Los Angeles Blades
CityInglewood, California
Founded1993
Folded1997
Home arenaGreat Western Forum
ColorsDark Blue, Black, Silver, White

       

Murphy CupsNone
Conference ChampionshipsNone
Division Championships1994
Owner(s)Jeanie Buss
Franchise history
Los Angeles Blades
(1993–1997)

The Los Angeles Blades were a professional inline hockey team based in Los Angeles, California.[1] The Blades played in Roller Hockey International from 1993–1997 and played their home games at the Great Western Forum.[2]

Two other franchises have used the name Los Angeles Blades: the Pacific Hockey League team in 1978–79 and the Western Hockey League team from 1961 to 1967.

Franchise history

The Blades were one of 12 original RHI teams and were owned by Jeanie Buss, daughter of then-Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss.[3] They played a summer schedule at the Great Western Forum, which was then the home of the NBA's Lakers and the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. The Blades posted winning records in four of the five seasons it operated, and made the playoffs every year -- unfortunately, they were eliminated all five times by their local rivals, the Anaheim Bullfrogs. RHI suspended operations after the 1997 season, and when it returned in 1999, with eight teams, the Blades were not among them. RHI folded, for good, after the 1999 season.

Season-by-season record

Season GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PIM Finish Playoff Record
1993 14 8 6 0 16 110 107 224 2nd, Buss Won Quarterfinal (Toronto), 6–5
Lost Semifinal (Anaheim), 13–4
1994 22 18 4 0 36 180 133 406 1st, Pacific Won Pacific Semifinal (San Diego), 14–6, 9–8
Lost Pacific Final (Anaheim), 9–6, 9–8
1995 24 9 10 5 23 147 164 458 4th, Pacific Lost Western Quarterfinal (Anaheim), 8–10, 9–1, 3–0
1996 28 16 11 1 33 160 155 438 2nd, Pacific Lost Pacific Final (Anaheim), 7–5, 8–4
1997 24 11 8 5 27 166 155 405 3rd, Western Lost Western Semifinal (Anaheim), 7–2, 2–5, 1–0
RHI Totals 112 63 39 11 135 763 714 1,931

References

  1. ^ Barry, Sal (July 11, 2019). "Roller Hockey International: An oral history". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  2. ^ Horrow, Rick; Swatek, Karla (2010). Beyond the Box $core: An Insider's Guide to the $750 Billion Business of Sports. Morgan James Publishing p. 110. ISBN 978-1-6003-7643-6.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Pucin, Diane (March 3, 2013). "Jerry Buss used team tennis, roller hockey to train his children". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
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