Kansas City Blades

The Kansas City Blades debuted in the IHL in 1990-91 as the resurrected Toledo Goaldiggers franchise. The Blades were unaffiliated their first year, but obtained a connection with San Jose in their second year. It would be their most successful year, as they won the IHL championship with the aid of several future NHL players including  Sandis Ozolinsh, Arturs Irbe, and Wade Flaherty. For the next decade, the Blades were a regular IHL competitor, reaching the finals again in 1995 only to lose to Denver. By 2000, the franchise had been sold to a company looking to relocate it to Oklahoma. However, the league was in financial difficulty at this point and declared bankruptcy in 2001. When the league disbanded, the Blades were not accepted to the AHL like many other IHL clubs and were forced to close their doors.