the franchise was part of the united states hockey league as the topeka scarecrows from 2001–03. in 2003 the ushl scarecrows were moved to st. louis, missouri for the 2003–04 season and renamed the heartland eagles. the team struggled on and off the ice in st. louis. the team finished in last place in the east division and also suffered from low attendance. the heartland eagles were granted a one-year voluntary suspension of operations and did not play during the 2004–05 ushl season. the franchise folded in the summer of 2005 after failing to find a more suitable home for the team in the st. louis metro area.