The Central Hockey League (CHL) today announced the participating teams that will compete in the league's 19th season beginning on Friday, October 15, 2010. Although some material matters still remain to be worked out with the International Hockey League (IHL), the CHL will welcome four teams from the IHL who will join 13 returning CHL teams for the 2010-11 season. The participating teams will compete in two conferences during the season. The four existing IHL markets will be the three-time defending Turner Cup Champion Fort Wayne Komets, the Bloomington PrairieThunder, the Dayton Gems and the Quad City Mallards.
“The CHL and IHL are working on all the logistics of this groundbreaking association between our two great leagues,” said Michael Franke, IHL Chairman of the Board. “Everything is moving along well and we are very excited about the end result that could be formally announced soon. It has been a complete pleasure working with the entire Central Hockey League.”
The 2009-10 season saw close to two million CHL fans walk through the turnstiles during the regular season and playoffs culminating with the Rapid City Rush winning the CHL's Ray Miron Presidents' Cup in just their second season as a franchise.
The returning CHL teams for the 2010-11 season are the Allen Americans, Arizona Sundogs, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Colorado Eagles, Laredo Bucks, Mississippi RiverKings, Missouri Mavericks, Odessa Jackalopes, Rapid City Rush, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, Texas Brahmas, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder.“The compilation of teams for the CHL's 19th season couldn't be better and we couldn't have more momentum heading into the season,” said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner. “The new additions from the IHL will be welcomed with open arms and could make this upcoming season one of the most entertaining and competitive in our history. We can't wait to drop the puck in October.”
Announcements regarding playoff format, conference alignment, additional cities for the 2010-11 season and other team related issues will be made in the very near future and the 2010-11 CHL regular season schedule is slated to be released in July.
Comments
Key thing may be in the last paragraph. I'm not sure this adds anything we didn't already know or moves the ball any further. I've been told Flint, Port Huron and Evansville are possibly still part of this, and negotiations are ongoing in those cities.
Awesome, love the idea of have two divisions w/ in the CHL.
If they come along that makes a 20 team league. That would be great!
Why does Mr. Franke keep using the term "association"? I don't follow the logic in using that term when it appears everything will be under the CHL. Any insight into to that play on words Blake? He uses "association" when the majority are using the word merger...
I wonder if Larry has a copy of "Streets of Laredo"?
I would not be surprised to see Larry Sterling pplaying for the Komets. This sounds better :)
because it is not a merger, Shane, as I keep telling you guys. If it was a merger, don't you think they would have changed it in their own press release?
ttp://www.mlive.com/generals/index.ssf/2010/06/owner_brandon_bordeaux_interna.html
Thanks for explaining that Blake.
Sorry, Shane, didn't mean to snap on you. I hate when they announce stuff like this at 6 p.m. No, I don't have a life, and No, I didn't already have plans for tonight. (sarcasm).
I heard from some folks today that this will be a two-year working agreement. By the end of the agreement, either there will be one nation-wide AA league or they two will be strong enough to go their separate ways. There's some pretty heavy stuff being discussed all over minor league hockey. I'm just not sure every one got involved in time to make anything else happen in time for next season. There are some ECHL teams who are very upset their leadership decided to not get involved.
Any chance that CHL teams will join the International Conferance to round this thing out more neatly....
Or should be be prepared to have a conference with 4-6 teams?
I will hold my breath waiting for your answer Super Fan......LOL
I don't know.
Good stuff Blake....
Thanks for not allowing me to hold my breath to death too.....
Exhale Hit. Hit, exhale..... HIT, EXHALE!!!!!!
Sooooo, kind of like we figured all along, a lot going on behind closed doors and a little bit more info put out because of pressure from the press. Not all things are decided yet so some questions just can't be answered.
It is looking exciting, and as has been said before, everything won't be worked out even this season. The two year agreement between the IHL and CHL sounds reasonable, I'm surprised with the one AA league in two years or separate, back to three leagues part. I'm still guessing at least five years for that to happen.
"Now I saw, though too late, the Folly of beginning a Work before we count the Cost, and before we judge rightly of our own Strength to go through with it." --Robinson Crusoe in Daniel Defoe's "Robinson Crusoe"
Please gentlemen, heed the advise and take your time and do it right.
Ditto Steve! I will not beat that dead horse. Very well said.
Blake, can we have the headline in Red when they (CIHL) actually puts out some real info we can sink our teeth into and discuss...lol Thanks for the update.
i think one key thing here to not gloss over is the fact that some of the echl teams were upset that the echl wouldnt participate. this leads me to believe that we may see some defections next year which would fall into the chl ihl model of geographical leagues.
I don't see Flint/PH travelling to Texas. What are they going to use? The old airplane from Major League?
Notice my mouth is still shut. My God people.....get a life.
Says the Pot.......................
Can we get rid of Boucher and keep Timmy and get Larry? We all know that's my goalie dream-team :D And it would make for some interesting stories coming out of the locker room about whether or not they can get along. Seems like Timmy is cool with Larry, but after talking to Larry and reading his interview with Cohn it seems he still has a sore spot named Tim Haun.
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!