San Diego Mariners

The San Diego Mariners were an ice hockey team from San Diego, California from 1974 to 1977 in the North American World Hockey Association (WHA ) active. The team was originally founded in New York. Last stop before San Diego was New Jersey, where the team as Jersey Knights played.

History

Joseph Black had bought on January 3, 1974, the Jersey Knights, who were in possession of the WHA. After the end of the 1973/74 season, the team was relocated to San Diego. Here you had a hall, which offered 13,039 spectators with the San Diego Sports Arena. As a San Diego Mariners, they started in the 1974/75 season. After many years of uncertainty in New York, the team benefited from the now quiet environment. André Lacroix, who was top scorer of the team before moving to California, led the scorers list of the WHA with 147 points. In the Western Division they finished behind last year's champion, the Houston Aeros, the second place. In the playoffs, the team reached with a victory against the Toronto Toros the semi-finals, where Houston proved to be insurmountable opponent.

The 1975/76 season was not as good as the previous year. Above all, the very strong goalie Ernie Wakely it was thanks to them that we qualified for the playoffs again. Once again, the Mariners reached the semi-finals and Houston was again the last stop. During the season, overtook the owner, Joseph Black, bankruptcy. The team was temporarily without an owner and also the salary payments were made ​​. The crisis came to an end when Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's, who also owned the San Diego Padres, bought the team.

Once again peace had returned to the club, the 1976/77 season was again successfully contested. Lacroix was back under the Topscorern and Wakely gave the team the necessary support. As is usual for the third year in San Diego in the playoffs. This time they lost already in the first round just in seven games against the Winnipeg Jets.

An average attendance of over 6,000 spectators, who had been constantly achieved in the last three years, Kroc was not enough. He wanted to sell his franchise in the summer of 1977. A group that had taken over the team, Melbourne wanted in the State of Florida as a new location. When this failed, the franchise in the summer of 1977 was dissolved.

Team Records

Known player

  • André Lacroix
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