Former Thunder Great Earns Hall of Fame Honors
February 12, 2014 - Central Hockey League (CHL)
Wichita Thunder News Release
Wichita, KS (February 12th) - The Central Hockey League announced today that former Thunder great Travis Clayton has been selected by the CHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee to be inducted into the Central Hockey League Hall of Fame as the 'Class of 2014.' Clayton joins Jeff Lund as the third class selected into the CHL Hall of Fame.
Clayton is one of the most decorated players in CHL history and spent the majority of his career in Wichita. During his rookie season in 1997-98, he recorded 62 points (27g, 35a) while adding nine in 15 playoff games. The Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan became a staple in the Air Capital for the next 11 seasons, playing in 696 games for the Thunder. Clayton went on to play for the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs for three seasons from 2008-11, where he finally hoisted the Presidents Cup in 2011.
He's near the top in every offensive category in Thunder history. Clayton is second in goals scored (326), second in assists (508), second in points (834), first in power play goals (110), first in shorthanded goals (26) and first in game-winning goals with 50. He also leads the team all-time in plus/minus (+130), second in games played (696), second in penalty minutes (1,063), second in shootout goals (20-74) and second in overtime goals with four.
"Both Jeff (Lund) and Travis (Clayton) are a huge part of our League's history and we are very pleased to have them both unanimously selected as members of the Hall of Fame," said Steve Ryan, CHL Commissioner. "Their contributions and achievements throughout their tenures in the Central Hockey League truly set them both apart as Hall of Famers. Congratulations to both Travis and Jeff."
The seven-time All-Star is the CHL's All-Time leader with 880 games played, which is over 100 games more than Tyler Fleck, who played 773. He is second all-time in points (982), goals (381) and assists (601) while finishing his career three points shy of Joe Burton for the all-time points lead. Clayton played in 96-career CHL post-season games, scoring 42 goals and collecting 39 helpers (81 points). All but 12 of his 892 professional regular season games were played in the CHL as he was called-up to Detroit for one and 11 contests with Kansas City of the IHL during the 2000-01 season.
The two inductees were determined through a process conducted by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee and required unanimous selection by committee members. The CHL Hall of Fame will induct no more than five people each year with a maximum of three players with the categories being 'Player', 'Official' and 'Builder'.
Wichita will make its first-ever trip to Canada to take on the Brampton Beast for a three-game set starting next Friday night. The Thunder return home on Friday, February 21st against the Allen Americans at 7:05 p.m.
Individual game tickets are on sale now. Season tickets and mini plans are still available. Don't delay, contact the Wichita Thunder Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at (316) 264-4625. Stay up-to-date on all the news this off-season by visiting www.wichitathunder.com.
Central Hockey League Stories from February 12, 2014
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