The Central Hockey League has announced the new conference alignments for the 2010-2011 season. This was an expected announcement, as the Southern Conference lost two teams since last season (Amarillo, who disbanded, and Corpus Christi, who transitioned to an NAHL team). Also, the CHL and IHL joined together in June, and five teams from the IHL are now in this “new CHL”, meaning they had to find a home.
All of the teams who are coming over from the IHL have found a home in the Northern Conference – Bloomington, Dayton, Evansville, Fort Wayne and Quad City. This means three teams who were in the Northern Conference last year (Bossier-Shreveport, Mississippi and Tulsa) now call the Southern Conference home.
The league also announced that each division will have a name that is “reflective of the histories of both the CHL and IHL and new trophies will be introduced for the conference champions, the regular season champions and the league champions.” Does this mean that the Ray Miron Cup will no longer be given to the league champs? Will it be the name of the trophy given to the Southern Conference champs? What will this new trophy the CHL champions will hoist be called? Interesting questions that will be answered soon.
Here is the CHL’s press release:
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(Tempe, Arizona) – The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today the conference alignment for the 18 participating teams for the 2010-11 season as well as the dates of each team’s home openers this Fall. The CHL announced on June 1 that they have affiliated with the International Hockey League (IHL) marking the 19th year of hockey for the CHL and the 60th year of professional hockey for the IHL.
The new conference alignment will split the teams into two conferences of nine teams with the conference reflecting the geography of the North and South. In the very near future, the two conferences will be given names reflective of the histories of both the CHL and IHL and new trophies will be introduced for the conference champions, the regular season champions and the league champions.
“We are very excited about the divide between the two conferences and feel the balance and rivalries created will be great for all fans,” said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner. “Followers of both the CHL and IHL will enjoy the introduction of new teams as opponents and the formation of new rivalries.”
The league’s Board of Governors has approved the following conference alignment for the 2010-11 season:
North
Bloomington PrairieThunder
Colorado Eagles
Dayton Gems
Evansville IceMen
Fort Wayne Komets
Missouri Mavericks
Quad City Mallards
Rapid City Rush
Wichita Thunder
South
Allen Americans
Arizona Sundogs
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Laredo Bucks
Mississippi RiverKings
Odessa Jackalopes
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Texas Brahmas
Tulsa Oilers
Opening night for the 19th CHL season will be Friday, October 15th when 12 teams will take the ice marking six home opening games. Opening night hosts will be the Allen Americans, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Colorado Eagles, Missouri Mavericks, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees and Tulsa Oilers.
The reigning Ray Miron Presidents’ Cup Champion Rapid City Rush will open their 2010-11 season on Saturday, October 23 and the team that hoisted the International Hockey League’s Turner Cup as the league champions, the Fort Wayne Komets, will open their home schedule on Saturday, October 16.
The dates of the home openers for the CHL’s clubs are:
Allen Americans – Friday, October 15
Arizona Sundogs – Friday, October 22
Bloomington PrairieThunder – Friday, October 22
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs – Friday, October 15
Colorado Eagles – Friday, October 15
Dayton Gems – Saturday, October 16
Evansville IceMen – Saturday, October 23
Fort Wayne Komets – Saturday, October 16
Laredo Bucks – Saturday, October 23
Mississippi RiverKings – Saturday, October 16
Missouri Mavericks – Friday, October 15
Odessa Jackalopes – Thursday, October 28
Quad City Mallards – Saturday, October 16
Rapid City Rush – Saturday, October 23
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees – Friday, October 15
Texas Brahmas – Friday, October 22
Tulsa Oilers – Friday, October 15
Wichita Thunder – Saturday, October 16
The length and dates of the 2010-11 regular season along with the league’s playoff format will be announced later this week.
