Kentucky Thoroughblades

The Kentucky Thoroughblades were a minor professional 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.
==History==
The Thoroughblades were the first professional ice hockey team to play in Lexington, Kentucky. The award winning Logo was created by Wilton, NY based McKinley Griffen Design and Advertising. Initially, attendance was high. During the 1997–98 season, Kentucky averaged 7,741 fans per game, despite a losing record on ice. 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.
==Season-by-season results==
===Regular season===
Season 	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	OTL	Points	Goalsfor	Goalsagainst	Standing
1996–97	80 	36 	35 	9 	0 	81 	278 	284 	3rd, Mid-Atlantic
1997–98	80 	29 	39 	9 	3 	70 	241 	278 	3rd, Mid-Atlantic
1998–99	80 	44 	26 	7 	3 	98 	272 	220 	2nd, Mid-Atlantic
1999–00	80 	42 	25 	9 	4 	97 	250 	211 	1st, Mid-Atlantic
2000–01	80 	42 	25 	12 	1 	97 	273 	212 	1st, South
===Playoffs===
Season 	1st round 	2nd round 	3rd round	Finals
1996–97	L, 1-3, Hershey 	— 	— 	—
1997–98	L, 0-3, Hershey 	— 	— 	—
1998–99	W, 3-2, Hershey 	L, 3-4, Philadelphia	— 	—
1999–00	W, 3-1, Louisville	L, 1-4, Hershey 	— 	—
2000–01	L, 0-3,Hershey 	— 	— 	—
Notable players
Miikka Kiprusoff
Johan Hedberg
Evgeni Nabokov
Vesa Toskala
Jonathan Cheechoo
Dan Boyle
Zdeno Chara
Zoltán Bátovský
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)
== Role In Youth Hockey ==
Former Thoroughblades player Chris Lipsett (also alumni of Dayton Gems, etc.) has made an impact, helping youth hockey grow in Kentucky by working with a new program at the Lexington Ice and Recreation Center. Many other players have chipped in as well, helping coach and manage the Central Kentucky Thoroughbreds, which has grown in number of players dramatically over the years. 
==External links==
* Stats from hockeydb.com
Category:American Hockey League team
Category:American ice hockey teams
Category:Established in 1996
Category:Disestablished in 2001
Category:American Hockey League teams