Arkansas Riverblades
The Arkansas Riverblades began play at (then) brand new Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, for the 1999-00 season. The team had originally been named the Arkansas Razorblades, complete with a hockey playing hog logo, but the University of Arkansas wasn't agreeable to that and before the Razorblades ever took the ice, they were changed to the Riverblades.Â
The Riverblades directly competed against the Arkansas Glaciercats who played at the older Barton Coliseum across the river about 5 miles away. The Glaciercats were in their second season at the time and would lose the cross-town battle, folding at the end of the year.Â
In their second season, the Riverblades would hit their stride on the ice and go 34-24 and make it to the second round of the playoffs. The next two years the team would win more than 30 games and make the playoffs once, continuing success on the ice. However, the departure of the of the Glaciercats didn't end up doubling up the Riverblades' crowds, and after a change in ownership the team would cease operations in 2003.Â
