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Oklahoma City Blazers (1992–2009)

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For other ice hockey teams named the same, see Oklahoma City Blazers (disambiguation).
Oklahoma City Blazers
CityOklahoma City, Oklahoma
LeagueCentral Hockey League
ConferenceNorthern
DivisionNortheast
Founded1992
Home arenaMyriad Convention Center
Ford Center
ColorsBurgundy, gold, white
     
Owner(s)Bob Funk
Franchise history
1992–2009Oklahoma City Blazers
Championships
Division titles9
Ray Miron President's Cup2

The Oklahoma City Blazers were a professional ice hockey team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that played in the Central Hockey League. The Blazers played at the Ford Center, located in downtown Oklahoma City. On July 2, 2009, the Blazers ceased operations after failing to reach a lease agreement with the city.[1]

From 2010 to 2015, the market was served by the Oklahoma City Barons, an American Hockey League team playing at Cox Convention Center as the top affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers.

History

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In 1992, a new Central Hockey League began play in the same territory as the older league. It also acquired several team names in tribute to the former CHL, including the Oklahoma City Blazers. The new Blazers began play in the Myriad Convention Center, the same home arena as the old team.

They averaged 9,128 fans per game over 17 seasons.[2] The franchise led the CHL in attendance in each of its 17 seasons in the league. On the ice, the Blazers excelled as well, winning nine regular season division championships (including seven straight from 1996 to 2003), five regular season points titles, and CHL championships in 1996 and 2001. The franchise's two greatest stars, Joe Burton and Hardy Sauter, are the CHL's first and third all-time career leading scorers.

In 2002, the Blazers changed their home venue to the new Ford Center.

In 2009, the Blazers withdrew their application for a lease extension with the Ford Center and ceased operations. It was reported at the time that city officials were in negotiations with the American Hockey League for an expansion franchise. Following months of speculation, Oklahoma City was granted an AHL franchise on February 10, 2010, when the NHL's Edmonton Oilers reactivated their dormant affiliate and created the Oklahoma City Barons. They began play in the 2010–11 season in the smaller Cox Convention Center (formerly the Myriad) and the team was operated by the former owner of the Blazers, Bob Funk.

John Brooks, the radio play-by-play voice for the University of Oklahoma football and men's basketball teams from 1978 to 1991 and of the original Blazers hockey team, was the on-air play-by-play voice of the relaunched Blazers, however he would split the play-by-play duties with then Oklahoma City 89ers voice Brian Barnhart for the 1992-93 season only before becoming the full-time play-by-play voice of the team in the 1993-94 season. Brooks semi-retired from the Blazers after 2004–05 season after 27 seasons in total for both franchises. Brooks was inducted into the Blazers Hall of Fame on March 11, 2005.[3] After 2004–05 season, Brooks was succeeded by Jim Byers who was the then play-by-play voice for the Oklahoma Redhawks and the occasional substitute play-by-play voice of the Blazers in place of Brooks for several years when Brooks was unavailable or handling the play-by-play duties for televised Blazer games. Jim Byers also served as a linesman in then revived Central Hockey League from 1992-1995. Following his semi-retirement from full-time play-by-play, Brooks would return to call a few games and playoffs in the following seasons when Jim Byers was handing the play-by-play duties (In a bit of a so-called swap or role reverse with Brooks as was in years prior.) when select Blazers games against the Tulsa Oilers were televised via Cox Cable Oklahoma channel 7 (Simulcasted on Cox Cable Oklahoma channel 3 in Tulsa.) or was unavailable due to the start of the Oklahoma RedHawks seasons. [citation needed]

Championships

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Year League Trophy
1995–96 CHL William "Bill" Levins Memorial Cup
2000–01 CHL Ray Miron Cup

