CHL Central Hockey League

Fifth Annual CHL 'Best of the Best' Poll Results Announced

Published on March 7, 2006 under Central Hockey League (CHL) News Release


The results of the 2005-2006 Central Hockey League ‘Best of the Best' Poll are in. Each of the CHL's 15 member teams players and management staff were polled and asked to identify their top three selections for each of 40 separate categories. Below is an article provided by Kollen Long of the Wichita Eagle. Complete poll results are listed below, and are also viewable on the CHL web site at www.centralhockeyleague.com .

Kollen Long

Wichita Eagle

Colorado's Fraser Filipic is listed at 5 feet 10 and 185 pounds, but he admits that's a bit of a stretch. He's actually only 5-9. Despite being relatively small in stature, the third-year pro has developed into one of the most-feared players in minor-league hockey. Filipic has been voted the Central Hockey League's best fighter in the league's annual Best of the Best poll. The popular poll, voted on by players, coaches and broadcasters, always provides plenty of fodder for lively debate among league fans and observers. It's the fifth year that the CHL has released the Best of the Best poll. Filipic beat out Ryan Shmyr of Rio Grande Valley and Jason Beatty of Lubbock for the honor. Shmyr is 6-6, 230, while Beatty checks in at 6-1, 210. Filipic said it's a challenge to fight bigger players.

"I just try to get in close and get a couple good shots in before they get their arm loose," he said. "Against the big guys, you've got to get in close or you're pretty much done." Filipic, who led the CHL with 26 majors entering play Friday, has earned the admiration of his peers around the league. "You gotta respect a guy like that because he knows he might have to fight every night -- I wouldn't want to do that," said Joe Blaznek, the Thunder's talented forward. "Fighting is a skill, and he does it really well. He's not even that big of a guy, but he's willing to go with anybody." Filipic has an interesting off-season method of training. During the summer in his hometown of Thorsby, Alberta, he works on a punching bag for about 20 minutes a day. "It's a heavy bag I've had since I was 16," he said. "It seems to be working. It keeps my hand speed up there pretty good." Filipic has a history of fighting. He played three seasons in the AJHL, recording 1,180 penalty minutes to go along with 108 points. It's important to note, though, that Filipic isn't a no-talent goon. He has chipped in 40 points this season, including eight power-play goals and four game-winning goals. "I‘ve been getting a lot of ice time, some time on the power play," he said. "The bounces are going my way this year." But he gets the most attention for dropping the gloves, of course. Earlier this season, he had two teeth knocked out in a fight with from Jason Chafe of Amarillo. Despite that injury, which he described in a no-big-deal manner, Filipic still enjoys the rough stuff. "It's a good stress reliever; you can take your frustrations out," he said. "It keeps you out of trouble."

Amarillo forward Derek Hahn, who is having a career year as he approaches the 100-point mark, is the league's most highly regarded player. He was voted best overall player, edging Colorado's Greg Pankewicz by just two votes. Jeff Christian of Youngstown was third. Hahn called the award an honor and credited his linemates, Scott Wray and Joe Guenther. "Hockey's a team game," Hahn said. "We work really well together. I just try to get them the puck." Hahn was also voted best stick handler, best playmaker and smartest player. "I like to have the puck and try to make things happen," he said.

The Thunder's Blaznek received three awards: best skater, best shooter and best on the power play. The smooth-skating Blaznek won the fastest-skater contest at the all-star game. "Not trying to pump my own tires, but I've always been really quick," he said. "I was a lot faster when I was younger before I had five knee surgeries." Blaznek, who led the CHL as of Friday with 19 power-play goals, occupies the point on the Thunder's dangerous power play. Blaznek said the power play got a boost when rookie Kris Wiebe began stationing himself in front of the net. "We've got a lot of talent on that first unit, obviously, with Dudsie (Jason Duda) and Clayts (Travis Clayton)," Blaznek said. "With Wiebe out front, it really adds a dimension. "I like it (the point) a lot. I like to shoot the puck on net and give other guys a chance to tip the puck or put in the rebounds."

Oklahoma City's Tyler Fleck was also a multiple winner. He was named best defensive defenseman and best body checker. Voters obviously appreciate the game experience that Oklahoma City has to offer. The Blazers won best arena for the Ford Center; best on-ice promotions; best music; and best announcer for Ben Buckland. The Thunder, for the third straight year, earned the dubious honor of having the most-annoying fans. It was a landslide, too, with the Thunder getting 40 first-place votes to easily outdistance second-place Bossier-Shreveport. While voters probably consider the most-annoying title an insult, Thunder fan Grant Norris, the ringleader of a group of hecklers who sit behind the opposing bench, said it's a compliment. "I have always said that the fans in Wichita are very loud and passionate during hockey games," Norris said. "I've been to several opposing arenas and I believe that 3,500 Thunder fans in the Coliseum are louder then 5,000 in an opposing arena."

The entire poll follows. Let the debates begin.

