San Jose Barracuda

Lore & Background

The San Jose Barracuda were established on January 29, 2015, when the San Jose Sharks announced the relocation of their AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks, to San Jose as one of five charter members of the AHL's new Pacific Division. The team initially played at the SAP Center at San Jose, sharing the arena with its parent club, a situation also seen with the Manitoba Moose. The team name and logo were confirmed on April 2, 2015, following a reported presenting sponsorship with Barracuda Networks, though the Sharks and Barracuda Networks did not comment on the report until the official announcement.

The Barracuda's first game was on October 9, 2015, a 4–2 home loss to the Rockford IceHogs, with Micheal Haley scoring the franchise's first goal on a power play. Their first win came on October 15, 2015, a 4–1 victory over the Stockton Heat. Head coach Roy Sommer broke the AHL record for most wins as a coach on February 10, 2016, with his 637th win against the Ontario Reign. The team's 2016–17 season was notably successful, winning 14 consecutive games and capturing the Pacific Division and Western Conference titles, with goaltender Troy Grosenick winning the 'Baz' Bastien Award. The Barracuda reached the Western Conference finals in the 2017 Calder Cup playoffs before being eliminated by the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The team moved to Tech CU Arena beginning the 2022–23 AHL season. The mascot is Frenzy the Barracuda.

Reader's Guide

The San Jose Barracuda represent a key component of the San Jose Sharks' player development system, having relocated from Worcester, Massachusetts, to bring the AHL affiliate to the same city as the NHL parent club. The team's history includes notable achievements such as Roy Sommer becoming the AHL's all-time winningest coach while with the Barracuda, and the 2016–17 season where they won the Pacific Division and Western Conference and advanced to the Western Conference finals. The franchise also contributed to the formation of the AHL's Pacific Division in 2015, helping to establish a West Coast presence for the league. The Barracuda's move to Tech CU Arena in 2022 provided a dedicated smaller venue, separating them from sharing SAP Center with the Sharks. The team's single-season records, including Andrew Poturalski's 73 points in 2024–25 and Troy Grosenick's goaltending records from 2016–17, highlight individual performances within the franchise's history.

Did You Know?

• The Barracuda are a relocation of the former Worcester Sharks AHL franchise.
• Micheal Haley scored the first franchise goal on a power play in the team's first game on October 9, 2015.
• The team's mascot is named Frenzy the Barracuda.