Seasons

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Key of colors and symbols
Color/symbol Explanation
† CHL champions
‡ Conference champions
↑ Division champions
# Led league in points
Year-by-year listing of Oklahoma City Blazers seasons
CHL season Conference Division Regular season Postseason
Finish GP W L T OT SOL Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA Result
1992–93 — — 1st 60 39 18 — 1 2 81# 291 232 11 5 6 39 52 Won semifinals vs. Memphis RiverKings, 4–2
Lost Levins Trophy Finals vs. Tulsa Oilers, 1–4[4]
1993–94 — — 3rd 64 35 23 6 — — 76 291 232 11 5 6 39 52 Lost semifinals vs. Tulsa Oilers, 3–4[5]
1994–95 — — 4th 66 34 23 9 — — 77 274 267 5 1 4 18 36 Lost semifinals vs. Wichita Thunder, 1–4[6]
1995–96† — — 1st 64 47 13 — — 4 98 327 224 13 8 5 44 39 Won semifinals vs. Tulsa Oilers, 4–2
Won Bill Levins Trophy vs. San Antonio Iguanas, 4–3[7]
1996–97 — Western↑ 1st 66 48 12 — — 6 98 327 224 13 8 5 44 39 Lost Division Semifinals vs. Wichita Thunder, 1–3[8]
1997–98 — Western↑ 1st 70 48 19 — — 3 99 319 237 11 6 5 37 34 Won Division Semifinals vs. Memphis RiverKings, 3–1
Lost division finals vs. Wichita Thunder, 3–4[9]
1998–99 — Western↑ 1st 70 49 19 — — 3 100 322 203 13 9 4 45 33 Won Division Semifinals vs. Topeka ScareCrows, 3–0
Won Division Finals vs. San Antonio Iguanas, 4–0
Lost Bill Levins Cup vs. Huntsville Channel Cats, 2–4[10]
1999–2000 — Western↑ 1st 70 39 24 — — 2 85 248 220 8 3 5 23 23 Won Division Semifinals vs. Wichita Thunder, 3–2
Lost Conference Finals vs. Indianapolis Ice, 3–0[11]
2000–01† — Western↑ 1st 70 48 19 — — 3 99 273 185 13 10 3 38 24 Won Division Semifinals vs. Tulsa Oilers, 3–0
Won Division Finals vs. San Antonio Iguanas, 3–2
Won Ray Miron President's Cup vs. Columbus Cottonmouths, 4–1[12]
2001–02 Northern Northwest↑ 1st 64 35 22 — — 7 77 236 203 4 1 3 10 12 Lost Conference Quarterfinals vs. Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, 1–3[13]
2002–03 Northern Northwest↑ 1st 64 35 22 — 1 6 81 225 196 5 2 3 19 23 Lost Conference Semifinals vs. Memphis RiverKings, 2–3[14]
2003–04 Northern Northwest 5th 64 29 28 — 2 5 65 176 194 Did not qualify[15]
2004–05 Northern Northwest 3rd 60 27 22 — 2 9 65 187 180 Did not qualify[16]
2005–06 Northern Northwest 3rd 60 27 22 — 2 9 75 233 215 7 3 4 23 28 Lost Conference Semifinals vs. Colorado Eagles, 3–4[17]
2006–07 Northern — 2nd 64 35 21 — 2 6 78 211 214 14 7 7 38 43 Won Conference Quarterfinals vs. Memphis RiverKings, 4–3
Lost Conference Semifinals vs. Colorado Eagles, 3–4[18]
2007–08 Northern — 2nd 64 28 30 — 2 4 62 188 193 Did not qualify[19]
2008–09 Northern — 3rd 64 39 18 — 5 2 85 202 158 6 2 4 15 19 Lost Conference Semifinals vs. Mississippi RiverKings, 2–4[20]

Personnel

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Head coaches

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# Name Term Regular season Playoffs Championships/awards won Reference
GC W L T OTL Win% GC W L
1 Mike McEwen 1992–1995 190 108 67 3 12 .608 23 9 14 [21]
2 Doug Sauter 1995–2009 918 544 291 — 83 .593 107 59 48 1996 CHL Coach of the Year, 1996 Levins Trophy Championship
2001 Ray Miron President's Cup Championship		 [22]

Retired numbers

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General managers

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  • Brad Lund, 1992–2000
  • Chris Presson, 2000–2004
  • DeBray Ayala, 2004–2009

References

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  1. ^ Przybylo, Robert (July 2, 2009). "OKC Blazers cease operations; city to talk with AHL team". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 2, 2009.
  2. ^ "Oklahoma City Blazers Yearly attendance". HockeyDB. Retrieved December 5, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Hersom, Bob (March 11, 2005). "Brooks will be second in Blazers Hall of Fame". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  4. ^ "1992–93 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  5. ^ "1993–94 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "1994–95 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  7. ^ "1995–96 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  8. ^ "1996–97 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  9. ^ "1997–98 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  10. ^ "1998–99 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  11. ^ "1999–00 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  12. ^ "2000–01 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  13. ^ "2001–02 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  14. ^ "2002–03 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  15. ^ "2003–04 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  16. ^ "2004–05 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  17. ^ "2005–06 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  18. ^ "2006–07 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  19. ^ "2007–08 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  20. ^ "2008–09 Central Hockey League Standings". HockeyDB. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  21. ^ "Mike McEwen Hockey Stats and Profile". HockeyDB. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  22. ^ "Doug Sauter Hockey Stats and Profile". HockeyDB. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  23. ^ Munn, Scott (February 10, 1998). "Burton for Certain Blazers to Induct Smokin' Joe, Retire His 'No. 19'". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
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