The Oklahoma City Blazers were a professional ice 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 that played in the Northwest Division of the Central Hockey League

Central Hockey League

The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....

. The Blazers played at the Ford Center, located in downtown Oklahoma City. Their colors were burgundy, gold and white. On July 2nd, 2009, the Blazers ceased operations after failing to reach a lease agreement with the city.

Starting with the 2010-11 season, the market will be served by the Oklahoma City Barons

Oklahoma City Barons

The Oklahoma City Barons are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and serve as the top affiliate for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. The team's first season was 2010–11. They play their home games at the newly renovated Cox Convention Center, in Oklahoma...

 AHL

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...

 franchise playing at Cox Convention Center

Cox Convention Center

The Cox Business Services Convention Center is a multi-purpose complex, located in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma....

 as the top affiliate of the NHL

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...

's Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....

.

History

The last incarnation of the Blazers came into being in 1992 with the revival of the CHL. They were one of the most successful minor league hockey franchises of all time, routinely drawing 8,000 fans or more. On ice, the Blazers excelled as well, winning an unprecedented nine regular season division championships (including seven straight, 1996-2003), five regular-season points titles and CHL championships in 1996 and 2001. The franchise's two great stars, Joe Burton and Hardy Sauter, are the CHL's first and third all-time career leading scorers, and Burton is the fourth leading goal scorer in minor league hockey history.

In 2009 the Blazers withdrew their lease with Oklahoma City and ceased operations stating that "it is not economically feasible for us to go on at this point." Following years of speculation, Oklahoma City was officially granted an AHL

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...

 franchise on February 10, 2010. The new AHL team is called the Oklahoma City Barons

Oklahoma City Barons

The Oklahoma City Barons are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and serve as the top affiliate for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. The team's first season was 2010–11. They play their home games at the newly renovated Cox Convention Center, in Oklahoma...

. They began play in the 2010-11 season as the top affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....

.

Original Blazers franchise, 1965-1977

The first incarnation of the Blazers played in an earlier Central Hockey League between 1965 and 1977. Initially they were a Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins

The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...

 farm team. The first coach was Harry Sinden

Harry Sinden

Harry James Sinden was the long-time general manager, coach, and president for the Boston Bruins NHL hockey team, and was the coach of Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series...

, and NHL stars Bernie Parent

Bernie Parent

Bernard Marcel Parent , better known as Bernie Parent, is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs, and also spent one season in the World Hockey Association with the...

, Gerry Cheevers

Gerry Cheevers

Gerald Michael "Cheesey" Cheevers is a former goaltender in the National Hockey League and World Hockey Association between 1961 and 1980, most famous for his two stints with the Boston Bruins, where he backstopped the team to Stanley Cup wins in 1970 and 1972...

, Doug Favell

Doug Favell

Douglas Robert Favell is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender, most notably for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League. He was also a box lacrosse player.-Playing career:...

, Reggie Leach

Reggie Leach

Reginald Joseph Leach is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, California Golden Seals, Philadelphia Flyers and Detroit Red Wings. He is best known for his time in Philadelphia, winning a Stanley Cup with...

, Rick MacLeish

Rick MacLeish

Richard George MacLeish is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers, Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Detroit Red Wings...

, Wayne Cashman

Wayne Cashman

Wayne Cashman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player and a former NHL head coach.-Playing career:Cashman played his junior hockey as a teammate of Bobby Orr's on the Oshawa Generals of the OHA...

, Ivan Boldirev

Ivan Boldirev

Ivan Boldirev is a retired Serbian-Canadian professional ice hockey centre who played 15 seasons in the NHL from 1970 through 1985...

, J. P. Parise, Ross Lonsberry

Ross Lonsberry

David Ross Lonsberry is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins...

, Dallas Smith

Dallas Smith

Dallas Earl Smith is a former National Hockey League defenceman who played fifteen seasons for the Boston Bruins.-Playing career:...

, Bill Goldsworthy

Bill Goldsworthy

William Alfred Goldsworthy was a professional ice hockey right winger who played in the National Hockey League for 14 seasons between 1964 and 1978, most notably for the Minnesota North Stars.-Playing career:...

 and Jean Pronovost

Jean Pronovost

Jean Joseph Denis Pronovost is a retired professional ice hockey right winger who played in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Atlanta Flames and Washington Capitals...

 played for the Blazers. From 1973 to 1976 the team was affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 and their roster included Mike Palmateer

Mike Palmateer

Michael Scott Palmateer is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goalie. He played in the NHL from 1976 to 1984 for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Washington Capitals.-Playing career:...

, Blaine Stoughton

Blaine Stoughton

Blaine Stoughton is a retired professional ice hockey forward who played eight seasons in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers, which "bookended" three seasons in the WHA....

, Pat Boutette

Pat Boutette

Patrick Michael Boutette is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre.-Playing career:Boutette retired from the NHL following 752 games, recording 171 goals and 282 assists for 453 points as well as 1354 penalty minutes.-Awards and achievements:*WCHA Second All-Star Team *NCAA West First...

 and all-time NHL penalty leader Dave "Tiger" Williams.

Gregg Sheppard

Gregg Sheppard

Gregory Wayne Sheppard is a retired professional ice hockey forward who most notably played for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League.-Career:...

 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

Harry Sinden

Harry James Sinden was the long-time general manager, coach, and president for the Boston Bruins NHL hockey team, and was the coach of Team Canada during the 1972 Summit Series...

 and repeated in 1967.

This team was created through the relocation of the Minneapolis Bruins

Minneapolis Bruins

The Minneapolis Bruins were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League from 1963 to 1965. Minneapolis operated as a farm team to the National Hockey League's Boston Bruins. The team originated as the Kingston Frontenacs of the Eastern Professional Hockey League, which...

, who began play in 1963 after originating as the Kingston Frontenacs

Kingston Frontenacs (EPHL)

The Kingston Frontenacs of the Eastern Professional Hockey League were a minor league professional ice hockey team affiliated with the NHL's Boston Bruins....

 of the defunct Eastern Professional Hockey League.

Championships

Year	League	Trophy
2000-2001	CHL Central Hockey League The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....	Ray Miron President's Cup Ray Miron President's Cup The Ray Miron President's Cup goes to the play-off champion of the Central Hockey League. The Ray Miron President's Cup has been awarded to teams since 2002. Prior to 2002, the playoff winner was awarded the Ray Miron Cup. The current cup is named after Ray Miron, one of the league's co-founders...
1995-1996	CHL Central Hockey League The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....	William “Bill” Levins Memorial Cup