Oklahoma City Blazers (1965–1977)

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Oklahoma City Blazers
CityOklahoma City, Oklahoma
LeagueCentral Professional Hockey League
Operated1965-77
Home arenaFairgrounds Arena
Myriad Gardens
Owner(s)Maple Leaf Gardens Limited
AffiliatesBoston Bruins
Toronto Maple Leafs

The Oklahoma City Blazers are a defunct professional ice hockey team that were based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They competed in the Central Professional Hockey League from 1965 to 1977. The team played their home games in the Fairgrounds Arena,[1] and later in Myriad Gardens.[2]

This team was created through the relocation of the Minneapolis Bruins, who began play in 1963 after originating as the Kingston Frontenacs of the defunct Eastern Professional Hockey League. Initially they were a Boston Bruins farm team. The first coach was Harry Sinden, and NHL stars Bernie Parent, Gerry Cheevers, Doug Favell, Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish, Wayne Cashman, Ivan Boldirev, J. P. Parise, Ross Lonsberry, Dallas Smith, Bill Goldsworthy and Jean Pronovost played for the Blazers. The Bruins withdrew from the team in 1972, but after a season without hockey, Maple Leaf Gardens Limited announced that they would relocate their Tulsa Oilers club of the CHL to become the reborn Oklahoma City Blazers, with Tulsa getting a replacement independent team.[3][4] From 1973 to 1976 the team was affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs and their roster included Mike Palmateer, Blaine Stoughton, Pat Boutette and all-time NHL penalty leader Dave "Tiger" Williams. Prior to the 1976-77 season the Maple Leafs decided to share the Dallas Black Hawks of the CHL with the Chicago Black Hawks as their affiliate, in an attempt to reduce costs.[5][6]

Gregg Sheppard was the franchise's leading career scorer. Their home arenas were the Fairgrounds Arena and the Myriad Convention Center Arena. The Blazers won the CHL championship in 1966 under player-coach Harry Sinden and repeated in 1967.

John Brooks, sports director of the local CBS TV affiliate KWTV Channel 9 and radio play-by-play voice for high-profile University of Oklahoma football 1978-92, was the on-air voice of the original Blazers in the 1970s as well. His catch phrase for Blazers same-day game radio ads was "Let's play hockey... TONIGHT!"

References

  1. ^ http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/oklahoma-city-blazers-7248.html
  2. ^ http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/oklahoma-city-blazers-9718.html
  3. ^ "Leafs switch Tulsa team in CHL to Oklahoma City". Globe and Mail. 1973-04-20.
  4. ^ "Leafs shift farm". Toronto Star. 1973-04-21.
  5. ^ Ramsay, Don (1976-01-31). "NHL clubs will cut 100 players in effort to combat rising costs". Globe and Mail. p. 43.
  6. ^ Proudfoot, Jim (1976-04-27). "Some NHL rules aren't enforced at playoff time". Toronto Star.
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