Los Angeles Sharks
Sharks/ Stags/ Blades-in-brief
- Home Ice: Los Angeles Sports Arena (14,700) 1972-74, Long
Beach Sports Arena (11,325) 1972-74, Cobo Arena (10,200) 1974-75,
Baltimore Arena (11,000) 1975
- Colors: Red, White, and Black
The Los Angeles Sharks of
the World Hockey
Association, were one of the WHA's least successful teams. The idea
was to put teams in all three major media markets, Chicago, New York,
and Los Angeles. No thought was given to the fact that the two
NHL entries on the California Coast, Oakland and
Los Angeles,
were struggling. The idea was exposure. Originally, the Los Angeles
Aces were to be the designated rival of the San Francisco SeaHawks to the
north. However, financing for the San Francisco SeaHawks franchise fell through,
and that club was transferred to Quebec where they became the Nordiques.
So, Los Angeles adopted the Sharks nickname, and went about finding
players and a coach for the 1972-73 season. After naming Terry Slater as
coach, they went about signing players. None of the "big names" that Los
Angeles wanted could be had, so the Sharks ended up with a collection of
unknowns. Playing at the Los Angeles Sports arena, former home of the
Kings, they played better-than-expected hockey, drawing about 6000 for
their games, sometimes hitting 12,000. The most notable thing about
1972-73 for the Sharks was that they were the only club in hockey AT ANY
LEVEL that had a winning record that year, but a losing home record.
The club had high expectations for 1973-74, but things soon
collapsed. Although they had a legitimate scoring threat in the form of
Marc Tardif, a horrible defense helped the Sharks to a last place finish
in the Western Division. Attendance sagged as the Kings were becoming
competitive. Late in the season, the Sharks were sold to Detroit interests.
Michigan Stags
For 1974-75, the now renamed and relocated Michigan Stags began
play at Cobo Arena in Detroit. The idea was to offer the club as an
alternative to Red Wings Fans. However, the team had overextended itself
in player contracts, leaving no money for advertising. Crowds of less
than 2000 were evident on most nights, and the WHA's schedule maker had
helped the problem by booking Gordie Howe and the Houston Aeros into Cobo Arena in February. The
opportunity for Red Wings fans to see Howe play was scuttled when the
Stags folded on January 18, 1975, playing their last game that day in
Cleveland, losing 2-1 to the Crusaders.
Baltimore Blades
The WHA, not wanting to see a franchise fold in midseason, formed
the Baltimore Blades to play out the Stags' schedule. Although the team did mount an advertising campaign, few people showed up. Atrocious
attendance and few victories spelled doom for the Blades. Although
there was a planned move to Seattle, it never materialized, and the
Blades folded in late May 1975. A dispersal draft was held in June.
Sharks/Stags/Blades year-by-year
Year W L T pts. Finish Playoffs
1972-73 37 35 6 80 3rd Western Lost to Houston 2-4
1973-74 25 53 0 50 6th Western None
1974-75 21 53 4 46 6th Western None
Information on this page is from The Complete Historical
and Statistical Reference to the World Hockey Association
1972-1979; by Scott Adam Surgent.