1973-1977 (5 seasons)
San Diego Mariners Team History
Franchise History
1975-1977
Last 5 Seasons
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1st Round Draft Picks
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Player
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San Diego Mariners
Franchise Overview 1973-1977 (5 seasons)
Recap
Previous to being in San Diego, the team was known as the New York Raiders, New York Golden Blades, and Jersey Knights. After folding in 1977, San Diego Mariners' name was adopted by an unrelated franchise in the low-level, minor professional Pacific Hockey League (PHL).
During the Mariners' final WHA season, the team was owned by San Diego Padres and McDonald's owner Ray Kroc. The team never drew well, and when they only managed to attract 5,000 fans per game, Kroc sold the team to a group who planned to move it to Melbourne, Florida, however, they could not find a suitable arena. The team was then sold to former Philadelphia Flyers minority owner Bill Putnam, who changed the team's name to the "Florida Breakers" and announced they would play at the Hollywood Sportatorium in Hollywood, Florida, between Miami and Fort Lauderdale. After this deal fell apart Jerry Saperstein tried to buy the team and move them to the same area as the Florida Icegators. However, this deal collapsed as well, and after three attempts by three different groups to move the team to Florida all failed, the Mariners folded just before training camp opened in the fall of 1977. Fans who put down deposits for season tickets never got their money back. The last Mariners player active in major professional hockey was Kevin Devine, who played his last NHL game in the 1982-83 NHL season. Mariners' draft pick Don Edwards played in the NHL until 1986, but never played in the WHA.
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