The Birth of the San Jose Sharks

[00:00:00] On October 4th, 1991, the Vancouver Canucks defeated the San Jose Sharks 4-3

[00:00:06] And despite it being a relatively close game, the game itself did not stand out

[00:00:12] Besides the fact that it was the San Jose Sharks' very first game

[00:00:16] Giving San Jose their very first team

[00:00:18] And the first team in North America to be named after a shark

[00:00:22] And had a lot of unique things going for it

[00:00:25] Making it one of the most popular teams in the NHL today

[00:00:28] We're going to dive into how they started today on Daily Sports History

[00:00:34] Welcome to Daily Sports History

[00:00:40] I'm Ethan Reese, your guide

[00:00:42] As we daily dive into sports history so you can increase your sports knowledge

[00:00:48] And today's trivia question is

[00:00:50] Why in the shark logo do they have a red triangle?

[00:00:56] Now even though the San Jose Sharks played their first game in 1991

[00:01:00] Their story goes back to the 1960s

[00:01:04] See professional hockey in the San Francisco, San Jose, Bay Area as they would call it

[00:01:10] Started with the Pacific Coast Hockey League that played from 1944 to 1950

[00:01:14] And they would later go on to change their name to the Western Hockey League

[00:01:19] And in 1961 they would actually award a franchise to San Francisco

[00:01:23] Known as the San Francisco Seals

[00:01:25] Who would be owned by former Vancouver Canucks owner Coleman Hall

[00:01:29] Under the condition that they would be able to put an ice rink

[00:01:33] In the Daly City Arena known as the Cow Palace

[00:01:38] One of the greatest names for an arena I have ever heard

[00:01:43] The Cow Palace actually opened in 1941

[00:01:47] And has been home to the NBA's warriors

[00:01:50] And actually hosted the 56 and 1964 Republican National Convention

[00:01:56] And it is called the Cow Palace because it was inspired by livestock pavilions

[00:02:01] That were popularized in the early 1900s

[00:02:04] And a newspaper called it

[00:02:06] A Palace for Cows

[00:02:07] And the name stuck

[00:02:09] And the San Francisco Seals would go on to change their name to the California Golden Seals in 1967

[00:02:14] When they joined the NHL

[00:02:16] Where they played until 1976

[00:02:17] And in 1974

[00:02:19] Gordon and George Gunn actually became minority owners of the team

[00:02:25] And were instrumental after this 1976 season

[00:02:28] To help move the team to Cleveland

[00:02:30] As they were struggling on the ice and in ticket sales

[00:02:34] So they moved to Cleveland

[00:02:36] And two years later they would actually merge with the Minnesota North Stars

[00:02:41] And the Minnesota North Stars actually struggled as well

[00:02:44] And so the Gunn brothers were actually trying to figure out a way to bring the Stars

[00:02:48] Back to the Bay Area

[00:02:50] Where they started with the Golden Seals

[00:02:52] And it was announced that they would start expanding in the late 1980s

[00:02:56] So the Gunn brothers their rights to the North Stars

[00:02:59] In order to be instrumental in bringing another team to the Bay Area

[00:03:03] And they would join Howard Baldwin

[00:03:05] The former owner of the Hartford Whalers

[00:03:08] And with these owners with experience in the league already

[00:03:11] It was a no-brainer for the league to allow a expansion team for them

[00:03:15] As they had so much experience

[00:03:16] And they had to pay $45 million for the expansion fee for the new team

[00:03:23] Which was approved on May 9, 1990

[00:03:26] As we've seen recently, naming a team is very hard

[00:03:31] Currently the NHL is moving their team from Phoenix up to Utah

[00:03:35] And Utah still hasn't thought of a name

[00:03:37] In the NFL they struggled for multiple years to change Washington's former name to the Commanders

[00:03:43] And they even played under just Washington team for a year

[00:03:47] So sometimes it becomes a very hard deal to name your team

[00:03:51] Because once you name your team you don't want to change it

[00:03:53] You've got to have that solid foundation

[00:03:55] And the actual first place winner through all the potential options was blades

[00:04:01] Which is in reference to the skates that the players wear

[00:04:05] But it's also a slang term for possible weapons

[00:04:08] Which obviously they did not want to be a part of

[00:04:11] So the runner-up option was sharks

[00:04:13] Which is in reference to sharks from the Pacific Ocean

[00:04:16] Where there are seven different varieties that live in or near the Bay Area

