CHL Revamps Conference Alignments

Published on July 8, 2009 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Fort Worth Brahmas News Release


NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas (July 8)-A new season brings new rules as the Central Hockey League (CHL) announced on Wednesday the new conference alignment and playoff format for the 2009-2010 campaign.

With the league comprised of an odd number, 15 teams, divisions have been vanquished in place of solely conference titles up for grab. The major change is the addition of the Allen Americans, the Brahmas newest rival. Texas will be facing six familiar opponents in the South in addition to Allen. New team, Missouri Mavericks, will call the Northern Conference home.

The Northern Conference will consist of seven teams and the Southern Conference, in which the Texas Brahmas are members, will have eight teams. Conferences will be as follows:

NORTHERN CONFERENCE (7) Bossier-Shreveport Colorado Mississippi Missouri Rapid City Tulsa Wichita

SOUTHERN CONFERENCE (8) Allen Amarillo Arizona Corpus Christi Laredo Odessa Rio Grande Valley Texas

Per the CHL, the playoff format will be as follows:

A total of ten (10) of fifteen (15) teams will qualify for the post-season, consisting of five (5) clubs from each conference. Both conference winners will be seeded 1st in their conference heading into the playoffs based on point totals. The next four (4) highest teams in each conference's regular season standings based on point totals will be seeded 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th in each conference and will also qualify for post-season play.

The playoffs will consist of four (4) rounds. (Opening Round - Best of 3, Conference Semi-Finals - Best of 7, Conference Finals - Best of 7, Ray Miron President's Cup Finals - Best of 7).

The opening round (Opening Round) will feature one (1) separate series of play in each conference, with the 4th seed playing the 5th seed. Both Opening Round series must be completed no later than the first Thursday after the completion of the regular season (unless it does not affect a Saturday start date for the Conference Semi-Finals).

The second round (Conference Semi-Finals) will consist of the victorious two (2) teams from each conference's Opening Round, along with the top three (3) seeds in each conference. The 1st seed will play the winner of the first round series, and the 2nd seed will play the 3rd seed in each conference in a best-of-seven series.

The third round (Conference Finals) will consist of the victorious two (2) teams remaining from each conference, with Conference Semi-Final seeding remaining in effect to determine home ice advantage.

The fourth round (President's Cup Final) will consist of the victorious two (2) teams remaining, one from each conference. Home ice advantage in the Ray Miron President's Cup Finals will be awarded to the club with the higher regular season point total, regardless of any earlier playoff seeding.

Should two (2) or more teams be tied in points for any seeding issue throughout the playoffs, the following tiebreakers will be used: Most wins, then head-to-head record, then goals for and against differential.

For more information regarding the changes please check the CHL's Official website at www.centralhockeyleague.com. For Texas Brahmas season ticket information, please contact the Brahmas offices at (817) 336-4423.

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Central Hockey League Stories from July 8, 2009


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