The San Jose Barracuda, a professional minor league ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL), began play in the 2015–16 season as a relocation of the former Worcester Sharks AHL franchise. Originally playing at the SAP Center in San José, the team became one of two AHL teams sharing a home arena with its parent club. In 2015, the Barracuda, along with other AHL franchises, formed the AHL’s Pacific Division.
2015-16 Season
In their first season led by a head coach familiar to San Jose hockey fans, Roy Sommer, who had been the coach of the inline hockey team, the San Jose Rhinos. Sommer won a championship with the Rhinos in 1995. Behind his leadership the Barracuda made it to the playoffs where they lost to the Ontario Reign. Coach Sommer also set the record for most AHL Wins by a Coach with 637.
2016-17 Season
In their second season in San Jose Coach Sommer led the team to a Pacific Division title and to the 3rd round of the playoffs where they were eliminated by the eventual champs Grand Rapids Griffins. Goaltender Troy Grosenick won the league’s outstanding goaltender award.
COVID, a new arena and playoff misses
In January 2020, plans for a new 4,200-seat arena at the Sharks’ Solar4America Ice complex were approved, intended for Barracuda home games. The 2019–20 season concluded prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting the 2022–23 AHL season, the Barracuda began play at the new Tech CU Arena. In the 2024-25 season the Barracuda returned to the playoffs, but were eliminated in the second round.
