Cleveland Barons - Definition and Overview

This article discusses the current and former American Hockey League teams. For the former National Hockey League team, see Oakland Seals.

The Cleveland Barons are a professional hockey team that plays in the American Hockey League from Cleveland, Ohio.

The original incarnation of the Barons played at the Cleveland Arena in the American Hockey League from 1937 to 1973. In that time they won 10 division titles and 9 Calder Cups, which is an unsurpassed AHL record. When the World Hockey Association (WHA) Cleveland Crusaders began play in 1973, it shrank the market for the Barons and caused their demise. The Barons could not compete wth the WHA practice of hiring ex-NHL players whose contracts had expired and consequently lost many fans. The owner, Nick Mileti, decided the team could not compete against the new Crusaders and moved the Barons to Jacksonville, Florida.

The Barons name was resurrected for a new American Hockey League team in 2001 by the San Jose Sharks as their farm team. They currently play at the Gund Arena in Cleveland.

External links

• Cleveland Barons Home Page (http://www.clevelandbarons.net/index.html)