CHL and IHL Make Major Announcement

[bmuscotty]

In a joint announcement that marks a historic day for minor professional hockey, two of pro hockey's most storied leagues, the Central Hockey League (CHL) and International Hockey League (IHL), have entered into a letter of intent to form a "AA" level super league beginning in the 2010-11 season.  We plan to play under the Central Hockey League, CHL, moniker, with the identity of the IHL being maintained through various aspects that will be announced in the near future.  Leaders of the CHL and IHL will meet during the week ahead to work out the remaining material terms. 

"The arrangement between the CHL and the IHL should create an innovative and exciting "AA" level professional hockey league which is scheduled to start play in the 2010-2011 season," said Dennis Hextall, IHL Commissioner.  "The two leagues each have longstanding histories and share the common goal of solidifying minor professional hockey for our players, our passionate fans and their communities.  I believe this arrangement will enable our teams to recruit the best young talent to join our league, with the potential of improving their game and moving up to the higher leagues."

"This is an exciting day for our teams and markets," said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner.  "Both leagues have worked hard to establish tremendous entertainment at a great value for their fans, and by combining our resources we believe we can strengthen those efforts providing greater fan interest as well as a stronger brand."

Operating guidelines, including the teams competing in the CHL, divisional alignment, the 2010-11 regular season schedule and various hockey operations issues will be discussed at the CHL Summer Conference (league meetings) occurring June 3-5 in Gilbert, Arizona and will continue at the IHL meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 21-23. 

The CHL competed with 15 teams during the 2009-10 season with the Rapid City Rush taking home the Ray Miron Presidents' Cup title, while the IHL competed with seven teams with the Fort Wayne Komets winning their seventh Turner Cup Championship and third straight league title.

This will be the 19th season for the CHL whose teams cover nine states.  The league saw close to two million fans attend games in each of the last two seasons and has regularly been the North American professional "AA" hockey league leader in average attendance.  This season, the CHL was the top "AA" hockey league in playoff attendance.  In the league's history, a total of 88 players have played in both the National Hockey League and the CHL.

The 2010-2011 season will mark the 60th year of professional hockey for the International Hockey League, which was comprised last season of seven Midwestern teams in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.  More than 900,000 fans attended IHL hockey games this past season, and a sell-out crowd of 10,480 fans watched the Fort Wayne Komets win the 2010 Turner Cup over the Flint Generals at the Coliseum last month.  Nine players who played on IHL teams this past season had prior NHL experience, while many more have played for their respective national teams and professionally abroad.  The IHL's Commissioner, Dennis Hextall, spent more than ten years as a player in the National Hockey League, and serves as President of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association. 

http://www.centralhockeyleague.com/pressroom/news/index.html?article_id=4670

[Hoss]

In a joint announcement that marks a historic day for minor professional hockey, two of pro hockey's most storied leagues, the Central Hockey League (CHL) and International Hockey League (IHL), have entered into a letter of intent to form a "AA" level super league beginning in the 2010-11 season.  We plan to play under the Central Hockey League, CHL, moniker, with the identity of the IHL being maintained through various aspects that will be announced in the near future.  Leaders of the CHL and IHL will meet during the week ahead to work out the remaining material terms. 

"The arrangement between the CHL and the IHL should create an innovative and exciting "AA" level professional hockey league which is scheduled to start play in the 2010-2011 season," said Dennis Hextall, IHL Commissioner.  "The two leagues each have longstanding histories and share the common goal of solidifying minor professional hockey for our players, our passionate fans and their communities.  I believe this arrangement will enable our teams to recruit the best young talent to join our league, with the potential of improving their game and moving up to the higher leagues."

"This is an exciting day for our teams and markets," said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner.  "Both leagues have worked hard to establish tremendous entertainment at a great value for their fans, and by combining our resources we believe we can strengthen those efforts providing greater fan interest as well as a stronger brand."

Operating guidelines, including the teams competing in the CHL, divisional alignment, the 2010-11 regular season schedule and various hockey operations issues will be discussed at the CHL Summer Conference (league meetings) occurring June 3-5 in Gilbert, Arizona and will continue at the IHL meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 21-23. 

