Arkansas RiverBlades

Arkansas RiverBlades
founding	1998
resolution	2003
history	Arkansas River Blades 1998-2003
Stadion	Alltel Arena
Location	North Little Rock , Arkansas
Team colors	blue, silver, white, black, red
league	East Coast Hockey League
owner	Equity broadcasting
Kelly Cups	no

The Arkansas RiverBlades were an American ice hockey team from North Little Rock , Arkansas . The team played in the East Coast Hockey League from 1998 to 2003 .

history

The Arkansas RiverBlades were founded in 1998 as a franchise of the East Coast Hockey League . After the Alltel Arena was completed , the team began playing in the ECHL in the 1999/2000 season. Previously, the club owners had to change the name and logo of the team, which was originally to be called Arkansas RazorBlades . The University of Arkansas declined, however, as their sports teams play under the Razorbacks name. In addition, the choice of RiverBlades was criticized for their slogan. Based on the motto of the local professional baseball team Arkansas Travalers “Greatest Game on Dirt” , the slogan “Greatest Game on Ice” was chosen . In their first season, the RiverBlades were in direct competition with their city rivals Arkansas GlacierCats from the Western Professional Hockey League . However, due to financial difficulties, he had to stop playing in 2000.

Their most successful season completed the Arkansas RiverBlades in the 2000/01 season, when they first finished the regular season in fifth place in the Southwest Division, before they in the playoffs for the Kelly Cup after a victory over the Baton Rouge Kingfish in the second Round at the South Carolina Stingrays failed. Following the 2002/03 season, the franchise was terminated after Equity Broadcasting, the company that owned the RiverBlades, terminated the Alltel Arena lease.

Season statistics

Abbreviations: GP = games, W = wins, L = defeats, T = draws, OTL = defeats after overtime, SOL = defeats after shootout , Pts = points, GF = goals scored, GA = goals against, PIM = penalty minutes

season	GP	W.	L.	T	OTL	SOL	Pts	GF	GA	space	Playoffs
1999/00	70	18th	49	-	3	-	39	192	316	9th, Southwest	not qualified
2000/01	72	34	24	14th	-	-	82	237	232	5th, Southwest	Defeat in the second round
2001/02	72	31	31	10	-	-	72	189	206	7th, Southwest	not qualified
2002/03	72	37	24	11	-	-	85	238	236	3rd, Southwest	Defeat in the first round

Team records

Career records

Games: 215 Jason Bermingham

Goals: 89 Jason Bermingham

Assists: 102 Eric Long

Points: 187 Jason Bermingham

Penalty Minutes: 332 Mark Scott

Known players

• James Desmarais
• Scott Fankhouser
• Vernon Fiddler
• Trevor Gallant
• Philippe Lakos
• Mikhail Grigoryevich Krawez

Web links

• The Internet Hockey Database Statistics Arkansas RiverBlades
• The Internet Hockey Database - Player List Arkansas RiverBlades