Los Angeles Sharks (WHA) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Aces

The Sharks were originally the Los Angeles Aces as there was to be a WHA team called the San Francisco Sharks. But, when the San Francisco ownership group ran out of money, that franchise was then awarded to Quebec, where they became the Nordiques. Los Angeles then took the name Sharks.

Answer: Red, black, and white

The colors were red, black, and white, featuring black pants and either a red or white jersey with black trim, and a menacing black shark logo.

Answer: Marc Tardif

Tardif was a rising star with the Montreal Canadiens, scoring 31 goals in only his 2nd season with them. Hull signed with the Winnipeg Jets, Sanderson with the Philadelphia Blazers, and Bernier with the Quebec Nordiques.

Answer: Los Angeles Sports Arena

While they played a few home games at the Long Beach Arena during the 1972-73 and 1973-74 seasons, the Los Angeles Sports Arena was their primary home. The NHLs Kings played at the Forum, and Staples Center was not opened until 1999.

Answer: Russ Gillow

Gillow was a career minor leaguer who got his chance in the W.H.A. He spent much of the season as the Sharks #2 goalie, but his stellar play moved him ahead of George Gardner on the depth chart and Gillow became their #1 netminder for the last quarter of the season and the playoffs. Gary Edwards was the NHLs L.A. Kings backup goalie to Rogie Vachon from 1972-76, and Gerry Cheevers was not a rookie in 1972.

He was one of the more publicized players that jumped from the NHL to the WHA. Cheevers was a standout goaile with the Boston Bruins, jumped the the WHA's Cleveland Crusaders, and led the WHA is goals against average in 1972-73.

He returned to the Bruins after two years in the WHA.

Answer: Gary Veneruzzo

Veneruzzo tallied 43 goals and 30 assists for a team leading total of 73 points. Veneruzzo was a career minor leaguer who had played a total of 7 games in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues.

Answer: 3rd

In an exciting Western Division, the Sharks were 37-35-6 for 80 points, good for 3rd place in the West, trailing 2nd place Houston by 2 points and edging Minnesota and Alberta, who tied for 4th with 79 points.

Answer: Eliminated in the first round

In the first round, after taking a 2 games to 1 lead over the Houston Aeros with a thrilling 3-2 win in game 3, the Sharks lost 3 straight and dropped the series 4 games to 2.

Answer: 6th

With the worst offense and second worst defense in the league, the 1973-74 Sharks finished 6th (last) in the WHA Western Division with a record of 25-53-0. These Sharks were the first WHA team to go through an entire season with no ties. Note that the WHA had a 10 minute overtime period so most ties were broken.

Answer: Michigan Stags

The Sharks packed their bags for Detroit where they became the Michigan Stags. They did not fare much better there; financial difficulties and low attendance forced a mid season move to Baltimore where they became the Blades. After another last place finish in 1974-75, there was speculation that the team was going to move to Seattle; instead it folded and ceased operations.