Kansas City has a rich and evolving history in the world of hockey, from professional leagues to high school associations. This article explores the journey of hockey in Kansas City, highlighting key teams, leagues, and significant moments that have shaped the sport in the region.
The Scout statue in Kansas City’s Penn Valley Park. Photo by Benjamin White via Wiki Commons.
Early Professional Hockey in Kansas City
Kansas City's foray into professional hockey dates back to 1927 with the Pla-Mors of the American Hockey Association. The team later changed its name to the Greyhounds, and subsequently to the Americans. After World War II, the Pla-Mors name resurfaced in the United States Hockey League (USHL), followed by the Mohawks, Cowboys, and Royals.
In 1974, the National Hockey League (NHL) was in a battle with the rival World Hockey Association (WHA). To counter the WHA, the NHL decided to add two more teams in 1974 to begin play in 1976 and awarded franchises to Kansas City and Washington, D.C.
The new pro hockey team in Kansas City, the town’s first after a number of minor league clubs, was promising. A new venue was scheduled to open in time for the team’s first season in 1974, the then state-of-the-art Kemper Arena, which they would share with the NBA’s Kansas City-Omaha Kings.
Read also: A Brief NHL Era in Kansas City
Initially, the team chose the name Mohawks, which paid homage to a former minor league team and combined Missouri’s postal abbreviation with the nickname of Kansas residents. However, the Chicago Black Hawks objected due to the similarity in names. A name-the-team contest then produced "Scouts," inspired by a local statue that overlooks downtown from its location in Penn Valley Park. The statue, dedicated in 1922, honors the area’s Native American tribes.
The Kansas City Scouts (1974-1976)
After two years of planning, the Scouts hit the ice on October 9, 1974, against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The contest was part of an eight-game road trip scheduled, in part, due to construction delays at Kemper Arena. On November 2, 1974, the Scouts finally played their home opener in Kemper Arena against the Chicago Black Hawks in front of 14,758 fans. The home side fell 4-3. The team finally notched its first win the next night in Washington, D.C., beating the Capitals, the league’s other expansion team, 5-4.
The Scouts finished their first season with a record of 15-54-11, good for last in the Smythe Division. Only the Capitals fared worse, finishing 8-67-5.
After a promising start to the 1975-76 season, the Scouts came to within striking distance of a playoff spot, the ice gave way. A second-half slump erased any hope of a post-season appearance, and the Scouts finished with an even worse record than the one they had posted in their first season, 12-56-12.
The Scouts' 37-person syndicate couldn’t absorb the Scouts’ losses, nor could they afford to have patience while the team evolved. Average attendance did improve slightly in the team’s second year, from 7,356 to 7,892, but that was far below the 13,200 fans per game the league was averaging. The Scouts were next to last in attendance for both seasons, with only the California Golden Seals drawing fewer fans.
Read also: Convenient Ski Services in Park City
On July 26, 1976, the Scouts were sold to Denver-based oilman Jack A. Vickers and were renamed the Colorado Rockies.
The Kansas City Blades (1990-2001)
In 1990, the city welcomed a team in the International Hockey League (IHL) when the dormant Toledo Goaldiggers franchise was revived as the Kansas City Blades. Prior to the Blades arrival in KC they were the former franchise of Toledo, Ohio (Goaldiggers, 1974-1986). In a poll Jazz was the most popular entry for a nickname, but owners (Russ and Diane Parker) chose another entry, Blades.
The same year the Blades began play in the IHL, the San Diego Gulls and Albany Choppers started. The Choppers didn’t finish the season. In eleven seasons, the team qualified for the playoffs in seven, with a 38-32 record in the post season, winning 8 of 14 playoff series. In 1991, the Blades started a five-year affiliation with the NHL San Jose Sharks. Many top prospects of the Sharks played for the Blades. In the 1992-1993 season, the Blades had the league’s winningest goalie for the season. Wade Flaherty won 34 games.
In March 1996, the Blades were purchased by Dan and Pam DeVos of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mr. DeVos was co-owner of the Grand Rapids Griffins (IHL) with David Van Andel. That off-season, the Sharks cut ties with the Blades. They moved their affiliation to a new AHL team, Kentucky Thoroughblades. The Blades set up shop as an independent from 1996-2000. In that time, they received many prospects from other NHL teams on-loan.
