CHL to Test Four-Man Officiating System Tonight
October 13, 2011 - Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
TEMPE, AZ (October 13, 2011) - The Central Hockey League's (CHL) historic 20th Anniversary season is finally upon us as tonight, the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees host the Laredo Bucks at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas in the first of 14 CHL preseason games.
The Bees and Bucks not only usher in the start of the 2011-12 preseason slate, but they will also have a uniqiue look on the ice when the game is officiated by four on-ice officials. The test of the four-man system used in the National Hockey League (NHL) and, at times, in the American Hockey League (AHL) will take place at tonight's game in Hidalgo and in Friday's rematch between Rio Grande Valley and Laredo at the Laredo Energy Arena.
"We are very excited to have this opportunity to review this type of setting," said Jim Wiley, CHL's Director of Hockey Operations. "The four-man system has been the practice at higher levels and we want to determine if such a set-up would be feasible in the CHL in the future."
The gentleman working the games in Rio Grande Valley and Laredo are referees Marc-Andre Lavoie and Zac Blazic and linesmen John Grandt and Bill McGoldrick.
The CHL's 14-game preseason schedule is listed below:
Oct. 13- Laredo at Rio Grande Valley
Oct. 14- Fort Wayne at Dayton
Oct. 14- Texas at Allen
Oct. 14- Tulsa at Wichita
Oct. 14- Rio Grande Valley at Laredo
Oct. 15- Allen at Texas
Oct. 15- Evansville at Quad City
Oct. 15- Missouri at Bloomington (played in Moline, IL)
Oct. 15- Tulsa at Wichita
Oct. 16- Dayton at Fort Wayne
Oct. 16- Evansville at Bloomington
Oct. 16- Missouri at Quad City
Oct. 17- Arizona at Rapid City
Oct. 18- Arizona at Rapid City
¬ËOpening Night' is set for Friday, October 21 with four games scheduled.
Central Hockey League Stories from October 13, 2011
- Killer Bees Take First Preseason Game Over Laredo - Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
- Mallards, "Between the Pipes" Return to Mediacom's MC22 - Quad City Mallards
- Bucks Visit Killer Bees - Laredo Bucks
- Bloomington Hockey Voice Returns - Bloomington Blaze
- CHL to Test Four-Man Officiating System Tonight - CHL
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.
