American Hockey League Wiki
Cleveland Barons
Cleveland barons 200x200
City: Cleveland, Ohio
League: American Hockey League
Operated: 2001–2006
Home Arena: Quicken Loans Arena
Colors: teal and black
Affiliates: San Jose Sharks
Franchise history
1996–2001: Kentucky Thoroughblades
2001–2006: Cleveland Barons
2006–present: Worcester Sharks

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 in monocle and top hat, was originally designed as an alternate logo for the San Jose Sharks before being modified with formal wear for the Barons.

History[]

This market was previously served by:

  • Cleveland Crusaders (1972–76) WHA
  • Cleveland Barons (NHL) (1976–78)
  • Cleveland Lumberjacks (1992–2001) IHL

This market is now the home to:

Season-by-Season Results[]

Regular Season[]

Season Games Won Lost Tied OTL SOL Points Goals
For
Goals
Against
Standing
2001–02 80 29 40 7 4 69 223 268 4th, Central
2002–03 80 22 48 5 5 54 203 286 5th, Central
2003–04 80 37 28 8 7 89 235 220 4th, North
2004–05 80 35 37 6 2 78 200 226 7th, North
2005–06 80 27 48 2 3 59 210 302 7th, North

Playoffs[]

Season Prelim 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Finals
2001–02 Out of Playoffs
2002–03 Out of Playoffs
2003–04 W, 2–1, Toronto L, 2–4, Hamilton
2004–05 Out of Playoffs
2005–06 Out of Playoffs