Peoria Blades: Difference between revisions

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(Created page with "{{Infobox hockey team | team = Peoria Blades | color = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#1731a6 5px solid; border-bottom:#f7b70f 5px solid; | color text = #000000 | logo = Peoria Blades.png | logosize = 200px | city = Peoria, Illinois | league = Continental Hockey League | conference = | division = | founded = 1972 | folded = 1982 | arena = Lakeview Park Rink | colors = Blue and Yellow<br>{{color box|#1731a6}} {{color box|#f...")
 
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| founded    = 1972
| founded    = 1971
| folded    = 1982
| folded    = 1982
| arena      = Lakeview Park Rink  
| arena      = Lakeview Park Rink  
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Former teammates with the [[Pekin Stars]], Pete BardezBanian and Mark Olson formed the Blades in 1971 as an independent outfit at an outdoor rink.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pete BardezBanian |url=https://www.gpshof.com/pete-bardezbanian |work=Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame |accessdate=May 2, 2024}}</ref> A little over a year later, the two were able to get agreements from several other local teams to form a new league called the Continental Hockey League. While still playing for the club, BardezBanian became the team's president while Olson worked as the head coach and general manager.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Olson |url=https://www.gpshof.com/mark-olson |work=Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame |accessdate=May 2, 2024}}</ref> Olson's three sons Joe, Mike and Ric, all played for the Blades and they quickly turned the team into a league powerhouse.<ref name=PJS>{{cite news|title=Peoria hockey stalwarts Joe and Ric Olson die hours apart: 'We are devastated' |url=https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/columns/cleve-in-the-eve/2019/06/05/peoria-hockey-stalwarts-joe-ric/4979454007/ |work=Journal Star |date=June 4, 2019 |accessdate=May 2, 2024}}</ref>
Former teammates with the [[Pekin Stars]], Pete BardezBanian and Mark Olson formed the Blades in 1971 as an independent outfit at an outdoor rink.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pete BardezBanian |url=https://www.gpshof.com/pete-bardezbanian |work=Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame |accessdate=May 2, 2024}}</ref> A little over a year later, the two were able to get agreements from several other local teams to form a new league called the Continental Hockey League. While still playing for the club, BardezBanian became the team's president while Olson worked as the head coach and general manager.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mark Olson |url=https://www.gpshof.com/mark-olson |work=Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame |accessdate=May 2, 2024}}</ref> Olson's three sons Joe, Mike and Ric, all played for the Blades and they quickly turned the team into a league powerhouse.<ref name=PJS>{{cite news|title=Peoria hockey stalwarts Joe and Ric Olson die hours apart: 'We are devastated' |url=https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/columns/cleve-in-the-eve/2019/06/05/peoria-hockey-stalwarts-joe-ric/4979454007/ |work=Journal Star |date=June 4, 2019 |accessdate=May 2, 2024}}</ref>


==Results==
The Kenosha News reported Peoria as winning the league championship in 1974, though other contemporary accounts were contradictory.<ref>{{cite news|title=Amazing Journey: 5.1 |url=https://kenoshasportsextra.com/amazing-journey-5-1 |work=Kenosha Sports Extra |date=September 26, 2019 |accessdate=May 2, 2024}}</ref> What is certain is that Peoria finished as runners-up in 1975 before winning three consecutive league championships. Before the title run, Ric Olson was on the [[United States men's national ice hockey team|United States national team]] during the run up to the [[1976 Winter Olympics]]. He was the final defenseman cut from the team which would go on to finish 5th.<ref name=PJS></ref>
 
After the club's fifth trip to the finals in 1981, ice hockey had become so popular in Peoria that the Blades became victims of their own success. A brand new arena, the Peoria Civic Center opened in 1982, and the International Hockey League took note. The IHL placed an expansion team in Peoria that fall and the Blades, unable to compete with the pro team, ceased operations. As a nod to the team that had made it all possible, Ric Olson was a member of the Peoria Prancers for its inaugural season and played in four games.
 
For their efforts with the team, both Mark Olson and Pete BardezBanian were later inducted into the Peoria Sports Hall of Fame.
 
==Season-by-season results==
<ref>''Peoria Journal Star'', assorted issues</ref>
<ref>''Peoria Journal Star'', assorted issues</ref>
;1971-72
;1971-72
Line 42: Line 48:


Blades went 5-5-1 on season.
Blades went 5-5-1 on season.
;Continental Hockey League Records
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width=50%
|-
! style="color:white; background:#1731a6; | Season
! style="color:white; background:#1731a6; | GP
! style="color:white; background:#1731a6; | W
! style="color:white; background:#1731a6; | L
! style="color:white; background:#1731a6; | T
! style="color:white; background:#1731a6; | PTS
! style="color:white; background:#1731a6; | GF
! style="color:white; background:#1731a6; | GA
! style="color:white; background:#1731a6;| Place
! style="color:white; background:#1731a6;| Playoffs
|-
| 1972–73  || 11 || 9 || 2 || 0 || – || – || – || 1st || None
|-bgcolor=eeeeee
| 1973–74 || 19 || 12 || 7 || 0 || – || – || – || 1st || None
|-
| 1974–75 || 25 || 14 || 10 || 1 || 35 || 158 || 136 || 2nd || Runner-Up
|-bgcolor=ddffdd
| 1975–76 || 37 || 21 || 14 || 2 || 48 || – || – || 2nd || '''Won Championship'''
|-bgcolor=ddffdd
| 1976–77 || 32 || 23 || 9 || 0 || 46 || 209 || 133 || '''1st''' || '''Won Championship'''
|-bgcolor=ddffdd
| 1977–78 || 34 || 25 || 6 || 3 || 53 || 229 || 104 || '''1st''' || '''Won Championship'''
|-
| 1978–79 || 40 || 23 || 12 || 5 || 51 || 128 || 125 || 3rd || -
|-bgcolor=eeeeee
| 1979–80 || 35 || 13 || 17 || 5 || 31 || 196 || 185 || 4th || -
|-
| 1980–81 || 32 || 20 || 10 || 2 || 42 || 158 || 137 || bgcolor=FFE6BD| '''1st''' || Runner-Up
|-bgcolor=eeeeee
| 1981–82 || 36 || 22 || 11 || 3 || 47 || 254 || 150 || 3rd || Semifinals
|-
! Total || 331 || 200 || 109 || 22 || – || – || – || – || 3 Championships
|}
==External links==
*[https://www.hockeydb.com/stte/peoria-blades-7401.html Hockey DB]
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Ice hockey teams in the United States]]
[[Category:Ice hockey teams in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 18:04, 4 May 2024

Peoria Blades
Peoria Blades.png
City: Peoria, Illinois
League: Continental Hockey League
Founded: 1971
Home Arena: Lakeview Park Rink
Head Coach: Mark Olson
General Manager: Mark Olson

The Peoria Blades were an American semi-professional ice hockey team located in Peoria, Illinois. The team played in the Continental Hockey League for 10 seasons and was the most successful franchise in the history of the league, winning 3 championships.

History

Former teammates with the Pekin Stars, Pete BardezBanian and Mark Olson formed the Blades in 1971 as an independent outfit at an outdoor rink.[1] A little over a year later, the two were able to get agreements from several other local teams to form a new league called the Continental Hockey League. While still playing for the club, BardezBanian became the team's president while Olson worked as the head coach and general manager.[2] Olson's three sons Joe, Mike and Ric, all played for the Blades and they quickly turned the team into a league powerhouse.[3]

The Kenosha News reported Peoria as winning the league championship in 1974, though other contemporary accounts were contradictory.[4] What is certain is that Peoria finished as runners-up in 1975 before winning three consecutive league championships. Before the title run, Ric Olson was on the United States national team during the run up to the 1976 Winter Olympics. He was the final defenseman cut from the team which would go on to finish 5th.[3]

After the club's fifth trip to the finals in 1981, ice hockey had become so popular in Peoria that the Blades became victims of their own success. A brand new arena, the Peoria Civic Center opened in 1982, and the International Hockey League took note. The IHL placed an expansion team in Peoria that fall and the Blades, unable to compete with the pro team, ceased operations. As a nod to the team that had made it all possible, Ric Olson was a member of the Peoria Prancers for its inaugural season and played in four games.

For their efforts with the team, both Mark Olson and Pete BardezBanian were later inducted into the Peoria Sports Hall of Fame.

Season-by-season results

[5]

1971-72
  • 11/27: Iowa State University - Peoria Blades 16:1
  • 12/11: Peoria Blades - Illinois State University B 12:1
  • 1/16: Peoria Blades - Bradley Bees 9:2
  • 1/22: Peoria Blades - Bradley University 4:3
  • 2/5: St. Louis Pepsi Cola - Peoria Blades 5:4
  • 2/5: Peoria Blades - St. Louis Pepsi Cola 4:2
  • 2/11: Peoria Blades - Bradley University
  • 2/19: Chicago Cougars - Peoria Blades 10:7
  • 2/25: Bradley University - Peoria Blades 8:3
  • 2/26: Bradley University - Peoria Blades 4:1
  • 3/11: Peoria Blades - Joliet 6:6

Blades went 5-5-1 on season.

Continental Hockey League Records
Season GP W L T PTS GF GA Place Playoffs
1972–73 11 9 2 0 – – – 1st None
1973–74 19 12 7 0 – – – 1st None
1974–75 25 14 10 1 35 158 136 2nd Runner-Up
1975–76 37 21 14 2 48 – – 2nd Won Championship
1976–77 32 23 9 0 46 209 133 1st Won Championship
1977–78 34 25 6 3 53 229 104 1st Won Championship
1978–79 40 23 12 5 51 128 125 3rd -
1979–80 35 13 17 5 31 196 185 4th -
1980–81 32 20 10 2 42 158 137 1st Runner-Up
1981–82 36 22 11 3 47 254 150 3rd Semifinals
Total 331 200 109 22 – – – – 3 Championships

External links

References

  1. ↑ "Pete BardezBanian", Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved on May 2, 2024. 
  2. ↑ "Mark Olson", Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved on May 2, 2024. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Peoria hockey stalwarts Joe and Ric Olson die hours apart: 'We are devastated'", Journal Star, June 4, 2019. Retrieved on May 2, 2024. 
  4. ↑ "Amazing Journey: 5.1", Kenosha Sports Extra, September 26, 2019. Retrieved on May 2, 2024. 
  5. ↑ Peoria Journal Star, assorted issues
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