Kentucky Thoroughblades
City	Lexington, Kentucky
League	American Hockey League
Operated	1996 to 2001
Home arena	Rupp Arena
Colors	Spruce, plum and white
Franchise history
1996 to 2001	Kentucky Thoroughblades
2001 to 2006	Cleveland Barons
2006 to present	Worcester Sharks
Championships
Division Championships	two (1999–00, 2000–01)

The Kentucky Thoroughblades were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, who existed from 1996 to 2001. The Thoroughblades were based in Lexington, Kentucky, playing home games at Rupp Arena. The Thoroughblades were an affiliate of the NHL's San Jose Sharks.

[edit] History

The Thoroughblades were the first professional ice hockey team to play in Lexington, Kentucky. Initially, attendance was high. During the 1997–98 season, Kentucky averaged 7,741 fans per game, despite a losing record on ice. [1]. Attendance decreased in the next three seasons, even with two consecutive division championships. In their final season, attendance averaged only 4,461 fans per game.

In 2001, the team moved to Cleveland, Ohio, becoming the Cleveland Barons. In 2006, the team then moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, becoming the Worcester Sharks.

The void in Lexington was replaced in 2001, by the another minor league hockey team, the Lexington Men O' War, lasting one season in Lexington.

[edit] Season-by-season results

[edit] Regular season

[edit] Playoffs

Notables

Miikka Kiprusoff

Johan Hedberg

Evgeni Nabokov

Vesa Toskala

Jonathan Cheechoo

Dan Boyle

Zdeno Chara

Andy Lundbohm

Matt Bradley

Garrett Burnett

Career leaders

Goals: 88 (Steve Guolla, 1996–99)

Assists: 132 (Steve Guolla, 1996–99)

Points: 220 (Steve Guolla, 1996–99)

PIM: 692 (Garrett Burnett, 1998–00)

[edit] External links

• Stats from hockeydb.com

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