Kansas City Blades
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The Kansas City Blades were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–91 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades were based in Kansas City, Missouri, at the Kemper Arena.
The Blades were first affiliated with the San Jose Sharks, and then the Vancouver Canucks. The Blades' best season was in 1991–92, when they won the Turner Cup finals, under the coaching of Kevin Constantine. The Blades advanced to the Turner Cup finals again in 1995, only to lose in four straight games to the Denver Grizzlies.
The Blades never made it back to the IHL finals again, and ceased operations after playing six more seasons. The team was not one of the six surviving IHL teams to be admitted into the American Hockey League for the 2001–02 season.
Famous NHL players who played for the Blades include Arturs Irbe, Jeff Odgers, Sandis Ozolinsh, Ray Whitney, Patrick Lalime, Jean-Sebastien Aubin, Wade Flaherty, and Dody Wood.
