Oklahoma City Sets New CHL Attendance Mark of 16,929
February 10, 2004 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
The Oklahoma City Blazers, the minor professional hockey average attendance leader in North America for the last three seasons, have established a new Central Hockey League single game attendance mark. During a Saturday, February 7th loss to the Tulsa Oilers, the Blazers packed 16,929 fans into the Ford Center to break their own record of 16,873 set January 10th of last year, also against Tulsa. Looking to secure their average attendance title for a fourth straight year, Oklahoma City currently ranks second among 98 CHL, AHL, ECHL, UHL, WHA2 and SEHL clubs with an average attendance of 8,621 per game, trailing only the American Hockey Leagues Manchester Monarchs at 9,015 per contest. Currently in their 12th season of play, the Blazers have welcomed over 3.6 million fans during their regular season history, averaging 9,284 fans in 388 home games.
The Blazers record attendance highlighted numerous strong crowds the same evening around the CHL. Eight scheduled contests drew a combined attendance of 60,239, averaging over 7,500 per game for the night. The CHL continues to lead all AA hockey leagues in North America with an average attendance of 4,399 through 405 games this season.
In other CHL news, former San Antonio Iguanas Coach John Torchetti has been named Interim Head Coach of the National Hockey Leagues Florida Panthers. Torchetti coached the Iguanas in the 1994/1995 and 1995/1996 seasons, earning CHL Coach of the Year honors for the 1994/1995 campaign and posting an overall record of 71-35-14 in 120 games. In both seasons, Torchettis Iguanas appeared in the Ray Miron Cup Finals.
Torchetti advanced to the International Hockey League as Head Coach of Fort Wayne for the 1996/1997 and 1997/1998 seasons, and was named IHL Coach of the Year the second year. Torchetti first joined the Panthers organization in 2002/2003 as Coach of the AHL expansion San Antonio Rampage, Floridas primary affiliate. The CHL-leading Laredo Bucks serve as the CHL affiliate of both the NHL Panthers and AHL Rampage organizations.
Pointstreak Performance of the Week San Angelos All-Star center Chris Minard had one of the CHLs top individual performances all season on February 8th, scoring the first five goals of the contest in the Saints 5-2 win over visiting Wichita. He scored a goal in the first period, and then potted the next four markers in the second period to give San Angelo a 5-0 lead. Minard flirted with CHL history, nearly tying the All-Time record of six goals in a game shared by three players; Oklahoma Citys Joe Burton (12/22/1994), San Antonios Paul Jackson (12/21/1996) and Tulsas Luc Beausoleil (12/17/1997).
CHL Team Notes Through 02/09/04
Amarillo Gorillas
Scored five second-period goals to defeat Laredo 6-4 02/07, won both games
of season series.
Austin Ice Bats
Rookie forward Brent Hughes reached 20-goal plateau 02/08, leads all
rookies with 21 goals.
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Mudbugs have earned 37 of last possible 42 points with 17-1-3 record since
12/26.
Colorado Eagles
Dropped three consecutive games the past week for first time in franchise
history.
Corpus Christi Rayz
+3 goals for/against differential on home ice, but 39 in road contests.
Fort Worth Brahmas
Brahmas are 8-0-3 when leading after two periods of play, 10-4-2 when
leading after first.
Indianapolis Ice
LW Ken Boone became franchise PIM leader (725) with fisticuffs major vs
Fort Worth 02/07.
Laredo Bucks
A single win would clinch Laredos first Southwest Division title and home
ice in first round.
Lubbock Cotton Kings
Visit New Mexico this evening, remaining 16 games will all be played within
Texas borders.
Memphis RiverKings
Back-to-back home wins over division leaders Bossier-Shreveport and
Colorado over the weekend.
New Mexico Scorpions
Have ended three games this season with 1-0 final scores, one win, two
losses in 1-0 games.
Odessa Jackalopes
Play 11 of final 16 games on home ice to end season, including next six
consecutive contests.
Oklahoma City Blazers
Blazers now hold CHLs top two all time record crowds after setting record
of 16,929 02/07.
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Killer Bees have played in record 12 shutout games this season, lead CHL
with 7 team shutouts.
San Angelo Saints
Have not suffered consecutive regulation losses since 12/12 and 12/13,
6-2-2 in last ten.
Tulsa Oilers
Four straight wins is team season high, scored on 8 of their last 14 power
play opportunities.
Wichita Thunder
Win over Oklahoma City 02/04 moved club ahead of Blazers in February for
first time since 1999.
CHL Attendance Report
TEAM TOTAL # AVG
Oklahoma City 206,913 24 8,621
Laredo 147,340 24 6,139
Colorado 125,064 24 5,211
Rio Grande Valley 118,499 24 4,937
Indianapolis 125,559 27 4,650
Lubbock 105,872 23 4,603
New Mexico 110,074 25 4,402
Bossier-Shreveport 98,943 23 4,301
Tulsa 86,745 21 4,130
Austin 109,677 27 4,062
Memphis 90,275 24 3,761
Fort Worth 82,432 22 3,746
Wichita 88,503 24 3,687
Odessa 69,258 21 3,298
Amarillo 74,569 23 3,242
Corpus Christi 69,946 23 3,041
San Angelo 61,817 25 2,472
CHL TOTALS: 1,781,638 405 4,399
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Central Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2004
- Indianapolis shuts down RiverKings - Mississippi RiverKings
- Oklahoma City Sets New CHL Attendance Mark of 16,929 - CHL
- Killer Bees Weekly Notes - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Three home games dot schedule this week - Indianapolis Ice
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