s popularity in the region. Since that first season in 1967-68, the Penguins have become an iconic NHL franchise, making the playoffs 33 times over 51 seasons. They have the 4th highest points percentage in NHL history.
Conclusion
The Pittsburgh Penguins began play during the 1967-68 NHL season as part of the league’s landmark expansion to 12 teams. Selecting players through the expansion draft, notable skaters like Andy Bathgate, Les Binkley, Leo Boivin, and Ken Schinkel became the new faces of major league hockey in Pittsburgh. Coached by Red Sullivan and backstopped by goaltender Binkley, the Penguins compiled a competitive 27-34-13 record in their inaugural campaign. The first Penguins team introduced the city of Pittsburgh to top-tier NHL hockey, paving the way for 51 seasons and counting of puck action at the Civic/Mellon Arena and now PPG Paints Arena. Though the club missed the playoffs in year one, later decades brought championships and superstars to the Penguins franchise. When the puck dropped on October 11, 1967 against Montreal, it marked a historic new chapter for the city and the league.