1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 99 Bill Goldsworthy Hockey Card (Front)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee 99 Bill Goldsworthy Hockey Card (Back)
1977-78 O-Pee-Chee NHL Checklist
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Card Notes
Has powerful stride and booming shot. Bill scored the first goal in the history of the Met Center.
En Français
Son lancer est redoutable. Bill marqua le premier but dans l’histoire du Centre Met.
Details
Bravo, O-Pee-Chee! The fact on the back about Bill Goldsworthy scoring the first ever goal at the Met Center is absolutely correct. The Metropolitan Sports Center opened in Bloomington, Minnesota on the night of October 21, 1967. The North Stars had started their inaugural 1967-68 NHL season with four road games.
The Stars hosted the California Golden Seals and the team was unkind to Seals goalie Charlie Hodge, pounding him with 53 shots. Cesare Maniago was much less busy at the other end of the ice, turning away 21 of 22 shots.
At 8:23 of the first period, Goldsworthy scored his second goal of the season, assisted by Andre Boudrias and Dave Balon, making it 1-0. The Stars moved on to win the game 3-1. It was the franchise’s first win after starting the season with two losses and two ties.
Bill came to the North Stars via the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He’d been used sparingly by the Boston Bruins, playing in 33 games over three seasons. Minnesota made him their 11th pick in the draft, 62nd overall.
This 1977-78 O-Pee-Chee hockey card would be the end of the line for Bill. He appeared in just seven games for the Rangers before making a stab at the WHA. He appeared in 49 games over two seasons in the Rebel League with the Indianapolis Racers and Edmonton Oilers before calling it a career.
Between 1964-65 and 1977-78, Bill Goldsworthy appeared in 771 regular season and 40 playoff games in the National Hockey League with the Bruins, North Stars and Rangers. He had a career year in 1973-74, scoring 48 goals, placing him fifth in the NHL, 20 behind leader Phil Esposito.