blades history

1987-1988

• Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Central drops hockey program

1988-1989

• Kalamazoo Irish Club Hockey team created
• Coached by Jack Stokes

1989-1990

• Kalamazoo Blades established as a group led by Jamie Geary
• First year head coach Pat Ryan led the Blades to a fifth place finish in the Southwest Michigan High School Hockey League

1992-1993

• Kalamazoo Blades and Kalamazoo Eagles reach agreement on schools assigned to each team
• Blades receive players from Comstock, Vicksburg, Three Rivers, Galesburg-Augusta, Climax-Scotts, Schoolcraft, Mendon and Kalamazoo home school students
• Jamie Geary retires as Blades manager/athletic director

1993-1994

• Coached by Pat Ryan, Kalamazoo Blades claim their first SWMHSHL championship
• Ron Penny named Blades manager/athletic director

1994-1995

• After five seasons, coach Pat Ryan resigns
• New head coach Tyke Jepson leads the Blades to a third place finish in SWMHSHL

1996-1997

• Kalamazoo Blades claim first place in the Kentwood Ice Dogs Thanksgiving Tournament

1997-1998

• Blades claim their second SWMHSHL championship
• Ryan Penny establishes record for most wins by a Blades goaltender with 49 career wins

1998-1999

• Kalamazoo Blades compete in first Midget AA district tournament
• Jeremy Von Eitzen establishes Blades team record for most points recorded by a player with 152 points
• Guided by Tyke Jepson, Blades capture third SWMHSHL championship
• Blades win championship at Griff Icehouse Christmas Tournament

2000-2001

• Tyke Jepson (along with long-time assistants Dan Noteboon and Matt Fletcher) retires after guiding Blades to a 108-67-11 record during his seven years as head coach
• Ron Penny retires as Blades manager/athletic director
• Assistant coach Curt Penny promoted to head coach
• Jim McBarnes named team manager
• Jamie Geary named athletic director

2002-2003

• Blades capture first place in Kalamazoo Invitational
• They also come in second in the Ft. Wayne Big Bear Comet Cup

2003-2004

• Blades win Ft. Wayne Big Bear Comet Cup
• They also come in second in the Kalamazoo Invitational and Grand Rapids Sportsweekend Tournament

2004-2005

• Kalamazoo Blades win SWMHSHL regular season title
• They come in first in T-Bird Classic and second in the Kalamazoo Invitaitonal
• Blades finish with third consecutive 20-win season

2006-2007

• Blades Capture Walter Ernfeldt Tournament Championship
• Blades Capture Crown Point Tournament Championship
• Blades Capture Kalamazoo Invitational Championship
• Blades win 2nd Annual Rival Cup Game
• David Brennan Retires as Blades Team Representative
• Terry Merkle named Blades Team Representative

2007-2008

• Blades finish runner up in Walter Ernfeldt Tournament
• Blades finish runner up in Kalamazoo Invitational Tournament
• Blades win 3rd Annual Rival Cup Game
• Blades finish runner up in SWMHSHL League Tournament

2008-2009

• Blades finish runner up in Grandville Thanksgiving Tournament
• Blades win inaugural Utica Stevenson Tournament Championship
• Blades win Kalamazoo Invitational Tournament
• Blades win 4th Annual Rival Cup Game
• Jim McBarnes retires as Blades Team Manager
• Terry Merkle named Blades Team Manager
• Tom Garrett named Blades Team Representative

2009-2010

• Curt Penny retires as head coach
• James Springer named head coach

2010-2011

• Blades finish runner up in Jackson Thanksgiving Tournament
• Blades win Walter Ernfeldt Tournament Championship
• Blades win Big Thaw Tournament Championship

2011-2012

• Eric Babcock named head coach

2012-2013

• Blades make year end playoffs

2013-2014

• Tyler Eddy named head coach
• Blades capture 8th Annual Rivalry Cup
• Terry Merkle retires as Blades Team Manager
• Dave Shepherd named Blades Team Manager

2014-2015

• Blades land two Finnish exchange students, Welcome Vetti Isojarvi and Valteri Vourimaa
• Blades capture 9th Annual Rivalry Cup
• Blades runner-up at Walter Ernfeldt Tournament Championship
• Blades runner-up at MYHockey Tournament, Notre Dame/Compton Championship 
• Valteri Vourimaa and Cody Hagen capture 1st and 2nd, Single Season leading scores in Blades history
• Blades capture least penalized team in the SWMHSHL 

