Kansas City has had teams in the American Hockey Association, United States Hockey League, Central Hockey League, International Hockey League, National Hockey League, United Hockey League, and ECHL.

KC professional hockey dates back to 1927. The city’s first team was the Pla-Mors of the American Hockey Association. The Pla-Mors name changed to Greyhounds for a few years. The team was sold, and the name changed to Americans. After World War II, the Pla-Mors name resurfaced in the United States Hockey League. To be followed by the Mohawks name, Cowboys name (for a grand total of 4 games), and Royals name. So, there was a Kansas City Royals before the two-time World Series champion baseball team.

The United States Hockey League suspended operations in 1951, so KC was left without a team until 1967, when the St. Louis Blues Central Hockey League affiliate came to the American Royal Arena to play. The team was under .500 for four of its five years, but KC had become the center of the CHL. The league moved their offices from Fort Worth to KC. The city was becoming a hot bed of hockey, with an amateur hockey association forming for people 19 years and older. Youth leagues were also popping up.

After Kemper Arena opened it was home to the NHL Scouts. The Scouts resided there for two years until the franchise moved to Denver to become the Colorado Rockies. Later becoming the New Jersey Devils. After the Scouts moved, the CHL Blues came back. In the 1976-77 season, they won the title. The Blues moved their affiliate to Salt Lake City, and the KC Blues dissolved.

The Detroit Red Wings stepped in, placing their CHL affiliate in KC. They played in KC from 1977-79. But on April 14, 1979, hockey was gone, as the Wings moved their affiliate to Glen Falls, NY.

After an eleven-year absence, pro hockey was welcomed back. On March 16, 1990, the city council voted 11-0 to approve the newest hockey franchise. Russell and Diane Parker brought the suspended franchise of the Toledo Goaldiggers to town. They became known as the Blades. The Blades ceased operations in June 2001.

After three years of campaigning, complaining, and speculating, hockey came back. A local owner came forward to bring KC a United Hockey League team. On July 8, 2004, Chillicothe resident Stephen Franke announced he was bringing hockey back. A name the team contest was held. The top three choices were: Twisters, Outlaws, and Express. Gail Rowland of Overland Park was the lucky winner of tickets for life by submitting the name Outlaws. The Outlaws hired Darryl Williams as coach. They played their first game October 15, 2004. The team folded at the end of the season, after a 28-45-7 record.

Four and a half years after the Outlaws folded, plans were announced for a Central Hockey League team to take up residence at the new Independence Events Center (Later renamed Cable Dahmer Arena). On June 24, 2009, the team was given the name Missouri Mavericks. While the Mavericks were originally in the CHL, they have moved to the ECHL October 7th, 2014, when the CHL folded.

In February of 2015, Lamar Hunt, Jr., son of late Kansas City Chiefs owner, purchased the team. He changed the franchise from the Missouri Mavericks to the Kansas City Mavericks, to reflect the team belonging to the whole KC metro. The start of the 2023-2024 season marks the 15th anniversary of the franchise.