The Kansas City Pla-Mors were a professional ice hockey team. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, they operated within the American Hockey Association (AHA) under various names from 1927 to 1942 and then under the United States Hockey League from 1945 to 1949 as the Kansas City Pla-Mors.
History The franchise was founded by Eddie Livingstone as the Chicago Cardinals in 1926. After a fight over finances and ownership, Livingstone was forcibly removed as team owner and the team was transferred to Kansas City.
In their new home, the team performed well. After two (barely) winning seasons in the first two years, the Pla-Mors (taken from the name of their home rink) won both the regular season and league championship in 1930. Several successful seasons followed and after their second championship in 1933, the team's name was changed to 'Greyhounds'. A third title followed after the change but, after the departure of the head coach Bill Grant, the Greyhounds began to flag. 1935 saw the team post its first losing season in Kansas City, a trend that would continue for the rest of the decade. It wasn't until Johnny Gottselig took over as player/coach mid-way through the 40–41 season that the team recovered. Gottselig led the renamed 'Americans' to consecutive appearance in the league final but the team was unable to continue that run as World War II forced the league to cease operating for several years.
After the war, the United States Hockey League was created from the remnants of the AHA and the Kansas City franchise was restarted. The team took its original name of 'Pla-Mors' and won the first two championships in league history. In 1949, the team changed monikers once more and became the 'Mohawks'. The team played just one season under the new name before folding. Afterwards, a different franchise came to Kansas City under the 'Cowboys' moniker but a year later the entire league ceased operations, ending professional hockey in Kansas City for the remainder of the decade."Revamping expected at U.S. league meet," Toronto Star, June 16, 1951, p. 16.
Season-by-season results AHA SeasonGPWLTPtsFinishCoach(es)Postseason1927–284018148442ndBill GrantLost in Semifinal1928–294017167414thBill Grantmissed1929–3048211314561stBill GrantWon Championship1930–31482816456T–2ndBill GrantLost in Finals1931–324828182562ndBill GrantLost in Semifinal1932–334625201511stBill GrantWon Championship1933–34482618452T–1stMike GoodmanWon Championship1934–35482325046T–2ndMike GoodmanLost in Semifinal1935–364820262405thPudge MacKenziemissed1936–37482123442T–3rdPudge MacKenzieLost in Semifinal1937–384821225425thHelge Bostrommissed1938–395515337305thHelge Bostrommissed1939–404820280405thMelville Keelingmissed1940–41482523050T–2ndBill Hudson / Johnny GottseligLost in Final1941–425031172641st in SouthJohnny GottseligLost in FinalTotal711339312603 Championships
USHL SeasonGPWLTPtsFinishCoach(es)Postseason1945–465635174741stElwin RomnesWon Championship1946–4760292011692nd in NorthernElwin Romnes / Reg HamiltonWon Championship1947–48663527474T–1st in NorthernReg HamiltonLost in Quarterfinal1948–4966302313732nd in NorthernReg HamiltonLost in Quarterfinal1949–5070302812723rdHank BladeLost in SemifinalTotal318159115442 Championships
Notable players
Rudy Ahlin Art Alexandre Frank Ashworth Doug Baldwin George Beach Jim Bedard Andy Bellemer Max Bentley Reg Bentley Hank Blade Helge Bostrom Claude Bourque Milton Brink Adam Brown Roy Burmister Eddie Bush Dick Butler Bob Carse Abbie Cox Jimmy Creighton Bob DeCourcy Victor Desjardins Harry Dick L. S. Dukowski Henry Dyck Gord Fashoway Wilf Field Tom Fowler Emile Francis Jimmy Franks Bill Gadsby Paul Gauthier George Gee Sammy Godin Fred Gordon Johnny Gottselig Haldor Halderson Reg Hamilton Emil Hanson Johnny Harms Fern Headley Jim Henry Fred Hergert Frank Ingram Doug Jackson Jack Jackson Lloyd Jackson George Johnston Butch Keeling Leo Lafrance Bun LaPrairie Edward Leier Pete Leswick Bill Long Sam LoPresti Pudge MacKenzie Joe Matte Joe McCormick Johnny McKinnon Sammy McManus Jack Miller Red Mitchell Bill Mosienko Andy Mulligan Gerald Munro Ralph Nattrass Hickey Nicholson Bert Olmstead Joe Papike Marcel Pelletier Ray Powell Fido Purpur Yip Radley Gordon Reid Leo Reise Harvey Rockburn Al Rollins Charles Shannon Pat Shea Vic Stasiuk Frank Steele Norbert Sterle Doug Stevenson Ken Stewart Ralph Taylor Jack Tomson Norman Tustin Aud Tuten Eddie Wares Nick Wasnie Art Wiebe Ralph Wycherley
bold in the Hockey Hall of Fame
References
External links Kansas City Hockey History Kansas City Greyhounds profile at The Internet Hockey Database