2015-2016 

• Blades land exchange student from Sweden. Welcome Max Angelin.
• Blades Capture 10th Annual Rivalry Cup
• Blades win Championship at Walter Ernfeldt Memorial Tournament

2016-2017

• Blades adopt the Southwest Michigan Blades name.
• Blades win 11th Annual Rivalry Cup(4th in a row)
• Blades finish runner up at Walter Ernfeldt Memorial Tournament
• Blades sweep both Portage Schools, capture 3rd in league. First playoff birth in 4 years.
• 20+ win season
• Team All Academic All State Honors, 3.51 Accumulative GPA
• Coach Eddy wins Coach of the Year

2017-2018

• Blades win Conference Championship(first time in 13 years)
• Blades capture Walter Ernfeldt Memorial Title (top bracket)
• Blades beat Mattawan for first time ever (season sweep)
• Blades finish season ranked #18 in D1; #49 in State(highest ranking ever)
• 25+ win season
• Blades capture first ever League Playoff Championship
• Jeff Haifley sets single season scoring record, 74 points;
• Zach Hattan, Jaxon Dobrolowski, Cole Shafer, Zac Gothard, Parker Lawrence and Jett Hailey all win league awards
• Coach Eddy wins Coach of the Year(2nd)

2018-2019

• SWM Blades enter the MHSHL League(Michiana Highschool Hockey League)
• Ellingson family hosts Finalnds' Kalle Artturi Aho
• Blades win Michiana League Championship 
• Blades finish runner up at Culvers Cornfield Cup
• Blades repeat as SWMHSHL Conference Champions
• Blades go 10-0 for first time in league history
• Parker Lawrence, Jaxon Dobrowolski, Chris Bigelow voted Michiana All Conference
• Coach Eddy and Woodward record 100th win as Blades staff
• Parker Lawrence sets singles season point record, 104 points/45 games 

2019-2020

• Blades get nod for MHSHL City Tournament
• Blades get nod for first ever, Indiana HS State Tournament
• Blades beat Gilmore Academy and St. Ignatius-first time ever
• Parker Lawrence, Chris Bigelow and Blaine Shafer make MHSHL All Conference
• Chase Stenger wins Chris McMillian Award for Academics and Volunteerism

2020-2021 

• Blades welcome Marlon Meyer, exchange student from Germany
• Blades win first Jeff Lafferty Memorial Rivalry Cup, 3-2 OT
• Blades beat Culver Academy for first time ever 
• Blades capture MHSHL League Championship, Founders Trophy
• Asher Smith and Brock Ellingson make All State Academic Team
• Asher Smith and Owen Drake make All Conference Team

2021-2022

• Blades finish runner up to St Joe for the MHSHL Championship
• Blades receive #3 seed in the 4A State bracket, in Fort Wayne
• 5 players receive All Conference Team nominations: Owen Drake, Justin LaGrow, Chase Willcutt, Carter Lehmann and Owen Miller
• Blades capture 2nd Annual Jeff Lafferty Memorial Cup
• Owen Drake obtains back to back MHSHL point and goal leader status
• Justin LaGrow leads the MHSHL in assist and finishes T2 for overall points
• Blades with 35 win season, 2nd all time; 1ST time to State semi finals as well

2022-2023

• Blades capture MHSHL Founders Trophy League Champion; #1 Seed in City Tourney
• Carter Lehmann leads MHSHL in points (34) and goals (20)
• Jarrett LaGrow leads MHSHL in assists (15)
• Chase Willcutt and Adam Weeden combine for 1 GAA in league play; 8/18 shutouts
• MHSHL All Conference Selections: Carter Lehmann, Jarrett LaGrow, Chase Willcutt, Nate Willcutt, Adam Weeden and Will Boyer
• Blades secure #1 seed in 4A state tournament

2023-2024

• Connor Penny family hosts Vili Keranen from Finland
• George Smith leads league in goals, assists and points (34)
• Six players make the MHSHL All Conference Team
• Team 1-Colin Porn G, George Smith F, Mason Lyster
• Team 2-Vili Keranen D, Connor Penny F, James Smith F
• Blades capture first ever MHSHL City Championship
• Blades capture another 30+ win season

2024-2025

• Max Vanfleet hosts Oliver Soininen from Finland