Cleveland Barons (2001-2006)
Encyclopedia
The Cleveland Barons was a professional hockey
team in the American Hockey League
. They played in Cleveland, Ohio
, USA at the Gund Arena
between 2001 and 2006.
The team was named in honor of the popular Barons team that played in the AHL and its forerunners from 1929 to 1973. The Barons name was revived
in 2001 when the San Jose Sharks
purchased their AHL affiliate, the Kentucky Thoroughblades
, and relocated them to Cleveland, where they would play at the arena which was owned and operated by Sharks owners George and Gordon Gund
. The Gunds had also owned the most recent incarnation of the Barons, who played in the NHL in the late 1970s (the Barons merged with the Minnesota North Stars
in 1978, and the Sharks spun off from the North Stars in 1991).
The franchise relocated to Worcester, Massachusetts
for the 2006–07 season and became the Worcester Sharks
. Dan Gilbert, the owner of the NBA
Cleveland Cavaliers
, purchased the inactive Utah Grizzlies AHL franchise and moved it to Cleveland. Renamed the Lake Erie Monsters
, the club began play in Cleveland in 2007.
The team logo, a shark
holding a hockey stick, was originally designed as an alternate logo for the San Jose Sharks before being modified with a top hat, a monocle, and formal wear for the Barons.http://www.terrysmithcreations.com/
This market is now the home to:
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
. They played in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, USA at the Gund Arena
Quicken Loans Arena
Quicken Loans Arena , is a multi-purpose arena, in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States....
between 2001 and 2006.
The team was named in honor of the popular Barons team that played in the AHL and its forerunners from 1929 to 1973. The Barons name was revived
Revival (sports team)
In sports, a revival of a sports team is the naming of a new franchise or club in a sports league after a defunct franchise or club in a possibly defunct league.Sports teams names or nicknames are copyrighted in North America and elsewhere...
in 2001 when the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
purchased their AHL affiliate, the Kentucky Thoroughblades
Kentucky Thoroughblades
The Kentucky Thoroughblades were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, who existed from 1996 to 2001. The Thoroughblades were based in Lexington, Kentucky, playing home games at Rupp Arena...
, and relocated them to Cleveland, where they would play at the arena which was owned and operated by Sharks owners George and Gordon Gund
Gordon Gund
Gordon Gund is an United States businessman and professional sports owner. He is the CEO of Gund Investment Corporation. He is the former co-owner of the San Jose Sharks and former principal owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and is currently a minority owner of the Cavaliers...
. The Gunds had also owned the most recent incarnation of the Barons, who played in the NHL in the late 1970s (the Barons merged with the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
in 1978, and the Sharks spun off from the North Stars in 1991).
The franchise relocated to Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
for the 2006–07 season and became the Worcester Sharks
Worcester Sharks
The Worcester Sharks are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . The franchise is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and play their home games at the DCU Center in Downtown Worcester. The Sharks and the city of Worcester hosted the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic.-History:On...
. Dan Gilbert, the owner of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, purchased the inactive Utah Grizzlies AHL franchise and moved it to Cleveland. Renamed the Lake Erie Monsters
Lake Erie Monsters
The Lake Erie Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They began play in the 2007–08 AHL season at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio...
, the club began play in Cleveland in 2007.
The team logo, a shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
holding a hockey stick, was originally designed as an alternate logo for the San Jose Sharks before being modified with a top hat, a monocle, and formal wear for the Barons.http://www.terrysmithcreations.com/
History
This market was previously served by:- Cleveland IndiansCleveland Indians (ice hockey)The Cleveland Indians was a professional ice hockey team in Cleveland, Ohio, that played home games in the Elysium Arena. In 1929, the Kitchener Dutchmen International Hockey League franchise was transferred to Cleveland. In the summer of 1934, the team was renamed the Cleveland Falcons....
/FalconsCleveland FalconsThe Cleveland Falcons were a professional ice hockey team in Cleveland, Ohio, that played home games in the Elysium Arena. The team was founded in 1929, as the Cleveland Indians as a member of the International Hockey League, where they played for five seasons, then reamed the Falcons...
/Barons (1929–1973) IHL/IAHL/AHLAmerican Hockey LeagueThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
- Cleveland CrusadersCleveland CrusadersThe Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland, Ohio. The Crusaders were founded by Nick Mileti, and played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1976...
