Toledo Blades
Toledo, Ohio, was a long-time IHL city with several teams over the years. After the Toledo Mercurys folded in 1962, the city would be without the IHL for a year before the Blades arrived for the 1963-64 season. The Blades began as the IHL's iteration of the Omaha Knights, but the Knights relocated from Nebraska to Ohio.
The Knights had always had a decent team during their four years on the plains, but their greatest season came when they were redesignated the Blades in 1963-64. Under the direction of Moe Benoit, the club won 41 of 70 regular-season games and went on to win the IHL championship in six games over Fort Wayne. Chick Chalmers, Greg Jablonski, and Mauril Morrissette, who played 1,089 games with the Knights/Blades/Hornets franchise, led the squad. Following a couple of difficult years, the Blades won the IHL again in 1966-67, defeating Fort Wayne in six games. For the next several seasons, the club would enjoy great success on the ice, including another 41-win season in 1968-69. For the 1970-71 season, the team was renamed the Toledo Hornets.
The Knights had always had a decent team during their four years on the plains, but their greatest season came when they were redesignated the Blades in 1963-64. Under the direction of Moe Benoit, the club won 41 of 70 regular-season games and went on to win the IHL championship in six games over Fort Wayne. Chick Chalmers, Greg Jablonski, and Mauril Morrissette, who played 1,089 games with the Knights/Blades/Hornets franchise, led the squad. Following a couple of difficult years, the Blades won the IHL again in 1966-67, defeating Fort Wayne in six games. For the next several seasons, the club would enjoy great success on the ice, including another 41-win season in 1968-69. For the 1970-71 season, the team was renamed the Toledo Hornets.
