Los Angeles Blades (WHL)
Encyclopedia
The Los Angeles Blades were a minor league
hockey
team which played in the Western Hockey League
from 1961 to 1967.
owner Mel Smith informed the WHL that he was considering moving his team to either Los Angeles or San Francisco. At the same time, Los Angeles Sports Arena general manager Bill Nicholas revealed that he intended to affiliate with the WHL if he could not gain an NHL franchise. As a result, the WHL evaluated both the Sports Arena and the Cow Palace
near San Francisco to evaluate their readiness for possible expansion.
On April 23, 1961, the WHL approved the transfer of the Victoria Cougars to a Los Angeles-based ownership group headed by James Piggott and Los Angeles Rams owner Dan Reeves
. The WHL also approved a conditional expansion franchise for San Francisco on the same day, creating an all-California rivalry that would begin in October 1961.
After finishing 25-39-6 in their inaugural season, the Blades improved to 35-32-3 in 1962-63, led by coach Jack Bownass
and fleet left wing Willie O'Ree
, the NHL's first black player. Los Angeles won its playoff opener over San Francisco, only to lose the next two games and the best-of-three series to the Seals.
The Blades' breakout year came in 1963-64, when Alf Pike took over as coach. While Los Angeles finished at .500 (31-31-8), the Blades would make it all the way to the WHL finals, where the San Francisco Seals defeated Los Angeles in six games.
Pike's biggest impact on the Blades came when he shifted O'Ree - who lost the vision in his right eye to a puck during his junior hockey days - from left wing to right. O'Ree went on to become one of the WHL's most exciting players and prolific scorers, improving from 17 goals in 1963-64 to 38 in 1964-65 and scoring 30 or more goals in three consecutive seasons in Los Angeles. But the Blades were unable to match O'Ree's artistry, failing to make the playoffs in their final three seasons in the WHL.
On Feb. 9, 1966, the National Hockey League
- sensing a possible merger between the WHL and the American Hockey League
- awarded expansion franchises to Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and San Francisco for the 1967-68 season. Jack Kent Cooke
was awarded the Los Angeles franchise, which would be called the Kings; the Blades played their final game in April 1967.
The Blades name was revived twice - once for a short-lived franchise in the Pacific Hockey League
from 1978–79 and again for a franchise
in Roller Hockey International
from 1993-97. The last link to the Los Angeles Blades is the Saskatoon Blades
of the major junior Western Hockey League
, founded as a feeder team for Los Angeles in 1964; the Saskatoon club wore hand-me-down Los Angeles Blades uniforms into the 1970s.
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
hockey
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 which played in the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League (minor pro)
The Western Hockey League was a minor pro ice hockey league that operated from 1952 to 1974. Managed for most of its history by Hockey Hall of Fame member Al Leader, it was created out of the merger of the Pacific Coast Hockey League and the Western Canada Senior Hockey League...
from 1961 to 1967.
History
Following the 1960-61 season, Spokane CometsSpokane Comets
The Spokane Comets are a defunct minor professional ice hockey team that was located in Spokane, Washington. They played in the Western Hockey League from 1960 to 1963.The 1962-63 team was coached by Roy McBride who piloted the team to a 30-38-2 record....
owner Mel Smith informed the WHL that he was considering moving his team to either Los Angeles or San Francisco. At the same time, Los Angeles Sports Arena general manager Bill Nicholas revealed that he intended to affiliate with the WHL if he could not gain an NHL franchise. As a result, the WHL evaluated both the Sports Arena and the Cow Palace
Cow Palace
Cow Palace is an indoor arena, in Daly City, California, situated on the city's border with neighboring San Francisco, notable as a sporting arena.-History:...
near San Francisco to evaluate their readiness for possible expansion.
On April 23, 1961, the WHL approved the transfer of the Victoria Cougars to a Los Angeles-based ownership group headed by James Piggott and Los Angeles Rams owner Dan Reeves
Dan Reeves (NFL owner)
Daniel "Dan" Reeves was the owner of the Cleveland/Los Angeles Rams from 1941 to his death in 1971.In addition to the controversial move of the Rams from Cleveland to Los Angeles, Reeves is remembered for being the first NFL owner to sign an African-American player in the post World War II era...
. The WHL also approved a conditional expansion franchise for San Francisco on the same day, creating an all-California rivalry that would begin in October 1961.
After finishing 25-39-6 in their inaugural season, the Blades improved to 35-32-3 in 1962-63, led by coach Jack Bownass
Jack Bownass
John "Jack" Bownass was a professional ice hockey player who played 80 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers. He was also a member of the Canadian National Hockey Team...
and fleet left wing Willie O'Ree
Willie O'Ree
Willie Eldon O'Ree, OC, ONB is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, known best for being the first black player in the National Hockey League. O'Ree played as a winger for the Boston Bruins...
, the NHL's first black player. Los Angeles won its playoff opener over San Francisco, only to lose the next two games and the best-of-three series to the Seals.
The Blades' breakout year came in 1963-64, when Alf Pike took over as coach. While Los Angeles finished at .500 (31-31-8), the Blades would make it all the way to the WHL finals, where the San Francisco Seals defeated Los Angeles in six games.
Pike's biggest impact on the Blades came when he shifted O'Ree - who lost the vision in his right eye to a puck during his junior hockey days - from left wing to right. O'Ree went on to become one of the WHL's most exciting players and prolific scorers, improving from 17 goals in 1963-64 to 38 in 1964-65 and scoring 30 or more goals in three consecutive seasons in Los Angeles. But the Blades were unable to match O'Ree's artistry, failing to make the playoffs in their final three seasons in the WHL.
On Feb. 9, 1966, the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
- sensing a possible merger between the WHL and 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...
- awarded expansion franchises to Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and San Francisco for the 1967-68 season. Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke
Jack Kent Cooke was a Canadian entrepreneur and former owner of the Washington Redskins , the Los Angeles Lakers , and the Los Angeles Kings , and built The Forum in Inglewood, California and FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.-Early career:Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Cooke moved with his family to...
was awarded the Los Angeles franchise, which would be called the Kings; the Blades played their final game in April 1967.
The Blades name was revived twice - once for a short-lived franchise in the Pacific Hockey League
Pacific Hockey League
The Pacific Hockey League was a low-level minor professional hockey league that existed for two seasons in 1977-78, and 1978-79. Its member teams from California, Arizona and Washington states, replaced the void left by defunct World Hockey Association franchises, with some teams sharing the names...
from 1978–79 and again for a franchise
Los Angeles Blades
The Los Angeles Blades were a professional inline hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. The Blades played in Roller Hockey International from 1993-1997 and played their home games at the Great Western Forum....
in Roller Hockey International
Roller Hockey International
Roller Hockey International was a professional inline hockey league that operated in North America from 1993 to 1999. It was the first major professional league for inline hockey....
from 1993-97. The last link to the Los Angeles Blades is the Saskatoon Blades
Saskatoon Blades
The Saskatoon Blades are a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Western Hockey League. They are based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, playing at the 15,195 seat Credit Union Centre.-History:...
of the major junior Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
, founded as a feeder team for Los Angeles in 1964; the Saskatoon club wore hand-me-down Los Angeles Blades uniforms into the 1970s.