Oklahoma City Blazers (1992–2009)

Oklahoma City Blazers
City	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
League	Central Hockey League
Conference	Northern
Division	Northeast
Founded	1992
Home arena	Myriad Convention Center Ford Center
Colors	Burgundy, gold, white
Owner(s)	Bob Funk
Franchise history
1992–2009	Oklahoma City Blazers
Championships
Division Championships	9
Ray Miron President's Cup	2

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[]

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 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 1992 and of the original Blazers hockey team, was the on-air play-by-play voice of the relaunched Blazers. 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] Brooks would return for a few games in the following seasons only when his replacement Jim Byers was unavailable during the Oklahoma RedHawks games.^{[citation needed]}

Championships[]

Seasons[]

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[]

Head coaches[]

Retired numbers[]

• 19 – Joe Burton^[23]
• 27 – John Brooks, play-by-play broadcaster^[3]

General managers[]

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

References[]

External links[]

• Oklahoma City Blazers Official Site^{[dead link]}