St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are an ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL). They began in 1967. They have won the Stanley Cup championship once in 2019, though they made the finals in each of their first three seasons. The Blues won the President's Trophy as top team in the regular season in the year 2000.
St. Louis Blues | |
---|---|
Conference | Western |
Division | Central |
Founded | 1967 |
History | St. Louis Blues 1967–present |
Home arena | Enterprise Center |
City | St. Louis, Missouri |
Colors | Royal blue, gold, navy blue, white[1][2] |
Media | Fox Sports Midwest 101 ESPN |
Owner(s) | SLB Acquisition Holdings LLC (Tom Stillman, chairman and governor) |
General manager | Doug Armstrong |
Head coach | Craig Berube |
Captain | Ryan O'Reilly |
Minor league affiliates | Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL) |
Stanley Cups | 1 (2018–19) |
Conference championships | 1 (2018–19) |
Presidents' Trophies | 1 (1999–2000) |
Division championships | 10 (1968–69, 1969–70, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1999–2000, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2019–20) |
Official website | nhl |
Origin
The name Blues is a pun (play on words) between the colour blue and Blues music; thus a blue note is the team's logo. There is a song entitled St. Louis Blues.
History
First years
In their first years, they had a good team because of experienced players such as goaltender Glenn Hall. In 1968 Glenn Hall won the Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player in the playoffs. But the team did not win in 1968. They had some trouble in the 1970s. In 1980-81 Mike Liut was named best goalie in the NHL. The 1980s were a good decade for the Blues. Mike Liut, Bernie Federko, Doug Gilmour, and Joe Mullen were all important players for the team in the 1980s.
Later years
The 1990s also were a good decade. Brett Hull led the NHL in goals in 1990, 1991, and 1992, with the help of centre Adam Oates. Hull is the son of Chicago Blackhawks star Bobby Hull. Brett Hull won the Hart Trophy as most valuable player in 1991. Curtis Joseph was a strong goaltender in the 1990s. Al MacInnis (1999) and Chris Pronger (2000) each won the Norris Trophy for best defence; Pronger also won the Hart Trophy in the year 2000. Doug Weight, Pavol Demitra, and Keith Tkachuk were also strong players in the early 21st century. On June 12, 2019, the Blues won their first after defeating the Boston Bruins in game seven of the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals.
St. Louis Blues Media
Jim Roberts was the first selected skater by the Blues in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. He played with the Blues from 1967 to 1972.
Drafted by the Blues in 1976, Bernie Federko played with the team from 1976 to 1989. He holds the record for games played with the Blues.
The Blues acquired Brett Hull through a trade in March 1988. Playing with the team until 1998, he holds the record for goals scored with the team.
Keith Tkachuk with the Blues. During his time with the team he became the third American player to score 500 goals, and the sixth American player to reach 1,000 points.
David Backes was named the 20th team captain of the Blues, and remained as captain until 2016.
The Blues hosted the Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium for the 2017 NHL Winter Classic.
Patrick Maroon with the Stanley Cup at the Blues' victory parade following the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals.
Before the 2014–15 season, the team released new home and away jerseys that were similar to those worn in the early 2000s. T. J. Oshie (left) models the blue home jersey, while Alex Pietrangelo models the white road jersey.
Introduced in October 2007, Louie the Bear is the mascot for the St. Louis Blues.
References
- ↑ Blues Unveil New Uniform at FANfest. NHL Enterprises, L.P.. September 15, 2007. https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/blues-unveil-new-uniform-at-fanfest/c-432483. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
- ↑ "Team Name and Emblem" (PDF). 2017–18 St. Louis Blues Media Guide. NHL Enterprises, LP. September 25, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
The Blues' third jersey was worn for the first time on, Nov. 21, 2008 vs. the Anaheim Ducks. In contrast to previous Blues uniforms which were (and are) primarily accented in royal blue and gold, the third jersey and matching socks lean toward navy blue and white.