San Jose Sharks History

The San Jose Sharks are located in San Jose,the 1991 season. They could take a specific number of
California. They are a pro ice hockey team in theplayers from the North Stars to start their new team.
Pacific Division of the NHL's Western Conference. TheThe North Stars would participate in an expansion
Sharks play their home games in the HP Pavilion atdraft with the new team.
San Jose.In May 1990, the Guns sold their portion of the North
San Jose had to go through a lot to get a hockeyStars. They were given their new team in San Jose.
team in the Bay Area. Many people do not considerThey received thousands of entries on what to name
Northern California to be a good hockey area inthe new team. The winner by mail was "Blades" but
America but that area once had two hockey teams.they didn't like the connotation of the word. The runner
After nine straight losing seasons and meagerup was "Sharks" and that's the name they chose.
attendance, the California Golden Seals were movedFrom 1991-1993, the Sharks played their home games
to Cleveland, OH and became the Barons.at the Cow Palace which is right outside of San
George and Gordon Gund had wanted for a while toFrancisco. Doug Wilson was named the Sharks' first
bring hockey back to the area but the NHL vetoed theAll-Star representative and captain. As with all new
move. Howard Baldwin and others also wanted tofranchises, the Sharks were one of the worst teams
bring a hockey franchise to the Bay Area where ain the NHL in their first few years. In the 1992-93
new arena was getting constructed. The NHL struck aseason, the team lost 71 times, which is an NHL record.
compromise. In the compromise, the Gunds wouldAlso, they had a 17-game losing streak during that time.
have to sell their share of the North Stars team toThey earned an unimpressive 24 points all year and
Baldwin's group, and the Gunds would receive anwon 11 games. Coach Kingston was fired after the
expansion team in the Bay Area and begin playing in1992-93 year.