Kansas City Scouts

The Kansas City Scouts were an NHL team that existed from 1974–1976.

Arena: Kemper Arena

Uniform colours: red, white, blue and gold

Logo design: A blue American Indian figure with a single feather on his head riding a horse, resembling a famous statue in Kansas City, Missouri, also known as The Scout. Beside the horse is a stylized "KC" in yellow.

Franchise history

The Kansas City Scouts were a National Hockey League expansion team that began operation in 1974, after the city was awarded a franchise on June 8, 1972. The first choice for a nickname was the MO-Hawks, an attempt to appeal to both the state of Kansas and the state of Missouri by playing off the Jayhawk name and incorporating Missouri's postal abbreviation, but the name was vetoed by the Chicago Blackhawks. The second choice, the Scouts, was taken.

They played their home games at the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. The team was not a particular success either at the gate or on the ice, failing even to lead the league in losses (a distinction that went to the Washington Capitals, a fellow expansion team). Scout Steve Durbano did lead the league in penalty minutes during the 1975–76 season, however. For a time in 1976, the team looked like it could make the playoffs, but the hopes were dashed by a 27-game losing streak. Efforts by management to save the franchise by selling 8,000 season tickets failed, only selling 2,000.

After two seasons, with its owners $900,000 in debt, the team left to be come the Colorado Rockies, who in turn became the New Jersey Devils after 1982. In this, the Scouts gained the distinction of becoming the first NHL team since the 1934–35 season to relocate.

The Devils are now owned by a group headed by George Steinbrenner.

Head coaches

Bep Guidolin 1974/75–1975/76

Sid Abel 1975/76

Eddie Bush 1975/76

Team captains

Simon Nolet 1974–76