The Tidewater Sharks were a minor league professional ice hockey team, based in

Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 cen ...

, and members of the Southern Hockey League from 1975 to 1977. The Sharks played home games at the

Norfolk Scope Norfolk Scope is a multi-function complex in Norfolk, Virginia, comprising an 11,000-person arena, a 2,500-person theater known as Chrysler Hall, a exhibition hall and a 600-car parking garage. The arena was designed by Italian architect/engin ...

, and shared the

Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water in the United States that serves as a wide channel for the James River, James, Nansemond River, Nansemond and Elizabeth River (Virginia), Elizabeth rivers between Old Point Comfort and Sewell's ...

area with the

Hampton Gulls The Hampton Gulls were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Hampton, Virginia, from 1974 to 1978 at the Hampton Coliseum. The Gulls played three seasons in the Southern Hockey League, beginning in 1974. When that league folded in 1 ...

. The ownership group led by Dick Davis, also operated the

Tidewater Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's location on the Chesapea ...

baseball team. The Sharks ceased operations in January on 1977, during the second season of play.

History

In the 1975–76 season, Tidewater was affiliated with the

Cleveland Crusaders The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1976. Their home ice was the Cleveland Arena from 1972 to 1974, and the Richfield Coliseum from 1974 to 1976. ...

, and the

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conf ...

. John Hanna was named the team's first coach, and the Sharks featured Scotland-born top scorer Bill Steele, but finished in fifth-place finish, and missed the playoffs. In the 1976–77 season, Tidewater was affiliated with the

Calgary Cowboys The Calgary Cowboys were an ice hockey team that played two seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1975–1977. The Cowboys played at the Stampede Corral in Calgary. The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles, ...

. Harold Schooley took over the coaching duties, and the team was in second place by early 1977. On January 7, the Tidewater Sharks folded after missing payroll, and the players refused to continue.

Notable players

Notable Sharks players that also played in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey sports league, league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranke ...

World Hockey Association The World Hockey Association (french: Association mondiale de hockey) was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (NHL) ...

: * Ron Anderson *

Yves Archambault Yves Archambault (born June 22, 1952, in Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Early life Archambault was born in Montreal. As a youth, he played in the 1965 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament w ...

Ron Ashton Ronald ("the Beast") Ashton (born May 8, 1954) is a former World Hockey Association, WHA Winger (ice hockey), left winger for the Winnipeg Jets (1972–96), Winnipeg Jets. In the World Hockey Association, he played 36 games and registering 1 go ...

Butch Barber Robert Ian "Butch" Barber (August 31, 1943 - December 12, 2019) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. In World Hockey Association play, Barber played 75 games with Chicago Cougars during the 1972–73 season, and 3 games with the ...

* Michel Boudreau *

Randy Burchell Randy Burchell (born July 2, 1955) is a Canadians, Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. During the 1976–77 WHA season, 1976–77 season Burchell played five games in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Indianapolis Racer ...

* Andre Deschamps *

Dave Given Dave Given (born May 14, 1954) is an American former professional ice hockey right winger. He played one game in the World Hockey Association for the Vancouver Blazers. He is an alumnus of Brown University. Given grew up in Chatham Township ...

Bruce Greig Bruce Greig (May 9, 1953 – May 24, 2008) was a Canadian professional ice hockey winger who played nine games for the California Golden Seals of the National Hockey League and 60 games for the Calgary Cowboys, Cincinnati Stingers and Indianapol ...

* Derek Haas *

Derek Harker Derek William Harker (January 7, 1951 – December 20, 2001) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. After three years in junior hockey with the Edmonton Oil Kings, he was selected by the St. Louis Blues in the fourth round (52nd ...

Steve Hull Steve Hull (born August 29, 1952) is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played 60 games in the World Hockey Association with the Calgary Cowboys during the 1975–76 and 1976–77 seasons. As a youth, he played in the 1964 and ...

* Larry Israelson * Mike Jakubo * Rick Jodzio * Ric Jordan * Joe Junkin * Dave Kryskow *

Rick Lalonde Rick Lalonde (born February 19, 1955) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the World Hockey Association (WHA). Lalonde played two games with the San Diego Mariners during the 1975–76 WHA season. He was drafted by ...

* Camille LaPierre * Doug Lindskog * Bernie Lukowich * Jim Mayer * Peter McNamee *

Eddie Mio Edward Dario Mio (born January 31, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Indianapolis Racers and Edmonton Oilers between 1977 and 1979, and in the National Hockey L ...

* George Pesut * Tom Serviss *

Claude St. Sauveur Claude St. Sauveur (born January 2, 1952) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played 285 games in the World Hockey Association and 79 games in the National Hockey League between 1972 and 1979. Early life St. Sauveur was bo ...

* Bill Steele * Jean Tetreault * Jim Watt

Results

Season-by-season results:

References

1975 establishments in Virginia 1977 disestablishments in Virginia Buffalo Sabres minor league affiliates Calgary Cowboys minor league affiliates Cleveland Crusaders minor league affiliates Ice hockey clubs established in 1975 Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1977 Ice hockey teams in Virginia Southern Hockey League (1973–1977) teams Sports in Norfolk, Virginia {{Virginia-sport-team-stub