[00:04:20] Which is known as the Red Triangle due to its shark population

[00:04:24] Which if you look at the logo

[00:04:25] It has a triangle representing that very fact

[00:04:29] And the logo was actually very unique

[00:04:31] They actually hired a whole team to make the logo

[00:04:34] And it was a unique logo

[00:04:36] Because it doesn't actually have letters in the name

[00:04:39] It just shows a shark biting on to a hockey stick

[00:04:42] Where most of the logos we have today of sports teams

[00:04:45] Usually feature a letter from the city or team

[00:04:48] In some kind of unique font

[00:04:50] But this was a new unique logo

[00:04:52] That specified just for the sharks

[00:04:54] And because of that it actually was very popular

[00:04:58] In their first season

[00:04:59] Their jerseys were the number one selling jerseys

[00:05:02] Despite not having a lot of success on the ice

[00:05:04] Because they looked really cool

[00:05:07] And that's what people really liked about it

[00:05:09] Now because they were an expansion team

[00:05:12] They were actually able to be part of an expansion draft

[00:05:15] And the way an expansion draft works is

[00:05:17] Every team in the league saves certain players on their team

[00:05:21] They can't take

[00:05:22] But they leave a few players that are usually on the end of their roster

[00:05:25] That the expansion team can pick from

[00:05:28] This way they can fill out their team with some veterans

[00:05:31] And not only have rookies and free agents fill up their team

[00:05:35] You have players that have actually played in the league

[00:05:38] This has been successful for multiple teams

[00:05:40] And with their first pick they picked Pat Fellon

[00:05:43] Who was a journeyman player but played for nine seasons in the NHL

[00:05:47] And during the offseason they were able to acquire Doug Wilson

[00:05:50] Who was a 14 year veteran in the NHL

[00:05:53] And had previously played for the Chicago Blackhawks

[00:05:58] And had no trade clause but waived it

[00:06:00] In order to play for this new upstart team

[00:06:02] And became their captain

[00:06:04] And what's interesting is

[00:06:06] The Cow Palace was still there

[00:06:07] When the San Jose Sharks started their 1991 season

[00:06:11] And it was their home again

[00:06:13] Almost 30 years later

[00:06:15] As the team was still working on building a new stadium

[00:06:19] They went to the Cow Palace

[00:06:20] Which was a smaller venue

[00:06:22] But it made a unique intimate experience

[00:06:25] For multiple fans of the team

[00:06:27] Because it was such a smaller venue

[00:06:29] But it made it easier to fill up for the season

[00:06:32] So they could really have success

[00:06:34] And get a home advantage for their home games

[00:06:38] So on October 4th 1991

[00:06:41] The team was finally set

[00:06:42] And they came into that first game

[00:06:45] With Brian Howard being the goaltender

[00:06:47] As he had the most experience coming into the season

[00:06:50] But Jeff Hackett would end up taking over

[00:06:52] And play the most games on goalie that year

[00:06:55] Doug Wilson was the leader on the defensive side

[00:06:58] Starting alongside Neil Wilkins

[00:07:00] And the forwards were at center

[00:07:02] Kelly, Kaiso

[00:07:04] Who also was a team captain

[00:07:06] Craig, Coxie, and Pat Felon

[00:07:09] Who was their first draft pick

[00:07:10] Now Vancouver came out

[00:07:12] Scored first

[00:07:12] But before the end of the first period

[00:07:14] Greg Coxie scored the first goal

[00:07:17] In Sharks history

[00:07:19] The second period

[00:07:20] Went to the Canucks

[00:07:21] As they went up 3-1

[00:07:22] And they continued that into the third period

[00:07:23] Extending their lead 4-1

[00:07:25] But the Sharks fought back

[00:07:26] And scored two goals late in the third period

[00:07:28] Giving them a chance at a possible tie

[00:07:31] But unfortunately

[00:07:32] The game ended

[00:07:33] With the Canucks winning 4-3

[00:07:35] And sadly

[00:07:36] This was a theme

[00:07:37] Through most of their season

[00:07:39] As in the 80 games they played

[00:07:41] They only won 17 games

[00:07:43] And the next night

[00:07:44] On October 5th

