Team History

1987-1988

  • Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central drops hockey program

1988-1989

  • Kalamazoo Irish Club Hockey team created
  • Coached by Jack Stokes

1989-1990

  • Kalamazoo Blades established as a group led by Jamie Geary
  • First year head coach Pat Ryan led the Blades to a fifth place finish in the Southwest Michigan High School Hockey League

1992-1993

  • Kalamazoo Blades and Kalamazoo Eagles reach agreement on schools assigned to each team
  • Blades receive players from Comstock, Vicksburg, Three Rivers, Galesburg-Augusta, Climax-Scotts, Schoolcraft, Mendon and Kalamazoo home school students
  • Jamie Geary retires as Blades manager/athletic director

1993-1994

  • Coached by Pat Ryan, Kalamazoo Blades claim their first SWMHSHL championship
  • Ron Penny named Blades manager/athletic director

1994-1995

  • After five seasons, coach Pat Ryan resigns
  • New head coach Tyke Jepson leads the Blades to a third place finish in SWMHSHL

1996-1997

  • Kalamazoo Blades claim first place in the Kentwood IceDogs Thanksgiving Tournament

1997-1998

  • Blades claim their second SWMHSHL championship
  • Ryan Penny establishes record for most wins by a Blades goaltender with 49 career wins

1998-1999

  • Kalamazoo Blades compete in first Midget AA district tournament
  • Jeremy Von Eitzen establishes Blades team record for most points recorded by a player with 152 points

1999-2000

  • Guided by Tyke Jepson, Blades capture third SWMHSHL championship
  • Blades win championship at Griff Icehouse Christmas Tournament

2000-2001

  • Tyke Jepson (along with long-time assistants Dan Noteboon and Matt Fletcher) retires after guiding Blades to a 108-67-11 record during his seven years as head coach
  • Ron Penny retires as Blades manager/athletic director
  • Assistant coach Curt Penny promoted to head coach
  • Jim McBarnes named team manager
  • Jamie Geary named athletic director

2002-2003

  • Blades capture first place in Kalamazoo Invitational
  • They also come in second in the Ft. Wayne Big Bear Comet Cup

2003-2004

  • Blades win Ft. Wayne Big Bear Comet Cup
  • They also come in second in the Kalamazoo Invitational and Grand Rapids Sportsweekend Tournament

2004-2005

  • Kalamazoo Blades win SWMHSHL regular season title
  • They come in first in T-Bird Classic and second in the Kalamazoo Invitaitonal
  • Blades finish with third consecutive 20-win season

2006-2007

  • Blades Capture Walter Ernfeldt Tournament Championship
  • Blades Capture Crown Point Tournament Championship
  • Blades Capture Kalamazoo Invitational Championship
  • Blades win 2nd Annual Rival Cup Game
  • David Brennan Retires as Blades Team Representative
  • Terry Merkle named Blades Team Representative
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