CHL Central Hockey League

CHL Teams Look to Clinch Spots

Published on March 21, 2008 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


The CHL playoff picture is clearer than it was a week ago but there is still some work to be done as the Colorado Eagles and Laredo Bucks each have titles to clinch. For the Eagles, they need one point or a Rocky Mountain loss to win their fifth straight Northwest Division title. Colorado plays at Youngstown on Friday and Saturday (they have lost four straight games in the Chevy Centre counting last year's playoff series). Colorado has struggled on the road this season winning just once in their last five games and posting a 10-14-6 record away from home on the season.

Laredo is just one point away from clinching the Southern Conference title and the number one seed in the South in the upcoming Ray Miron President's Cup playoffs. The Bucks play a home-and-home series this weekend with Rio Grande Valley. By earning the number one seed, the Bucks could get a bye in the opening round and await the winner of the number four versus number five series.

The Youngstown SteelHounds, the Mississippi RiverKings and the Rocky Mountain Rage are also looking to clinch playoff spots this weekend. The Hounds need just one point to clinch a berth in the playoffs and the RiverKings could earn a berth with one more win or a Rocky Mountain loss.

SCORPS AND JACKS LOOKING TO AVOID BEST-OF-THREE SERIES The New Mexico Scorpions and the Odessa Jackalopes have both qualified for the post-season but there is still some work to be done to see who gets the three seed in the Southern Conference and who will be the fourth seed. Odessa currently leads the Scorpions by one point in the standings and play two games this weekend at Arizona. For New Mexico, they play a home-and-home series with Amarillo to finish off the season.

COMEBACK FOR THE AGES The Arizona Sundogs pulled off one of the best comebacks in history on Wednesday night versus Rocky Mountain when they erased a 5-0 second intermission deficit and a 6-3 gap with less than a minute and a half remaining to win 7-6 in a shootout. The Sundogs scored two power play goals just 13 seconds apart in the third period making the score 5-2. Seven minutes after the PP goals, Mark Kolanos cut the lead to 5-3. The Rage seemed to gain momentum back with a Bill Newson power play goal but in the final 1:23 the Sundogs scored three times tying the game and sending it to overtime where Alex Leavitt scored the game winner at the 3:38 mark. The comeback is the second largest in league history trailing only the Wichita Thunders six goal third period comeback in 1996 (they eventually lost 8-7 in a shootout).

BRAHMAS STAMPEDING THEIR WAY TO THE PLAYOFFS

The Texas Brahmas are 23-3-1 in their last 27 games and this week they clinched their first playoff spot since 2002. Texas' 82 points are third in all the CHL trialing just Bossier-Shreveport (90) and Laredo (83). The Brahmas have turned it around with defense and great goaltending allowing just 61 goals over their hot streak (2.25 per game). Goaltender Brett Jaeger joined the team late in December and that seemed to be the move that sparked the team's resurgence. Jaeger has gone 13-5-1 with a 2.29 GAA since joining the team and he has pushed David Cacciola to steady play as he is 13-4-0 since the Brahmas signed Jaeger. Texas could finish as high as third in the seeding or as low as five depending on the outcome of this weekend's games.

FRANCK CATCHES FIRE AT THE RIGHT TIME Youngstown goaltender Andy Franck seems to have put his mid-season slum behind him at just the right time. The first-year Hound is tied for third in the league with 24 wins and is ninth with a 2.85 goals against average. In early February, Franck lost five straight decisions (0-3-2) seeming to hit a wall. He has rebounded nicely going 7-0-1 in his last eight decisions and putting the Hounds on the brink of a playoff spot for the second consecutive season. John DeCaro of Bossier-Shreveport may be having the best season in the CHL but overall you have to put Franck's campaign right up there. If you combine his AHL time with his Youngstown numbers, he is 31-11-5 on the season (he went 7-1-1 with Providence earlier this season).

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Central Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central