Faithful fans are 'goal' of KC Blades
Team's success swells support for hockey action
By Matt Irwin Special to the Kansan
The physical crunch of football, the nonstop action of basketball and the hitting skills of baseball, all done while maneuvering gracefully like a figure skater — that's one way to describe the sport of hockey.
The fascination for professional hockey is growing in Lawrence and throughout the Midwest, especially since the Kansas City Blades started bringing the action locally
"I love hockey. It's an exciting game that really sells itself," said Nate Berman, Overland Park sophomore.
But hockey is not the only reason the Blades have a higher attendance than this time last year, said Bob Kaser, director of media relations and broadcaster.
To entertain people between periods, the Blades have brought in the "San Diego
To draw people from places like Lawrence, the Blades have put together a night of entertainment geared toward all kinds of people, not just hockey fans or people who want to see violence.
Chicken", set up promotions such as winning a car parked on the ice by throwing a paper airplane into the car's sunroof and had shootouts for other prizes.
"You want to create an atmosphere that even if the team gets beat 10 to nothing, people will come out of the building happy."Kaser said.
The Blades also have set up two college nights, including one on Feb. 19 where $10 upper-level tickets are $5.
James Wilcox / KANSAN
For any group of 25 or more people, the Blades have targeted campus groups by charging $8 for their lower-level $12 tickets.
The Kansas City Blades' J.F. Quintin (20) blocks Atlanta's Eric Dubois while Kansas City's Gary Emmons (15) controls the puck. Emmons stole the puck from Duboos, skated the length of the ice and scored. The Blades defeated the Knights 7-6 in overtime Jan. 28.
A winning team is what makes the difference in bringing people to the games, Kaiser said.
"I think it has a lot to do with it. It has more to do with teams that have been established," Kaser said. "Winning is the number one source of promotion."
The Blades have done that again so far this year, with their fourth season record up until Jan. 31 of 23-21-4.
After starting off with a 25-53-4 season in the 1990-91 season, the Blades became the International Hockey League affiliate of the San Jose Sharks the following season. That year they won the Turner Cup, the league championship, and followed it with another winning season in 1992-93.
Yet the Blades' success is not what brought Kevin Koehler, Wellington senior, to the team's first college night this season.
Although Koehler was disappointed that he did not see as much checking as he would have liked, Koehler said he would
After watching NHL hockey on television and hearing how violent the game was and how rowdy the crowd got, Koehler went to observe it first hand.
return.
"It's something for a group of people to do," said Koehler, who had helped organize a trip for Amini and Sellards scholarship hall residents. "I'd like to go back sometime."
This is the Blades goal in trying to get people from places like Lawrence, said Scott Dyess, executive director for the Blades.
"I feel if I can get one person to come and watch a game, they'll have fun and want to come back," Dyss said.
One of those repeat fans is Nate Berman.
"There's fast-paced action. There's vio-
lence," Berman said. "I like the checking, not so much the fighting, but the checking. It's just like a good hit in football."
In spite of his enjoyment of the contact in the game, Berman said he attended games for more than just the violence.
Kaser agreed reluctantly that people liked the game's violence. He said he disagreed that violence was why people came to the games.
"There's no question that a lot of people are into that," Kaser said. "I don't think it has anything to do with violence. I think people come to see hockey. There is constant action."
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February 11, 1994 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN •THE GUIDE TO GOING OUT
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