Lexington Men O' War

The Lexington Men O’ War had a brief existence, playing a single season in 2002-03 at Lexington, Kentucky's Rupp Arena. They replaced the previous franchise in the city, the Kentucky Thoroughblades, after the Thoroughblades were relocated to Cleveland. The Men O’ War name paid homage to the city's horse racing heritage, specifically referencing Man O’ War, a legendary horse from the 1920s widely regarded as one of the greatest of all time.

Unfortunately, the Men O’ War couldn't match the legacy of their equestrian namesake. The team was hastily assembled, with their formal announcement in local newspapers occurring just two-and-a-half months before the start of the season. Despite the rushed preparations, they managed to achieve a respectable record of 34-31-7 during their sole season and even secured a playoff berth. The team could also claim one NHL alum, goaltender Mike Smith, who played 27 games for them.

However, as their inaugural season drew to a close, signs of trouble emerged. News surfaced about a potential change in ownership or sale of the team, and the team placed advertisements in the local newspaper seeking to secure 1,200 season tickets by March 1st (with the season ending in April). By the time they were eliminated from the playoffs, the ownership transfer had gone sour, leaving the team without a willing owner and without a lease for the arena. Unfortunately, Lexington has not seen the return of a professional hockey team since then.