| Los Angeles Sharks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Los Angeles,California |
| League | World Hockey Association (WHA) |
| Operated | 1972–1974 |
| Home arena | L.A. Sports Arena Long Beach Sports Arena |
| Colors | Red, black |
| Media | KTTV KNX |
| Franchise history | |
| 1972–1974 | Los Angeles Sharks |
| 1974–1975 (to 18 January) | Michigan Stags |
| 1975 (remainder of season) | Baltimore Blades |
TheLos Angeles Sharks were anice hockey team that played in theWorld Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 to 1974. Their primary home arena was theLos Angeles Memorial Sports Arena but they sometimes played at theLong Beach Sports Arena when the Sports Arena had other contractual obligations. After the 1973–74 season, the franchise moved toDetroit to become theMichigan Stags and again mid-season toBaltimore to become theBaltimore Blades.
The franchise was originally meant to be called theLos Angeles Aces, but took the "Sharks" name after the proposedSan Francisco Sharks franchise (not to be confused with the current NHLSan Jose Sharks) was transferred to Quebec and became the Nordiques before the WHA began play. They kept the original colors from the name Aces; red and black being the colors of the suits in a deck of cards.
The Sharks' first season was moderately successful on and off the ice as they finished 3rd in the Western Division (losing in the first round of the playoffs to theHouston Aeros in six games) and attendance was respectable.Gary Veneruzzo led the team with 43 goals, although nobody else had more than 20. The Sharks made up for lack of offensive depth with solid defense and goaltending as they allowed the 3rd fewest goals in the league. The Sharks were also a physical team and led the WHA in penalty minutes. However, their penalty killing was among the league's best.
The Sharks could not capitalize on their successful first season and sank to last place in their second year. They had the league's worst record, scored the fewest goals, and allowed the second most goals. This drop off coincided with a resurgence across town by the NHL'sLos Angeles Kings, who qualified for the playoffs in the 1973–74 season for the first time in five years. Thus, attendance dropped considerably, and after season's end it was announced that the Sharks would relocate to Detroit and become theMichigan Stags. The 1973–74 Sharks are notable for one thing - they were the first team (NHL or WHA) to go an entire season without playing a single tie game. (Note that WHA rules provided for a 10-minute sudden death overtime; if no team scored after 10 minutes, the game was a tie. This resulted in much fewer tie games than in the NHL but even so, the Sharks were the only team to go an entire season with 0 ties).
The last active Sharks player in major professional hockey wasMarc Tardif who retired after the1982–83 NHL season. The last active former Shark wasKirk Bowman who played in Switzerland until 1988.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1972–73 | 78 | 37 | 35 | 6 | 80 | 259 | 250 | 1477 | 3rd, Western | Lost Quarterfinals 4–2 (Aeros) |
| 1973–74 | 78 | 25 | 53 | 0 | 50 | 239 | 339 | 1086 | 6th, Western | Did not qualify |
| Totals | 156 | 62 | 88 | 6 | 130 | 498 | 589 | 2563 |
Three years after the WHA Sharks left for Michigan, founding ownerDennis Murphy along with Walt Marlow (and later James Browitt), created theLong Beach Sharks[1] to play in the Long Beach Sports Arena (former home of the Los Angeles Sharks) in the newPacific Hockey League, a west coast based minor professional hockey league in 1977. The Sharks even revived the uniforms and logo worn by their WHA predecessors. The Sharks would finish in fourth and last place with a 15-27-0 record. For the second season of the league in 1978/79, the Sharks moved into the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena and were renamed theLos Angeles Blades before folding mid season.[2]