During the 1999-2000 season, the Tenth Anniversary was celebrated by naming a Tenth-Anniversary Team. Forwards Pat Ferschweiler, Dody Wood, and Gary Emmons, Defensemen Mike Colman, Claudio Scremin, Goalie Wade Flaherty, and Coach Kevin Constantine were voted to the team by fans. The celebrating was marred, though as DeVos threatened to move the team to Oklahoma City. For the 2000-2001 season, the Blades signed a two-year affiliation agreement deal with the NHL Vancouver Canucks. Many players saw time with the NHL parent club.
Read also: Granite City Lumberjacks: A Legacy of Hockey
On June 4, 2001, after several weeks of speculation, the International Hockey League folded. The last chance for the Blades was the San Jose Sharks relocating their newly purchased AHL franchise in KC.
Here's a summary of the Kansas City Blades' key milestones:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1990 | Revival of the Toledo Goaldiggers franchise as the Kansas City Blades |
| 1991 | Start of a five-year affiliation with the NHL San Jose Sharks |
| 1992-1993 | Wade Flaherty wins the league's winningest goalie award |
| 1996 | San Jose Sharks move affiliation to Kentucky Thoroughblades |
| 2000-2001 | Signed affiliation agreement with the NHL Vancouver Canucks |
| June 4, 2001 | The International Hockey League folded |
The Missouri Mavericks (2009-Present)
Plans were announced for a Central Hockey League team to take up residence at the new Independence Events Center. On June 24, 2009, the team was given the name Missouri Mavericks. In February of 2015, Lamar Hunt, Jr., son of late Kansas City Chiefs owner, purchased the team. He changed the franchise from the Missouri Mavericks to the Kansas City Mavericks, to reflect the team belonging to the whole KC metro.
On July 8, 2004, Chillicothe resident Stephen Franke announced he was bringing hockey back. Gail Rowland of Overland Park was the lucky winner of tickets for life by submitting the name Outlaws. The Outlaws hired Darryl Williams as coach. They played their first game October 15, 2004.
Four and a half years after the Outlaws folded, plans were announced for a Central Hockey League team to take up residence at the new Independence Events Center (Later renamed Cable Dahmer Arena). On June 24, 2009, the team was given the name Missouri Mavericks.
In February of 2015, Lamar Hunt, Jr., son of late Kansas City Chiefs owner, purchased the team. He changed the franchise from the Missouri Mavericks to the Kansas City Mavericks, to reflect the team belonging to the whole KC metro.
High School Hockey in Kansas City
High school hockey in Missouri consists of two leagues centered around St. Louis and Kansas City. The Mid-States Club Hockey Association (MSCHA) is the main high school hockey league in the St. Louis metro area. Schools in the northwest, southwest, central, and western portions of Missouri are members of the Mid America High School Hockey League (MAHSHL).
Mid America High School Hockey League (MAHSHL)
The MAHSHL includes teams from Arkansas, Oklahoma, northern, western, and central Missouri, as well as eastern and southern Kansas. Established for the 2009-2010 season, the MAHSHL replaced the Kansas City Metro Area High School Hockey League (KCMAHSHL). Notably, only one team in the MAHSHL is affiliated with a specific high school, while the remaining teams are aligned with a group of school districts.
The Kansas City Stars are a part of the Mid America High School Hockey League (MAHSHL). The Kansas City Stars team colors are Navy, Red and White. As of the 2024-2025 season, the Kansas City Stars Roster has no data found.
Mid-States Club Hockey Association (MSCHA)
Originally known as the Area High School Club Hockey League, the MSCHA was founded in 1971 with support from Union Electric and the St. Louis Blues. Eight teams contested that first season, with DeSmet winning the first championship. Of the eight teams that played that first year, only three can claim to have been in every Mid-States season: SLUH, CBC, and DeSmet.
Map of Missouri with counties named.
The Kansas City Stars Today
The 2024-2025 Kansas City Stars team plays in the United States High School league. The Kansas City Stars Roster has no data found. They are located in Kansas City, MO.