The CHL competed with 15 teams during the 2009-10 season with the Rapid City Rush taking home the Ray Miron Presidents' Cup title, while the IHL competed with seven teams with the Fort Wayne Komets winning their seventh Turner Cup Championship and third straight league title.

This will be the 19th season for the CHL whose teams cover nine states.  The league saw close to two million fans attend games in each of the last two seasons and has regularly been the North American professional "AA" hockey league leader in average attendance.  This season, the CHL was the top "AA" hockey league in playoff attendance.  In the league's history, a total of 88 players have played in both the National Hockey League and the CHL.

The 2010-2011 season will mark the 60th year of professional hockey for the International Hockey League, which was comprised last season of seven Midwestern teams in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.  More than 900,000 fans attended IHL hockey games this past season, and a sell-out crowd of 10,480 fans watched the Fort Wayne Komets win the 2010 Turner Cup over the Flint Generals at the Coliseum last month.  Nine players who played on IHL teams this past season had prior NHL experience, while many more have played for their respective national teams and professionally abroad.  The IHL's Commissioner, Dennis Hextall, spent more than ten years as a player in the National Hockey League, and serves as President of the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association. 

http://www.centralhockeyleague.com/pressroom/news/index.html?article_id=4670

Oilers head coach Bruce Ramsay is talking with Al Jerkens on the Sports Animal 97.1 right now....

http://www.mainstreamnetwork.com/listen/dynamicasx.asp?station=kyal-fm

[dbacks fan]

Operating guidelines, including the teams competing in the CHL, divisional alignment, the 2010-11 regular season schedule and various hockey operations issues will be discussed at the CHL Summer Conference (league meetings) occurring June 3-5 in Gilbert, Arizona and will continue at the IHL meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 21-23. 

Gilbert, Arizona? I live in Gilbert. I'll keep my ears open to local sports news and see if anything shows up.

[Hoss]

Gilbert, Arizona? I live in Gilbert. I'll keep my ears open to local sports news and see if anything shows up.

Probably not, since the Phoenix metro area has no CHL teams (aside from one in Prescott Valley which is pretty far north).

[dbacks fan]

Probably not, since the Phoenix metro area has no CHL teams (aside from one in Prescott Valley which is pretty far north).

I emailed one of the srcibes from the Arizona Republic to see if he had heard anything. Will let you know. Gilbert's not really a destination, more like I have relatives or friends that live in Gilbert. 

[dbacks fan]

I got this response from Jim Gintonio at azcentral: "Only thing I know is that the respective Cup winners in those leagues will meet
for playoff series. I do not believe it is a merger in the purest sense."

I sent him a link (should have doen that earlier) to the CHL press release, so there may be more to come.

[Hoss]

I got this response from Jim Gintonio at azcentral: "Only thing I know is that the respective Cup winners in those leagues will meet
for playoff series. I do not believe it is a merger in the purest sense."

I sent him a link (should have doen that earlier) to the CHL press release, so there may be more to come.

He obviously doesn't follow it very closely; that's what some people THINK it might be.

Tulsa's own coach knows more...wow.

[dbacks fan]

He obviously doesn't follow it very closely; that's what some people THINK it might be.

Tulsa's own coach knows more...wow.

Well that's understandable when the CHL is based in Tulsa, and I didn't know we had a CHL team in Prescott until a few months ago. Also the hockey news here was all about the Coyotes.

I hope that the merger works out well, I remember when they expanded in the late 70's or early 80's and the travel costs and falling attendance resulted in the demise of the then CHL.

[Breadburner]

Tulsa and Wichita need to dump the CHL and move to the A.....

[Hoss]

Tulsa and Wichita need to dump the CHL and move to the A.....

Won't happen until the A is ready.  Most teams are locked in with affiliations.  I think at some point it will happen.  Probably not for 3 or 4 years though.

[bmuscotty]

CHL Announces Participating Teams for 19th Season

(Tempe, Arizona) - 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.

http://www.centralhockeyleague.com/pressroom/news/index.html?article_id=4681