[00:07:45] They played their first game

[00:07:47] At home

[00:07:47] At the Cow Palace

[00:07:49] Unfortunately

[00:07:49] They would also lose to Vancouver

[00:07:51] That day

[00:07:52] 5-2

[00:07:52] But in their third game

[00:07:54] On October 8th

[00:07:55] They won their very first game

[00:07:57] Over the Calgary Flames

[00:07:59] 4-3

[00:08:01] But despite this win

[00:08:02] They would go on a 13 game losing streak

[00:08:04] And struggle

[00:08:05] As throughout the season

[00:08:06] They would allow 10 goals in a game

[00:08:08] Three different times

[00:08:09] Including a club record

[00:08:10] 11 goals allowed

[00:08:12] Against the Detroit Red Wings

[00:08:14] And they would finish the season

[00:08:15] With 17 wins

[00:08:17] 58 losses

[00:08:18] And 5 ties

[00:08:19] Earning 39 points

[00:08:20] Finishing 6th

[00:08:21] In the Smythe Division

[00:08:22] And 35 points behind

[00:08:24] The next closest team

[00:08:26] The Calgary Flames

[00:08:27] But

[00:08:28] Their first round pick

[00:08:29] In the expansion draft

[00:08:30] Pat Fellin

[00:08:31] Led the team

[00:08:32] With 25 goals

[00:08:33] 34 assists

[00:08:34] And 59 points

[00:08:36] But despite this challenge

[00:08:37] They continued to be resilient

[00:08:39] And it only took them

[00:08:40] Two years

[00:08:41] Before they made their

[00:08:42] First playoff appearance

[00:08:42] In 1993

[00:08:43] Sadly

[00:08:44] It would take them much longer

[00:08:46] For them to reach

[00:08:46] The Stanley Cup Finals

[00:08:49] It was another

[00:08:49] 23 years

[00:08:51] In 2016

[00:08:52] When they made their

[00:08:53] Very first

[00:08:54] Finals appearance

[00:08:55] Facing off against

[00:08:56] The Pittsburgh Penguins

[00:08:57] In a losing effort

[00:08:58] But it was a great

[00:08:59] Historic run

[00:09:00] To the finals

[00:09:01] And during this year

[00:09:02] They averaged about

[00:09:03] 10,000 in attendance

[00:09:04] Which meant

[00:09:05] They almost filled out

[00:09:06] Every game

[00:09:07] At the Cal Palace

[00:09:08] Yes

[00:09:08] I keep saying the Cal Palace

[00:09:10] Because I love

[00:09:10] That stadium

[00:09:11] And though

[00:09:12] They have not won

[00:09:14] A Stanley Cup yet

[00:09:15] They've been a staple

[00:09:16] In the league

[00:09:16] Since they started

[00:09:17] They've won

[00:09:17] Six division titles

[00:09:19] Winning their first one

[00:09:20] In 2002

[00:09:21] And they're still

[00:09:22] Fighting for that

[00:09:23] Chance to raise

[00:09:24] The Stanley Cup

[00:09:25] And they've gotten

[00:09:25] Away from the Cal Palace

[00:09:27] And into their new stadium

[00:09:28] The SAP Center

[00:09:30] Where they've been able

[00:09:31] To have way more success

[00:09:33] And if you want to learn

[00:09:34] More about the Sharks

[00:09:35] Check out the podcast

[00:09:37] Fin Factor

[00:09:38] Where Paul

[00:09:39] Aaron

[00:09:40] And Jason

[00:09:41] Take you through

[00:09:41] Everything you need to know

[00:09:43] Every week

[00:09:44] About what's going on

[00:09:45] With the Sharks

[00:09:46] From news

[00:09:48] Trades

[00:09:48] Games

[00:09:49] They'll be there

[00:09:50] To give you

[00:09:50] All the information

[00:09:51] So you can become

[00:09:53] An even better

[00:09:54] Sharks fan

[00:09:55] And if you enjoyed

[00:09:57] Today's

[00:09:58] Daily Sports History

[00:09:59] Please

[00:09:59] Make sure you subscribe

[00:10:00] Wherever you're listening

[00:10:01] The best way you can

[00:10:02] Help us out

[00:10:03] Is by subscribing

[00:10:04] And listening every day

[00:10:05] And every time you do

[00:10:07] Know that I

[00:10:08] Truly appreciate it

[00:10:10] And we'll see you next week

[00:10:11] For more

[00:10:12] Daily Sports History

[00:10:14] In the answer to today's

[00:10:15] Trivia question

[00:10:16] Why in the Sharks logo

[00:10:18] Do they have a red triangle

[00:10:20] It is because

[00:10:21] San Jose is located

[00:10:23] In the red triangle

[00:10:24] Which is known for

[00:10:25] How many sharks

[00:10:26] They have in the area

[00:10:27] And they incorporated

[00:10:28] The fact of sharks

[00:10:29] Into their logo

[00:10:31] Go