Toledo Blades

Last updated
Toledo Blades/Hornets
ToledoHornetsLogo.png
City Toledo, Ohio
League IHL
Operated1963–1974
Home arena Toledo Sports Arena
ColorsGold and Black
  
Owner(s) Ken Wilson (1963–1964)
General manager Ken Wilson (1963–1966)
Head coach Ken Wilson (1966)
Franchise history
1959–1963 Omaha Knights
1963–1970Toledo Blades
1970–1974Toledo Hornets
1974–1975 Lansing Lancers
Championships
Regular season titles1 (1963–64)
Turner Cups2 (1963–64, 1966–67)

The Toledo Blades and Hornets were the International Hockey League franchise of Toledo, Ohio from 1963 to 1974. The first four years (1959-1963) of the franchise was in Omaha, NE as the Omaha Knights. [1] After moving to Toledo for the 1963-64 season, they were renamed the Blades. The team name was changed to Hornets in 1970. The franchise left Toledo after the 1973–74 season for Lansing, MI, where they became the Lansing Lancers. [2]

Contents

The Blades were the Regular Season Champions in 1963–64, with 86 points and were awarded the Huber Trophy. The Blades won the Turner Cup in 1964 and 1967.

The Leading Rookie Award was awarded to Blades players Don Westbrook in 1964, Bob Thomas in 1965, and Wayne Zuk in 1970. [3]

Blades goaltender, Glenn Ramsay, won the James Norris Memorial Trophy for the fewest goals against during the 1963–64 regular season, his third Norris Trophy in a row. Glenn also won his sixth and final Norris Trophy in 1967. [4]

In 1965, team captain, William "Chick" Chalmers, was awarded the James Gatschene Memorial Trophy, for the player voted most valuable through his display of outstanding playing ability and sportsmanlike conduct over the course of the regular season by the league coaches. [5]

After the Hornets left in 1974, the IHL awarded a new franchise to Toledo, the Goaldiggers.

Season-by-season record

Turner Cup Champions League Leader in points *Division Champions ¤
Season TeamDivisionRegular SeasonPost Season
FinishGPWLTPtsGFGAGPWLGFGAResult
1963–64 Blades1st704125486*27820713854339Won in semifinals, 4-3 (Port Huron)
Won in Turner Cup Finals, 4-2 (Fort Wayne)
1964–65 Blades4th7032362662973274041224Lost in semifinals, 0-4 (Fort Wayne)
1965–66 Blades6th702048242248366Did not qualify
1966–67 Blades3rd72393128028424710823623Won in semifinals, 4-0 (Dayton)
Won in Turner Cup Finals, 4-2 (Fort Wayne)
1967–68 Blades5th7229291472261307Did not qualify
1968–69 Blades2nd7241238902822358353638Advanced in Round 1, 1-2 (Columbus, Port Huron eliminated)
Lost in semifinals, 2-3 (Muskegon)
1969–70 BladesSouthern2nd723233771241265303611Lost in quarterfinals, 0-3 (Des Moines)
1970–71 Hornets7th7217441145211319Did not qualify
1971–72 HornetsNorthern4th722646052270371Did not qualify
1972–73 HornetsNorthern3rd743633577257261413513Lost in quarterfinals, 1-3 (Port Huron)
1973–74 HornetsNorth3rd763342167260302312913Lost in quarterfinals, 1-2 (Flint)
11 Seasons [6] [7] 0 Division Titles
1 Huber Trophy
79234639056748
(.472)
2,8893,2074521241471617 Playoff Appearances
2 Turner Cup Championships

Franchise records

All-time leaders

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References

  1. "Omaha Knights Statistics and History [IHL]". HockeyDB.
  2. "Lansing Lancers Statistics and History". HockeyDB.
  3. "Garry F. Longman Memorial Trophy winners". HockeyDB.
  4. "James Norris Memorial Trophy winners". HockeyDB.
  5. "James Gatschene Memorial Trophy winners". HockeyDB.
  6. "Toledo Blades Statistics and History". HockeyDB.
  7. "Toledo Hornets Statistics and History". HockeyDB.
  8. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/display_players.php?tmi=8457 Toledo Blades all-time player roster
  9. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/display_players.php?tmi=8461 Toledo Hornets all-time player roster
Preceded by Professional Hockey Team in
Toledo, Ohio

19631974
Succeeded by
Preceded by Huber Trophy
Champions

196364
Succeeded by
Preceded by Turner Cup
Champions

196364
Succeeded by
Preceded by Turner Cup
Champions

196667
Succeeded by