Annual CHL Spring Conference Concludes
Published on June 6, 2002 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
The Central Hockey League's Annual Spring Conference wrapped up Wednesday evening with the Awards Banquet, honoring the top executives and franchises in the 17-team CHL. Receiving the most prestigious award were the Oklahoma City Blazers as the CHL's Franchise of the Year. Oklahoma City led all minor professional hockey franchises in North America with an average attendance of 8,849 and qualified for post-season play for the 10th consecutive season. "It gives us great pleasure to recognize the Oklahoma City Blazers for their outstanding accomplishments this season", said CHL President Brad Treliving. "The Blazers have set an extremely high standard of operational and on-ice excellence, and are highly respected throughout the professional sporting world". Oklahoma City captured three additional honors Wednesday evening, taking home both the Ticket Sales Franchise and Group Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year awards while the Blazers' DeBray Ayala was named the CHL's Corporate Partnership Sales Executive of the Year.
Also taking home multiple awards were the San Antonio Iguanas and Odessa Jackalopes. Iguanas General Manager Rick Carden was named the CHL's Executive of the Year, Iguanas Director of Communications Bob Hoffman was honored as the CHL's Public Relations Executive of the Year, and the Iguanas were tabbed as the CHL's Game Operations Franchise of the Year. Odessa's Don McKee was once again recognized for receiving the Commissioner's Trophy as CHL Coach of the Year, while the Jackalopes also took home Merchandise Franchise of the Year honors. Rounding out the CHL's award presentations were the New Mexico Scorpions as CHL Marketing Franchise of the Year, Lubbock's Rodrick Evans as CHL Ticketing Director of the Year, Bossier-Shreveport's Brandon Walker as CHL Broadcaster of the Year, and Memphis' Steve McCall as the recipient of the Soul of Service award for outstanding customer service.
Earlier Wednesday, the Laredo Bucks, the CHL's newest franchise, selected five players in the Expansion Draft. Head Coach Terry Ruskowski chose three defensemen, one forward and one goaltender from a pool of 48 available players. Goaltender Lance Leslie, who has won 103 games the past five seasons, was plucked from the Lubbock Cotton Kings, while rookie forward Luke Earl was selected from the Northern Conference Finalist Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. Defensemen Mitch Ahearn (Oklahoma City), Matt Van Horlick (San Antonio) and J.F. Picard (President's Cup Champion Memphis RiverKings) rounded out Laredo's selections.
"Our objective with the expansion draft was to select quality individuals with a history of success, and all five players we chose have enjoyed outstanding professional careers to date and have the opportunity to contribute to the winning tradition we want to quickly establish in Laredo," said Ruskowski. Earlier in the week, the Bucks were officially placed into the CHL's Southeast Division, joining divisional rivals in the Austin Ice Bats, Corpus Christi IceRays, San Angelo Outlaws and San Antonio Iguanas. The Bucks will begin their first season of play this October in the brand new Laredo Entertainment Center. The state-of-the-art facility will seat nearly 10,000 and will be operated by SMG Management, an industry leader in facility management for over 23 years.
The Spring Conference concludes the CHL's 10th season, in which the Central Hockey League showed an increased average attendance of over 16% during the regular season, and led the five minor professional circuits with a playoff attendance of 4,356.
Central Hockey League 2002 Spring Conference Award Recipients
Award / Recipient
Coach of the Year (Commissioner's Trophy)
- Don McKee, Odessa Jackalopes
Soul of Service Award
- Steve McCall, Memphis RiverKings
Merchandise Franchise of the Year
- Odessa Jackalopes
Corporate Partnership Sales Executive of the Year
- DeBray Ayala, Oklahoma City Blazers
Game Operations Franchise of the Year
- San Antonio Iguanas
Marketing Franchise of the Year
- New Mexico Scorpions
Broadcaster of the Year
- Brandon Walker, Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Public Relations Executive of the Year
- Bob Hoffman, San Antonio Iguanas
Group Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year
- Oklahoma City Blazers
Ticket Sales Franchise of the Year
- Oklahoma City Blazers
Ticketing Director of the Year
- Rodrick Evans, Lubbock Cotton Kings
Executive of the Year
- Rick Carden, San Antonio Iguanas
Franchise of the Year
- Oklahoma City Blazers
Laredo Bucks - 2002 Expansion Draft Selections
Player Pos 01/02 Team Ht Wt DOB Hometown
Ahearn, Mitch Defense Oklahoma City 6-00 205 02/20/71 Red Deer, AB
Earl, Luke Forward Bossier-Shreveport 5-11 180 08/05/79 Simsbury, CT
Leslie, Lance Goaltender Lubbock 5-10 165 06/21/74 Dawson Creek, BC
Picard, J.F. Defense Memphis 6-00 205 04/12/79 Montreal, PQ
Van Horlick, Matt Defense San Antonio 5-11 180 08/26/76 Kamloops, BC
Central Hockey League Stories from June 6, 2002
- Scorpions Named CHL Marketing Franchise Of The Year - New Mexico Scorpions
- Annual CHL Spring Conference Concludes - CHL
- 'D' Gets Stronger With Signing of Aika - Indianapolis Ice
- Lubbock Loses Leslie to Laredo - Lubbock Cotton Kings
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