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]

Toledo Blades/Hornets
CityToledo, Ohio
LeagueIHL
Operated1963–1974
Home arenaToledo Sports Arena
ColorsGold and Black
   
Owner(s)Ken Wilson (1963–1964)
General managerKen Wilson (1963–1966)
Head coachKen Wilson (1966)
Franchise history
1959–1963Omaha Knights
1963–1970Toledo Blades
1970–1974Toledo Hornets
1974–1975Lansing Lancers
Championships
Regular season titles1 (1963–64)
Turner Cups2 (1963–64, 1966–67)

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

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Turner Cup Champions League Leader in points * Division Champions ¤
Season Team Division Regular Season Post Season
Finish GP W L T Pts GF GA GP W L GF GA Result
1963–64 Blades 1st 70 41 25 4 86* 278 207 13 8 5 43 39 Won in semifinals, 4-3 (Port Huron)
Won in Turner Cup Finals, 4-2 (Fort Wayne)
1964–65 Blades 4th 70 32 36 2 66 297 327 4 0 4 12 24 Lost in semifinals, 0-4 (Fort Wayne)
1965–66 Blades 6th 70 20 48 2 42 248 366 Did not qualify
1966–67 Blades 3rd 72 39 31 2 80 284 247 10 8 2 36 23 Won in semifinals, 4-0 (Dayton)
Won in Turner Cup Finals, 4-2 (Fort Wayne)
1967–68 Blades 5th 72 29 29 14 72 261 307 Did not qualify
1968–69 Blades 2nd 72 41 23 8 90 282 235 8 3 5 36 38 Advanced in Round 1, 1-2 (Columbus, Port Huron eliminated)
Lost in semifinals, 2-3 (Muskegon)
1969–70 Blades Southern 2nd 72 32 33 7 71 241 265 3 0 3 6 11 Lost in quarterfinals, 0-3 (Des Moines)
1970–71 Hornets 7th 72 17 44 11 45 211 319 Did not qualify
1971–72 Hornets Northern 4th 72 26 46 0 52 270 371 Did not qualify
1972–73 Hornets Northern 3rd 74 36 33 5 77 257 261 4 1 3 5 13 Lost in quarterfinals, 1-3 (Port Huron)
1973–74 Hornets North 3rd 76 33 42 1 67 260 302 3 1 2 9 13 Lost in quarterfinals, 1-2 (Flint)
11 Seasons[6][7] 0 Division Titles
1 Huber Trophy
792 346 390 56 748
(.472)
2,889 3,207 45 21 24 147 161 7 Playoff Appearances
2 Turner Cup Championships

Franchise records

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All-time leaders

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References

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  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
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Preceded by Professional Hockey Team in
Toledo, Ohio

1963–1974
Succeeded by
Preceded by Huber Trophy
Champions

1963–64
Succeeded by
Preceded by Turner Cup
Champions

1963–64
Succeeded by
Preceded by Turner Cup
Champions

1966–67
Succeeded by