CHL Welcomes Denver for 2012-13 Season
Published on April 10, 2012 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release
GLENDALE, AZ (April 10, 2012) - The CHL announced on Tuesday that a team in Denver, Colorado has been granted franchise rights for the 2012-13 season. The announcement was made at a press conference at the Denver Coliseum, the new home of the Denver CHL franchise.
The Denver CHL franchise's investment group is led by John A. Hayes who is president and CEO of the Broomfield-based Ball Corporation.
"It's a great day in the City of Denver," said Duane Lewis, CHL Commissioner. "We are very excited to partner with John Hayes and his staff as well as the City of Denver and welcome them into the Central Hockey League. We are very confident that the Denver CHL franchise will reflect John's (Hayes) dedication, work ethic and success and will be one of the elite franchises in the league. Denver has such a rich hockey past and present and we are very pleased to have the CHL a part of Denver's hockey future."
The team also introduced some of the people that will be tasked with running the franchise as Brad Lund was announced as the team's President, Brent Cullaton is the team's Assistant General Manager and Director of Hockey Operations and Derek Armstrong was introduced as the team's head coach.
"My family, my business and my roots are in Colorado and it was personally important for me to locate this franchise in my hometown," said Hayes. "These teams provide significant help for local economies and this is a unique way to be involved in my community."
"I started my pro career here and now I have the opportunity to get back to the city and continue my career as a coach, which is wonderful," said Armstrong. "It's a great city. I'm excited to be involved with the game I love and I'm looking forward to getting started for next season."
The Denver Coliseum opened in 1952 and is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year and is owned and operated by Arts & Venues Denver, a division of the City and County of Denver. In its past, the Denver Coliseum has hosted the International Hockey League's Denver Mavericks (1958-59), the Western Hockey League's Denver Invaders (1963-64), the Western Hockey League's Denver Spurs (1968-76) and the International Hockey League's Denver Rangers (1987-89).
"Hockey has been a part of the Coliseum's history almost since the beginning and we're excited to see it return," said Kent Rice, Arts & Venues Denver Executive Director. "The CHL is putting its trust and assets into this community and we're extremely proud."
The team announced that they will announce the team name, colors and unveil the logo in the near future.
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