Kansas City Outlaws
Encyclopedia
The Kansas City Outlaws were a professional ice hockey
team, a former member of the UHL
. They played their home games at Kemper Arena
in Kansas City, Missouri
, where the NHL's Kansas City Scouts
played for two seasons during the 1970s, and later the International Hockey League's Kansas City Blades
made their home.
. The team announced that they would begin play that fall.
The Outlaws began their lone season by winning back-to-back home games against cross-state rival Missouri River Otters
, and running up a 5-1 record in the first two weeks. From then, the team's fortunes changed drastically, and the Outlaws finished last in the Western Division in 2004-2005 with a record of 28-45-7 (wins, losses and overtime losses).
Rob Schweyer was named the team's first captain, but when he left the team following an injury, Player/Assistant Coach Jason Ruff
received the captain designation. Ruff went on to lead the Outlaws in scoring.
Star players for the Outlaws included Ruff, goaltender Maxime Gingras, winger Joe Seroski, defenseman Matthieu Descoteaux, winger Jimmy Callahan and center Mark Lee. Lee started his professional tenure with the Outlaws, which jump started his career in the American Hockey League
, and the East Coast Hockey League. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=73175
The Outlaws were coached by Darryl Williams. Joe Bucchino, formerly of the Boston Bruin and New York Ranger organizations, served as General Manager. Richard Adler was the team President, responsible for day-to-day business operations.
The team had struggled to attract fans, as the reported attendance was "around 2,800" per game according to team officialshttp://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/04/11/daily20.html.
Theteam played their final game, an 8-1 win over the Komets on April 10, 2005. Following the finale, it was reported three days later that a local printing company, Superior Color Graphics LLC, had filed a lawsuit for non-payment against the team. The lawsuit was reported to be in totaling $45,777.56.http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/04/11/daily20.html The lawsuit was eventually dismissed. Around this time rumors began to circulate the team would move to Toledo, Ohio the following season.
On April 15, 2005, the team suspended operations and eventually folded, ending their tenure in Kansas City and in the UHL.http://home.att.net/~kchockey/kctime.htm
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team, a former member of the UHL
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
. They played their home games at Kemper Arena
Kemper Arena
Kemper Arena is a 19,500 seat indoor arena, in Kansas City, Missouri.It is named for R. Crosby Kemper Sr., a member of the powerful Kemper financial clan and who donated $3.2 million, from his estate for the arena...
in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, where the NHL's Kansas City Scouts
Kansas City Scouts
The Kansas City Scouts was a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1974–76. In 1976, the franchise relocated to Denver, Colorado and became the Colorado Rockies...
played for two seasons during the 1970s, and later the International Hockey League's Kansas City Blades
Kansas City Blades
The Kansas City Blades was a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–2001 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades was based in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena....
made their home.
Overview
The United Hockey League awarded the Kansas City franchise to Stephen Franke, co-owner of the UHL's Fort Wayne KometsFort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
. The team announced that they would begin play that fall.
The Outlaws began their lone season by winning back-to-back home games against cross-state rival Missouri River Otters
Missouri River Otters
The now defunct Missouri River Otters was a minor pro team in the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2006. They were located in St. Charles, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Mike Shanahan Jr. was the owner and president when the team ceased operations. Frank Buonomo served as General Manager. They...
, and running up a 5-1 record in the first two weeks. From then, the team's fortunes changed drastically, and the Outlaws finished last in the Western Division in 2004-2005 with a record of 28-45-7 (wins, losses and overtime losses).
Rob Schweyer was named the team's first captain, but when he left the team following an injury, Player/Assistant Coach Jason Ruff
Jason Ruff
Jason C. Ruff is a professional ice hockey player.Ruff was the third choice, 96th overall selection of the St. Louis Blues in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft...
received the captain designation. Ruff went on to lead the Outlaws in scoring.
Star players for the Outlaws included Ruff, goaltender Maxime Gingras, winger Joe Seroski, defenseman Matthieu Descoteaux, winger Jimmy Callahan and center Mark Lee. Lee started his professional tenure with the Outlaws, which jump started his career in the American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, and the East Coast Hockey League. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php3?pid=73175
The Outlaws were coached by Darryl Williams. Joe Bucchino, formerly of the Boston Bruin and New York Ranger organizations, served as General Manager. Richard Adler was the team President, responsible for day-to-day business operations.
The team had struggled to attract fans, as the reported attendance was "around 2,800" per game according to team officialshttp://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/04/11/daily20.html.
Theteam played their final game, an 8-1 win over the Komets on April 10, 2005. Following the finale, it was reported three days later that a local printing company, Superior Color Graphics LLC, had filed a lawsuit for non-payment against the team. The lawsuit was reported to be in totaling $45,777.56.http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2005/04/11/daily20.html The lawsuit was eventually dismissed. Around this time rumors began to circulate the team would move to Toledo, Ohio the following season.
On April 15, 2005, the team suspended operations and eventually folded, ending their tenure in Kansas City and in the UHL.http://home.att.net/~kchockey/kctime.htm
External links
- official website (archive.org copy)