CHL Finalizes Lineup
June 26, 2002 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
The Central Hockey League has today finalized its' conference and division alignment for the 2002/2003 season. The expansion Laredo Bucks franchise has been placed in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference, joining the Austin Ice Bats, Corpus Christi IceRays and San Angelo Outlaws. Each of the other three divisions will remain as aligned in 2001/2002. The Odessa Jackalopes, defending Governors' Cup Champions after posting the best regular season record in the CHL last year, will remain in the Southwest Division along with the El Paso Buzzards, Lubbock Cotton Kings and New Mexico Scorpions.
In the Northern Conference, the defending President's Cup Champion Memphis RiverKings will face the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Fort Worth Brahmas and Indianapolis Ice in the Northeast Division, while the Amarillo Gorillas, Oklahoma City Blazers, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder will compete in the Northwest Division.
CHL Conference & Division Alignment â 2002/2003 Season
Northern Conference
Northwest Division Northeast Division
Amarillo Gorillas Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Oklahoma City Blazers Fort Worth Brahmas
Tulsa Oilers Indianapolis Ice
Wichita Thunder Memphis RiverKings
Southern Conference
Southwest Division Southeast Division
El Paso Buzzards Austin Ice Bats
Lubbock Cotton Kings Corpus Christi IceRays
New Mexico Scorpions Laredo Bucks
Odessa Jackalopes San Angelo Outlaws
The San Antonio Iguanas have requested and been granted a suspension of operations for the 2002/2003 season. "Based upon the current market climate in San Antonio, the decision has been made to suspend the Iguanas' operation for the coming season," said CHL President Brad Treliving. "The Central Hockey League will continue to work in conjunction with San Antonio Iguanas ownership and management to best evaluate all options available to the franchise for the 2003/2004 season." All Iguanas players become immediate free agents within the Central Hockey League.
The 2002/2003 season is slated to begin Thursday, October 17th, and conclude Sunday, March 16th of 2003. Each CHL club will play a 64 game schedule this season, totaling 512 regular season contests. The 2002/2003 playoff format will be determined in the coming weeks. The CHL enjoyed a 16% attendance increase during the 2001/2002 regular season, and led all North American minor professional circuits with a per game average attendance of 4,356 in post-season play.
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Central Hockey League Stories from June 26, 2002
- CHL Finalizes Lineup - CHL
- Time Runs Out for Iggys - San Antonio Iguanas
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