Oklahoma City Blazers: A walk down memory lane

Long before the Oklahoma City Thunder became the city's sports icon, the people of Oklahoma City packed the stands of what was once the Myriad Convention Center to cheer on the Oklahoma City Blazers. For 17 years, the Blazers entertained fans who came for the action, the goals and yes, those iconic fights on the ice. At the helm, was former Coach Doug Sauter.

“If these walls could talk,” Sauter said as he made his way around the old concourse. “I would make one walk around to say ‘hi’ to the people.”

Sauter remembers taking the job just after the Oklahoma City bombing occurred.

“The bombing took a lot out of the people,” he said. “A lot of people refused to come downtown.

However, he says the team gave them a reason to return, something to rally around.

“We won a championship that first year and we won the hearts of every hockey fan in Oklahoma,” Sauter said.

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As the years passed, the Blazers paved the way for a new sports icon, the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“The Thunder have done such a great job and their having such a tremendous season,” Sauter said. “They’re the Blazers of the 21st century.”

The NBA team will soon play where the Blazers did, in a new arena. This week, the city began the process of demolishing Prairie Surf Studios, previously known as the Cox Convention Center, beginning with the 11,000-seat arena.

“It's a little bit sad to see it go,” he said. “It was wonderful, nothing but fond memories with the people and fans.”

While the team’s home base will soon be gone, the spirit of the Blazers will live on.

“It was a beautiful journey we made a lot of people happy,” Sauter said. “They loved their Blazers.”

Timeline of the demolition: Timeline: Prairie Surf Studios demolition begins in April for new OKC Thunder arena