2005-2006 CHL Best of the Best Poll Results

Points awarded for each category: First - 5; Second - 3; Third - 1

Best Overall Player Best Skater Best Stickhandler
1 - Derek Hahn (47) AMA 1 - Joe Blaznek (41) WIC 1 - Derek Hahn (41) AMA
2 - Greg Pankewicz (45) COL 2 - Brent Cullaton (34) LAR 2 - Riley Nelson (17) COL
3 - Jeff Christian (17) YNG 3 - Derek Hahn (22) AMA 3 - Sebastien Thinel (12) ODE

Best Playmaker Smartest Player Best Goaltender
1 - Derek Hahn (51) AMA 1 - Derek Hahn (30) AMA 1 - Ken Carroll (37) BOS
2 - Chris Richards (20) YNG 2 - Jeff Christian (22) YNG 2 - Mike Gorman (27) ODE
3 - Jeff Bes (16) LAR 3 - Travis Clayton (14) WIC 3 - Scott Reid (21) CRP

Most Underrated Player Best On The Power Play Best Penalty Killer
1 - Ryan Carter (18) CRP 1 - Joe Blaznek (35) WIC 1 - Brett Smith (30) BOS
2 - Scott Wray (14) AMA 2 - Jeff Christian (21) YNG 2 - Scott Wray (17) AMA
3 - Jim Dahl (10) TUL 3 - Derek Landmesser (17) MEM 3 - Jim Dahl (14) TUL

Hardest Shooter Best Defensive Forward Best Offensive Defenseman
1 - Joe Blaznek (32) WIC 1 - Dave Rattray (26) AMA 1 - Derek Landmesser (47) MEM

2 - Greg Pankewicz (23) COL 2 - Matt Cressman (19) ODE 2 - Serge Dube (34) LAR
3 - Mark DeSantis (19) AMA 3 - Steve Simoes (14) LAR 3 - Daniel Tetrault (19) WIC

Best Defensive Defenseman Best Player On Face-Offs Best Body Checker
1 - Tyler Fleck (21) OKC 1 - Chris Richards (28) YNG 1 - Tyler Fleck (29) OKC
2 - Mark DeSantis (18) AMA 2 - Dave Rattray (21) AMA 2 - Dwayne Hay (26) RGV
3 - Stacey Bauman (13) LUB 3 - Jan Melichercik (13) LUB 3 - Derek Landmesser (13) MEM

Best Fighter Best Power Forward Best Leader
1 - Fraser Filipic (27) COL 1 - Ryan Tobler (49) COL 1 - Dan Wildfong (23) BOS
2 - Ryan Shmyr (19) RGV 2 - Jeff Christian (25) YNG 2 - Greg Pankewicz (17) COL
3 - Jason Beatty (14) LUB 3 - Dwayne Hay (15) RGV 3 - Derek Hahn (13) AMA

Most Gentlemanly Player Best Rookie Best Coach
1 - Bernie John (21) CRP 1 - Jim Dahl (52) TUL 1 - Terry Ruskowski (36) LAR
2 - Riley Nelson (18) COL 2 - Dominic Leveille (46) ODE 2 - Don McKee (24) ODE
3 - Travis Clayton (11) WIC 3 - Dale Lupul (9) BOS 3 - Scott Muscutt (23) BOS

Best Fans Most Annoying Fans Toughest Building To Win In
1 - Colorado (40) 1 - Wichita (42) 1 - Budweiser Events Center (52) COL
2 - Laredo (28) 2 - Bossier-Shreveport (24) 2 - Laredo Entertainment Center (26) LAR
3 - Oklahoma City (26) 3 - Laredo (15) 3 - Kansas Coliseum (20) WIC

Hardest Working Team Best Arena Best Locker Rooms
1 - Bossier-Shreveport (41) 1 - Ford Center (62) OKC 1 - Ford Center (49) OKC
2 - Rio Grande Valley (19) 2 - Bud. Events Center (28) COL 2 - Dodge Arena (27) RGV
3 - Amarillo (17) 3 - CenturyTel Center (19) BOS 3 - CenturyTel Center (25) BOS

Best Team Logo Best Team Uniforms Best Broadcaster
1 - Odessa (27) 1 - Rio Grande Valley (23) 1 - Joe Dominey (32) LAR
2 - Rio Grande Valley (20) 2 - Laredo (19) 2 - Bob Hoffman (20) YNG
3 - Youngstown (18) 3 - Youngstown (16) 3 - Steve Mears (19) BOS

Best PA Announcer Best Mascot Best On Ice Promotions
1 - Ben Buckland (36) OKC 1 - Stomp the Gorilla (22) AMA 1 - Oklahoma City (25)
2 - Reed Saunders (19) COL 2 - Fang the Bat (21) AUS 2 - Rio Grande Valley (20)
3 - Hunter Quinn (13) YNG 3 - Crusher the Hound (20) YNG 3 - Corpus Christi (16)

Best Cheerleaders Best Arena Music Best Arena Concessions
1 - Brahmas Dancers (32) FTW 1 - Ford Center (17) OKC 1 - Budweiser Events Center (23) COL
2 - Eagles Chicks (29) COL 2 - Municipal Coliseum (14) LUB 2 - Ector County Coliseum (21) ODE
3 - Lady SteelHounds (24) YNG 3 - DeSoto Civic Center (12) MEM 3 - Ford Center (15) OKC

Best City Best Host Hotel Best Booster Club
1 - Austin, TX (39) 1 - MCM Elegante (44) ODE 1 - Mudbug Boilers (43) BOS
2 - Oklahoma City, OK (35) 2 - Marriot (40) COL 2 - Laredo Bucks Booster Club (26) LAR
3 - Fort Worth, TX (24) 3 - Embassy Suites (26) RGV 3 - Oklahoma City Booster Club (12) OKC

Best Press Box
1 - Municipal Coliseum (30) LUB
2 - Budweiser Events Center (18) COL
3 - Convention Center (15) FTW

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