(1972–1976) WHAWorld Hockey AssociationThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926... - Cleveland Barons (NHL)Cleveland Barons (NHL)The Cleveland Barons were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1976–78. They were a relocation of the California Golden Seals franchise, which had played in Oakland since 1967...
(1976–1978) - Cleveland LumberjacksCleveland LumberjacksThe Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Facts:The Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League team based in Cleveland, Ohio.-Facts:...
(1992–2001) IHL
This market is now the home to:
- Lake Erie MonstersLake Erie MonstersThe Lake Erie Monsters are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They began play in the 2007–08 AHL season at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio...
(2007–present)
Regular season
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals for | Goals against | Standing | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion... |
80 | 29 | 40 | 7 | 4 | — | 69 | 223 | 268 | 4th, Central | 3,226 |
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
80 | 22 | 48 | 5 | 5 | — | 54 | 203 | 286 | 5th, Central | 3,561 |
| 2003–04 2003–04 AHL season The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer.... |
80 | 37 | 28 | 8 | 7 | — | 89 | 235 | 220 | 4th, North | 4,212 |
| 2004–05 2004–05 AHL season The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
80 | 35 | 37 | 6 | 2 | — | 78 | 200 | 226 | 7th, North | 4,178 |
| 2005–06 2005–06 AHL season The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals.... |
80 | 27 | 48 | — | 2 | 3 | 59 | 210 | 302 | 7th, North | 3,548 |
Playoffs
| Season | Prelim | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 2001–02 AHL season The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion... |
Out of Playoffs | ||||
| 2002–03 2002–03 AHL season The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season... |
Out of Playoffs | ||||
| 2003–04 2003–04 AHL season The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer.... |
W, 2–1, Toronto Toronto Roadrunners The Toronto Roadrunners were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at the Ricoh Coliseum. In their only season the Roadrunners featured players such as Jani Rita, Jamie Wright and Steve Valiquette who helped them advance to the AHL playoffs where... |
L, 2–4, Hamilton Hamilton Bulldogs The Hamilton Bulldogs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at Copps Coliseum, nicknamed 'The Dog Pound'. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens... |
— | — | — |
| 2004–05 2004–05 AHL season The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
Out of Playoffs | ||||
| 2005–06 2005–06 AHL season The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals.... |
Out of Playoffs | ||||
Single Season
- Goals: 35 Mike CraigMike CraigMichael Craig is a professional hockey player. He currently plays right wing for the EC VSV in the Austrian Hockey League...
(2001–02), Miroslav ZalesakMiroslav ZálešákMiroslav Zálešák is a Slovak ice hockey player who currently plays for the HC Košice of the Slovak Extraliga.Zálešák was drafted 104th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He has played 12 career NHL games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points. His only NHL goal was...
(2003–04) - Assists: 48 Jeff Nelson (2002–03)
- Points: 75 Miroslav Zalesak (2003–04)
- Points, Defenseman: 46 Garrett StaffordGarrett StaffordGarrett Stafford is a professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a part of the Montreal Canadiens organization.-Playing career:...
(2003-04) - Penalty Minutes: 335 Matt CarknerMatt CarknerMatthew Carkner is a Canadian is a professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League...
(2001–02) - Wins: 19 Vesa ToskalaVesa ToskalaVesa Tapani Toskala is a professional ice hockey goaltender, currently playing for Ilves.-Early career:Toskala was selected by San Jose in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft . The Sharks also took fellow Finn Miikka Kiprusoff in the fifth round...
(2001-02) - GAA: 2.34 Nolan SchaeferNolan SchaeferNolan Schaefer is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for HC Ambrì-Piotta of the Swiss National League A.-Playing career:...
(2003–04) - SV%: .925 Seamus KotykSeamus KotykSeamus Kotyk is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. He has played professionally for the Cleveland Barons, Milwaukee Admirals and Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League . He also played for the HC TWK Innsbruck team in the Austrian Hockey League professional ice hockey league...
(2003–04), Nolan Schaefer (2003–04)
Career
- Career Goals: 84 Miroslav Zalesak
- Career Assists: 117 Patrick Rissmiller
- Career Points: 181 Patrick Rissmiller
- Career Penalty Minutes: 948 Matt Carkner
- Career Goaltending Wins: 34 Vesa Toskala
- Career Shutouts: 7 Nolan Schaefer
- Career Games: 315 Matt Carkner